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

KEHA Contests – Entries are sent to the respective chairmen who oversee the contests, as noted in the KEHA Manual. Contests include:

• Creative writing: poetry, memoirs, and short story (Manual pages 37-39) – Due to Barbara Seiter, Cultural Arts and Heritage, 8669 Valley Circle Drive, Florence, KY 41042,  seiterbarbara@yahoo.com.
• Adopt-A-Highway Awards (page 49) – Linda Padgett, Environment, Housing and Energy Chair, 11307 Lakeview Drive, Union, KY 41091, padgettky@gmail.com.
• Ovarian Cancer Fundraising and Promoting a Healthy Kentucky (page 60) – Sharon K. Fields, Food, Nutrition and Health Chair, 216 Cedarwood Drive, Greenup, KY 41144, scrawford@kih.net.
• Homemakers Support 4-H (pages 64-65) – Denise Boebinger, 4-H Youth Development Chair, 3275 Bald Knob Road, Frankfort, KY 40601, dboebinger@me.com.
• International contests and awards (page 73) – Marilyn Watson, International Chair, 2286 Melwood Drive, Henderson, KY 42420, Mjmw1315@twc.com.
• Community Volunteerism Awards (page 88) – Ann Porter, Educational Chair, P.O. Box 88, Washington, KY 41096, annsporter42@gmail.com.

KEHA Grants – KEHA offers two grant opportunities. Grant proposals/applications are due to the state 2^nd Vice President.

• 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 Manual, Handbook section, pages 107-111, and on the KEHA website. Applications must be sent by certified mail and postmarked by March 1. Send to Julie Hook, KEHA 2nd Vice President, 74 County Road 1021, Cunningham, KY 42035 or julie.hook@carlisle.kyschools.us.
• 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 Manual, Handbook section, pages 104-106, and on the KEHA website. Applications must be submitted by March 1. Send to Julie Hook, KEHA 2nd Vice President, 74 County Road 1021, Cunningham, KY 42035 or julie.hook@carlisle.kyschools.us.

KEHA Scholarships – KEHA provides two educational scholarship programs. Scholarship applications are due to the state Leadership Development Chair.

• 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 Environmental Science degree program. Details and the scholarship application are included in the KEHA Manual, Handbook section, pages 94-98 and on the KEHA website. Please promote this in your county. Applications are due by March 1 to the KEHA Leadership Development Chair. Send to: Ann Porter, P.O. Box 88, Washington, KY  41096 or annsporter42@gmail.com.
• KEHA Homemaker Member Scholarship is open to KEHA members with a minimum of 3 years of active membership. The scholarship may be used for 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 Manual, Handbook section, pages 99-102 and on the KEHA website. Please share this with your members. Applications are due by March 1 to the KEHA Leadership Development Chair. Send to: Ann Porter, P.O. Box 88, Washington, KY  41096 or annsporter42@gmail.com.

2023 State Newsletter – State newsletters have been printed and mailed and should be arriving in member mailboxes soon! The newsletter also will be posted online at www.keha.org by the end of the week. The state newsletter includes the registration form and details about State Meeting in May, as well as information about upcoming deadlines, state officer elections, and more. An electronically fillable copy of the registration form will also be posted online, or you can contact your local FCS agent for a copy.

State Meeting – The KEHA State Meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Louisville May 9-11, 2023. The theme is “Let’s Take a Hike with KEHA.” Wilderness Trail Area will serve as the host area. Registration for sessions and crafts is first-come, first-served, so make sure you sign up early! New is year:

• Please note this year the state meeting is utilizing a new pricing structure. You may register for the full conference or two days. Discounted early-bird rates are available until April 10. Late registration must be postmarked by April 24 at the latest.
• State Meeting will begin with an opening banquet luncheon on Tuesday. Please check the full agenda in your newsletter or online and arrange your travel plans so you don’t miss it!
• Cultural Arts check-in will be from 8:30-11 a.m. Tuesday in five groups of areas. Check out will be 4-5 p.m. Wednesday in two groups. Details are outlined in the state newsletter.

Overnight rooms at the group rate of $124/night are available until April 10 or until the block is full. If you have reserved rooms you no longer need, please cancel those so others can take advantage of the reduced group rate. If you have not yet made your reservation, please do so soon! Details are on the State Meeting webpage.

Homemaker Showcase at State Meeting – Area Showcase forms are due to 1^st Vice President Henrietta Sheffel by March 15. See KEHA Manual Appendix, page 31 for the form. Each area is allowed to bring to State Meeting up to two displays that highlight a specific program that has been successful within the area. These may be club, county, or area projects. Each state educational chairman also can submit one showcase display.

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

Quilt Square Showcase and Auction – The Quilt Square Showcase and Auction will return to the 2023 KEHA State Meeting! Members are invited to make a 12-inch finished quilt square for entry in the showcase and auction. Additional details are included in the KEHA newsletter.

KEHA Choir – Do you love to sing? Join the Kentucky Extension Homemaker Choir! They rehearse for one hour and do one performance during State Meeting. To join or to get more information, contact Wendy Hood at Wendy7hood@icloud.com. (NOTE: Pre-registration before State Meeting is required.)

2023 KEHA State Board Elections – Credentials will be sought for a total of six positions to be elected in May 2023. All will serve from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. Credentials must be sent certified mail and postmarked by April 8.

The following KEHA state officer and chair positions will be open for election:

• First Vice President (Program)
• Treasurer
• Environment, Housing, & Energy Chair
• Food, Nutrition, & Health Chair
• Leadership Development Chair
• Marketing and Publicity Chair

Credentials include the nomination form for the position – Appendix pages 6-7 for state chair candidates; Appendix pages 8-9 for state officer candidates; and treasurer candidates also need to complete Appendix page 10. For more information, also review the qualifications listed on page 12 of the Handbook and the job descriptions on the KEHA website in the “State Board” section. Encourage qualified candidates to apply!

Leadership Academy – There were 23 applicants statewide who were accepted to participate in the 2023 Leadership Academy. The March 1-3 training at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park will emphasize building leadership capacity with the organization. State Meeting will include two Leadership Academy sessions. One session will be for graduates of either the first or second (2020 or 2023) Leadership Academies. Another session will be informational for anyone interested in attending a future Leadership Academy. Check your State Newsletter for more information!

Dates to Remember

• March 1 – KEHA development grant, mini-grant, scholarship, and contest entry deadlines.
• March 1-3, 2023 – KEHA Leadership Academy at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park.
• March 13-14 – KEHA Spring Board Meeting, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky.
• March 15 – Area Showcase forms due to 1st Vice-President (see KEHA Manual Appendix, page 31).
• April 8 – Postmark deadline for state officer and chair credentials (see KEHA Manual Appendix, pages 6-9)
• April 10 – Postmark deadline for early registration fee for 2023 KEHA State Meeting AND ending date for the group room block at the Crowne Plaza.
• April 24 – Final postmark deadline for 2023 KEHA State Meeting registration.
• May 9-11, 2023 – KEHA State Meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Louisville.