Special to The PREVIEW
Photo courtesy Marti ParrishOver a hundred members and guests gathered last Thursday to celebrate the Mountain View Homemakers 50th anniversary.
The program began with proclamations: the first, by Mayor Ross Aragon on behalf of the people of Pagosa Springs, read to the group by Pastor Don Ford, and the second by the Archuleta County Board of Commissioners read by Commissioner Steve Wadley. Both proclamations extolled the years of hard work by club members and named Sept. 12 as Mountain View Homemaker Day in Pagosa Springs and in Archuleta County.
Darlene Marcus, field representative for U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, was introduced by Wadley. She explained that, in the process of putting together information, the congressman discovered that, in order to do an actual proclamation making the day Mountain View Homemaker day, there would have to be a national Congressional vote. Instead, he wrote a special letter of congratulations that Marcus read as part of the ceremony.
The anniversary committee had contacted every dignitary whose office serves our area, including the governor and the president, to see if they would like to be involved. The only answer outside of the town and county was by Rep. Tipton’s office.
Former presidents, officers, board members and other members from past years were recognized before Shirley Snider, who has been the club historian for 20 years, explained that she had brought and displayed scrapbooks covering much of the past 50 years in photos, articles and memorabilia.
The interior of the Extension Building was decorated with a golden 50th anniversary theme that was continued in the pre-prepared name tags. Twelve committees made up of women with a particular month’s birthday, each decorated one of the tables with a theme to match that month.
Lunch featured an extensive salad bar, specialty breads and dozens of cupcakes lavishly decorated and displayed.
After lunch, there was a wonderful program by Peggy Case, one of the original members from 50 years ago. She told how the group was organized and shared memories of those early meetings. Two other members, Dottie Toner and Betty Farrow, who have attended club meetings for about 40 years, added some of their memories. Ginnie Bartlett, who will soon be moving to Las Cruces after 30 years as an active member, told of the days that meetings were held in homes.
The lights were lowered for A Tribute to Club Members Down Through the Years. Eighteen active officers and recent presidents each read a comment about the diverse work that Mountain View Homemakers does to benefit our community, the Four Corners Area and, in the case of the sock dolls, the whole world.
The program ended with comments by leaders whose organizations have benefited by the work done by Mountain View Homemakers. Some thanked MVH because they had regularly been funded from the annual auction, others had received items such as blankets and bags made by club members.
Everyone was invited to stay after the program, to remember and visit.
