Tucker County CEOS sponsor the Weston Area CEOS meeting Wednesday at Canaan Valley Resort. Nearly 200 members gathered to meet, share ideas, network and learn. The Weston Area CEOS includes those from Tucker, Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Pocahontas, Upshur and Webster counties.
DAVIS – Members of the Weston Area CEOS or community educational outreach service gathered at Canaan Valley Resort Wednesday for their regional meeting. Tucker County Extension Agent Jesica Streets said the group was formerly known as ‘homemakers’ and said groups are based in education, service and leadership.
“Our local CEOS help out tremendously with 4-H and the Tucker County Fair,” Streets said. “They help bring in and register the exhibits and help with different things through the year.”
Streets said the state is divided into groups and the CEOS at Canaan were members of the Weston Area Group including Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis Pocahontas, Tucker, Upshur and Webster counties.
“This is the group’s yearly meeting,” Streets said. “Each county has a chance to host the meeting. There will be an educational speaker as well as entertainment. This offers the participants a time to get together and have fellowship. They receive a yearly review of what each county has completed and these meetings keep the CEOS groups across West Virginia connected.”
Appalachian story teller Adam Booth was the featured speaker and his presentation was “Voices from the Mountains.
Streets said the CEOS monthly meetings and clubs are held at members’ homes. A lesson is taught at each meeting and topics vary from yoga to traveling around West Virginia to canning jar crafts.
Helen McClain is the WVCEOS President said folks should consider joining one of their local CEOS groups.
“CEOS is a wonderful way to make friends and enjoy fellowship,” McClain said. “We have lessons each month and do committee work in the areas of family, continuing education and marketing. The service activities are phenomenal and we have CEOS in 44 counties with more than 3,000 members statewide.”
Connie Wolfinger is the WVCEOS Vice president and said she joined to make friends.
“I am a transplant from Princeton, New Jersey and one day this lady knocked on my door and asked me if I wanted to join CEOS,” Wolfinger said. “I thought about it and it was my way of meeting all of my neighbors on my road. Once I met them, I met others from Harrison County. Eventually, I would have met my neighbors but this way I met 15 women all at once.”
Wolfinger said before joining CEOS she had never canned foods and didn’t know anything about quilting.
“I learned all of those heritage craft skills,” she said. “Living in a city, we read about these things but don’t do them. I have learned to knit and crochet.”
Tucker County has three CEOS and nearly 40 members including men. Additional information about the CEOS is available by calling the Tucker County Extension Office at 304-478-2949 ext. 209.
