Genoa Afternoon Homemakers Extension Unit Records

The DeKalb County Home Bureau, a professional organization for homemakers, organized in 1937 to bring home economics education programs to the women of the county. The Genoa Township Unit of the DeKalb County Home Bureau organized on March 24,1937. The organizational meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Gertrude Lewis on June 25, 1937 with nine members present. Mrs. Gertrude Lewis was elected chair; Mrs. Ida Emerson was elected vice chair; and Mrs. Agnes Gerlt was elected secretary-treasurer. Mrs. Avis Hasler, Mrs. Alice Rasmussen and Mrs. Alice Gerlt served on the Program Committee. The first major project for the organization was on “Home Furnishings” and the second was on “Food and Nutrition.” According to the constitution, “the object of this organization is to promote the development of home making to the end that every home may be economically sound, mechanically convenient, morally wholesome, mentally stimulating, artistically satisfying, physically healthful, socially responsible, spiritually inspiring, founded upon mutual affection and respect.” The name of the organization was changed to the Genoa Unit of the DeKalb County Homemakers Extension Association in 1962. The organization voted to disband on May 19, 1998 with the members given the option of joining another unit or subscribing to mailbox. The remaining funds in the treasury were given to Pennies for Friendship. The last meeting was a potluck held at Lenna Schmidt’s home with seven member attending.

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