"Tea with Kentucky's Shining Star"


      There has been a long line of talented, successful First Ladies gracing the halls of the Kentucky Governor’s mansion, but Glenna Fletcher is truly a shining star. Mother of two, grandmother of four and a registered nurse, First Lady Glenna Fletcher is a role model for women of all ages. 
      Given her medical background, Mrs. Fletcher serves as the ambassador and advocate for health education and awareness for all of Kentucky’s residents. She promotes and encourages healthy lifestyles and serves as special advisor to the Healthy Kentuckians 2010 effort, which addresses such issues as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and the importance of prevention. 
      Mrs. Fletcher firmly believes in taking charge of our own lives and is working to reduce the occurrence of heart disease and cancer among Kentucky’s women. Each year, she hosts the Celebration of Hope event at the Governor’s Mansion to honor hundreds of breast cancer survivors from all over Kentucky. 
      At this annual event, a specially-blended tea made of sencha, ginger, orange peel and lemongrass is served exclusively to her guests. Freear’s Hope Blend, made and distributed by Elmwood Inn Fine Teas of Perryville, Kentucky, is a medicinal-quality tea with antioxidants in honor of and support for Elmwood’s office Manager, Freear Williams, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2003. It is always a big hit among Mrs. Fletcher’s guests. And a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this very special tea goes to the Kentucky Breast Cancer Coalition.
      The First Lady is also an avid spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women, the Celebrate Your Birthday with a Mammogram birthday card program, in addition to a similar birthday card program for female Medicaid recipients. She also initiated the first statewide Wear Pink to Work Day on October 10, 2006 to raise the importance of early breast cancer detection. 
      As First Lady, Mrs. Fletcher is proud to serve as honorary chair on numerous boards and commissions such as Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, 2007 National Senior Games, Kentucky Commission on Women and the Historical Properties Advisory Council. 
      When she entertains at the Governor’s Mansion, or simply takes a moment to catch her breath, she enjoys a cup of tea served in the Lenox china that has been used by at least the last five Kentucky Governors. It is bisque in color, rimmed in gold and emblazoned with the gold State Seal. To accompany her soothing cup of tea, the First Lady treats herself to Tea Scones prepared by her Pastry Chef. And as a special favor, she sometimes asks him to add chocolate chips to the mix. She has graciously provided the recipe for these scrumptious treats below. 
      First Lady Glenna Fletcher is an impressive woman whom I am honored to be able to showcase here on High-SocieTea.com. Compassionate, self-reliant, with great inner strength, she is a person to admire and emulate in every way possible. 
      A tremendous debt of gratitude goes to Mrs. Fletcher for her munificent contributions to this newsletter. And, a heartfelt thank you also goes to Shelley Richardson, Owner, Elmwood Inn Fine Teas for her generous assistance with the preparation of this newsletter.


Source: www.firstlady.ky.gov/biography 
             www.elmwoodinn.com
Mrs. Glenna Fletcher photos: © Glenna Fletcher
Governor’s Mansion china photo: © Glenna Fletcher
Freear’s Hope Tea photo: © Elmwood Inn Fine Teas





                        First Lady Glenna Fletcher’s
                                   Tea Scones