Monday, April 21, 2014

North Carolina Extension Homemakers Meet With Congressmen in Washington, D.C., 1970



EIGHTH DISTRICT WOMEN IN WASHINGTON FOR SEMINAR—Shown here are the women from the Eighth Congressional District who attended the Extension Homemakers’ Citizenship Seminar last week, along with their Congressman who assisted them in their visit to the Capitol. Front row, left to right: Mrs. Ruth Dellinger, Mrs. Price Morris, Mrs. J.V. Archer, Miss Bertha Trexler, Mrs. Horace Bowers, Miss Beulah Lyerly, Mrs. Oscar Swanson, Mrs. Graves, Mrs. E.S. Temple, Mrs. Jay Sink, Mrs. C.C. Bridges, Mrs. J.R. Earnhardt, Mrs. J.D. Cameron, Congressman Earl B. Ruth, and Mrs. E.B. Lagg. Second row, left to right: Mrs. O. Sprinkle, Mrs. J.C. Guffy, Mrs. J.D. Koerber, Mrs. Ray Lowder, Mrs. Vance Patterson, Mrs. Harry Setzer, Mrs. Charles B. Lefler Sr., Mrs. H.P. Frick, and Mrs. J.E. King.

From the Stanly News and Press, Albemarle, N.C., April 17, 1970

Seven Stanly women were among the 71 Extension Homemakers from North Carolina who attended the first Citizenship Seminar sponsored by the N.C.D.A. Extension Service in Washington, D.C.

The Stanly women reported an interesting and informative time in the nation’s capital, with a full schedule during the week they were there.
Mrs. John Koerber, a spokesman for the group, said that they visited both the Senate and House galleries, and were present for some of the final debate in the Senate on the nomination of Judge Carswell to the U.S. Supreme Court. They were in the Capitol when the report of the vote was given out, and reported cheers from many young people present.

The seven went by bus from Salisbury with the rest of the N.C. group from this area, leaving early on April 6 and returning to Albemarle on Saturday evening, April 11. They stayed at the National 4-H Center, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, but they visited the Library of Congress, Department of Agriculture, Department of Housing and Urban Development, The National Archives, and many other points of interest.

Congressman Earl Ruth delayed a trip to North Carolina which had been scheduled for Tuesday night to assist the women in their visit to the Capitol on Wednesday morning.

One of the objectives of the seminar, Mrs. Koeber said, was to interest more people on the local level in promoting better citizenship, and giving to people a better understanding of how the government operates.
The group was impressed by the efforts to establish 4-H work in the city of Washington.

Along with their visits to points of interest in and near the capital, the women heard officials from various government agencies and departments discuss the operation of their respective organizations.

The local group happened to be at the White House when President Nixon welcomed Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany, and found the South Lawn ceremony most impressive. They also received special seating in the choir loft at National Cathedral.

They visited Arlington Cemetery, saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and returned by way of Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington, first president of the United States.

Following the seminar, the group discussed ways in which increased interest in citizenship can be fostered at the local level, with the women expressing an interest in working with other organizations which have programs supporting the American heritage and bolstering citizenship.


Leader of the Tar Heel group was Dr. Eloise Cofer, assistant director of home economics, N.C. State University, Raleigh.

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