The Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers of Adams County recently attended the annual state conference at Mississippi State University in Starkville.

Members attending the conference were, Lee Braxton, Mae Stanton, Ernestine Stanton, Ruby West, Lillian Edney, Josie McClorine, Beatrice Washington, Natalie Lyles, Linda Gooden, Dorothy Thompson, Gwendolyn Vanderson, myself and our extension service director, David Carter.

The conference was action-packed. We attended workshops during the day and watched movies, played games, danced, sang and even participated in a hula-hoop contest at night.

Adams County participated in activities at every level. Actually participation started on March 1, when three of our members submitted projects to be judged and prizes were given for the winning projects at the awards breakfast. Among the winners were Lillian C. Edney, first place for family issues; Ernestine Stanton, second place for international — Haiti relief and Birdie Wade, first place in the Southwest District for best secretary record book.

Adams County won the plaque for the largest number of volunteer hours. The members contributed 64,218 hours, a dollar value of $1,300,404. However, in order to keep the plaque we will have to repeat the winning for three more years. The members are determined to keep the plaque.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon we attended workshops. Some of the available workshops were decorating for the season, making bird houses, tabletop gardening, calligraphy, diabetic cooking, jewelry making, pinecone ornament, pine needle baskets, gifts in a jar and making silk flowers.

I served as facilitator for the silk flower workshop on Tuesday. The workshops were enjoyable and useful.

At the third and final general session, Lillian C. Edney introduced the keynote speaker and was also installed as the state parliamentarian. We were so excited about the conference that plans were discussed for next year’s conference on the ride home.

Adams County MHV is composed of five clubs. The clubs and presidents are, Catherine Williams, President Hattie R. Marshall; Country Living, President Janice Alexander; Sibley, President Wilbert Wade; Town and Country, President Dorothy Thompson; and Violet Montgomery, President Dorothy Champ.

We have been involved in a wide range of activities throughout the year. Some of our activities were dress making, participation in the blue ribbon child abuse awareness effort, volunteer work at Natchez Regional Medical Center, work on the United Way Board, redecoration of the dining room at the Stewpot and making cough pillows and blankets for Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital.

Our major objective is to make a difference in the quality of life for the members of our community.

I hope this information will inspire anyone who has the time and desire to serve to join our group.

Just call our president, Lee Braxton, or any of the rest of our members.

Bonita Reed handles public relations for the Adams County Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers.