By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Well Springs Family Community Education (FCE) Club hosted the FCE Eastern Region Fall Conference on Monday at the LaFollette Church of God. This is the first time the conference has been hosted in Campbell County. The event raised funds to benefit the local Special Olympics organization, which also includes Scott and Morgan counties.

The Eastern Region Fall Conference hosted over 90 FCE members from across the East Tennessee region and included competition categories for quilting, cultural arts and more. The FCE has been hosting conferences since the 1950s and the organization is in partnership with the University of Tennessee Extension.

According to Sharon M. Schmitt-Matzen, President of the local Well Springs chapter, FCE is a “community focused organization, which is advised by Connie Greiner at the UT Extension Office.”

Schmitt-Matzen said the local FCE had been involved with Special Olympics since it started back up and that she was excited for the Regional Conference to benefit the area Special Olympians.

The Family Community Education Club held its regional conference in Campbell County on Monday at the LaFollette Church of God.  A Cultural Arts competitions was part of the annual event.
 

Donating to a cause such as Special Olympics “falls right in line” with the type of community giveback that FCE Clubs are known for, according to UT Extension Agent Connie Greiner.

She said the Tennessee Association for Family & Community Education (TAFCE) is an organization of “volunteers who work together to help strengthen the home and community by improving the quality of life of individuals and families through continuing education, leadership development and community service.”

“The TAFCE works in partnership with the University of Tennessee Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Department and with county FCS Agents to design yearly educational programs and community service projects to benefit our individual communities.  FCE Clubs are dedicated to serving, volunteering and giving back to our communities,” UT Extension agent Connie Greiner said.

The annual fall conference includes a community service project (The Special Olympics of Campbell County) and a Cultural Arts Contest with its members.  UT Extension FCS Agents as well as 90 FCE members from surrounding counties were in attendance. 

At each fall conference, a charity is chosen and donations are made during the event. Since the conference was held in Campbell County this year, the local FCE chose Special Olympics to be the recipient of the donations. 

Area Special Olympics Director and Campbell County School Board Member Brandon Johnson was a special guest speaker at Monday’s event.

Johnson said the local FCE chapter had been phenomenal in helping with the Special Olympics since it was re-established around two years ago

“We try to help out with the sporting events with volunteer hours at Special Olympics events,” Schmitt-Matzen said.

Johnson spoke about re-establishment of Special Olympics locally and how he was inspired to re-ignite the program because of his great-grandmother Phyllis, who taught special education in Ridgewood Elementary School.

“She taught me how important it is to treat everyone with kindness; She is my inspiration for everything I do for inclusion,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he wanted to get Special Olympics going again so individuals with intellectual disabilities could have opportunities for athletic engagements. He said working with Special Olympic Athletes is “one of the most humbling things you can experience.”

The last Special Olympic event held in Campbell County was a Track and Field event in May held at CCHS with over 100 athletes registered and attending. Event attendance doubled from the year it began to the next.

“That’s something that we’re very proud of,” Johnson said. Another thing that the local chapter of Special Olympics has accomplished is “sending athletes to leadership conferences” as well as providing opportunities for all ages.

“In our local program, our youngest Special Olympian is three years old, and our oldest athlete is 48,” Johnson said.

Johnson also thanked the FCE members for their support, both past and present and said that the local FCE Club had “been the glue” that helped hold the Special Olympics together early on when it was being re-established.

“They wanted to help with and more inclusive community. They partnered with us from the beginning and have helped the whole way,” Johson said.

He also spoke about upcoming inclusivity efforts in the schools to pledge “inclusivity for all.”

“We want to see whole-school engagement and see individuals with intellectual disabilities being involved in things like student council, beta club, etc.… I’m very excited that all 12 of our county schools will be taking part in that,” Johnson said, adding that “here in Campbell County, Scott County and Morgan County, we’re doing things to make our world more inclusive.”

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 9/17/2024- 6AM)

Related