Greetings! Here's an update on activities at the Ohio Council on Family Relations (OHCFR).

Elections

Nominations and election processes are underway for the positions of secretary/treasurer and student representative (grad or undergrad) on the OHCFR board of directors. Kudos to Rachel Brown for managing the elections cycle this year.

National Family Week activities

Carmen Irving, Ohio State University Extension Educator, and graduate student Raichel Herte posted a series of blogs which were contributed by several advisory board members during the week of November 23-29, 2014. These postings were part of an annual promotion of the Alliance for Children and Families to help strengthen and support family connections. The blogs were published on the OHCFR Facebook page throughout the week of Thanksgiving. Topics included: Introduction to National Family Week; The Sandwich Generation; Technology and Families; Family Fun on a Budget. The blogs helped OHCFR fulfill a goal of promoting increased awareness of our organization as well as providing educational materials to consumers. In the past, the OHCFR Facebook page had posted informational news about the organization but had not attracted the degree of interest that the daily blogs provided. Thanks to our contributors!

OHCFR Impact Award

Following the close of the December Advisory Board Meeting, Dr. Donna Crossman (pictured on the left, with Audrey Kraynak) was honored as the first recipient of the Ohio Council on Family Relations Impact Award and presented with a crystal plaque engraved with definitions of success. This newly instituted OHCFR award is presented to a professional/practitioner who has made a significant contribution to the field of child and family studies.

Dr. Crossman has 32 years of combined teaching experience at Furman College, Clemson University, and Ohio State University. She retired OSU where she was a senior lecturer in the sociology department. Dr. Crossman joined NCFR in 1982 and has served on the OHCFR advisory board in various roles including President-elect (2004-2005), President (2006-2007) and Past-President (2008). She was instrumental in guiding as well as keeping OHCFR viable. We congratulate Dr. Crossman and appreciate her leadership!

Membership

According to data provided by NCFR in December, there are 114 members of NCFR/OHCFR. Two are benefactors, five hold emeriti status while 32 are student members, 11 new professionals and the remainder are professionals. There are approximately 82 CFLEs in Ohio, 40 of whom are also members of NCFR.

Family Programs/Student Activities

Please share information about your programs with the subject heading, "Programs that Support Families or Student Group Activities," with Audrey Kraynak in either visual or written format. Periodically, NCFR sends out a request to the affiliate presidents for this information. This information can be emailed to Audrey Kraynak.

Spring conference — save the date

The advisory board agreed to sponsor a conference with the Ohio Association of Child & Youth Care Professionals (OACYCP) on March 25-26, 2015 at Sawmill Lodge in Huron, Ohio. See details on the NCFR website.