POINT PLEASANT — From plain to fanciful, from the sublime to the ridiculous, hats of all colors, shapes and sizes were on parade Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 worn by CEOS members attending the 2009 Charleston Area Fall Conference. The meeting was held at the Heizer Baptist Community Building in Putnam County.

The meeting’s theme, “Hats Off to the CEOS,” was evident, not only in the plethora of hats being worn by the ladies, but also in the table decorations and favors. Figurines of fashionably dressed women graced each table and fabric-covered hats had been crafted as wall hangings. Each attendee was given a hand-decorated paper bag containing pin cushions made to look like hats, WV lapel pins and cookies or crackers. As an ice breaker, everyone was instructed to find their “bag mate” as each bag had a twin somewhere in the room.

Following the business portion of the meeting, members were treated to a visit from Mary Todd Lincoln, as portrayed by Joyce Browning. As First Lady, Mrs. Lincoln fell into instant disfavor with Congress when she spent $20,000 of the tax payers’ money “fixing up” the White House.

“It was a mess,” she complained. “Men had ground their cigars into the carpets, and there weren’t even enough dishes with the same pattern to use for a State Dinner. Not only that, but my husband needed a new bed; there wasn’t one long enough to fit him!”

When the president died from an assassin’s bullet, Mrs. Lincoln had to fight to get him buried in the family cemetery outside Springfield, Illinois. Ms. Browning later took questions on her character. She stated that due to her unpopularity with Congress, Mrs. Lincoln was denied a pension until toward the end of her life. She died from diabetes at the age of sixty-three.

Regina Leiva, Putnam County, discussed the history of women’s hats. While one group of ladies looked for missing hat pins, another group worked on a craft. The glue gun was kept busy as everyone enjoyed making lapel pins from miniature straw hats, which they decorated with flowers, ribbons, and crinoline of various colors.

Lunch consisted of delicious homemade spaghetti and sauce, garlic bread, salad and dessert. Hats were judged by the two male chefs. Betty Farmer’s hat won the Most Glamorous category. Other categories included Most Original, Prettiest, Largest, and Best All Around. Before departing, several members won door prizes.

Nine members of Mason County CEOS attended the Area Fall Conference. They included Betty Farmer, Area Representative; Eleanor Hoffman, County President; April Pyles, County Treasurer; Samantha Hoffman, Avalanche Club; Catherine Yauger, Pleasant Club; Betty, Sherry and Desiree Mayes; and Jane Holstein, Wohelo Club. Other counties represented were Cabell, Kanawha, Putnam, and Wayne.

Area CEOS by-laws will be ready to take action on at the meeting Feb. 8, 2010, at the Putnam County Library. The Area Spring Conference will be held Apr. 3, 2010 in Wayne. They will have a travel theme.

CEOS is an acronym for Community Educational Outreach Service. It is a volunteer organization which evolved from Farm Women’s Club, to Extension Homemakers, to today’s CEOS. Membership includes men, women, homemakers, and those who work outside the home.

Anyone interested in more information may contact the West Virginia University Extension Office at 304-675-0888.