Progressive FCE Club Meets

By Doris Lessenden

July 30, 2004

Family Communication and Education Progressive Club met at the home of Doris Lessenden July 16^th, 2004 for their business meeting and guest speakers, members from the Prairie Queen 4-H Club and Haswell Mile Marker 4-H club.

The members answered roll call by recalling some memories of our club years ago. In the beginning, 60 years ago, the women brought their young children to club, then through the years Colorado State University’s specialists came to the county to teach lessons on various homemaking topics such as bread making, canning, metal crafts, sewing, home decorating, cooking with a microwave and other lessons.

Margie Wiltfang showed and told more details about the State FCE Convention in Fort Morgan. She gave the bandana doll she made to our President, Maxine Mays. She received an award for having the second most Volunteer Hours of Service. Margie gave the ladies blue booklets to record their volunteer hours. She also gave photos to Zelda Peterson and Maxine.

Nola Engstrom shared a most interesting account of the history of the United States Pledge of Allegiance. In the beginning the pledge was written by an educator who wanted the have flags fly over schools for students to recite the pledge. The pledge was introduced in the early 1940’s and became the law of the land in 1942. In l954 the words "under God" were added.

We were pleased to have Michal Wissel, the great granddaughter of Ruth Wissel as our guest. Other guests with the 4-H group were Honeybelle Dixon, Dawn James, Arêta Laird, Dylan Dixon, and Jose Ramos. The program was by the 4-H members who told about their projects and showed their progress on some projects. Jessica James told about her horses and showed us the pretty garments that she is sewing. She told about breads she has made and meals she has prepared. Alicia James showed us a black shirt that she is decorating and told us about awards she has won in riding her horse and other projects. Marisa Dixon gave a demonstration on the use of a digital camera. She showed us her notebook of project photos that won Champion at the State Fair last year. Her prize photo this year is of her tiny apricot teacup poodle named Dixie. Marisa is sewing a tiger print garment. Shalyn Laird told about her bread projects and Global Citizenship on Italy. She also showed her fabrics and progress on her aqua garments and ceramics pieces. In her Home Improvement, she is designing and sewing curtains for her bedroom which looks to be a bit of a challenge.

Jessica and Shalyn told us about the Minnesota Exchange trip and some of the activities and places that they took the 16 4-H members on.

Dylan and Jose helped Doris serve a strawberry dessert with crackers, nuts, and candies and tea. The next meeting will be on August 19^th at 1:30 p.m. at the Center.