Leadership Academy – Nominees from all 14 KEHA Areas are invited to attend the 2026 Leadership Academy! In fact, the KEHA State Board voted also to invite the five alternates who were nominated. Candidates will receive their notification letter soon and have until Dec. 12 to return their commitment letter and training fee ($100). The third KEHA Leadership Academy will be March 4-6, 2026. This leadership training will benefit the individual as well as county and area programs. Additional information is at https://bit.ly/KEHALeadershipAcademy.

Renew Your Membership – Fall is membership drive time for KEHA. KEHA believes there are 3 Keys to Membership: Recruit – add a member to your group, Retain – value members and engage, and Repeat – continue to grow. Each time a county gets three new members (above the previous year total), the county will be entered into a drawing. More information about the campaign and possible prizes can be found on the membership campaign webpage. 

Gift Membership – Did you know you could give the gift of KEHA membership? A gift certificate card template is available on the website at https://keha.ca.uky.edu/give-gift-membership for those who want to cover the dues of a new recruit. Be sure to share how the potential new member could benefit from being a KEHA member – and also let them know why KEHA is important to you!

Dues Collection – Counties are encouraged to have a dues deadline no later than Dec. 1. Dues payment and the remittance form (KEHA Manual Appendix page 18) should be mailed to the area and state treasurers by Dec. 15. They are delinquent if not received by Dec. 31. Counties that are delinquent will not be permitted to have voting delegates and rights to vote at the 2026 state business meeting.

Scholarships – As you prepare your KEHA dues remittance form (KEHA Manual Appendix page 18), please remember that contributions to both the Evans/Hansen/Weldon Scholarship and the KEHA Member Scholarship can be included. These scholarships make a meaningful difference in the lives of our members and communities. Counties with the highest contributions will be recognized at the 2026 KEHA State Meeting. Now through February is the perfect time to promote these opportunities within your counties. Encourage eligible members to apply and continue the tradition of support and empowerment through education. For more information on scholarships, including application forms due March 1, visit https://keha.mgcafe.uky.edu/content/scholarships-grants.

Bookmark Promotes Contest – The Cultural Arts and Heritage educational program includes a creative writing contest with categories for poetry, memoir, and short story. There were 58 entries in the contest last year, and in 2026, the chairperson is looking for that many or more! A new, free bookmark is available on the KEHA Cultural Arts webpage to promote the contest. The contest deadline is March 1. Visit https://keha.mgcafe.uky.edu/content/cultural-arts-and-heritage for more information and to download the bookmark.

KEHA Grants – Applications for both KEHA Mini-Grants and KEHA Development Grants are due March 1. KEHA mini-grants (KEHA Handbook page 107) are awarded to KEHA members, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agents, or Family and Consumer Sciences Extension state staff for research and study that will provide a benefit to KEHA. KEHA Development Grants (KEHA Handbook page 110) are awarded to counties or areas for implementation of projects to benefit the membership. Applications must be prepared by KEHA members and outline the role of members and FCS professionals. Development grant applications should be sent via certified mail to the KEHA 2nd Vice President.

Member Recognitions – County Membership Recognition Reports (including 50-year member and deceased member lists) are due to the Area Vice President or Area President by Dec. 31. For membership tenure recognition, only those reaching the denoted milestone this year should be included in the report. Areas should send the compiled county results in one form to KEHA 2^nd Vice President Martha Colley by Jan. 31. (See KEHA Manual Appendix page 19.)

Register Now for the Kentucky Volunteer Forum – The Kentucky Volunteer Forum, Feb. 26-28, 2026, is a developmental and educational conference geared towards 4-H and Extension volunteers from all program areas. A special Homemakers track will take place on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington. Register before Dec. 12 for the lowest cost. The final deadline for registration is Jan. 16. For more information or to register, visit https://4-h.mgcafe.uky.edu/core-program-areas/kentucky-volunteer-forum.

2026 KEHA State Meeting Room Block Open Now – Next year’s KEHA State Meeting will take place May 12-14, 2026, at Hyatt Regency in Lexington. The theme is “Hooray!! KEHA!” and Bluegrass Area is the host. Reserve your hotel room now in the KEHA group block! Find details at https://keha.ca.uky.edu/content/state-meeting-information.

New Merchandise/Marketing Items – KEHA has new branded merchandise available for purchase. Several new items in a range of prices are available including an apron, stainless steel tumbler, travel first aid kit, and fold-up fan. Prices of several of the older items have been reduced to clear inventory. Contact 1^st Vice President Martha Colley to check availability before placing an order. View items and find the order form and contact information at https://keha.ca.uky.edu/marketing-items.

Dates to Remember

• Dec. 12 – Deadline for Leadership Academy candidates to return their commitment letter and training fee.
• Dec. 12 – Early registration deadline for the Kentucky Volunteer Forum.
• Dec. 15 – County dues due to the KEHA State Treasurer and Area Treasurer (use remittance form found in the KEHA Manual Appendix page 18). Please send remittance to Patsy Kinman, KEHA Treasurer, 310 Falmouth St., Williamstown, KY 41097.
• Dec. 31 – Dues deadline. Any county that does not submit state dues by this date will not be eligible to vote at the 2026 KEHA Business Meeting in May.
• Dec. 31 – Deadline for fundraising-based recognitions (ovarian cancer fundraising, KEHA scholarship contributions, Coins for Change contributions, etc.) Awards will be based upon funds forwarded to the KEHA state treasurer with state dues and noted on the remittance form.
• Dec. 31 – County Membership Recognition Reports (including 50-year member and deceased member lists) due to Area President or Vice-President (see KEHA Manual Appendix page 19).
• Jan. 15 – County membership database/updates due via the web-based system (agents/staff).
• Jan. 15 – KEHA Newsletter Deadline – Information due to KEHA 2nd Vice-President and KEHA State Advisor.
• Jan. 16 – Final registration deadline for the Kentucky Volunteer Forum.
• Jan. 31 – Area Membership Recognition Reports (compiled in one form) due to State 2^nd Vice-President Martha Colley (see KEHA Manual Appendix page 19).
• Feb. 26-28 – Kentucky Volunteer Forum in Lexington, KY.
• March 1 – Deadline for KEHA scholarships, grants, and most contests.
• March 4-6 – KEHA Leadership Academy at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park.