Geauga record. [volume] (Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio) 1952-1962, 1954-05-20

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sense of deep obligation. Dress
ed in a dutch costume, carry
ing with her a display of ar
ticleS purchased on her trip,
she gave 124 talks in m o r e
than IS communities in % coun-
ties in which she, quote, "eX-
planned to 5000 people the needs
the hopes, and the ambitions
of our sisters across the sea
and the relation of the home
demonstration councils to AC
WV She herself called it a
good will tour. She was in
Strumental in raising money
and interesting people here in
sending food and other supplies
to needy persons across tn e
sea. She took a needy Dutch
family under her wing an d
adopted" a Dutch orphan and
made it possible for her to Sc
cure an education she could
not otherwise have had. S h e
never accepted any remunera-
tion for her talks; all contri-
buttons were used to assist her
adopted" family and t h S
where she knew there was need.
I'm 1850 she was one of five
Ohio women who went as dele
gates to the ACWW Conference
in ,Copenheghan and toured
Europe following the meeting.
Last year the Trianial confer
ence was held in Toronto and
she was again a delegate. There
she also served as national
chairman of Foreign Visitors to
the United States and personal
ly organized and conducted a
tour of some thirty WON n
from 26 foreign countri e S
through parts of Canada and
United States. Such a success
full tour is a tribute to her
organizing ability and to h
genuine interest in acquainting
across the sea with the real
America.
Not only did she charter a
bus and plan the itenerary but
she also arranged for lodgings
in private homes, scheduled
stops for meals and for coffee
breaks for both morning and
afternoon, and in general look
ed out for the comfort of all
the members Of the party morn
ing, noon, and night. No won
der they all called her "mOm"!
Nor does her interest stop
with the women Of the world.
She is likewise deeply concern
ed with the international youth
exchange program. Whenever
exchange students have come
to Geauga county, her home
has been open to them. She
has assisted on tours arrang-
ed to show them how America
lives and has done much to as
sist them financially.
Her interests are legion; her
horizon, the world. She is to-
day International Chairman of
the Geauga county Home Dem
onStration Council. In these
days of tensions and crises, how
often we hear it said that if
the people across the seas could
only meet and really know the
people of our own country,
there would not be these ten
sions bred of misunderstanding
and diStrust. Our VIP has been |
instrumental in accomplishing
Just that. She, more than any
one else in our county, h a S
helped to cement bonds of
friendship based on mutual re-
spect and understanding which
may some day prove strong
enough to push back any cur
tain, be it iron or bamboo.
Friends 1 give you G e
auga county's Ambassador of
good will Rebecca Mart Olds
and proudly present to her this,
your 1854 award. ="
In his tribute to Mr.. McNish,
B. J. ShanoWer said:
"Mr. McNiSh has b n a
leader in agricultural thought
and practice for many years.
He is a pioneer Holstein breed
er of Geauga county and has
also developed Soil Conserva-
tion and Service in the county |
and has developed forestry.
"Mr. McNiSh joined the Clari-
don Grange in 1902 and h
been very active in this organ
ization. He was elected to the
Executive Committee of tn e
State Grange in 1927 and is
still a member. Later he was
elected overSeer and then mas
ter of the State Grange.
In 1914 he was instrumental |
in organizing the Geauga I'M
provement Association, and was
chosen as the first secretary.
This organization is the fore
runner to the Extension SerV-
ice and Farm Bureau. He also
aided in organizing the o hi o
Dairymen's Association an d
served as president.
Mr.. McNiSh has believed,
from childhood, that agriculture
is the backbone of the country.
He has operated his farm for
great many years, and has
guarded the interests of the
farmer. When the dreaded di-
ease called brucellosiS struck
in Geauga several years ago,