82-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 13,1990
Pennsylvania Farm Women Grapple With Cha
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
“Will we grow if we do things
the way we’ve always done
them?”
That’s the question many mem
bers of the Society of Farm
Women of Pennsylvania ask.
The society held its annual con
vention on Monday and Tuesday.
As usual it was a two-day conven
tion. The day-long Monday ses
sion was held in the State Forum
concluding with 370 members
attending a banquet at the Penn
Harris Motor Inn. On Tuesday,
232 members of the 3,611 mem
bers registered for the business
session in Room E of the State
Farm Show Building.
In 1914, Mrs. Frank Black
founded the society to strengthen
home, community and farm condi
tions. Then, it was one of few orga
nizations for rural women. But
today, with more and more women
in careers outside the farm and
with fewer farm wives, member
ship has been dwindling.
An organization with more than
(from left): Beatrice Johnston of Franklin County, Dolores
Hitz of Lebanon County, Darlene Habecker of Lebanon
County and Thelma Ommert of Franklin County.
Naomi Bupp (right) installed the following to office: Beck
y Swallow, secretary; Catherine Schott, director; and Mary
Louise McMlllen, director.
jrtholemew (center. . each ispln doll that represents a irm
Women presldem from Berks County. Members of her committee included Martha
Klahr (left) and Dorothy Strieker (right).
3,500 sounds like a strong base,
but most members are retirement
age. This past year alone, 49 mem
bers died.
Many expressed concern that
the society, which they have
known and loved, will continue to
dwindle in membership unless
changes are made.
Exactly what changes are neces
sary causes controversial debate.
About half of the voting mem
bers believe that the two-day con
vention should be changed to a
one-day convention. This would
allow more working women to
attend.
But others, like Mary Fizz of
Berks County disagree. Mary, who
is one of the younger members of
the society, said that as a fulltime
working woman and a wife and
mother, she has had no trouble get
ting two days -off work. She
believes that it is a matter of priori
ty. She believes that women bene
fit from the fellowship of a two
day mini-vacation in January. She,
like many others, fear a one-day
convention would be too jammed
with business to allow time for
toft, sitting: Catherine Schott, secretary;
Arlene Witman, first vice president. Standing, from toft: Dorothy Casky, treasurer;
Edith Diehl, president; and Dorothy Strieker, second vice president. At the business
meeting Catherine Schott was appointed director and Becky Swallow of Somerset
County was elected secretary.
fellowship.
Some county societies, which
travel from distant parts of the
state, also disagreed with the prop
osed change. These societies stay
overnight in Harrisburg to attend
the two-day event. If it were a one
day affair, they said they would
need to leave at 3 a.m. and
wouldn’t get home until 3 p.m.
The final tally showed KM in
favor of a two-day convention and
115 supporting a one day conven
tion. To change convention by
laws a two-thirds vote is needed.
Consequently the two-day conven
tion remains intact.
Many members also desire to
change the by-laws to allow coun
ty presidents to vote during execu
tive board meetings. Presently
seven directors are elected to rep
resent the state and they form the
voting body of the executive
board. Many agree with Florence
Vaitl of Lancaster County. She
supports a by-law change that
would phase out the directors and
allow county presidents to vote.
“It’s frustrating to sit at an execu
tive meeting, be able to express
your opinion but unable to vote,”
she said.
But 104 other members, like
former state president Naomi
Bupp, voted to retain the seven
directors. She and her followers
believe that the directors who are
Claiming that her gift wrapping has not Improved, Arlene
Whitman, right, presents an appreciation gift to Catherine
Schott for her three year term as secretary.
past presidents have more know- Members failed to reach a two
ledge and maturity to make wise thirds agreement and the proposal
decisions. A large percentage of was thrown out
the members wished to retain the Arlene Whitma.n, first vice pres
directors and also allow the presi- ident, pointed oiu that although 49
dents to vote. But this proposal members died, the net loss to the
could not be voted upon since society members was 17. “So we
members must be notified 60 days are adding new members,” she
in advance of voting. (Turn to Pag* B 3)
... - (rlflht) c jg stirred Farm
women members with her speech on “Using Our Gifts.”
Arlene Whitman (left) of Mount Joy, dressed as an early set
tler for her role as mistress of ceremonies during the Farm
Women’s banquet.