May 22, 2009

Chorus celebrates 75th anniversary at Purdue conference

A special anniversary performance by the Melody Makers of Indiana highlights the June 10-12 conference, which will take place on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. The annual conference features workshops and speakers addressing topics related to family issues, leadership, human development, resource management, food and nutrition, and health and wellness.

The conference is open to Indiana Extension Homemakers Association (IEHA) members and the general public.

"We hope participants take away some great ideas that they can share with their home counties, fellow citizens and club members," said Karen DeZarn, assistant Extension program leader for Purdue's College of Consumer and Family Sciences and the conference chair. "Also, we hope everybody will leave inspired and motivated."

The Melody Makers is the IEHA state chorus. It began in 1934 as the Tippecanoe County Home Economics Chorus under the direction of Albert P. Stewart. That first county chorus led to others, and, by 1937, music became a permanent part of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service.

The Melody Makers of Indiana will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 10 in Elliot Hall of Music, with an ice cream social following at the fountain near Hovde Hall. Those not attending the conference goers can go to the concert for $5. Individual county choruses will sing throughout the day June 10.

Conference workshops will cover such topics as sun safety, foodborne illnesses, travel tips, estate planning, container gardening and Monarch butterflies.

In addition to the workshops, conference attendees can participate in tours of Shadeland's Inspired Fire hand-blown glass studio, Wabash and Erie canals in Delphi, and Benton County wind farms, among others. A downtown Lafayette walking/shopping trip has been added to the conference agenda.

Conference keynote speakers include Joyce Beery Miles, a 1965 Purdue consumer and family sciences graduate; Fred Whitford, coordinator of Purdue Pesticide Programs and author of "The Queen of American Agriculture: A Biography of Virginia Claypool Meredith"; and Donya Lester, executive secretary of the Purdue Agriculture Alumni Association.

Registration is $150 with meals or $75 without meals.

Online registration is available at https://www.conf.purdue.edu/homeandfamily/. A conference brochure with mail-in registration form can be downloaded at https://www.cec.purdue.edu/regforms/H&F09web%20version.pdf

Additional information also is available by contacting DeZarn at 765-494-8252, kdezarn@purdue.edu.

Writer: Ashley Bechman, (765) 494-8402, aabechma@purdue.edu

Source: Karen DeZarn, (765) 494-8252, kdezarn@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
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