IEAFCS Trip April 13, 2012--A.M.

Our first stop on the tour of Antebellum homes was Shields Town House. Southern Belles in full dress greeted us. Pictured are Lois Smith and Kathy Rhodes as they received a warm southern welcome. By the way, Antebellum means "before the war." All the homes we toured were built before the Civil War. Shields House was built in 1860--the last fine townhouse built before the war began.

Members of the group pictured in front of the Shields House are Rick Lingle, Ruby Lingle, Kathy Rhodes, Cammy Seguin, Nann Armstrong, Lois Smith, Kathy Harrison, Pat Hildebrand, Karen Gibbs, Joy Richey, Charlotte Crawford, and Joe Harrison.

Our hostess at Airlie (built in 1790) was the lady who actually lives there with her husband and son. They purchased the house several years ago and have worked to preserve it and make it livable at the same time. Airlie was used as a hospital for Union soldiers during the war.

  Natchez has lots of Crepe Myrtle trees all over town. This photo shows how they look like they don't have any bark. We missed the Azaleas because of the early spring, but the Crepe Myrtle were just starting to bloom.

The last stop of the morning was Magnolia Hall (built in 1858). It is owned and maintained by one of the Natchez Garden Clubs. The garden clubs sponsor the Spring Pilgrimage, which is a very big event in Natchez. It began as a garden tour, but one year when it rained and rained, they decided to do home tours instead. The tradition has continued now for many years.

We were served a delicious lunch at Magnolia Hall. It was the last great mansion built downtown before the Civil War. Natchez did not want to go to war, but they had to follow the vote of the state of Mississippi. Because there were no battles fought there, many more of the historic buildings were preserved than in other parts of the south.

                                                         

IEAFCS Trip April 12, 2012

The second day began with a tour of Elvis Presley's estate in Memphis. There was lots to see there including his mansion, cars, airplanes, and special exhibits. Some of us may want to go back!

Graceland was very interesting, and one of the best things was a building in the back where you could see Elvis performing via video. It was tempting to just stay there!

That's Joy Morris in the foreground of the photo, and even though it was a weekday in April, there was a large crowd as the shuttles ran continuously.

One of the items in the fountain area where Elvis and his parents are buried was an exhibit of his ladder of success during the 50's, 60's, and 70's. And were you aware that he had a twin brother that died at birth?

Elvis purchased Graceland when he was 22 years old for $100,000--a pretty good price for 1957. His gold and platinum records and many awards were showcased, of course, as well as his great charity to many people and organizations.

Lunch that day was at Cracker Barrel in Batesville, MS, and then an afternoon bus ride to Natchez. Landsdowne Plantation is still owned and lived in by members of the family who have had it for years. This is not the case with many of the Natchez Antebellum homes. That's Ruby and Rick Lingle and Carol Schlitt at the entry of Landsdowne. Our group enjoyed a delicious dinner there and then traveled into Natchez to the Little Theater for a play called Southern Exposure.

This was the last week of the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage, and the play provided some insight into how local citizens deal with the swarm of tourists that tour the mansions during the 5-week period.

IEAFCS Trip April 11, 2012

Twenty two IEAFCS members and friends departed from various locations for five days of fun in the sun.

The first stop was Lambert's restaurant in Sikeston, MO for a delicious lunch. Serving sizes were ample to say the least! Ask Karen Barker about getting hit in the face with a "throwed roll."

After a drive to Germantown, TN, it was time to eat again!

 Some members of the group pictured at the Germantown Commissary are Ruby Lingle, Joe Harrison, Karen Gibbs, Nann Armstrong, Kathy Harrison, Joy Morris, Bev Combs, Pat Hildebrand, Janet Burnett, Lois Smith, and Joy Richey. The barbecue and dessert were wonderful!

Then we spent "A Night with Jeanne Robertson." She was funny and entertaining as always. We were reminded that you find what you are looking for--so look for the humor in life.

Check back soon for notes from day 2.

FCS Positions Coming to Extension

There is a bit of good news concerning Family and Consumer Science positions in University of Illinois Extension. The last issue of FYI listed Family Life and Nutrition & Wellness educator positions, plus an EFNEP one.

Discussion at the JCEP meeting indicated there may be a few more coming in the near future.

If new individuals begin working in your area of the state, be sure to introduce yourself and encourage them to join IEAFCS.

And here are some trivia notes about the English language that you may not know.

'Stewardesses'  is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

And 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand. (Bet you tried this out mentally, didn't you?)

 
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. 

 

Southern Region Meets with Kathy Harrison

Southern Region IEAFCS met with Kathy Harrison on March 15th. After enjoying delicious snacks and lots of discussion, the group adjourned to the General Store of Walker's Bluff Winery for lunch, some shopping, and a tour of the other features of the establishment.

Walker's Bluff includes a top notch restaurant, a venue for live performances, a wine cellar (to open soon), and several other attractions. The owner has stated that she wants to build a go-to place for southern Illinois, and she is certainly succeeding in that!

Those in attendance were Sharon Tanner, Ruby Lingle, Martha Speir, Rusti Grogan, Kathy Harrison, Carol Schlitt, Martha Winter, and Joy Richey. A big thank you to Kathy and Joe Harrison for their hospitality!

Robert Easter is New U of I President

University of Illinois President Michael J. Hogan resigns

Board to name long-time U of I leader Robert Easter as successor

            CHICAGO — University of Illinois President Michael J. Hogan has submitted his resignation to the Board of Trustees, and Chairman Christopher G. Kennedy has accepted it on behalf of the Board, the University announced Thursday.

             On Friday, March 23, the Executive Committee of the Board will meet to approve the terms of Hogan's resignation and to appoint Robert Easter, a long-time faculty member and former interim provost and interim chancellor on the Urbana-Champaign campus, as president-designate. The full board is expected to ratify the change at its next regular meeting on May 31 in Chicago.

             Kennedy said Hogan has done a commendable job since joining the University in July 2010, especially in addressing a fiscal crisis caused by the national economic recession, in recruiting outstanding new senior leadership, and in implementing organizational reforms and changes the University needed, Kennedy said.

            "This University needed an experienced and reform-minded educational leader to carry out an exhaustive mandate of change with necessary urgency," said Kennedy, U. of I. Board chair since 2009. "The University owes Mike Hogan a debt of gratitude for moving a number of tough, and sometimes unpopular, initiatives forward at a time of significant financial constraint, and on the heels of controversy around University admission practices. We thank him for his hard work, perseverance and achievement."

             Hogan will serve as President until July 1, working on a smooth transition with Easter, who will become the University’s 19th president. Hogan, a noted historian, will remain with the University as a tenured faculty member.

             "It has been a distinct honor and privilege to serve as President of the University of Illinois," Hogan said. "While the University has faced some significant organizational and budgetary challenges over the past several years, we have initiated the reforms necessary to modernize and streamline our business functions and redirect the savings to academic purposes. The underpinnings of this great institution are sound."

           Easter is a familiar and highly regarded figure within the University, particularly on the Urbana campus, where he has spent his 36-year career. He started as a doctoral student, then a faculty member in animal sciences, specializing in swine nutrition and management. Easter was dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for seven years before becoming interim campus provost in July 2009. He served as interim chancellor of the Urbana campus for two years until last Sept. 30, and since January 2012 he has been its interim vice chancellor for research while a search is underway for a permanent appointee to the job.

             "We are fortunate to have in Bob a proven administrator with a long track record of collaboration and success within our university system," Kennedy said. "Bob comes into this role with the trust of alumni and trustees past and present, as well as faculty, researchers and administrators, staff, and, always, the best interest of students at heart. We are grateful for his loyal commitment to this institution, and look forward to excellence, innovation and achievement under his watch."

             Easter said he is honored and humbled by the appointment, and will "move forward energetically and collaboratively with an agenda that reaffirms the University of Illinois' special place among the very best of institutions of higher learning in the United States."

             Easter's selection represents an example of collegiality between faculty and university leadership, said Don Chambers, chair of the University Senates Conference, which represents faculty on the University’s three campuses in the shared governance process.

             "The trustees' decision to select Dr. Easter reflects the best aspects of shared governance. The faculty senate's leadership was pleased to have been consulted before a decision was made, and that their views were embraced," said Chambers, a University of Illinois at Chicago biology professor.

             "In Bob Easter, we have a new leader but an old friend who knows this University inside and out, and is respected by everyone throughout the University community. He is a leader with vision and passion, while also a good listener who will cultivate the best ideas across campuses to move our great University forward," Chambers said. "President Hogan did many laudable things, including making excellent appointments. We wish him well."

             A schedule of activities welcoming the new president will be announced in the coming weeks.

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The University of Illinois is a world leader in research and discovery, the largest educational institution in the state with more than 77,000 students, 22,000 faculty and staff, and campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. The U of I awards more than 19,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees annually.

What is the Meaning of St. Patrick's Day?

While many people are not Irish, they still celebrate St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. While he was never officially canonized, the Catholic Church still considers March 17th as a religious holiday. To gain a bit of background, let’s look at who St. Patrick was and how it came to be that the date of his death became a holiday.

Tradition states that a young lad named Maewyn was born in Britain around 373 AD. While living with his family in Wales, he was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland to be sold into slavery.

He was enslaved for seven years until he was able to escape to the north. He then made his way to the north of France and found his religion there under the teaching of St. Germain. He reportedly heard God give him a calling to Ireland to convert the Irish people from paganism to Christianity. He returned to Ireland and spent the rest of his life bringing the teachings of the Church to the Irish.

St. Patrick is credited with blending his teachings with the Irish beliefs to make them more palatable. His best known miracle was driving all of the snakes out of Ireland through his prayer. However, some believe that this was merely a figurative description of driving the paganism (symbol of a snake) out of Ireland in favor of Christianity.

St. Patrick also built many monasteries, schools and churches for the Irish people to learn about Christianity. He even trained many priests to carry on his mission. He retired to County Cork and died on March 17, 461 AD.

Celebration

Following St. Patrick's death, March 17th officially became a day of celebration known as St. Patrick’s Day. It was a religious holiday and for a long time was celebrated with solemn respect and mindfulness of beliefs.
Under original tradition, it was a day or remembrance of the Goddess Brigid (from old paganism). Later, the Church canonized Brigid and declared a holiday on the same day as The Day of the Christian Bonfire of the Celts.

However, in around 1900, the holiday turned from one of religion to one centered more as an Irish Day of Pride.

The celebration of this day has changed into a social holiday filled with excesses of partying, drinking and feasting. The day is observed around the world in many countries including the US, Canada, Argentina, the UK, Denmark, Germany, Russia, Mexico and South Korea. The festivities include traditional Irish food, green beer, parades and the wearing of green. The first celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in the United States occurred in 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts. During the early celebrations in the US, George Washington allowed the members of his army a holiday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a show of solidarity in the Irish fight for independence.

Today, many cities in the US that have large Irish populations go all out for St. Patrick’s Day. Chicago, New York and Boston host large celebrations with extravagant parades. The celebration as a social holiday is a recent occurrence in Ireland as well. Modern celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day last five days.

The holiday was first celebrated in 1931 in Dublin. However, the secularization of the holiday in Ireland has drawn criticism by the Christian community. They believe it should return to its original focus of piety and once more become a Church holiday. Around the world, the St. Patrick’s Day celebration is an excuse to participate in drunkenness and party-going. Much of the meaning of the day has passed into history.