HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-13-2011 - 4dORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 13, 2011
Action Age a
Item No. ~_
SUBJECT: Family and Consumer Sciences Week in Orange County Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: N.C. Cooperative Extension PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Family and Consumer Sciences Week Deborah J. Taylor, Family & Consumer
Proclamation Sciences Extension Agent, 245-2055
Dr. Carl Matyac, County Extension
Director, 245-2051
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation recognizing the week of December 18 through 24, 2011
as Family and Consumer Sciences Week in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: The year 1911 marked the beginning of the home demonstration program in
North Carolina. The program later became "home economics" and is known today as Family
and Consumer Sciences (FCS). For the past century FCS professionals have helped families
apply research-based knowledge and principles in an effort to improve the quality of their lives.
During the first half of the 20th century, the need for education of rural farm women became
evident. Families were leaving the farm to work in the cities, and this prompted the federal
government to provide funding for home demonstration extension agents through the Smith-
Lever Act of 1914. Dr. Jane S. McKimmon, for whom the Jane S. McKimmon Center for
Continuing Education is named, was the first home demonstration agent in North Carolina.
Home demonstration agents were initially assigned to help build communities. The agents
worked with farm women and their children to teach them how to harvest, market, and sell their
goods for profit. Soon home demonstration clubs, now known as Extension and Community
Association Clubs, were common in most southern cities. These clubs provided education and
economic opportunity, and were social outlets for women and children. Extension Agents were
the catalysts for needed change.
In 2011, the role of the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent is still basically the
same. Today FCS programs help families better understand financial planning, nutrition, food
safety and preparation, environmental issues, elder care and aging issues, and the need for
physical activity for better health.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
proclamation.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached
proclamation recognizing the week of December 18 through 24, 2011 as Family and Consumer
Sciences Week in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation on behalf of
the Board.
Faa~ a~.s~.~~e~r 2
S C I E N C E S
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
Family and Consumer Sciences Week in Orange County
WHEREAS, in 1911, Jane Simpson McKimmon created the home demonstration program, a
"rural women's college" where women were provided an opportunity to learn skills that would
provide ample food for their families, yet also provide additional income that could provide
necessities for the entire family, educate the children, and buy conveniences to make life
easier, affording an improved living standard for all; and
WHEREAS, home demonstration evolved into Home Economics and now Family and
Consumer Sciences (FCS), with a rich history of significant contributions to North Carolina's
well being for over 100 years and today helps families better understand financial planning,
nutrition, food safety and preparation, environmental issues, elder care and aging issues, and
the need for physical activity for better health; and
WHEREAS, FCS Agents, in partnership with volunteers in home demonstration clubs, now
known as Extension and Community Association Clubs (ECA), started or supported many
programs that are taken for granted today such as the development of rural libraries and
book mobile programs; the establishment of hot lunch programs in NC rural schools; and the
delivery of electrical services to rural North Carolina homes; and
WHEREAS, the idea of farmers markets' and local foods originated with Home
Demonstration Curb Markets in the 1920's with Jane S. McKimmon introducing the concept
of women and girls selling surplus produce to supplement family income resulting in 55 home
demonstration curb markets in the state by 1940 with an income of almost $1,200,000 for
farm families; and
WHEREAS, home demonstration club women raised more than half of the $4,000,000
needed for the renovation of the US Army hospital ship Larkspur during World War II through
the sale of more than $2 million in war bonds;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim
December 18-24, 2011, as Family and Consumer Sciences Week in Orange County and
urge the people of the County to make use of the extraordinary benefits of this exceptional
program that enhances all aspects of the lives of individuals and families and to join us in
recognizing the unique partnership between the County and the state University System.
This the 13th day of December 2011.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
~/ State Un9vcr~it~r
~ s~ un~xsity
RATIYL
EXX1~I+II;ji~N
Em~sa+cv%rrgrds-rridri~gSnruri~evas
~'~~
~~~