—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 5,1977 42 Anna Mae Diller takes reins today of Lane. Co. Farm Women Societies By SALLY BAIR Feature Writer LANCASTER - Today, Anna Mae Dxller will be installed as president of the 31 Farm Women Societies in Lancaster County at their annual county convention at the Farm and Home Center, Arcadia Road, Lancaster. Ann, as she is known in Farm Women circles, has been a member of Society 22 for 25 years. She is the wife of Carl Oilier, 2112 South View Road, Lan caster. Having already served for four years as a county officer, Ann feels she has a foretaste of what is to come as county president, and she says with a smile, “I think I’m going to enjoy it I enjoy meeting other people around the county and around the state.” While she doesn’t plan any major changes in the way the Lancaster County Society of Farm Women operates, Ann says, “If there's one thing I would like to do it is to encourage them to do more in the community. I would like to see societies more involved in community projects.” Ann makes it clear that she does not want to give the impression that com munity activities are not being carried out - they are. And as county vice president, it is Ann’s job to give a report at the con vention on the activities of the various societies. So she is in a position to know. Sewing for the Cancer Society and sewing for Lancaster General Hospital are popular service activities, she said. Several societies give individual college scholarships through their local school systems. This year several societies contributed to the relief of fellow Farm Women in Cambria County who were victims of the Johnstown flood. Many Societies, ac cording to Ann, contributed to the In ternational Foreign Youth Exchange program and to the dairy princess program, and one Society even provided food for a year to a family without parents. Ann said that during her years in Farm Women she has seen an increase in the amount of money donated to worthy causes. She said, “The societies seem to be going into more money-making projects. We always seem to have really good programs.” As an example, she said, the amount of money contributed to the county projects, supported by all societies, is higher than ever before. This year as a state activity, county societies were asked to come up with a good service-oriented project in the community. The suggestion came rather late in the Summer, and some societies were not able to work one into their programs. However, Ann said with delight, “Some really came up with good ideas for the state project.” As an instance of real community mvolvement, one Society decided to strip tobacco for a family which was not able to do the work themselves. Ann added, “The societies do a lot of good - in money and in helpmg the com munities. It is good that they have a purpose other than just social.” The social aspect of the societies is important, however. In fact, Ann recalled that the societies originated partly for the women “to get out of the home for something social.” And, Ann said, she found one of its biggest values for her originally was, “to get with other women who have the same problems.” She said that sometimes she would feel she had really big problems, and as the women talked together she would find that others have the same concerns. “You feel like you’re not alone,” she stated. Societies have changed in many ways over the years, and in some cases the farmer husbands have retired and moved off the farm. That leaves some societies Ann Diller looks over the reports of the various Farm Women Societies. One of her last jobs as vice-president was to present a list of the varied activities at the county convention. Sewing is a favorite activity for Ann, and she is proud of a Bicentennial doll she created. The table is covered with a hand embroidered tablecloth, a product of Ann’s handiwork. Cooking and baking are enjoyable jobs for Ann. Here she begins making a cake at her kitchen counter. Homestead Notes with a smaller percentage of actual far mers, but Ann said, “Everyone in the Societies does have an interest in farming, and has some connection with agriculture.” The original stated purpose of the Societies remains the same, she said, quoting from the by-laws: “To contribute to the power and influence of farm women; to contribute to the community activity of farm women; to develop leadership and to promote better living conditions in the farm homes of Pennsylvania.” With over 1000 members, Lancaster County has more members than any other county in Pennsylvania. But Ann says quickly, “There is potential for growing.” She noted that many societies have begun waiting lists of potential members because their size is sometimes limited to allow the group to contmue to meet comfortably m members’ homes. But she said, “It is possible for women in a community to form a new society if the interest is there.” She added that waiting to become a member can last a long time. Ann said she has attended every state convention and Spring rally since she became a county officer. This year she’ll be reporting on the county activities at the state convention held annually during the Farm Show in January. She will also be attending state board meetings a few times during the year and she’ll be presiding over county board meetings here. One purpose of the county board, she points out, is to coordinate information. The county board also establishes the schedule for entertaining other societies, an activity which allows women to learn about other groups, and it sets up the schedule for societies to visit the Coutny Home. One more responsibility of the county board is to narrow the list of possible county projects to three. These are projects which every society will support, and the final selection is made by a vote of members in the societies. Ann will also be responsible for next year’s county convention, an event which she says, is “a nice way to meet women in other societies.” Education is a part of the societies, and Ann said, “We have always had in teresting programs.” She said the local societies try to include a safety and a health program, along with some which are fun and some which are learning meetings. Many take educational tours. Ann’s husband Carl is an auctioneer and is associated with Kingsway Realty in Lancaster. Frequently Ann can be found clerking sales for her husband. She is a member of the Mechanic Grove Men nonite Church where she teaches eighth grade church school and sings in the choir. Putting her thoughts about community service into action, Ann is in the second year of a three year term as a member of 'the Extension board. Her garden provides plenty of work in the Summer, and Ann does a few crafts and a lot of sewing. She said she makes practically all her own clothes, and has also made such divergent things as a tent for her son, down vests, slipcovers, and all the draperies for her home. Her sunny kitchen sports a wall sized farm scene mural which Ann put in place, and she also did the paper hanging for other rooms in the house. She said on occasion she has hung paper for family and friends. A native of Lancaster County, Ann didn’t move far from her home at Mylin’s Cor ners when she married, and her dose association with the farm remains. She is the mother of four boys, two of whom remain at home - John, 20, is working in carpentry, and Jim, 12, is in school. Beginning today, Ann will be president of an organization which means a lot to her, and which she feels means a lot to the communities in which they are located. Her pleasant manner and deep un derstanding of the Farm Women Societies and their members should contribute to her two years of leadership.
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