Women’s Forum hears about Peace Corps

The Woman’s Forum members got to hear the story of the Peace Corp travels of Jenny Everett Holt, who is now the spouse of our local Sheriff Will Holt and mother of two daughters.

The Peace Corp was established during the administration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and now serves more than 140 countries. The goals of the Peace Corp are to teach sustainable skills, share the American culture and then have the Peace Corp participants share the story of that country’s culture after they come home.

Holt became involved in the Peace Corp after her college days were completed at Baylor University. She then took on a Master’s program at Texas Christian University in Ranch Management, since she is in the next generation of Everett kids who will be responsible to manage two different ranches in Texas. After that was completed, sheapplied to the PeaceCorp, which entails a 27-month commitment that includes three months of training and then 24 months of service. Holt was assigned to the Kaberebere Village of Uganda, Africa, where she worked with the Rural Health Promotion and Poverty Alleviation Initiative (RUHEPAI).

Her project was to help train the citizens in that area about better agricultural practices that would improve the growing of their crops.

Her background on the Everett Ranch and her Master’s degree in Ranch Management brought forth her skills in that area.

Her secondary project was making beads out of magazines and then using the beads to make jewelry and in quilting. Holt worked side by side, learning the language and integrating into the community of the village. Holt hopes to return some day with her husband, Sheriff Holt, to introduce him to the friends she made while in that country.

Additionally, Sheriff Holt was there to thank the members for the purchase of the Stop Stiks for his department and gave a demonstration of how they work.

The November and December service project includes the collection of new stuffed animals. These will be distributed to the Sheriff’s Department, EMS, Breckenridge Police Department and SMH ER. Anyone wanting to contribute or donate money or to purchase the stuffed animals should contact Mona Craig.

The Forum event was hosted by chairman Jean Edwards and co-chair Jo Kasner, with the hostess committee that included Zel Robinson, Helen Kuhn and Roy Jean Lockhart. The turkey and dressing and all the trimmings was provided by Lee Olson, with United Supermarkets.

The door prize was provided by Kathleen Baxley and won by Lauren Decker. Low score winner for Liverpool Rummy was Barbara Thompson and the high score for Bridge was won by Jill Flinchum.

The Forum meeting for December is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 18, with Mackenzie Roberts, who is a certified Esthetician and owner of the Brow Lounge and Spa. She will share “Winter Skin Care Tips.”

The meal will be provided by Ernie’s Spanish Kitchen. RSVP should be called into Carol Looney, at 254-559-1578, by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.