HCE members will be going to Petersburg and Salisbury on Thursday, September 18, 2008. Members will have lunch at "Morning Star Mercantile and Cafe" in Salisbury at 11:00, and then off to "The Farm" in Petersburg. Please call Minnie Poll, at 876-8642 to make your reservation for this fun trip by September 12, 2008. If you are interested in carpooling, please let her know and she will try to arrange it.

Can you prevent the onset of diabetes and other diseases with what you do or do not eat? According to recent research, the answer is that maybe you can. To help you learn about the relationship between food consumption and chronic diseases, particularly diabetes, University of Illinois Extension is offering a program "Eating to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes." This program will be taught by Donna Falconnier, University of Illinois Nutrition and Wellness Educator on Thursday, September 4, 2008. The program will begin at 9:30 am and run until 11:00 am. To attend, please register by Friday, August 29, 2008, by calling 877-6042. There is no cost to HCE Members since this is your September Lesson. Please Note: We must have 20 attendees for the program otherwise it will be cancelled. Please call today!

The 2008 Fall Meeting will be held Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at the 4-H Center at the fairgrounds. Cinda Stocks will be catering our meal at the price of $8.50 per person. Please send your reservations to Barb Abbott by October 22, 2008. We are collecting money for the North East Community Fund. Registration is at 9:00 am.

Fall Meeting Menu:

Baked Ham
Sweet Potato Casserole
Cole Slaw
Buttered Corn
Rolls & Butter
Ice Tea
Pumpkin, Peanut Butter, or Chocolate Pie

Ursula Goh of Malaysia is the President of ACWW and will be in the USA and visiting in Clinton, IL. She has been asked to speak to members of HCE and will do this on October 4, 2008, at the Clinton Christian Church at 9:30 a.m. The DeWitt County HCE will be hosting this event. Anyone that would like to hear her needs to RSVP by August 31, to the DeWitt Extension office at (217-877-5764). What a wonderful opportunity to talk with Ursula.

September 1, 2008 - Extension Office Closed

September 4, 2008 -Health Eating and Reducing Diabetes Risk

September 8, 2008 -Board Meeting

September 18, 2008-Fall Trip to Petersburg and Salisbury

October 13—18, 2008 -HCE Week

October 13, 2008-Board Meeting & Annual Program Planning

October 15, 2008-Linus Blankets

October 16, 2008-Valentines Lesson & Cake Magic

October 29, 2008-HCE Fall Meeting

Wow! What a great rummage sale the HCE had in August at the 4-H building.

Thanks to everyone for your help and donations. The ladies were wonderful at helping setup and selling the items. The values were great and the shoppers really enjoyed the bargains.

A vote will be made at the fall meeting to make it an annual affair. The profits will fund scholarships for our members and families.

Thanks again.

Everyone has been great to donate baked goods for our sales in the past months. The events were concert in Central Park on July 14 and August 11, and the bake sale during our recent rummage sale at the Macon County Fairgrounds. Many thanks go to you who contributed. The monies raised from these bake sales and the rummage sale will be used for scholarships that we are going to be offering in 2009. These scholarships are for members of Macon County HCE and their relatives (children and grandchildren). If you are planning to continue your education or have children, grandchildren or great grandchildren going off to college, be sure to check when the forms for these scholarships will be available. Furthering education is one of HCE's goals.

Thank you so much ladies! You have a done a wonderful job keeping the baked goods coming. There was a great turn out for the Central Park sale in July, making over $230. The bake sale at the rummage sale made $159 and the rummage sale items made over $550. There was a good showing of rummage sale items. Thank you for all the donated items. I think many of us may have a few more items than we donated. We couldn't help but shop.

Don't forget to sign up for lunch in September by calling Minnie. Lunch will be at the "Morning Star Mercantile and Café," in Salisbury. From there we will head to "The Farm" a few miles away. The Farm has dried flowers, herbs, green house, garden gifts and more.

On August 20, the board will be attending the District Workshop at the Decatur Conference Center getting new ideas and meeting new folks.

I will be busy on August 23rd as our son will be getting married on our farm. School starts the 19th, so I will be driving a school bus again. The summer has gone by fast, please enjoy the end of summer.

October 13-18, 2008

We will be celebrating HCE Week this year during the week of October 13, 2008. We begin the week with our Board Meeting on Monday followed by a salad luncheon for the Board and those coming to the HCE 2009 Program Planning. The Program Planning will then begin at 1:00 p.m. The board keeps us organized and we all should thank them for their hard work!

Other events that are being planned for this week is tying blankets for the Linus group, having a lesson on "Making Valentines from Past to Present," and a lesson on "Cake Magic."

We will tie blankets for Linus on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Everyone please bring a sack lunch. Information on what you need to bring will be available from your County Representative or Unit President.

On Thursday, October 16, 2008 the lesson on Valentines will be at 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Kits will be available for each person attending. There will be a small fee for the supplies. Registration will be a must so we know how many kits to have ready.

A lunch will be available for a small donation.

Then after lunch, we will have DESSERT! Right? We are going to present a lesson on "Cake Magic." Have you ever done something different with a cake mix or just went by the directions on the box? Well, there are a lot of ways to change the look and taste of a regular cake mix. Some recipes will even be fat free. There will be demonstrations of what you can do with a cake mix the next time you want something different for a dessert whether it is at home or to take to a gathering. Of course, there will be a tasting! If you have any recipes for this kind of dessert, contact Sharon Middleton at 977-7229. A pamphlet with recipes will be offered for a small fee.

We hope to see you during HCE week and join in on the fun, learning and fellowship.

Did you know? A Mr. Tate and Mr. Lyle merged their respective businesses in London in the 1850's forming the Tate & Lyle Company which is now the longest continuous existing company in the country? And did you know the A.E. Staley Company was purchased by Tate & Lyle in 1988? You did – if you were among the 29 HCE members in attendance at the Tate & Lyle program presented by Mr. Chris Olsen, on July 3^rd.

We were told that 95% of the Tate & Lyle products processed are sold to US food companies as fiber and sweetener additives to enhance their products. Tate & Lyle never retail under their own label, but the label Splenda indicates Tate & Lyle ingredients are incorporated.

A few of their products include carpeting (Serona brand), auto upholstery, airplane de-icer, hand lotion, lingerie, deodorant, spandex bathing suits, Splenda.

HCE is indeed grateful to Mr. Olsen for coming to the Illini room to give his fine presentation.

Anna Belle Farrell

CULTURAL ENRICHMENT-Anna Belle Farrell

Concerning newsletters, I highly recommend to you the Illinois Association Home & Community Education Newsletter that's chalked full of reports and information from State Boards, Committees, Districts, Counties and special reports on people, events and projects. Become informed about the activities of your fellow members with a $6.00 subscriptions. For more information please contact Sharon Middleton.

Many thanks to Mindy Peterson for handling the TV, radio and newspaper, advertising for the rummage bake sale and to Loretta Kibler for the roadside directional signs to the 4-H building.

Our county units are having the pleasure of our HCE President, Karen Halicki, and Home Extension CED Program Coordinator, Mindy Peterson, visit their respective unit meetings….enjoyed and appreciated.

Tip: For a mega dose of cultural enrichment try sponsoring a rummage sale!

COMMUNITY OUTREACH and FAMILY ISSUES-Bonnie Lanham

Cinda Stocks will cater the October 29, 2008 meeting. The price for the meal will be $8.50 which will include: baked ham, sweet potato casserole, cole slaw, buttered corn, rolls and butter, ice tea and for dessert choose from pumpkin, peanut butter, or chocolate pie. Please send your reservations to Barb Abbott, by October 22.

Since, I am on the nominating committee…we are still in need of a person to serve as a Cultural Enrichment Board Member. Please consider serving! One of the benefits is that you get to work with a great bunch of ladies and find out what HCE is all about. Call me, Anna Belle Farrell, or Mary Shelton.

Remember we are collecting money for the North East Community Fund at our October meeting.

Our unit got the Pennies for Friendship CD and we played it at our July meeting. It is an excellent source of information about where the pennies go. Everyone should see it.

1st Vice President-Minnie Poll

The annual planning committee will meet after the Board Meeting on October 13, 2008. Please bring your favorite salad to our salad lunch at 11:30 am and then the program planning meeting will begin at 1:00 pm. If you have suggestions for lessons please get them to Minnie Poll by October 10, 2008.

2nd Vice President- Cathy Burgess

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to and worked setting up before and packing up after the rummage and bake sale. Thank you also to those who worked at the sale. This also includes husbands, family members, and also Mindy Peterson. It was a huge sale. If you haven't helped with our projects please consider doing so. I have had a lot of fun every time I have participated in a project, and I am sure you will too. I have never felt like it was work but more of an enjoyable time with friends.

2^nd V.P.'s: Please notify me if you have any 50 year members this year. Members must not have previously received a certificate. If a member has been inactive for a period of time, this time cannot be included in the 50 years.

Do you know of a group that would like to form an HCE Unit? (Church group, neighbors, card group, book club, or co-workers?) Invite someone to your meeting, a lesson, or one of our functions. Please never assume that they wouldn't be interested. We must add new members to keep our organization growing and active. Please call me if I can help in any way

Pleasant Grove Unit-Glady Levery

Gladys Levery, Jolene Wiegard, Alice Bray, Mary Shelton, Tot Schuman, and AnnaBelle Farrell attended the Tate & Lyle program on July 3, 2008, as their regular Unit monthly meeting date. After the lesson a luncheon was hosted for the group by Jolene at the Home Town Buffet.

Oakley Unit-Carol Bork

Summer has been a rather busy time for all of our members. First the rain, then our gardens, and finally different members going on trips. Carol went to China in March and San Diego California in June, and Oshkosh in July. Our group has only met a couple of times this summer. The last time was at the fair grounds to mark rummage for the sale. At noon on that day we went to Dairy Queen for lunch and a short meeting. We also baked for the bake sale in the park. We are planning to go as a group in September to Petersburg and Salisbury.

Rock Springs Unit-Nancy Norton

A potluck luncheon was held on August 13, 2008 at the home of Millie Xander, with 9 members present.

Lois Miller, a member whose work schedule is not always agreeable with our meetings, was able to join us.

Minnie Poll reported on the board meeting. The cost for the Fall Meeting will be about $8.50. Also, we were reminded to pick up lesson plans, if unable to attend.

We had 2 major lessons this month: Rosella Vohs, reported on "Purchasing On-Line" with a list of items which can be sold.

Marlene Knapp gave a report on Belgium. Besides hearing about their chocolate and lace, and speaking Flemish and French, we learned there are more males than females. It is also the size of Maryland.

Maxine Musselman's special feature was about Bees and why there are so few of them now. It concerns the food industry greatly. We learned that honey is mentioned 32 times in the Bible.

All in all, it was an enjoyable meeting.

Hickory Point Unit-

The Hickory Point Unit HCE met for lunch at the Beach House Restaurant on August 12,with nine members and two guests present. Our chairman Sharon Middleton caught us up on all the latest county activities, present and future. We also caught up with everyone's summer activities. At our July meeting members tied Linus blankets after a salad luncheon.

Boodette Unit-Joan Myers

The Boodette Unit of HCE met May 16, 2008 at the home Dorothy Gidel. Ten members were present. Roll call was answered by "My High for Today." Five members attended the 90th Anniversary Tea. Linda Kallenbach read a poem. Beverly Krause gave the lesson on "Using cell phones." We also had a discussion on plans for International Day at the fairgrounds. Dorothy served a delicious strawberry dessert. Maxine Damery will find a meeting place for next month.

MACON COUNTY ASSOCIATION HOME AND COMMUNITY
EDUCATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES
JULY 14, 2008

The Meeting was called to order at 9:35 a.m. by Karen Halicki president. She led us in the pledge to the flag and home makers aim.

Phyllis Herring from the Macon County Extension office talked to us about several matters and updated us on the health of Mindy Peterson. She explained how state and county educators are paid and told us we need 20 persons to attend lessons when presented by state educators. She told us about some lesson planning for the future and thanked us for helping with the 4-H pork chop dinner held during the fair.

Roll call was taken with 9 units present and two representatives from units present for a total of 10 persons. The minutes of the last meeting were presented and approved as corrected. A motion was made by Cathy Burgess and seconded by Bonnie Lanham to accept the report.

Treasures report: Filed for audit. $1000.00 will be paid to county.

OFFICERS REPORTS:

Karen Halicki—Living Well Programs are the new name for our lessons. The program planning meeting scheduled for October 2 has been changed to October 13 following our regular county meeting. There will be a salad lunch, with meeting starting at 1:00 p.m. All Vice presidents are asked to attend and bring program ideas with them from their units. Karen mentioned the district meeting will be held August 20 at the Decatur Conference Center. The cost is $15 which includes lunch. Loretta will donate the center piece. Nominations for state board officers are needed. Our volunteer hours are now worth $21.09. Reservations for district meeting are due by August 8.

1^st Vice President: Minnie Poll read a list of possible lesson ideas for next year. We are to ask our units what they would like. The next news letter will have lesson ideas for us to consider.

2^nd Vice President: Asked how we were doing with contacting retirement homes in the area. We should talk to our local units to see how we can reach these people with lessons, crafts, or getting new members.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPORTS: Community Outreach/Family Issues—Bonnie Lanham. The nominating committee has gathered the following names for next election of officers: President—Karen Halicki, Treasurer— Sharon Middleton, Historian—no one International— Margaret Leonard. Community Outreach— Loretta Kibler and Culture Enrichment: no one.

No reports: Historian or International;

Public Relations: Brook Lawrence - News items due at the Aug meeting. State news is due.

Culture Enrichment: Anna Belle Ferrell The Tate and Lyle lesson was a success as was the make and take event at the fair. Please read your newsletter.

Community Worker: Mindy- No report

Old Business: Please bring cookies and snacks to the concerts on July 14 and August 21 . The rummage sale is August 8 and 9. Please bring your rummage on Thursday the 7^th. We will need to call our members and get them signed up to work the sale and bring baked items. We hope to clear $1,000 or more from the sale. Cathy Burgess will handle the scheduling and Sharon Middleton will handle the bake sale.

Sharon Middleton needs items for our basket to be given away at Women's Day on August 23. We will be giving out handouts about our organization. Several ladies will help Sharon.

HCE Week is October 13. Some of the things we will consider doing are Linus blankets, valentines, stockings for Christmas, and making recipes using cake mixes. Please bring your recipes to the August meeting. A Friendship festival will be held on Dec 7^th.

Meeting adjourned at 12 p.m.

Respectively submitted: Vicky Wooten, Secretary

MACON COUNTY ASSOCIATION HOME AND COMMUNITY
EDUCATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 11, 2008

The August meeting was called to order by President Karen Halicki at 9:40 a.m. Karen led us in the pledge to the flag and homemakers aim.

Roll call was answered by 9 units with a total of 13 attending the meeting.

Minutes of the last meeting were presented by Vicky Wooten Secretary. The minutes were approved as read. Motion was made by Anna Belle Farrell and seconded by Bonnie Lanham to accept the minutes as presented.

Treasures report: Barbara Abbot - Report filed for audit as printed. We cleared $605.67 on the rummage sale after expenses of $97.63 were paid. Motion was made by Anna Belle Farrell and seconded by Bonnie Lanham to pay the bills for the sale. Baked goods made $159.00 and sale items made $711.30 before expenses.

Officers Reports: Karen Halicki

1^st Vice President- Minnie Poll: We need to register by September 12 so call Minnie if you plan to attend so we can tell the restaurant how many are eating lunch. Our tour will be in Petersburg and Salisbury. We can car pool. We will need a count by August 29 as to how many are attending the diabetes lesson. We must have 20 people for the lesson to be presented. Minnie would like our ideas on lessons for next year. The following list was compiled: R.S.V.P., primetime, stroke prevention, tea, meth awareness, recycling and food lessons. More ideas are welcome.

2^nd Vice-President- Cathy Burgess: Brochures were given out at the county rummage sale pertaining to our organization. Cathy needs names of 50 year members. Cathy suggested some new ways to try to get new members.

Board of Directors Reports:

Community Outreach/Family Issues- Bonnie Lanham- read the menu for Fall Meeting. Cost of lunch will be $8.50. Reservations needed by Oct 22. Please send money to Barbara Abbott.

Historian: None

International: Mary Shelton- Pennies for Friendship representative will be in Clinton on October 4. We are all invited to hear this speaker. Baby bottles are due at the fall meeting. International Day went well.

Public Relations: Brook Lawrence-Homemakers Connection news due today. Newsletters to be assembled by Elwin Unit on Aug 22. Brook will be replaced as a board member.

Cultural Enrichment: Anna Belle Farrell– said we need to read our ENTIRE newsletter and recommended that we subscribe to our state newsletter. We are to bring crafts to the fall district meeting.

Program Coordinator: Mindy Peterson—20 people are needed for lessons presented by the University of Illinois. She thanked us for our cards that we sent her recently and gave out paper a from the University of Illinois mostly about lessons.

Old Business: Cookies and snacks are needed for the band concert on Aug 11^th. HCE week is Oct 13-18. The following programs will be presented. Wednesday, October 15 we will tie blankets for Linus between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., please bring a sack lunch. On October 16 we will make valentines from 9:30 till ll:30 and have a lesson on cake magic in the afternoon . Lunch that day will be provided for a donation. The annual program planning meeting is October 13 at 1:00 p.m. following our regular meeting . We will have a salad lunch before the planning meeting.

Announcements: August 20 is the District Meeting, Registration is at 9:00 a.m., and Loretta, Minnie and Bonnie are to help. Women's Day is August 23^rd.

Meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

Respectively submitted: Vicky Wooten, Secretary

We Need Your Help!

Macon County HCE is looking for two members who would be willing to fill spots on the board. We are looking for:

Historian—1 Year Term

Cultural Enrichment—2 Year Term

If you are interested, please call Mary Shelton at 864-3358 or Anna Belle Farrell at 864-2906.

Thank So Much!