WAHCE (Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education, Inc.) is a statewide, nonprofit educational organization comprised of member associations in 50 counties in Wisconsin. The organization is unique in that the members extend the information they receive from the University faculty and other reliable sources to the membership and community. The UW Extension faculty serve as advisors to both the state and county HCE Associations. Education programs are developed after careful study of statewide concerns.
WAHCE is divided into 6 districts. Polk County HCE is in the northwest district. Polk County HCE is divided into five districts and each district has individual clubs. Each district has a representative on the board and eight program chairmen along with four officers complete the Executive Board.
| Position | Name | Location | Email Address |
| President | Bonnie Timm | Amery, WI | BonnieTimm257@hotmail.com |
| Vice President | |||
| Secretary | Joan Talmage | Amery, WI | talmage@amerytel.net |
| Treasurer | Cheri Scovell | Balsam Lake,WI | scovelljc@gmail.com |
| Advisor | |||
| Ext. Office Secretary | Colleen Noonan | Balsam Lake, WI | colleen.noonan@ces.uwex.edu |
| Ed Programs/ Community Outreach | Carol Medchill | Cushing,WI | medchill@lakeland.ws |
| Newsletter Committee | Bonnie Timm & Joan Talmage | Amery,WI | bonnietimm257@hotmail.com talmage@amerytel.net |
| International Coordinator | Kristy Sand | Amery,WI | kcants@hotmail.com |
| Cultural Arts | Bev Cree | Amery,WI | bcree@amerytel.net |
| Publicity/Public Relations | Jenny Larsen | Centuria, WI | No email |
| Historian | Gloria Larsen | Centuria, WI | No email |
| Wisconsin Bookworms™ | Rebecca Mumm | Clayton, WI | rmumm@amerytel.net |
If you would like to join a HCE club or start your own club in your area, please contact one of the following chairmen or the Polk County Extension Office at the Government Center at 715-485-8600.
HCE Meetings are open to any member to attend and contribute; however, only board members may vote on issues. The county board members meet monthly at the Polk County Government Center in Balsam Lake the third Monday of each month. The Polk County Family Living Agent, the advisor, attends the board meetings.
| Central Center | ||||
| Apple River Shiloh/Goose Lake | Teresa Jensen Vicki Hammer | Amery, WI Amery,WI | ||
| Southwest Center | Kristy Sand | Amery,WI | kcants@hotmail.com | |
| Southeast Center | Gloria Bauer Melody Pickard | Amery,WI Amery,WI | lbauer@amerytel.net no email | |
| Northeast Center | Sarah Brenizer | Frederic,WI | sarajo2004@yahoo.com | |
| Northwest Center | Brenda Strilzuk Nora Asper | Balsam Lake, WI Luck,WI | no email no email |
Some of the county activities that all clubs can take part in are:
- (Services of Love Project) – CRA, Northwoods, Serenity House
- Wisconsin Bookworms – Providing early literacy programming for Wisconsin children. Wisconsin Bookworms in Polk County serves 100 Head Start children. Two volunteer readers dedicate time from their schedules to share their love of reading to Polk County’s children. In addition, Polk County’s WAHCE organization raises funds to purchase the book sets each child received.
- Support Our Troops
Each Club has been sending a ‘care package’ to a service person that is known by someone in their club. HCE gets the boxes from the post office and fills them with the products suggested below. Also enclosed is a letter identifying themselves and telling them to please share with other service persons too. Anywhere from two to six boxes are usually sent once a month
Suggestions of Things to Send Troops (partial suggested list)
Food - Beef Jerky (no pork or pork products)
- Chips, trail mix, sunflower seeds
- Granola bars, Nutri-grain bars, pop tarts, protein bars
- Cracker Jack, cookies, instant oatmeal, crackers
- Cup O Noodle, instant coffee
- Restaurant size condiment packets: ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc.
Toiletries - Soap, baby wipes
- Deodorant, sunscreen
- Band-Aids, lotion
- Anti-bacterial/no-water needed soap
- Toilet paper, eye drops
- Nasal spray, foot powder
- Razor refills, toothpaste, chap-stick
Miscellaneous - Film for camera or disposable camera
- Dominoes, boot inserts
- Clorox wipes, zip lock bags
- Notebook, stationery
- Deck of cards
- Small electronic games
- Envelopes, sunglasses
- Fabric softener sheets (to keep clothes fresh)
HCE Scholarship Form writable (pdf)
HCE Scholarship Reference Form (Writeable PDF)
Return to Counties Page
Updated 4/4/2020