“Extension Homemakers Today,” 1971

“Extension Homemakers Today,” 1971

The North Carolina Home Demonstration Clubs and the State Council of Home Demonstration Clubs of North Carolina merged in 1966 as the N.C. Extension Homemakers Association. Five years later we find this group of some 40,000 women increasingly active in the community projects that influence their families and neighbors.

In 1969 during the General Assembly, members of the Citizenship Committee to learn more about their state government at work, visited the state legislature, attending committee meetings, talked to their representatives, and listed to debate by the assembled delegates. In April 1970, 70 Extension Homemakers attended a citizenship seminar in Washington, D.C., planned for them to observe and study our national government. The National 4-H Foundation cooperated by providing background briefings. The women had briefings as well at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Supreme Court, and the Federal City College. At Federal City College they observed new techniques for reaching the poor and learned that the Nutrition Aides in a city like Washington operate in a manner similar to those in the counties of North Carolina.

They visited the Congress during the vote on the Carswell* nomination and heard Senators Ervin and Jordan and their Congressmen discuss issues before Congress that affect North Carolina citizen. By happenstance they stood in the crowd on the East Lawn of the White House to see and hear President Nixon welcome West German Chancellor Willie Brandt.

One of the homemakers expressed her role for this part of her continuing education program they enjoyed by saying “Shakespeare says ‘All the world is a stage’ and each citizen has a role to play. May each of us be guided to do our part well!”

When a builder of low income housing in Iredell County wanted to demonstrate that homemaking skills can be used in decorating a home inexpensively and attractively, the Extension Homemakers arose to the challenge with skills learned from Extension workshops and lesson the women furnished and decorated the three-room house for under $1,000 by renovating used furniture and constructing simple built-ins.

In Winston-Salem last March 12, the local papers queried “where did all the people come from?” They were describing the crowd attending Consumerama, a three-day consumer education and trade fair initiated and developed by the Forsyth County Extension Homemakers. More than 12,000 women and men, too, from throughout the state attended the classes in textiles, clothing, house furnishings, and foods, and learned about new developments in related products from 80 exhibiters—all because a group of Extension homemakers “thought big” about the needs for their community.

“Operation Santa Claus” provides toys, clothing, and gifts for patients in the state’s mental hospital and other extended care centers. Extension Homemakers have been recognized repeatedly for their service to this project, making thousands of garments, dressing dolls, and visiting the centers.

“We couldn’t run the VA Hospital without the Rowan Extension Homemaker volunteers” say the officials at the administration of this Veteran’s hospital in Salisbury.

At Commodity Distribution Centers in many counties chances are that the lady demonstrating the use of the latest addition to the commodity food list will be an Extension Homemaker.

When the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program was funded to the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service in November, 1968, several of the program aides employ to work with low income homemakers to improve their level of food consumption and nutrition were Extension Homemakers. These Extension Homemakers meet the criteria for employment because they learned many of the skills they teach from Extension Homemaker Club programs; they have limited incomes; and they have empathy for those with whom they work.

They write in their weekly logs about the problem families whom they are teaching, of their small and large successes in improving the family’s food habits, and of the related improvements in sanitation, cleanliness, housing and self pride that come as the aides teach and befriend them. One aide summarizes:

“The role of an Expanded Nutrition program aide has really been an educational one for me, as well as for the people with whom I work. I have learned about hardship, poverty, ignorance, and hunger. The people that I work with have learned the value of a well-balanced meal, cleanliness, and the desire for better homes.”

“To see a tiny bit of improvement is encouragement enough to make an E.N.P. aide work even harder with a family when all seems hopeless.”

Extension Homemakers have been actively engaged in the Governor’s Beautification Committee. Mrs. Henry Walker was a member of the committee when it was first formed. Many of the village and community projects for the Years of Beauty Contest now in action are being developed by these concerned women.

The 4-H Club program finds many of its leaders among the Extension Homemakers—for they appreciate the need to help develop the youth of North Carolina. Recently a 4-H agent in a southwest county declared concerning an Extension Homemaker who is a 4-H leader, “She is like having another agent on the staff.”

The Community Resource Development Area Development Associations have benefited from the leadership developed by the Extension Homemakers. Many women who have assisted in the development of this program which involves the total family in community, county, and multi-county development, have been leaders at the various levels of the Extension Homemakers Association. Their experiences and training in this association made them aware of the needs of the area and provides them with the knowledge and skills needed to share in this movement with civic and governmental organization leaders.

The leadership ladder helps develop the potential of the Extension Homemaker Club member. Opportunities for organization offices and for roles as teacher-leader abound. These women are sought as teachers for homemaker skills by the community colleges and as aides in the school system.

Extension Homemakers are finding their place in other roles as well. Mrs. Foy Goodin, President, 1968, is a member of the Governor’s Health Council. Mrs. John Winfield, President, 1964, is an N.C. Demoncratic Committeewoman. Mrs. Thetis Gerald was featured in 1965 by Ebony as an outstanding homemaker. Mrs. Gilbert English, President, 1960, and Mrs. Charles Graham, President, 1954, have been officers of the National Extension Homemakers Association.

Club women throughout the state help develop and support their leaders in their state and national organization. With membership dues of less than a dollar a year, the organization is represented yearly at their national meeting by some 30 women and triennially by seven women attending the Associated County Women of the World. The next meeting for which delegates are now being selected will be held in Oslo, Norway, in 1971. These dues also provide for a scholarship loan fund to aid some 20 girls yearly to attend college.

Annually at district meetings, from 400 to 1,000 homemakers participate in a one-day learning experience that highlights the relevant concern of the year. Recent topics have included drug abuse, women’s rights, family relations, the generation gap, and environmental pollution.

This group of Tarheel women have come a long way, and while you’ll still see them in their farm homes, you’ll see them also in urban homes, shopping in suburbia supermarkets, working factories and schools, in North Carolina cities as volunteers in many of North Carolina’s service programs.

*President Nixon nominated G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. The nomination was defeated on April 8, 1970. Nixon then nominated Harry Blackmon, who was confirmed, 94 to 0.