Our mission is: To enhance the lives of individuals and families through quality educational programs and experiences, and to encourage responsible leadership and service to the community.

Our units are as follows:

* Farm Ridge

* Handy Homemakers, Grand Ridge

* Marseilles Morning

*Mendota

*No Township, Ottawa

*Seneca Morning

* Serena/Freedom

*Starlighters, Marseilles

One may become a member of a unit which meets monthly from September through June to become informed on topics researched by the University of Illinois Extension Educators, exchange ideas among members, and socialize. Units are inner-generational with an unending wealth of knowledge to be gained.

Some units meet at night to accomodate those with daytime employment, and others meet during the day. You will find all of our units eager to welcome new members.

Our lessons focus on issues concerning: Health & Fitness; Family; Education; Consumer Awareness; Aging; Children; Foods and Nutrition; International Understanding; Interior Decorating; Family Finances; Horticulture; and Leisure Activities.

Our programs for the 2007-2008 year are as follows: Heirloom Cookbooks; Get Up and Go; Healthy Desserts; Landscapes; Finding Sanity in Today's World. We also have an annual dinner/potluck representing a different country every year. In March of each year, our program sponsors "Cabin Fever Reliever". This is a one day workshop where the participants have a choice of different workshops (45 minutes each) to choose from.

If one can not afford the time and energy to be a part of a unit, they may receive all of the educational programs through the mail, and thus you are a mailbox member. Mailbox members are encouraged to participate in county-wide activities when their schedule allows.

Membership dues are $15.00 per year, with some units assessing an additional fee to cover local expenses.