ECA members visited the Dinah E. Gore Teaching and Research Kitchens at NC State as part of a local foods educational program.

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ECA is a state volunteer organization supported by NC State Extension.

MISSION – To strengthen families through:

• Leadership development, volunteer opportunities, and education support
• Information from NC State University and North Carolina A&T University

ECA HELPS OUR COMMUNITY BY

• Supporting NC State Extension programs and community projects
• Providing educational scholarships
• Teaching craft classes (such as crochet, knitting, paper crafting, quilting, and sewing)

BE PART OF ECA

Everyone is invited to attend our monthly meetings, as well as be a part of our special interest groups. Please contact pam.bryson@gastongov.com for schedule details during COVID-19:

• Gaston Co. ECA Monthly Meeting – 1st Thurs. @ 10 a.m. during Jan., Feb., Mar., Oct, & Nov.; 1st Thurs. @ 6:30 p.m. during Apr., May, June, Aug., & Sept. (Note: no meetings are held during July and December)
• Creative Needlers ECA – every Wed. @ 6-8 p.m.  (contact:  Rita Kincaid)
• Lucile Tatum ECA – four meetings to be announced (contact:  Martha Spurrier)
• Martha Goebel ECA – 1st Tues.@ 10:00 a.m. (contact:  Mary Upton)
• Quiltmakers ECA – 3rd Thurs. @ 6:30 p.m. (contact:  Patti Wells)
• Scrappers ECA – TBD (contact:  Betse Cordell)

Gaston Co. ECA Executive Board 2021:

• President – Audrey Hunt
• President-Elect – vacant
• Secretary – Billie Taylor
• Treasurer – Dana Croston   
• Advisor – Patti Wells

Standing Committees – members include:

• Building Committee – Jean Caldwell, Peggy Dameron, Jane Falls, Sandy Hamrick, Pat Mantooth, and Martha Spurrier
• Marketing Committee – Dana Croston, Sandy Hamrick, and Patti Wells
• Program Committee – Pamela Myers and Patti Wells
• Scholarship Committee – Martha Spurrier, Billie Taylor, and Patti Wells

STATE REFERENCE LINKS 

• 2020 State ECA Yearbook
• 2020 State ECA Standing Rules
• 2020 State ECA Appendix
• 2020 State ECA General Information
• State ECA Annual Reporting Form
• State ECA website

COUNTY REFERENCE LINKS 

• Gaston County ECA Standing Rules
• Gaston County ECA Bylaws

MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS

• June 2021
• May 2021
• April 2021

2021 EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Submission Deadline:  Thurs,. June 30th (extended deadline)

ECA plans to award at least one $1,000 scholarship for 2021 – both youth and adults can apply:

• Youth applications
• Adult/Currently-enrolled college student applications

2020 ACHIEVEMENTS & WINNERS

The following volunteers were recognized for their outstanding 2020 ECA contributions and service hours during the 2021 Achievement Day Program, “Derby Days”:

• Patti Wells, Gastonia, NC – received the 2020 Outstanding Leadership Award. Ms. Wells’ leadership during the challenges of COVID was greatly recognized and essential to the organization’s continued service.

• Karen Rhyne, Gastonia, NC – received the 2020 Outstanding Member of the Year Award. Ms. Rhyne was acknowledged for her commitment and service to ECA, especially for creating an atmosphere of fun and laughter.

Members were also recognized for the many volunteer hours contributed during the challenges of 2020:

• Linda Jozwiakowski, Gastonia, NC – 1,000 hours
• Bertie Smith, Gastonia, NC – 1,000 hours
• Betty Willis, Belmont, NC – 1,000 hours
• Audrey Hunt, Gastonia, NC – 500 hours
• Rita Kincaid, Gastonia, NC – 500 hours
• Pamela Myers, Gastonia, NC – 500 hours
• Angela Nona, Gastonia, NC – 500 hours
• Martha Spurrier, Gastonia, NC – 500 hours
• Mary Upton, Gastonia, NC – 500 hours
• Patti Wells, Gastonia, NC – 500 hours
• Elsie Williamson, Lowell, NC – 500 hours

Two volunteers were recognized for their length of volunteer service:

• Nina Tarte, Gastonia, NC – 55 years
• Betty Willis, Belmont, NC – 25 years

As part of the NC Extension and Community Association, Gaston County ECA proudly recognizes 108 years of service. The volunteer organization resulted from North Carolina being one of six southern states to pioneer home demonstration work. In 1911, NC State University hired Jane McKimmon to organize girls’ tomato clubs across the rural parts of the state, teaching girls how to plant, grow and can tomatoes. Mothers were very excited about activities of the tomato clubs (1912-1920) and wanted to have programs of their own. As a result, during 1913 Jane McKimmon and the Cooperative Extension agents in the 14 counties started home demonstration clubs for farm women. Agents were trained to go into rural areas and demonstrate homemaking techniques, mainly food preservation and clothing construction, to isolated farm women.

The NC Organization of Home Demonstration Clubs (1920-1966) was officially organized to extend Home Economics Extension programming into communities across the state. Later, Negro Home Demonstration Clubs of North Carolina (1940-1946) were formed. These two groups merged in 1967 to form the NC Extension Homemakers Association, Inc. (1967-2000) and continued to extend delivery of programs across the state. In 2000, this vital organization became the NC Extension and Community Association (ECA) and continues to be an important partner with N.C. Cooperative Extension.

Although its name and activities may have changed throughout the years, ECA’s mission has stayed the same – to enrich the quality of life for individuals and families through lifelong learning, leadership development, and community service.

Anyone interested in being a part of a community service organization is invited to participate in ECA. Supported by N.C. Cooperative Extension, ECA is located at the Lucile Tatum Center, 959 Osceola Street, Gastonia. Contact Pam Bryson for more information and details on how to become involved:  pam.bryson@gastongov.com or 704.865.3291.

Contact Information

Pam Bryson, 704.865.3291

Lucile Tatum Center, 959 Osceola St., Gastonia, NC

Hours:  8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  (closed 12 – 1 p.m.) | Monday – Friday

Follow us on Facebook:  @gastoneca