Valley clubs take part in state FCE conference

MAT-SU — Family, Community and Education hosted its annual Statewide FCE Conference in Fairbanks recently, hosted by the 17 Mile Homemakers FCE of North Pole. The conference was organized under the direction of Goldie Southwood, chairman.

FCE is a national grassroots volunteer organization formed under the auspices of the Cooperative Extension Service, their mission is to strengthen individuals, families and communities through education, leadership and action.

Approximately 50 members from around Alaska attended, along with special guests Bonnie Teeples, National FCE President, and her husband Scott Teeples who is the Pacific Region Program Coordinator, who were visiting from Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Attendees stayed on the campus of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and attended classes at the University Park Building during the weeklong conference.

Classes included, meditative art; positive thinking; recycling crafts; Interdependence; immune systems; social media; peppers, beans, introverts, chair yoga, diabetes, sleep, sweat shirt painting, stress, energy conservation, WELL exercises and your money.

During statewide meetings, delegates elected the following officer for Alaska FCE: President, Dianne Doody from North Pole; Vice President, Sharon Taylor of Willow; Treasurer, Nancy Heckart of Anchorage; Secretary, Bonnie Shurtleff, of Willow. These officers were installed at the annual Banquet held at Pikes Waterfront Lodge. Officiating at the Installation were Cooperative Extension Director Fred Schlutt and Interim Associate Director, Roxie Rodgers-Dinstel.

Honored for their service as the “Heart of FCE,” were: Barb Thoma from the Northern District; Barbara Thomas for the Mat-Su District, Bea Combs for the Anchorage District, and Patty Hert representing the Kenai District was named the statewide winner for the Heart of FCE.

Next year’s conference is planned at Hatcher Pass, hosted by the FCE Mat-Su District.

For more information, visit nafce.org, or contact Southwood at (907) 378-3624, or goldtops@msn.com.