Sheryl Ault, president of the Jackson County Extension Homemakers, welcomes attendees to the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District fall meeting Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
An assortment of muffins, fruit and other breakfast items before the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District fall meeting Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
Olga Otte with Kum Join Us Homemakers gives a presentation during the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District Fall Meeting over a trip her and other homemakers took to Germany Oct. 3 at the Odd Fellows Events Venue at 111 E. Walnut St., Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
Indiana Extension Homemakers items for sale including scarves, reusable water bottles and reusable bags during the Bedford District fall meeting Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
Molly Marshall, a health and human sciences educator for Purdue Extension Jackson County, talks about gratitude and the benefits of being grateful during the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District fall meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
The silent auction held during the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District fall meeting Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.Some items include seasonal decorations, honey and soap.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
Cathy Wilkymacky, Extension Homemakers President Elect, left, and Linda Carunchia, Indiana Extension Homemakers President, speaking during the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District fall meeting Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
Cathy Wilkymacky, Extension Homemakers President Elect, left, explains a banner that Linda Carunchia, Indiana Extension Homemakers President, holds up that showcases all of the homemakers clubs in Indiana during the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford fall meeting Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
Tammy Hall of Scott County reads out door prize winners as the Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District fall meeting Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odds Fellows Event Venue at 111 E. Walnut St. in Brownstown.
Chey Smith | The Tribune
The Indiana Extension Homemakers Bedford District Fall Meeting was held Thursday, Oct. 3, at Odd Fellows Event Venue, 111 E. Walnut St., Brownstown.
The meeting consisted of nine extension homemakers club members from Jackson County; five members from Clark County; nine from Harrison County; eight from Scott; and some guests.
Before the meeting began, guests were treated to a breakfast of baked goods, fruit and nuts, provided by Freetown Friends Extension Homemakers Club. At the tables were meeting favors that had a candy corn and nut mix along with a pin with a design for Seymour Oktoberfest, a pretzel in the shape of a heart.
Sheryl Ault, the Jackson County Extension Homemakers president, kicked off the meeting by welcoming everyone with a poem. From there, Ruth Ann Hendrix, the Bedford District state representative, adjusted the agenda, shifting around some items to go straight to a guest speaker presentation.
Olga Otte with Kum Join Us Extension Homemakers Club spoke about a trip to Germany for a heritage tour her and other Jackson County locals took in June. In the presentation, she displayed pictures paired with fun stories from the start to the end of their tour.
Otte said she visited castles and museums on her adventures, getting a taste of Germany as she tried many dishes and learned about the history. Her presentation included many facts about the land, anything from the corkscrew design of the castle stairwells to protect their people from enemies trying to sneak into some public restrooms requiring one German mark to use.
At a restaurant for breakfast she visited, Otte showed a picture of a sign she read in German before translating; “Timelessly beautiful are flowers when they bloom and people when they laugh or smile.”
After the presentation, everyone stood and said the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the Homemakers Club Creed and extension homemakers mission statement.
Melissa Sears of Scott County gave the first timer report, followed by Tammy Hall of Scott County doing roll call and giving the treasurer’s report.
A message that fit with the autumn season rolling in came from Molly Marshall, a health and human sciences educator for Purdue Extension Jackson County — giving thanks.
Marshall said the benefits of gratitude; better sleep, improvements in physical and mental health, decrease in resentfulness and jealousy, being able to develop friendships easier and an overall sense of happiness that follows your life.
“Laughter is the greatest medicine,” Marshall said.
She also listed ways to practice gratitude along with a sheet she distributed — gratitude journal, giving thanks, mindful walks, gratitude letters, grateful contemplation and gratitude conversations.
At each table sat a basket with questions that everyone drew and discussed. Some of the questions asked about a proud moment from the day, an act of kindness done for someone else in the week and a moment of feeling content and relaxed.
With lunch just around the corner, Ault came back to present another poem about the comedy behind age and the process of getting older.
Ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread rolls and a mix of vegetables were served for lunch. Dessert was also available, including cookies, bars and other sweets.
Ellen King briefly spoke about teamwork and leadership from the perspective of both the Indiana Extenstion Homemakers Association and Indiana Leadership, Education and Development. Benefits of teamwork include happier members, lowering risk of burn out and enabling better problem solving.
Linda Carunchia, Indiana Extension Homemakers President, and Cathy Wilkymacky, Extension Homemakers President Elect, addressed communication troubles they’ve faced, mental health and financial concerns in the community and told fun stories about previous conferences.
To wrap up the meeting, the silent auction with proceeds going to the Bedford District was revisited.
While clubs have been retiring, like the Wegan Wide Awake Club, there are still clubs being curated. Sears said that Scott County is getting a new club, Home Sweet Homemakers, where it is drawing on some of the younger generation of women.
The spring district meeting is planned for March 26, 2025, in Scott County.