By Karen Hendrix
For The Tribune
The Kum Join Us Extension Homemakers Club met May 2 at St. Paul Lutheran Church Borchers.
Our meeting opened with our club creed and Pledge of Allegiance. The creed is a wonderful way for everyone to make a part of their everyday life. It states, “We believe in the present and its opportunities, in the future and its promises, in everything that makes life large and lovely, in the divine joy of living and helping others, and so we endeavor to pass on to others that which has benefited us, striving to go onwards and upward, reaching the pinnacle of economic perfection, in improving, enlarging and endearing the greatest institution in the world — the home. What a wonderful way to live our lives.”
The Indiana Extension Homemakers Association mission statement only enhances this. As homemakers, we endeavor “To strengthen families through: Continuing education, leadership development and volunteer community support.”
All of these make our community a great place in which to live. You can find out more by visiting the IEHA website, ieha-families.org.
Extension homemakers club members in Jackson County are part of a continuing education program directed by their local, state and federal extension services and backed by widespread research programs at Purdue University. This education specifically enables members to be better equipped to make informed decisions concerning any and all areas of family living. Members also learn methods of cooperating with other organizations in order to improve the quality of family life for all people. We are always looking for new members.
Olga Otte asked everyone where they would go on an extended vacation if money were no object. There were some wonderful answers, such as Brazil, Great Britain, Hawaii and out west, but everyone said they would stay no more than a couple of weeks.
The secretary and treasurer’s reports were read. Our Scatter Kindness project reported we had distributed 195 hearts to Hoosier Christian Village in Brownstown, and we had only one more nursing home in Jackson County to make and distribute hearts to.
It was reported that we still have no candidate to sponsor for the fair queen. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 21, a resident of Jackson County, cannot be married or ever have been married and they have to be sponsored by a civic organization in Jackson County. Anyone seeking a sponsor may contact the Jackson County extension office at 812-358-6101.
The Matthew 25 medicine bottle changes were discussed. All bottles now have to have labels removed and washed. The stickiness under the labels also has to be removed. All sizes and colors are accepted. No one has delivered bottles to the location near Cincinnati since these changes have taken place, so we will know more of how to sort after the first delivery there.
Our Mother’s Day tea party outing on May 13 at Redeemer Lutheran Church was discussed. This is expected to be a wonderful time with 12 club members and children expected to attend.
The annual Achievement Night at Spraytown United Methodist Church was discussed. Ideas for our pitch-in dinner and projects we made this past year and what categories we are presenting in were also discussed. We were reminded to bring nonperishable food items for their local pantry, Shed for You in Freetown.
Mandy Otte’s lesson this month was on prioritizing. Understanding the difference between priorities and goals may be key to achieving success.
A priority is something one finds more important than other things and needs to be done first. To determine priorities, ask yourself, “What is most important and meaningful in your life today? What are you not willing to compromise or sacrifice in pursuit of something else?”
A goal is an aim or desired result. It is a future-based end result that you are working toward creating and not yet realized in the present.
You can also look at the differences by stating: Goals are what we need to accomplish. Priorities are those things we need to take care of first before it is possible to accomplish goals.
Are you a procrastinator, an accomplisher or an analytical? A procrastinator puts off unpleasant tasks. Procrastinators should tackle the biggest and least appealing task first, and once completed, it will feel as though a weight has been lifted. In this instance, I would be a procrastinator. I dread writing these articles. I find anything and everything to do instead, but once they’re finished, I feel great relief. It’s just getting it started.
Accomplishers thrive on small victories throughout the day. The need to stay busy all day no matter the importance of the tasks is what drives the accomplishers.
If you’re an accomplisher, sit down every night and make a list of three most important tasks to be completed the next day. The next morning, tackle the most important or difficult task first. Stay with it until it’s completed fully and then progress to the next difficult and finally the last task on your list.
Analyticals need to know they are working on the most important task at the moment. They can’t relax unless everything is in order and they have a plan. They make lists and oftentimes use stars, arrows or their own system so as not to get bogged down and let things interfere with the ability to stay on track.
Learn to say no to people who try to make you change your agenda and priorities, but be sure to allow for interruptions. Celebrate accomplishments.
Mandy also talked about Memorial Day, which is fast approaching. It was born out of necessity after the American Civil War when a battered United States was faced with burying and honoring 600,000 to 800,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who had died in the single bloodiest military conflict in American history. The first national commemoration of Memorial Day was held in Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, where both Union and Confederate soldiers are buried.
Karen Wiesehan, this month’s hostess, read, “Six little Stories with Lots of Meanings.”
1. Once, all the villagers decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer, all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella. That is faith.
2. When you throw babies in the air, they laugh because they know you will catch them. That is trust.
3. Every night, we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but we still set the alarm to wake up. That is hope.
4. We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. That is confidence.
5. We see the world suffering, but still, we get married and have children. That is love.
6. On an old man’s shirt was written “I am not 80 years old. I am sweet 16 with 64 years experience.” That is attitude.
Have a happy day and live your life like these six stories. Remember, good friends are the rare jewels of life, difficult to find and impossible to replace.
Karen also blessed us with a devotion on the four points of the dogwood flower and brought a stem from one of her trees for reference.
The dogwood flower has four petals in the shape of a cross. The middle of the dogwood flower looks like a crown of thorns. At the edge of each petal, there is a nail dent. The nail dents are stained with the color of Jesus’ blood. We love the story of this flower.
Karen also had some scrumptious food to share. She made a blueberry and angel food cake she’d never prepared before that was so delicious. She also shared fruit and a delicious meat and cheese tray and ended our meeting with a prayer.
Anyone wanting to attend one of our meetings is more than welcome. They are generally held at Borcher on the first Tuesday evening of each month at 6:30 p.m.