Deadlines for Contests, Scholarships, and Grants – March 1 is the entry deadline for most KEHA contests, scholarships, and grants. All details and requirements can be found in the KEHA Manual at www.keha.org. Be sure to submit your entries on time and to the correct address or email. For questions regarding any of these opportunities, contact the officer or chair listed in the KEHA Manuel.

KEHA Contests – Entries are sent to the respective chairmen who oversee the contests, as noted in the KEHA Manuel. Contests due by March 1 include:

• Creative Writing: Poetry, Memoirs, Short Story (KEHA Manuel pages 37-39) Due to Barbara Seiter, Cultural Arts & Heritage, 8669 Valley Circle, Florence, KY 41042, seiterbarbara@yahoo.com
• Adopt-A-Highway Awards: (page 49) Due to Ronella Chaffin, Environment, Housing & Energy Chair, P.O. Box 1057, Louisa, KY 41230, rhonella@att.net
• Ovarian Cancer Fundraising and Promoting a Healthy Kentucky: (page 60) Due to Esther Bailey, Food, Nutrition and Health Chair, 304 Somerset St., Stanford, KY 40484, hadasah5@hotmail.com
• Homemakers Support 4-H: (pages 64-65) Due to Denise Boebinger, 4-H Youth Development Chairman, 3275 Bald Knob Road, Frankfort, KY 40601, dboebinger@me.com
• International Contest and Awards: (page 73) Due to Marilyn Watson, International Chairman, 2286 Melwood Drive, Henderson, KY 42420, Mjmw1315@twc.com
• Community Volunteerism Awards: (page 88 ) Due to Nancy Snouse, 117 Meadowlark Rd., Russell, KY 41169, wsnouse@msn.com
• Family and Individual Development Contest: (page 55) Due to Dottie Crouch, Family and Individual Development Chair, 8851 Highway 55, Campbellsburg, KY 40011, bodotcr@yahoo.com

KEHA Grants – KEHA offers two grant opportunities. Grant proposals/applications are due to the state 2nd Vice President. Send to Julie Hook, KEHA 2nd Vice President, 74 County Road 1021, Cunningham, KY 42035, or julie.hook@carlisle.kyschools.us.

• KEHA Development Grants provide areas and counties with the opportunity to obtain funding for projects. Applications must be submitted by KEHA members. The guidelines and application form are included in the KEHA Manuel pages 107-111. Applications must be sent by certified mail and postmarked by March 1. Send to 2nd Vice President Julie Hook, address listed above.
• KEHA Mini-Grants for Study or Research may be submitted by KEHA members, FCS agents, or FCS specialists. These mini-grants are for up to $500 for study or research. The guidelines and application form are included in the KEHA Manuel pages 104-106. Applications must be submitted by March 1. Send to 2nd Vice President Julie Hook, address listed above.

KEHA Scholarships – KEHA provides two educational scholarship programs. Scholarship applications are due to the state Leadership Development Chair. Send to Nancy Snouse, KEHA Leadership Development Chair, 117 Meadowlark Rd., Russell, KY 41169 wsnouse@msn.com.

• Evans/Hansen/Weldon Scholarship is open to any full-time student attending a college or accredited undergraduate program in Kentucky and majoring in a Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Environment Science degree program. Details and the scholarship application are included in the KEHA Manuel pages 94-98. Applications are due by March 1. Send to Leadership Development Chair Nancy Snouse, address listed above.
• KEHA Homemaker Member Scholarship is open to KEHA members with a minimum of three years of active membership. The scholarship may be to any college or university as well as for a  trade or technical school. It is intended for students pursuing their first degree or certification. Details and the scholarship application are included in the KEHA Manuel pages 99-102. Applications are due by March 1. Send to Leadership Development Chair Nancy Snouse, address listed above.

KEHA Membership Update – The total membership for this year is 11,310! This is an increase of 81 members over last year’s total membership. A complete membership report will be shared in voting delegate packets at the KEHA State Meeting.

State Newsletter Coming Soon! – Watch for the 2024 State Newsletter, which will be mailed to KEHA member households in late February. It will be posted online at www.keha.org once the mailing has gone out. The state newsletter has the registration form and details about State Meeting in May. It also has information about upcoming deadlines, state officer elections, and more. An electronically fillable copy of the registration form will be posted online in late February, or you can contact your local FCS agent for a copy.

State Meeting – KEHA State Meeting will take place May 7-9, 2024, at Sloan Convention Center and Holiday Inn University Plaza in Bowling Green. The theme is “Blazing the Way with KEHA.” Fort Harrod is the host area. Details are on the State Meeting webpage. Hotel rooms can be reserved now and registration is coming soon.

Homemaker Showcase at State Meeting – Area Showcase forms are due March 15 to 1st Vice-President Ann Porter (see KEHA Manual Appendix, page 31 for the form). Each area can have up to two displays, featuring club, county, or area projects. Each state educational chair also can submit one display. KEHA Development Grant winners also may submit a showcase display.

Last Call for Choir Members – If you love to sing and plan to attend KEHA State Meeting, why not join the choir? There are no rehearsals outside state meeting, and you’ll get a rehearsal CD and music prior to the event. For questions, contact Wendy Hood at wendy7hood@icloud.com To join, send $10 payable to Wendy Hood, 202 Park Avenue, Harrodsburg, KY 40330. (NOTE: Pre-registration before State Meeting is required for performers.)

Calling All Quilters! – The Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Ky., needs new twin bed quilts. Needed size is 66 inches by 83 inches and can be homemade or store bought. Drop off at the Center in Scottsville or bring to KEHA State Meeting’s collection point. Also, quilters are invited to participate in this year’s Quilt Square Auction and Showcase at State Meeting by making a 12-inch finished quilt square. Details are in the KEHA Newsletter.

Master Farm Homemakers Guild Luncheon and Meeting – Once again the MFHG luncheon and meeting will be held in conjunction with the KEHA State Meeting. Again this year, there will be a separate registration for the MFHG luncheon and meeting. Members will receive details from Faye Korthaus.

Nominate a Candidate for KEHA State Board – A total of five positions will be elected by delegate vote at the State Meeting business meeting in May 2024. Credentials must be sent certified mail and postmarked by April 5, 2024. For more information about the five positions up for election, as well as links to the forms, visit https://keha.ca.uky.edu/2024-state-board-elections.

Dates to Remember

• February – KEHA State Newsletter coming soon!
• March 1 – Entry deadline for many KEHA grants, scholarships, and contests.
• March 4-5 – KEHA Spring Board Meeting, Bowling Green.
• March 15 – Area Showcase forms due to 1st Vice-President (see KEHA Manual Appendix, page 31).
• March 15 – 2023 KEHA Leadership Academy Payback Report Forms due to state advisor
• April 1 – Area lesson schedules for 2024-25 due to KEHA State Advisor.
• April 5 – Postmark deadline for state officer and chair credentials.
• April 6 – Reservation deadline for conference rate at State Meeting hotel.
• April 9 – Postmark deadline for early registration fee (and T-shirt orders) for 2024 KEHA State Meeting.
• April 23 – Final postmark deadline for 2024 KEHA State Meeting registration.
• May 7-9 – KEHA State Meeting in Bowling Green.