Women: Then...Now...And In The Future BY LOU ANN GOOD HERSHEY (Dauphin) ‘'People have a preconceived idea of who farm women ate,” Marsha Purcell told the Women’s Com mittee of the Pennsylvania Far mers’ Association on Wednesday. Purcell, director of Women’s Programs and Agricultural Educa tion for the American Farm Bureau Federation in Illinois added, “In the last 10 to 20 years, the average farm woman has changed from the stereotype of a domestic home body to a woman who works off the farm and is involved in the community.” To emphasize how concepts and society changes, Purcell repeated famous quotes such as one by the 1899 director of patents: “Every thing that can be invented has already been invented.” And for mer President Grover Cleveland said, “Sensible and responsible women do not want to vote.” The audience, who gathered for the annual meeting held at the Her shey Convention Center, snick ered at these statements which time has proved erroneous. “Change is happening all around us,” Purcell emphasized. “The future is not what it used to be.” As the women pondered that statement, Purcell asked, “Ten years ago, did you predict you’d have a microwave? Think how technology has brought changes into your life.” Effective planning To meet these changes, she stressed that PFA women’s prog rams must think ahead and plan for change. To show them how to go back to their communities and plan effective programs, Purcell had them write goal statements, which provide a solid framework for planning, and a purpose statement, which justifies and gives direction for a particular segment The women defined the purpose of PFA Women’s Committee: ‘To help promote and activate the entire Farm Bureau with emphasis on involving the talents and inter ests of women in the organization. Participants then brainstormed on activities they’d like to sec the women’s committee accomplish Pennsylvania Farmers’ Association State Women Wenger, Greencastle; Patricia Meyer, jganton; Roy Committee Includes (from left, seated): Marie Painter, Elk- Levan, Milton; Sarah Reed, Reynoldsvllle; Doris Wertz, land; Sylvia Bailey, Waymart; Sue Ludwlck, Sugar Grove; Manns Choice; Dolly George, Catawlssa; and Pat Sueck, Ruth Weaver, Canonsburg; and Nyna Lucas, Bellefonte. Alrvllle. Standing, from left: Dorothy Bartels, West Grove; Wilma lunty - jirwomen for The Pennsylvania Farmers’ Association Include (from left, seated): Dolly George, Cata wissa; Alma Eastep, Williamsburg; Mary Beth Lleb, Span gler; Esther James, Mars; Carol Vogt, Erie; Chubby Curtis, Columbus; Jean Cooper, Lenhartsville; Linda Fisher, in the next year. “Brainstorming includes recording all ideas, with out discussion, to develop a pool of thought on which to draw from. She cautioned, “Do not evaluate others ideas by saying things such as, “That’s a stupid idea,” or “We tried that before and it didn’t work.” At this stage quantity of ideas is needed not quality. Ideas are wanted no matter how practical or impractical they seem. After the ideas are recorded, committee members should be given seven adhesive red dots and seven green. The red represents priority, the green represents ener gy. Each member should place red dots on the ideas that, according to their viewpoint, deserve priority. Green dots should be placed on those activities that she is willing to devote time and energy in order to get the job done. More than one dot can be placed on the same idea. *} ' p I I J I After each member places their dots, add up and decide the high priority and high energy activities. These are most likely to succeed because participants believe they are important and are willing to put their time and effort into it Low priority and low energy ideas indicate that the project is not important. It probably would not succeed, so forget it. After the designated activity is chosen, write a goal statement that begins with “to” followed by an action verb. Check the goal stat ment for “SAM,” which stands for specific, attainable, and measurable. S—is the goal statment specif ic? Does it include enough details so that there is no doubt about its exact meaning? A—ls the goal statement attain able? Is it realistic and practical? » j, „ '*■ /V Sellnsgrove; ai Standing, from left: Carolyn Brumbaugh, Williamsburg; Ruth Ann Balmer, Myerstown; Kathy Kerr, Carmichaels; Deb Rohrbaugh, New Park; Gladys Meyers, Mercersburg; Jenny Teeter, Milan; and Joyce Dotterer, Mill Hall. homestead xj/o{cs M—ls the goal statement mea surable? Does it include a begin ning date and a date of comple tion? Are appropriate numbers included? Develop a plan of action. •Determine who will be in charge and write down the name and phone number of the person. •Budget the money needed to carry out the specified project •List steps needed to complete the project and determine who will do them. •Determine the deadline for each step. •Tell how the steps should be accomplished. Purcell emphasized that the more people involved in the plan ning of the project, the more peo ple feel that it is their project and get involved in making it happen. “A lot more gets done when it is planned for,” she said. Purcell’s Goals In a personal interview follow ing the meeting, Purcell said, “My goal is to create new options for farm women and help them look at themselves from another perspec tive.” She explained, “One of my biggest concerns is that farm women do not see themselves as others see them. They apologeti cally say, T’m just a farm woman.’” To counteract this atti tude, Purcell holds workshops on building self-image. She admits to a basic belief that the individual is the only one who can motivate him or herself. “I just pull out ideas and philosophies they have not recognized—positive personal traits that have surfaced but they haven’t recognized.” She admits to finding it frustrat ing that changes happen more slowly than she’d like. “But over the years. I’ve learned that although changes may bellow, they’re not just a flash in the pan and then gone. They may be slow, but it’s often better that way (Turn to Pago B 4) Jf> ,v
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