Racine County Home and Community Education was founded in 1947 as the Home
Demonstration Council, a national women’s program of the University of Wisconsin
Extension supported by the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1969, UW
Extension changed the state association name to Wisconsin Extension Homemakers, then
the Wisconsin Association for Family and Community Education in 1993, and finally
the state withdrew from the national organization to become the Wisconsin
Association for Home and Community Education in 1994. Through all these changes, the
organization sought to improve the lives of its members, their families and their
communities, as well as communities throughout the world, through fellowship,
productivity, and knowledge.
Racine County Home and Community Education was governed by an executive council at
the county level, consisting of representatives from local area clubs, and supported
by the University of Wisconsin Racine County Extension. Clubs were led by an elected
President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer with additional committees. The
organization was part of state and national level organizations that varied over
time, principally the Southeast Wisconsin District Extension Homemakers, Wisconsin
Extension Homemaker’s Council, Country Women’s Council of the U.S.A, and National
Extension Homemaker’s Council. The organization was also a member of the
international Associated Country Women of the World which guided most of the Racine
County Home and Community Education International Committee projects and activities.
Membership was open to all interested individuals, but chiefly consisted of women.
