Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-01-27
WOOD COUNTY
HAS RURAL
LIFE CLUB

i" the matter OF organization and
G. "a ing use of the services of the
extension specialists from the College
Of Agriculture, the women of Wood
County are taking a very active inter
est. At the demonstration meeting
which was held at the Experiment
station at Marshfield in the latter part
Of July number of interesting sub
iects we're discussed with the women
who were present by Nellie Kedzie
Jones and Miss Gladys Meloche. as
we'll as other speaners from Madison.
When the offer of a specialists ser
vices for the various courses was of
fered to the women in attendance
applications were Immediately in
order. As a result of this procedure
a very practical organization has
been developed in Wood County that
is bound to serve Wood County women
to a decided advantage.
Miss Gladys L. Meloche, Clothing
Specialist from the College of Agri-
culture, cooperating with County
Agent r. A. Peterson, has been the
leading spirit in this good work Five
groups each consisting of ten mem
bers were organized in the districts
adjacent to Marshfeld. The same
number of similar groups have also
been organized in the Wisconsin
Rapids District Each group has
elected a Club or Group leader who
arranges the meetings and reports the
progress Of the work to the County
Committee. The County Committee
which was recently appointed consists
of three MEMBERSHIPS E. E. Minor.
Marshfeld, R. No Z, Chairman; Mrs.
f. w. Jones, Wisconsin Rapids, r. No.
5, and Mrs. J. T. Holland, Arpin.
The County organization will be
known as the Wood County Rural Life
Club Other groups will be organized
in different sections of the Country.
Miss Meloche has met with each of
the ten groups already organized
from one to five times. A definite set
of lessons has been given to the sew
eral groups, with the remodeling of
clothing and making of dress forms
as the principal subjects developed.
AS the members of the clubs become
acquainted with the work, they in
turn become the leaders and carry
the work into other communities.
At the completion of Miss Meloches
excellent work in Wood County, other
specialists will follow with other in
teresting lessons.
Another phase of the work that
should prove of advantage to the
groups that will be organized in the
county, is found in the extension
courses that are offered by the Col
lege of Agriculture The work that
is developed by the specialists is got
ten up in lesson form. These les
sons will be available from the County
Agents office at Wisconsin Rapids in
monthly issues. The lessons come in
regular order so that what ever sub
ject is desired by group may be car
ried thru to completion before new
work is undertaken. Such courses as
the remodeling of clothing and the
making of dress forms are offered in
this lesson form, as we'll as other
practical courses. The plan that is
usually followed in the handling of
70 - Ill |. L
of group to develop one of the les
sons and then lead the work for the
particular month that the lesson is
due. This system offers definite
working program for the year to any
group of women in the county-an ad-
vantage that is not common with
many of the meetings. The services
of the specialists may also be avail
able to these groups working in this
way. The courses are sent out free
from the College and application for
them should be made to the County
Agents office.
A meeting Of the group leaders and
the County Committee was recently
held at Marshfield and was addressed
by Miss Gladys L. Meloche, Clothing
Specialist, and Miss Gladys Stillman,
State director of Women's Extension
Courses, and by County Agent R. A
Peterson. Nine of the Club leaders
as we'll as the members of the County
Committee were present The report
of each of the club leaders was heard
and from these excellent statements
the effectiveness of the work of Miss
Meloche was easily seen. Over a
hundred dress forms have already
been made by the Club members at a
very small cost. The average value
placed on these forms by the members
of the Clubs was fifteen dollars so
that the financial worth of the work
may be estimated. A great deal Of
clothing has been remodelled under
the direction of Miss Meloche.
The Club leaders were enthusiastic
in their praise of Miss Meloche and
were axnious to continue the work.
Miss Stillman outlined the general
plan of Extension Courses mention
ing the details of the several courses.
The Specialists that are at present
in the field consist of Miss Meloche,