Altrusa International of Montrose Colorado

Scholarship Application Forms - 2012

2012-01-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Students who wish to apply for a scholarship from Altrusa of Montrose should download, complete, and return the appropriate Scholarship Application form listed below.

Montrose and Delta High School Scholarships - Altrusa - General HS 2012

Colorado Mesa University Scholarship -
Altrusa Mesa Scholarship 2012

Delta-Montrose Technical College Scholarship -
Altrusa Delta Montrose 2012

New: Ben and Pat Woods Agricultural Scholarship -
Altrusa - Ben&PatWoods 2012

Altrusa of Montrose awarded $1000 grant for Lifeline

2012-01-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

Alice Vest, Chair of the Lifeline committee, accepts the grant from Diane Winger, President of Altrusa of Montrose. Not Pictured: Erin Berge, grant writer, Grants & Bequests Chair

Altrusa International, Inc. of Montrose, Colorado is honored to be able to present their Lifeline project with a $1,000 grant from the Altrusa International Foundation. Altrusa's Lifeline Project will use this grant to purchase and maintain medical alert devices for senior citizens who are living at home, usually alone, and at risk of needing emergency assistance. This device is activated with a button worn on a pendant or wrist to summon immediate help. Having this invaluable service gives senior citizens the security and peace of mind knowing that help is not too far away when they need it.

Diane Winger, Altrusa Club President, states that grants of $250-$2,000 are available through sponsoring Altrusa Clubs from the Altrusa International Foundation, Inc. to improve the economic well-being and quality of life through the Foundation's commitment to community service and literacy.

Established as a charitable corporation in 1962, the Foundation is committed to the service goals and objectives of Altrusa International, Inc. Its sole purpose is to be an avenue through which Altrusans can assist Altrusa Clubs and other worthy organizations, throughout the world, to carry out their programs of community service and assistance to individuals in need.

Funding is provided by voluntary contributions from Altrusa members, Altrusa Clubs and the general public.

Altrusa's annual Holiday Festival & Gifts coming November 18, 2011

2011-11-11T17:50:00.001-07:00

This fundraising evening includes delicious "heavy" appetizers & desserts catered by Sweet Bites, wines from Corks Fine Wines, beers from Horsefly Brewery, and a marvelous assortment of decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces, and a plethora of gift baskets for all occasions.

The decorated items will be on display in the lobby of Wells Fargo Bank all week leading up to this finale event. Stop by to view them and to place a bid in the silent auction. Bidding will close during the Friday evening event.

$20 suggested donation per person at the door (over 21 only, please) goes to our 501(c)3 Altrusa Club of Montrose CO Foundation. Altrusa of Montrose invests the funds raised to provide scholarships to local students, install & maintain Lifeline emergency notification units to seniors, support numerous literacy projects for all ages, provide Love Hug Bears for child patients at MMH, provide school supplies to local students, provide volunteers and award grants for numerous community non-profit projects, and much more.

New this year: trees are also available for viewing & bidding at Alpine Bank (E. Main), Bank of the West (E. Main), Timberline Bank, Vectra Bank, and at Montrose Memorial Hospital. These silent auctions will be open during business hours from Monday, 11/14 through Thursday, 11/17, and bidding will close that Thursday afternoon on these trees.

Come join us for a fun evening!

When: Friday, November 18, 2011, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Wells Fargo Bank, downtown Montrose

Make A Difference Day Early Literacy Fair

2011-10-11T09:19:00.002-06:00

Join Altrusa of Montrose and Montrose Regional Library for a fun and educational event focused on developing literacy skills in children from birth through 2nd Grade.

The Fair kicks off on Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 a.m. with Storytelling with Julie Herrera, followed by a variety of entertaining and informative, 15-minute workshops. You'll be able to collect tips for working with children to ensure excellent literacy development. Clock hour credit for child care providers available.

While the adults are picking up great ideas for helping the children in their care develop a love for reading (yes, even the infants benefit!), the babies and children through age 5 will enjoy:

Reach Out and Read!
Dramatic Play
Rhymes and Chimes
Scarf Play

Kindergarteners through 2nd graders can participate in:

Writing to Read
Reading with your emergent reader
Words, Words, and More Words
Puppet Pals Craft

Every child who attends will receive a free book!

Refreshments served by Centennial Middle School Student Council:
Apple Cider..........Pumpkin Cookies...........Apples

So, bring your kids to Montrose Regional Library from 10 a.m. to Noon on October 22, 2011 for a good time, and return home with lots of useful information that will help you to help the children in your care to develop excellent literacy skills.

Altrusans volunteer for Bosom Buddies

2011-10-08T13:51:00.001-06:00

Part of the registration team await the arrival of fundraising participants.
Numerous additional Altrusans handled food preparation and other event logistics

Altrusa members served as volunteers again this year at the Bosom Buddies Walk/Run. Club members handled registration, food for participants, and various other logistics, as we have for many years of this fundraising event. Altrusa of Montrose and MHS ASTRA also donated funds to Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group of Southwestern Colorado.

Kiwi Award for October 2011

2011-10-08T13:39:00.003-06:00

L to R: Elaine Moore and Jana Ackerman are honored with
the Kiwi Award (presented by Diane Winger, club president)
Not pictured: Cheryl Gibson

This month, our nominees for recognition by their peers are:

- Cheryl Gibson for all the extra time she has spent with schools, principals, and teachers for taking the Bike to School to the bigger International Walk to School Day. Cheryl is also involved with publicizing what is being done by the schools.

- Elaine Moore, who has has contributed so much energy and time to the club over the years. She approaches every task with such enthusiasm and drive and always comes through with flying colors and a smile.

- Jana Ackerman for her great new literacy project ideas and all her work in organizing and publicizing them.

The Kiwi necklace was awarded to Jana, whose name was selected by random drawing. Congratulations and thank you to our nominees!

Altrusa provides school supplies to area students

2011-10-06T21:10:00.000-06:00

Dorothy Causey and Ruth Heath pick out school supplies
at a local business

Altrusa of Montrose CO donated approximately $1,200 worth of needed school supplies to four area schools with high percentages of children from low-income households. Each school received ten backpacks as well as several boxes of pencils, paper, scissors, crayons, glue, zip-lock bags and other supplies requested by the school district.

Community Tap Night benefiting Altrusa at
Horsefly Brewery

Funds for these supplies were raised from a used book sale (one Altrusan donated over 800 books from her family's library) and a Community Tap Night sponsored by a local brew pup, Horsefly Brewery. The brewery donated 75¢ per beer or soft drink sold during a special evening for Altrusa, which amounted to a donation of $135 to Altrusa. Members of the community were asked to bring additional donations of school supplies to the Tap Night, and this resulted in another large box of supplies which Altrusa donated to a fifth elementary school in our area. Our Club also donated $200 to each of the local middle schools to be given as scholarships for athletic fees for students unable to afford to participate.

We had a large number of used books left over after our sale, and these were donated to Montrose Memorial Hospital Volunteers who will continue selling them to raise funds for their hospital-related services.

Kiwi Award for September 2011

2011-09-21T10:36:00.000-06:00

Michelle Gottlieb holds the Kiwi necklace
presented by President Diane Winger.
Not pictured: Award nominee Susan Woody

Altrusans nominated 2 of our members for the monthly Kiwi Award this month:

- I nominate Michelle Gottlieb for the wonderful job she has done with the new ASTRA club in Olathe. They are strong in numbers and in purpose and she indeed provides a strong role model for these young people.

- I nominate Susan Woody for donating all those books for the school supplies fundraiser.

Michelle was awarded the honor of wearing the Kiwi Necklace for the month of September.

"Kiwi Award" for Altrusan of the Month - August 2011

2011-08-09T08:57:00.002-06:00

L to R: nominees Karen Connor and Ginny Spaven (wearing Kiwi necklace) with club President, Diane Winger

After our club received a lovely necklace from our distinguished Altrusa visitors from New Zealand, we wanted to do something special with it. For the remainder of this fiscal year, our members may nominate other Altrusans within our club for a Kiwi Award for their service to Altrusa of Montrose. One of the nominees will be selected at random each month to be given the honor of wearing the necklace that month.

In August, the following two Altrusans were honored with these nominations:

- I nominate Ginny Spaven because she has brought exceptional business acumen, leadership strength, devotion and integrity to all the ways she helps Altrusa — and she does this so unobtrusively!

- I nominate Karen Connor for taking on the task of the newsletter.

Ginny was selected to wear the Paua (New Zealand abalone shell) necklace for August 2011. Congratulations and many thanks to this month's nominees.

Altrusa of Montrose wins International recognition

2011-08-06T12:14:00.002-06:00

Altrusa of Montrose walked away with five awards presented at the recent Altrusa International Convention held in South Dakota. Diane Winger, President of the Altrusa Club in Montrose, wore a path in the floor as she repeatedly went to the podium to receive these awards. For the 18th consecutive year, Altrusa of Montrose was honored with the Distinguished Club award. No other Altrusa club has received this award every year since its inception. Our local organization also received the following awards:

International Relations project awards
L to R: Carol Parker, Diane Winger
(not pictured: Val Burnell)

1st Place (tie) – Net Membership Gain award

2nd Place – Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun International Relations Award for 2009-2010 projects “Healing & Helping Around the World”

3rd Place – Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun International Relations Award for 2010-2011 projects “Building Bridges of Understanding and Hope”

ASTRA, Altrusa’s Montrose High School affiliate, received 1st place for its 2010-2011 project, “Alleviating Hunger in Youth at Home and Around the World.” Our local ASTRA club has won this award 6 out of the past 7 years, and are judged against ASTRA clubs throughout the world. Altrusa member Lori Michaels serves as Chair of the ASTRA committee.

1st Place ASTRA award
L to R: Lori Michaels, Carol Parker, Diane Winger
(not pictured: Val Burnell)

Long-time Altrusa members Carol Parker and Val Burnell serve on both the International Relations committee and the ASTRA committee, and were instrumental in documenting the projects submitted for these International awards.

Donations of School Supples Requested

2011-07-16T08:51:00.001-06:00

Altrusa of Montrose is sponsoring a drive to collect school supplies for needy students in the Montrose area. We realize that many families in our area find it a financial burden preparing their students for school at this time of year. Lists of suggested and required items for individual schools in the area are posted in the local stores where these items may be purchased.

The drop-off location for donations of school supplies is the office of Buckhorn Geotech, 222 South Park Ave., Montrose. Altrusa members will deliver the donations to the schools for distribution to students.

Inquiries may be directed to Roberta, 249-3873.

Altrusa Club of Montrose CO Foundation

2011-06-29T14:10:00.002-06:00

Officers elected for the 2011-2012 Foundation Board are:

Roberta Hoey - President
Rose Price - Vice President
Natalie Frush - Secretary
Alice Vest - Treasurer

Trustees:
Sheryl Solow
Marianne Cross
Lita Sargent
Linda Riba (Altrusa President-Elect)
Dorinda Elder (Altrusa 2nd Vice-President & Service Chair)
Erin Berge (Altrusa Grants & Bequest Chair)

Mission Statement
In accordance with Altrusa Principles: to expand community services; to enhance Altrusa's reputation in
Montrose County; and to build financial credibility through efficient financial management and solicitation of grants, bequests and tax deductible donations.

2011-06-25T12:39:00.005-06:00

Club Historian Dorothy Causey has provided us with a summary of Awards for our club and club members over the years:
Awards and Dist Intl Offices Thru 2011

She has also documented important information about Altrusa of Montrose 2010-2011, including a summary of Club projects and Grants awarded to a number of organizations in our community:
History 2010 - 2011 Club Year

2011 Altrusa Scholarship Winners

2011-06-15T14:21:00.000-06:00

Altrusa International of Montrose recently awarded academic scholarships to 5 students who will be attending various colleges and universities throughout the U.S.

L to R: Montrose HS - Kelsey Leigh Howe (Tufts University), Ricki Watkins (Colorado State University) - Olathe HS - Emily Brummitt (Colorado Northwestern Community College) - Mesa State College - Crystal McCurdy (Mesa State University) - Delta/Montrose Technical College - Katherine Davis (Delta/Montrose Technical College) and Dr. Sheryl Solow, Assistant Superintendent, Montrose School District

Committees 2011-2012

2011-06-03T10:57:00.000-06:00

The following members are serving as Committee Chair for 2011-2012

Communications - Linda Riba (President-Elect)

Historian/Sister Club: Ruth Heath
Yearbook: Sandra Tyler
Speaker's Bureau: Lita Sargent

Finance - Marianne Cross (Treasurer)

Bequests & Grants: Erin Berge
Spring Luncheon: Allison Nadel
Holiday Festival: Bobbi Brown
Fundraising: Roena Frank, Marianne Cross

Service - Dorinda Elder (2nd Vice President)

ASTRA (MHS): Lori Michaels
ASTRA (Olathe): Michelle Gottlieb
Bell Ringing: Natlie Frush
Christmas Baskets: Marge Keehfuss
Educational Services: Dr. Sheryl Solow
Environmental: Cheryl Gibson
International Relations: Val Burnell, Carol Parker
Lifeline: Alice Vest
Literacy: Jana Ackerman
Love Hug Bears: Rose Price
Member Issues: Roberta Hoey
Tender Touch Turbans: Joyce Loss

Membership - Allison Nadel (1st Vice President)

Holiday Party: Rose Price
Initiation: Elaine Moore
Orientation: Martha Dusio

Special Committees - Diane Winger (President)

Bylaws: Becky Wolford
Elections: Margaret Goodhue
Stategic Planning: Becky Wolford

2011-2012 Board of Directors

2011-06-02T13:04:00.008-06:00

President: Diane Winger
President-Elect: Linda Riba
First Vice President: Allison Nadel
Second Vice President: Dorinda Elder
Secretary: Elaine Hale Jones
Treasurer: Marianne Cross
Treasurer Elect: Molly Feddersen
Immediate Past President: Kaye Hotsenpiller
Director: Ginny Spaven
Director/Parliamentarian: Martha Dusio

2011-2012 Board
L to R: Linda Riba, Martha Dusio, Kaye Hotsenpiller, Marianne Cross
Elaine Hale Jones, Molly Feddersen, Dorinda Elder, Allison Nadel, Diane Winger
Not pictured: Ginny Spaven

3rd Graders enjoy Recycling Field Trips

2011-05-27T13:26:00.000-06:00

Altrusa members were treated to a stack of thank you notes from area 3rd Grade students who recently went on field trips to learn about recycling. Our club helped fund the transporation to make these trips to the landfill, Recla Metals, the Recycling Center, and the Community Garden.

(click for larger version)

Altrusa gives Passage Charter students a head-start on literacy for their babies

2011-05-25T19:32:00.001-06:00

Early literacy research indicates that one of the best ways to ensure young children become competent readers and writers is to get books into their hands. As a way of supporting this effort in our community, Altrusa International of Montrose recently gave each student attending Passage Charter School a selection of board books as a beginning library for the babies of these young women. This gift was given with the hope that it will empower young mothers to read early and often to their children as they grow.

L to R: (standing) Asia Broughton, Maria Navarro, Erika Tatman,
Jana Ackerman (Altrusa Literacy Chair), Mana Molina, Anya Van Acker
(kneeling) Ana Nieto, Jana Camargo

May 2011 Newsletter

2011-05-25T13:02:00.000-06:00

The May 2011 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2011 05

Altrusa of Montrose Wins Awards

2011-05-10T19:21:00.001-06:00

Reported by Roberta Hoey, Awards Chair, 2010-2011

Altrusa of Montrose President Kaye Hotsenpiller displays certificates
for awards issued during the District Ten Conference.

The Montrose Club continued our good record of winning again this year at the annual District Ten Conference:

COMMUNICATIONS:
Newsletter- 2nd Place
Yearbook- 1st Place
Website- 2nd Place

NANCY TAYLOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD: 1st Place for our Kids on Wheels project to encourage children to ride their bikes

DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP (MOST NEW MEMBERS): Tied for 3rd Place

JEN HANSON SERVICE AWARD: 1st Place for our Love Hug Bears project, providing stuffed bears for children in the ER or undergoing surgery at Montrose Memorial Hospital

DR. NINA FAY CALHOUN AWARD: 1st Place for our International Relations projects, including supporting health, education, and 3rd World entrepreneurs in dozens of countries

MAMIE L BASS AWARD: 2nd Place for our projects supporting cancer patients, Tender Touch Turbans and volunteer work for Bosom Buddies

Lorie Bollig was our nominee for Governor’s Award and had some strong competition. We want to congratulate Lorie on being chosen by our club and we will submit her name again in the future. Rose Price has been entered in the International competition for Community Leadership Award and the winner of that award will be announced at the July Convention. Our club also was announced as a winner of this year’s Distinguished Club Award along with several other clubs in District Ten. This is our 18th consecutive year of winning this award.

April 2011 Newsletter

2011-04-29T10:29:00.001-06:00

The April 2011 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2011 04

March 2011 Newsletter

2011-03-27T16:39:00.000-06:00

The March 2011 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2011 03

Altrusa raises funds for MHS Knowledge Bowl Team

2011-03-25T10:03:00.000-06:00

Team Altrusa: Martha Dusio, Linda Riba, Diane Winger, Jana Ackerman

Altrusans demonstrated their knowledge (and occasional lack thereof) and Altrusa donated $100 to help send the official Knowledge Bowl team from Montrose High School to participate in a state-wide competetion to be held in Durango. The Altrusa team finished in 3rd place at this fundraising competition, which involved answering questions in a broad range of topics including history, science, grammar, mathematics, literature, and a little trivia. A great deal of laughter was heard coming from each of the competition rooms as 2 or 3 teams faced one another during 3 rounds of oral questions.

This is the 2nd year that Altrusa sent a team to participate in this fun event.

MHS - ASTRA is #1 Again!

2011-03-16T13:48:00.001-06:00

Several ASTRA club members pose with the 1st place award
Back row, L to R, Sonja Silva, Mikallya Brown, Taylee Neubauer, Chelsey Goble, Kaylee Isom, and Kali Cross.
Front row, L to R, Lauren Bony, Emily Wolverton, Karleigh Schrick, Kia Peters (holding trophy), and Stephanie Speck.

Our ASTRA club at Montrose High School did it again -- their service projects earned them the distinction of a 1st Place award from Altrusa International. Yes, we said International -- their altruistic activities for the 2009-2010 year were judged #1 in the world. Again. MHS ASTRA Club has won the 1st place award 6 times out of the past 7 years (and they took home the 3rd place award during that 7th year).

What did these high school students do to deserve this honor? Here is an excerpt describing their projects during just one year:

Their goal at the beginning of the year was to adopt at least 3 local projects and 1 international project. They exceeded that goal by completing 9 local projects and 3 international projects.

Community Youth ProjectsCurtis’s Cases - Over several months, ASTRA gathered lightly used duffle bags and new personal hygiene items for their Curtis’s Case Project. The “cases” were donated to the Drug Endangered Children’s Program. The cases will provide youth with a “space of their own” when many times they are removed from homes that are so contaminated that all belongings must be abandoned. The girls made fleece blankets and assembled the cases. Each case included the following: a blanket, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other age-appropriate items like crayons and coloring books.

Literacy and Litter League Environmental Project – ASTRA and Altrusa volunteers did more than just collect trash for the landfill on stretches of several roads They sorted through roadside trash to separate recyclable plastic and glass containers and metal cans from non-recyclable trash and arranged for appropriate pick-up and disposal.

Tandem Families –The club purchased Christmas presents for 30 needy area youth. The club shopped for and wrapped the presents. Tandem Families serves challenged youth through methamphetamine recovery support, family mentoring, parenting classes, and teen support groups.

Run 4 Shelter – Club members distributed water bottles and provided volunteer support for the race that supports Girls on the Run. “This after school program uses the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The girls train together to walk or run the 5K event, leaving with a stronger sense identity and understanding of what it means to be part of a team and the community.”

Voices for Children - ASTRA members served as volunteers for a fundraiser to benefit a nonprofit organization that “endeavors to ensure that abused, neglected and abandoned children who have become dependents of the Montrose County Court will have a safe and permanent home."

School Youth Projects
Teen Breast and Cervical Cancer – The club hosted a workshop about teen breast and cervical cancer issues. Altrusans supplied brunch items and ASTRA members participated with their mothers. This event tied into our participation in the Bosom Buddy Walk-Run and our $250 donation to support local teens impacted by breast cancer.

Teen Personal Safety Workshop- The club invited a member of the Montrose Police to present a program giving tips and information for personal safety and awareness, an important awareness activity for members leaving for college.

Youth Experiencing Grief - ASTRA members served as coat checkers and servers for Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado’s benefit gala. The club donated all of their tips from coat checking to support the Youth in Grief program.

Earth Day - Club members gathered to help install a 6’ Colorado Blue Spruce at the high school on Earth Day.

International Youth Projects
Schools in Nepal - ASTRA members purchased and shopped for school supplies to send with an Altrusan visiting Nepal. The club also sent a $300 donation to fund school projects in 4 remote Sherpa villages. In addition to supplying greatly needed school supplies, the funds renovated a playground/soccer field and provided winter clothing to students learning in unheated schools.

Pocket Flag Project - The goal of the Pocket Flag Project is to get as many pocket flags as possible into the pockets of our young soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Three hundred small American flags were properly folded into the traditional triangle. Along with a personal note written by an ASTRA member, the following message was included: “A flag for your pocket so you can always carry a little piece of home. We are praying for you and we are proud of you. Thank you for defending our country and our freedom."

Pennies for Peace - Members read Listen to the Wind (an elementary version of Three Cups of Tea) to students at Pomona Elementary School and placed a donation container there for Central Asia Institute’s, Pennies for Peace program.

February 2011 Newsletter

2011-02-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

The Febrary 2011 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2011 02

State of the Club Report - January 2011

2011-02-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. OF MONTROSE, COLORADO

2010-2011 has been and will continue to be a very active year for Altrusa International, Inc. of Montrose. We are considered the premier service club in the local area. We have received our Distinguished Club patch for the 17th consecutive year. Our theme this year is “ALTRUSANS-Building a Stronger Community”. We began our year celebrating our 35th anniversary with a birthday luncheon.

COMMUNICATIONS-

Yearbook- We moved back to printing our yearbooks for the members. The website distribution did not work for all members. We now have both options available for members.

Website- We have expanded our web presence with Facebook, and our Club is now “Friends” with 240 people and organizations as of January 31, 2011.

Publicity- Facebook has greatly expanded our ability to publicize fundraisers and inform people about our projects. We continue to work positively with the local media on publicity as well, with over 25 articles or photos of Altrusa activities appearing in the Daily Press between June 1 and January 31.

Telephone/E-Mail- Communications with members is done primarily through email with the exception of a few who do not have computer access.

Newsletter- Our newsletter is published several times a year to all members.
Everyone is encouraged to submit articles to it. Board members complete an article every month on different things that are happening in the Club. The committee has added a parliamentary as well as a “Page from the Past” section to the newsletter.

FINANCE –

Golf Tournament- - The fundraising started in June, 2010 to benefit the Lifeline project. Our biggest challenge with this Tournament is planning the dates so that we have no competition from other special events at local golf courses. We were able to net $5,584.

Holiday Festival- This was held in November, 2010, with a net of $15,531.35. The festival continues to be a popular community event.

Spring Luncheon- This is planned for March 26, 2011, with the theme of “Music Makes Memories”. Expenses to the Club have increased for this event which necessitates some adjustments for us but we hope to make a profit of approximately $11,660.

Internal Fund-Raising- We have not had any internal raffles this year thus far. A member initiated a “Pot of Gold” fundraiser. Members collected scrap gold and this member turned the collection in for a total of $2344. The dollars will help fund member registration fees to the 2011 District Ten Conference being held in Montrose. $784.70 worth of nuts was sold during the Christmas season to members, families, and at the Basement Boutique. The funds raised will help defray future 2011 conference and convention costs.

Grants- Our grants committee has been busy writing grants. We have received $250 from DMEA and $250 from Wal*Mart. These funds directly benefit Love Hug Bears and Lifeline.

SERVICE-

We started the year with a brainstorming session to create new ideas for committees. The committees reviewed the ideas and made their plan for the year. Our various service chairs have been extremely busy. Our meeting schedule this year has the service committees meeting on the second Tuesday and fund-raising committees meet on the fourth Tuesday in order to allow members to attend the different meetings.

Service Committee- All of the sub-committees submitted their proposed budgets which were incorporated into the 2010-2011 Service Committee budget that was approved by the club. Total projected sources of funds were $39,390 of which $6,500 were made available from undesignated reserves. Thus far we have funded the following community services:

• All Points Transit $1,000.00
• Bosom Buddies $500.00
• Camp Good Grief $250.00
• Eating disorder Support Group $200.00
• Fore-Kin Trails Genealogy Society $200.00
• Habitat for Humanity $230.00
• Kids Aid Montrose $200.00
• Senior Community Meals Program $208.00
• MHS Senior Graduation Party $250.00
• Montrose Community Thanksgiving Dinners $500.00
• Montrose Fire Protection District $200.00
• Montrose Police Department $100.00
• Montrose High School Lead the Way Program $200.00
• Christmas Day Meals for Shut-Ins $100.00
• Montrose Elementary Schools After School Program $300.00
• Dolphin House $300.00

Environmental-(1) Sponsored the 2nd Annual Kids on Wheels featuring a challenge for kids to ride their bikes to school. There were weekly gift certificates presented and two bicycles given away. (2)Annual bulb planting to help beautify city owned Cerise and Baldridge Park. (3) Zero Waste Luncheon on Earth Day. (4) Highway clean-up had 16 members, 1 husband, and a son completing 1 mile of highway clean up.

ASTRA- The Montrose ASTRA Club took 1st place in the ASTRA Club Service Award for the 5th year straight. This young group has been active in helping with the Sharing Ministries, Kids Aid, participated in the Bosom Buddies Walk, and will hold a baby food drive in the near future. They also sponsored an ASTRA after hour’s event to encourage the new freshman to become members of their club. Youth purchased 30 gifts for children from 2 months old to 16 years old for Christmas. They cut boughs, made and sold wreaths to purchase these presents. The Club also purchased food prior to the holidays for three less fortunate families.
Our Club started an ASTRA Club in Olathe with 13 girls and 8 boys. They were initiated and leaders installed with a Club made lasagna dinner.

Bell-Ringing- Rang bells for Salvation Army December 5 at local stores.

Christmas Baskets-Provided gifts and foods to one needy family with three children before the Holidays.

Educational Services-Provided 5 scholarships to local youth attending Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Mesa State on the Montrose Campus, and the Delta-Montrose Technical School.

Lifeline-Continues to provide communication devices for elderly and disabled to enable them to live at home. Currently we have 107 units in service (with 9 people on the waiting list) in the eastern Montrose County area. The program currently has replaced all units that were in need of replacement.

Literacy- (1) Cut 208 buddy bags, 416 straps for bags and Altrusans sewed the bags together. Makes and distributes “Buddy Bags” to area clinics, Tri County Resources, doctor’s offices, etc. (2) Collects books for Seasons Reading project and gives them to Montrose County Health and Human Services. (3) Honors local teachers on a monthly basis with the Apple Teacher Award. (4) Provide the Adult Education Center with scholarship money for continuing education and GED. (5) MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY- The title for this year’s project was “Making a Difference through Early Childhood Education” The event was held at Lion’s Park. It was geared toward young children, their parents, caregivers, and teachers. There was a puppet show, bookmobile, books given out in Spanish and English, face painting and a total of 31 volunteers made this event happen for our community.

Love-Hug Bears-The committee has furnished 640 stuffed animals to our local hospital for children in ER and having surgery.

Tender Touch Turbans- Provides turbans to cancer patients who have lost hair due to medication. The Committee has given out 12 turbans since June.

Member Issues- The committee was very active in the annual Bosom Buddy walk. Members helped set-up, clean-up, prepare food for serving, and complete registration the day of the walk.

International Relations- (1)Pakistan water filtration project: In the wake of the massive flooding in Pakistan several water filtration projects were researched and one selected where we had full confidence. We donated $300 which was matched by $450 from individuals. 5 volunteer hours (2)Healing the Children: Hosted Dr. Winkler as an all club speaker. Committee members have gathered toothbrushes and toothpaste to send with him to Dominican Republic and/or Vietnam, and are seeking donations of children's pain medications. We have partnered with ASTRA who is donating Baby Beanies. 4 hours so far. This project will not be completed until mid March. (3)Himalayan Project: In process of supporting an impoverished region in Sikim. We will be collecting and sending warm clothing and school supplies to northern Nepal again. (4)Pennies for Peace: We are in the process of researching the possibilities of a permanent coin collection system in partnership with the library or high school. (5)Kiva: Ongoing loans and rollover of funds to support micro financing of entrepreneurs in numerous countries. (6)5 UN date presentations to the club have been completed. (7)Helping Haiti Project: Hosted all club speaker and sent $300 committee budget funds matched by $300 to combat cholera in Haiti for a total of $600.

MEMBERSHIP-

Our current membership stands at 80 including two emeritus members.

The annual member survey has been distributed, eliciting feed back to determine how to continue to best serve our members and community. Results from the survey will be compiled and disseminated within the next few weeks.

The Holiday Party committee produced an excellent luncheon on 12/14 for the enjoyment of the members.

Orientation/Initiation- These committees strive to explain Altrusan principals to new members and make them all feel welcome to our organization.

Courtesy- Honors birthdays, sends sympathy, get well cards as needed.

The Conference 2011 committee is hard at work planning for the conference to be held in Montrose in May. The annual conference will be held this year on May 5th – 7th in Montrose. The theme for the conference is “Tickled Pink in Montrose”.

Strategic Planning: The plan did not change this year.

Kaye Hotsenpiller, President 2010-2011

Altrusa International Inc. of Montrose, Colorado

Preview Damiano's latest restaurant & help our community

2011-02-11T15:52:00.009-07:00

Have you heard? Anthony & Lisa Damiano, along with chef Kevin Kong Chiang, are opening a new restaurant -- Sushitini. Join Altrusa for a special preview fundraising event on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 6:00 PM.

$50 per person—with $25 of the ticket price as a donation
to Altrusa International of Montrose Foundation—a non‐profit 501(c)3

Dinner Menu

Passed Sushi, Steamed Dumplings and Dim Sum (small individual portions of food—like oriental hors d’oeuvres)
Green Salad with Seaweed and Ginger Dressing
Choice of Entrée—

Teriyaki American Kobe Steak or
Green Apple Teriyaki Glazed Salmon
(Both Served with Vegetables and Rice)

Lisa’s Signature Sushitini Dessert
Two drinks per person (includes alcoholic beverages)

Only 54 seats are available, so don’t wait to purchase yours!

Contact Bonnie Coffman (964‐4330) to purchase your tickets today.

2011 Spring Luncheon details announced

2011-02-08T15:00:00.001-07:00

Altrusa's signature fundraiser event -- our 23rd Annual Spring Luncheon -- will usher in Springtime with a musical flair on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

Join us for fun,delightful food, an outstanding shopping boutique, a fashion show featuring local businesses, and much more. The support of the people and businesses in Montrose is always greatly appreciated, and makes it possible for Altrusa to provide scholarships, grants, and numerous services to our community and beyond.

2011SpringLuncheonFlyer

Tickets are $35 per person. Please contact Ginny Spaven at 964-4379 to reserve yours.

January 2011 Newsletter

2011-01-25T11:07:00.002-07:00

The January 2011 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2011 01

Supporting Montrose Botanic Gardens

2011-01-20T08:59:00.001-07:00

Altrusa Club of Montrose recently donated $1,800 to the Montrose Botanical Society to obtain materials for a sprinkler system in the new Valley Garden, opening this year at the Botanic Gardens on Pavilion Drive. The society and the City of Montrose are working together to install the sprinkler system for this historically representative garden of the area.

Pictured, from left, are Susan Woody, incoming president of the Montrose Botanical Society, outgoing president Cindy Youngstrom, and Kaye Hotsenpiller, president of Altrusa International Inc. of Montrose.

Perfect record continues -- Distinguished Club Award for the 17th consecutive year

2011-01-18T13:57:00.001-07:00

Altrusa of Montrose was honored once again with a Distinguished Club Award from Altrusa International for the 2009/2010 year.

An award patch was added to a banner of previous awards, with the banner being displayed by Roberta Hoey, who served as club President during that year, and by Lorie Bollig, President in 2008/2009 (also a winning year).

Books for Children - Season's Readings

2010-12-08T14:17:00.001-07:00

Since 1998, Altrusa has supported the Montrose Daily Press “Season’s Readings” program, which distributes about 2,000 books annually to school-age children for a “gift of literacy” during the holiday season. Altrusa members collect books from community donation drop-off sites, bundle the books in ribbons and bows, and deliver the books to Montrose County Health and Human Services Department where parents and caregivers select books appropriate for children of all ages.

December 2010 newsletter

2010-12-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

The December 2010 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2010 12

Over 100 spectacular items at Silent Auction

2010-11-13T18:39:00.003-07:00

Be sure to stop by the lobby of Wells Fargo downtown during the week of November 15, 2010 to view and bid on incredible decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces, and gift baskets. Altrusa's annual Holiday Festival & Gifts event culminates with a festive party on Friday, November 19 from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the bank. A donation of $10 at the door admits each adult (must be over 21) to a fun evening of food, beer from Horsefly Brewery, wine from Corks Fine Wines & Spirits, non-alcoholic beverages, and the excitement of the final night of the silent auction.

The trees come in a wide range of themes, including traditional, Harley Davidson, John Deere, Western, Wines, 2 Nights of Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and much more, with colors and designs to suit a wide variety of decors. Some have matching wreaths and/or centerpieces. And the centerpieces are just as varied as the trees -- some with a Christmas theme, others suitable for many occasions.

Need a special gift? Over 25 gift baskets were donated by Altrusa members and local businesses, such as Ray's Good Stuff (the jerky store), Merle Norman Cosmetics, Great Harvest Bakery, and Colorado Boy Brewery. There are great gifts for a baby shower, birthdays, anniversaries, and, of course, Christmas. The truth is, many of the gift baskets are so appealing that people bid on them to keep for themselves!

We hope you'll join us at the party Friday evening, or at least stop in to the bank during the week to bid on some of these marvelous items. Remember: all proceeds go to our local Altrusa Foundation -- a 501(c)3 non-profit -- to support the many projects, scholarships, and local grants described on this website.

October/November 2010 Newsletter

2010-11-03T14:18:00.000-06:00

The October/November 2010 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2010 10-11

2010 Holiday Festival coming soon

2010-10-27T09:05:00.001-06:00

Here in Montrose, it has become a tradition to kick off the holiday season by attending Altrusa's Holiday Festival on the Friday night before Thanksgiving.

Everyone (age 21 or older) is invited to join us at Wells Fargo Bank downtown on Friday, November 19 from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. for appetizers, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, and to explore a spectacular assortment of decorated trees and wreaths, beautiful centerpieces and gift baskets (for yourself, or to give to others) suitable for a variety of occasions, and other delights. The admission fee of $10 per person is a donation to Altrusa of Montrose Foundation.

All of the holiday items are part of a Silent Auction to benefit Altrusa. The items will be on display in the lobby of Wells Fargo during their normal business hours beginning Monday, November 15, and anyone may bid on the items during the week.

If you are unable to attend the Holiday Festival gathering on November 19, but wish to support Altrusa's numerous service projects, scholarships, and community grants, you can donate using the DONATE button in the left column of this website. You can also mail a check to Altrusa Foundation at the P.O. box shown in the upper left corner of this site. Altrusa is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation.

2010 Holiday Festival Poster

Recent Grants by Altrusa of Montrose

2010-10-27T08:51:00.000-06:00

Recently, Altrusa 2nd Vice President (and Service Committee Chair) Ginny Spaven presented grant funding to two organizations providing needed services in our community.

Altrusa donated $200 to the Eating Disorder Support Group for positive body image materials to be part of their program being incorporated into the Montrose County School District. Ginny is presenting a check to Robin Berndt, who is showing one of the books purchased for the program.

Altrusa also donated $1,000 to All Points Transit, which recently began bus service in Montrose. The funds will be used toward registration fees for the new mass transit vehicles, including a para-transport vehicle. Ginny is shown presenting a check to Darcy Arnold, Mobility Manager for All Points Transit.

Early Education Fair slated for 'Make a Difference Day'

2010-10-05T08:31:00.000-06:00

On Saturday, October 23, Altrusa of Montrose is pleased to present an Early Education Fair for young children, their parents, pre-school teachers, and day-care providers. The fair will feature lots of entertaining (and educational) things for the little ones, including puppet shows and story-telling, plus some refreshments and treats for all.

The Montrose Library Bookmobile will be on-site for everyone to explore. Altrusa will have a Literacy table where we will be providing reading suggestions and related activities for adults caring for young children, and will even be giving away some children's books.

The Fair will be held at Centennial Plaza from 10:00 a.m. until noon (alternate location in case of inclement weather is the Lion's Community Building at 602 North Nevada).

Early Education Fair Flyer

Providing safe drinking water to victims of the Pakistan Floods

2010-10-01T09:37:00.001-06:00

By conservative estimates, at least 4.5 million people in Pakistan were driven from their homes by the massive floods this summer, and 20 million were impacted. Even now that most survivors have made it into camps, safe drinking water is a huge concern.

After consulting with contacts with experience in the region, Altrusa's International Relations Committee chose to donate $300 to Hisaar Foundation, a Pakistani Foundation "for water, food, and livelihood security." Several Altrusa members chose to make individual donations as well, bringing our community's total contribution to $945.

A water filtration plant to provide safe drinking water to 12,000 people per day costs the Foundation $7,000. Altrusa is proud to have contributed toward this effort to safeguard the health of some of the victims of the terrible floods. Since the floods, Hisaar reports that relief goods and services have been delivered to victims in Nowshera, Charsadda, in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Manjhand, Jamshoro and Thatta districts in Sindh. Photos and updates can be found on their website by clicking "Updates" in the right column of the page.

Atrusans to help at 2010 Bosom Buddies Walk/Run

2010-09-30T08:04:00.000-06:00

Fall is here, and it's time for Altrusa and our community to step out and support Bosom Buddies (Breast Cancer Support Group of Southwestern CO). This organization provides financial assistance to help women who can't afford mammograms, diagnostic mammograms, and biopsies, and is available in Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Gunnison, and Delta Counties.

Altrusa members will be at the Pavilion at 8:00 Saturday morning, October 9, 2010 to take care of registration and food for the runners and walkers. Many will also join the participants at 9:00 a.m. in the 5K walk/run or the 10K run.

The registration form for participating in the event can be downloaded here.

Altrusa of Montrose is pleased to be a Major Sponsor of this annual event as well as supporting it with our volunteers.

September 2010 Newsletter

2010-09-24T10:21:00.000-06:00

The July-August 2010 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2010 09

July - August 2010 Newsletter

2010-08-19T10:39:00.002-06:00

The July-August 2010 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2010 07-08

Cleaning up

2010-07-31T12:41:00.000-06:00

Sixteen Altrusans and family members walked along our club's 2 mile stretch of US 550 on Saturday morning (or shuttled people about and supplied cold drinks and extra trash bags), collecting 36 large bags of debris as part of our volunteer work through CDOT 's Adopt-a-Highway program. Volunteers enjoyed free samples from Ray's Good Stuff after the work was done, courtesy of Ray himself who always offers refreshments to our Altrusa team after we clean up the portion of highway that includes his business.

(left) Charlie Winger collects handfuls of trash along with Sheryl Solow and Cheryl Gibson

(right) Frank & Lita Sargent are ready to set out to clean up the highway

June 2010 Newsletter

2010-06-26T10:30:00.002-06:00

The June 2010 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2010 06

Altrusa awards scholarships

2010-06-14T14:38:00.001-06:00

(front) Dr. Sheryl S. Solow, Chair of Education Committee, Evelyn Lawson, Past Chair of Education Committee

(back) Rick LaPena, Jessica Yarnell, Ashlee Gerlach

(not pictured) Dylan Markley, Nikki Rodgers

On Tuesday, June 8, 2010, Altrusa International of Montrose awarded five college scholarships of $1,000 each to the following applicants for the 2010-2011 school year:

Ashlee Gerlach will major in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Music (piano) at Brigham Young University. Ashlee graduated from Montrose High School, May 2010.

Nikki Rodgers will major in biology with further study in veterinary science at Colorado State University. Nikki graduated from Montrose High School, May 2010.

Dylan Markley will major in wildlife biology at Colorado State University. Dylan graduated from Olathe High School, May 2010.

Jessica Yarnell attends Delta/Montrose Technical College studying practical nursing with a goal to earn her LPN and RN in the future.

Rick L. LaPena attends Mesa State College, Montrose Campus studying liberal arts focusing on humanities and social science with a goal to become an elementary teacher.

June 1 proclaimed by mayor as "Altrusa Day"

2010-06-11T10:27:00.001-06:00

L to R: Diane Winger, Becky Wolford, Dorothy Causey, Roberta Hoey, Val Burnel, Mayor Kathy Ellis,
Dena Brooks, Margaret Goodhue, Donna Herman, Marge Keefus, Lorie Bollig

Our Altrusa Club in Montrose was organized in June 1975, making this month our 35th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, Montrose Mayor Kathy Ellis signed a declaration proclaiming June 1, 2010 as "Altrusa Day."

The club celebrated with a luncheon for its members, along with several of the original members of our club back in 1975. We were also joined by Altrusa members from the Delta and Grand Junction clubs, including Altrusa International President-Elect Dona Garretson. Some of the Charter Members of Altrusa International of Montrose CO are still members of the club today: Dena Brooks (our 1st club President), Martha Dusio, Margaret Goodhue (past Governor of District Ten), Gin Hoagland, Mary Snyder, and Melba Teague.

Read the actual proclamation below:
2010-06-01 Altrusa Day Proclamation

Pennies for Peace participants meet with Greg Mortenson

2010-06-09T18:09:00.000-06:00

Back row L to R: Greg Mortenson, MHS teacher Russell Evans, student Jaime Diaz

Front row L to R: Altrusa members Carol Parker, Val Burnell, Diane Winger, and student Diamond Clarin

On Sunday, May 30, Members of Altrusa's International Relations Committee and representatives from Montrose High School's Pennies for Peace project presented Greg Mortenson with checks totaling $1,840.91 for Pennies for Peace. This donation consisted of contributions from the MHS Student Council ($250), a Pennies for Peace fundraising drive at the high school ($440.91), a concert to benefit Pennies for Peace ($150), a donation from Altrusa International of Montrose ($500), and an individual donation ($500). Since our community's first Pennies for Peace event, a program co-sponsored by Altrusa of Montrose and the Montrose Library in January 2008, approximately $7,250 has been raised and donated to Mortenson's Central Asia Institute by the Montrose community (counting only those donations reported to Altrusa).

During our visit, MHS teacher Russell Evans described the two "Day in the Dirt" events at MHS he had organized (one in March 2008, the other in April 2010) where a number of teachers took their classes outside to simulate the teaching conditions in villages without even a simple building to use as a school. The students scratched their lessons in the dirt with sticks and talked about the many privileges children in this country have and sometimes take for granted.

Mortenson was very impressed with the concept of the "Day in the Dirt," as was Pennies for Peace Director, Christiane Leitinger. They requested that Evans organize another "Day in the Dirt" next fall so that they can obtain videos and photos, since they would like to include this awareness-raising event in future publications and in their online curriculum suggestions.

Mortenson provided free autographed copies of several of his books to our Montrose group, and signed the books we had brought with us.

Altrusa Golf Tournament results

2010-06-09T15:51:00.004-06:00

Altrusa Club of Montrose Foundation held a successful golf tournament on Saturday, June 5 at Black Canyon Golf Club. Approximately $5,500 was raised to benefit their Lifeline project. Altrusa currently helps over 100 people in our area remain safely in their own homes by purchasing, installing, and servicing Lifeline units in the homes of elderly or homebound residents. Lifeline provides access via a portable unit — a pendant or bracelet with a button — to a 24-hour emergency response system.

Tournament Results:
Closest to pin - (W) Phoebe Benziger, (M) Rick Sarten
Long drive - (W) Carolee Hawkins, (M) Ed Otero

Teams -
1st place: Tyler Dahl, Kaleb Peters, Bill Decker, Kyle Peters
2nd place: Mike Trickey, Glynn Williams, Greg Genuit, Keith Meinert
3rd place: Marianne Cross, Carolee Hawkins, Kaye Hotsenpiller, Carmen Hays

Officers - 2010/2011

2010-05-25T17:28:00.005-06:00

President: Kaye Hotsenpiller
President-Elect: Diane Winger
First Vice President: Linda Riba
Second Vice President: Ginny Spaven
Secretary: Lorie Bollig
Treasurer: Janis Marcha
Treasurer Elect: Allison Nadel
Immediate Past President: Roberta Hoey
Director: Lita Sargent
Director/Parliamentarian: Martha Dusio

The 2010-2011 Board of Directors was installed on 5/25/2010.
L to R: Martha Dusio, Lita Sargent, Ginny Spaven, Lorie Bollig, Linda Riba, Diane Winger, Roberta Hoey, Kay Hotsenpiller
Not pictured: Janis Marcha, Allison Nadel

President's Year End Remarks

2010-05-25T13:39:00.000-06:00

On May 25, 2010, outgoing President Roberta Hoey addressed the Club prior to the installation of new officers for 2010/2011. Here is her message.

“Altrusans—We make it happen”

I think we have followed through with this motto very well during the past twelve months. Everyone is aware of the large number of awards that were brought home from District Ten Conference. Other clubs, both in District Ten and on the international basis, look up to Montrose. Let’s keep up the good work

Since 1975, Altrusans have donated in excess of $529,000 to this area. That is the financial value, not including the many hours of donated work that has been contributed. This past year’s total was $55,246.69, with over 9,500 service hours.

I want to thank my dedicated Board of Directors for their help and guidance this past year. Also, the many committee chairs and committee members. Being an active club member means many hours of service. Business and family schedules must be adapted for our volunteer service to the community. We should remember to express our gratitude to both of these for their contributions. The Dusty Gavels [committee of past presidents] have always been available to answer my many questions also. You members are what makes this organization so great. Continue the good work.

May 2010 Newsletter

2010-05-21T21:08:00.001-06:00

The May 2010 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2010 05

Golf Tournament June 5 to benefit Lifeline

2010-05-17T10:26:00.000-06:00

Members of the Montrose community are invited to play or help sponsor Altrusa's annual Golf Tournament to benefit our Lifeline project. Altrusa helps over 100 people in our area remain safely in their homes by purchasing Lifeline units, and installing and servicing them in the homes of seniors. We must replace over 40 of the older units this year since the manufacturer will no longer service them after December 2010. Units cost over $550 apiece.

Sign up to be on a team today!

Learn more about our Lifeline project.

2010 Golf Poster

We also welcome support from businesses, organizations, and individuals who would like to become sponsors or donate items for the silent auction, door prizes, or the player gift bags.

2010 Golf Sponsor Form

Altrusa provides $10,050 in Grants

2010-05-17T06:47:00.009-06:00

As we wrap up our 2009/2010 fiscal year, Altrusa of Montrose is pleased to report that we funded $10,050 in grant requests to organizations in our region. This does not take into account all the other service projects and other pre-designated grants and scholarships provided by our many Service committees.

2009/2010 Grants

American Leg. Aux. #73 Girls State - $300 - Help send three participants to Girls State
BC Boys & Girls Club Keystone Group - $250 - Keystone Group trip to National Conference
Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club - $500 - One-time request for emergency operating funds
Bosom Buddies - $500 - Event sponsor
Camp Brainiac - $250 - Supplies and operating costs
Christ's Kitchen - $500 - General financial support for program
Community Options - $500 - General financial support for program
Dolphin House - $500 - General financial support for program
Dream Catcher Therapy Center - $200 - Equine-assisted therapy program expenses
Habitat for Humanity - $500 - Assist with ReStore storage expansion
Hospice Camp Good Grief art supplies - $225 - Camp Good Grief art supplies
MAPA Trivia Night - $80 - Sponsor Altrusa team in Trivia Night fundraiser
MHS Choral Group - $500 - Assist with travel expenses for $19 students to NYC
MHS Graduation Party - $300 - 2010 Graduation party for MHS seniors
MHS Knowledge Bowl - $100 - Sponsor Altrusa team in Knowledge Bowl fundraiser
Monte de Rosas Festival - $250 - General financial support for event
Montrose Animal Protection Agency (MAPA) - $50 - Donation toward spay/neuter assistance program
Montrose Arts Council - $200 - Central City Opera middle school mini-performance
Montrose Community Dinners - $500 - Presenting Sponsor
Montrose Rotary Club Fireworks display - $100 - Help defray cost of fireworks
Montrose After School Program - $500 - General financial support for program
Northside Elementary recycling field trip - 95 - Transportation costs (bus rental and driver)
Partners Challenge Bike Ride - $200 - General financial support for event
RSVP - $1,700 - Purchase new computer system
San Juan Western Heritage Festival - $500 - Co-sponsor event
Women & Childrens Health & Safety Fund (V-Day) - $500 - Underwrite venue for Vagina Monologues performance
Youth Appreciation Day - $250 - General financial support for event

Thanks to our wonderful Montrose community for the donations and participation in Altrusa's fundraising events each year. Your contributions make it possible for us to support worthwhile organizations such as the ones we helped this past year.

For information on applying for a Grant from Altrusa, please see this article.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Altrusa Club of Montrose CO Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, look for the Donate button in the left column of this page.

Altrusans help raise funds for Montrose Medical Mission

2010-05-16T20:05:00.002-06:00

Volunteers Kaye Hotsenpiller and Diane Winger (background - on the right) greet bike riders (foreground).
Other volunteers at the Altrusa Aid Station were Betty Lundgren, Carolyn Otero, Nic Hotsenpiller, and Charlie Winger.

On Sunday, May 16, several Altrusa members (and a spouse and a son) greeted bike riders as they participated in Mission to Ride, handing out fruit and snacks, refilling water bottles, and offering encouragement. The riders were raising funds for Montrose Medical Mission which offers free medical care once per week to uninsured and underinsured members of our community. The medical personnel work without pay, but funds are needed for medicine, lab tests, and equipment.

Altrusa has also provided financial support to the Medical Mission with a grant of $1,000 per year for 3 years beginning in our 2008-2009 fiscal year.

MHS Pennies for Peace project in its final stage

2010-05-15T16:05:00.013-06:00

Jaime Diaz, teacher Russell Evans, Diamond Clarin, and Sakib Hossain
point to a donation for $440.91 for Pennies for Peace.

Montrose High School students have completed several parts of their 2010 Pennies for Peace project, with just one more major fundraising event left for the school year.

On Friday, May 14, all the Pennies for Peace collection jars were collected, taken to Alpine Bank, and the money was counted. A total of $440.91 was raised during this part of the project. Earlier, the Student Council donated approximately $250.00, and still to come is a fundraising concert featuring local bands at Turn of the Century on May 28.

A team of students has been visiting classrooms to talk about their personal reasons for supporting Central Asia Institute's efforts to build and support schools in remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. In late April, five teachers at Montrose High School conducted their classes outdoors on a cold, feels-like-winter day, sitting on the ground, without computers, without whiteboards, and some without pencils or books. Spanish teacher Russell Evans summed up the experience as being "really miserable - so it was great!" Billed as a “Day in the Dirt,” the unusual setting was originally suggested by teacher Russell Evans as a way to help students understand the educational conditions described in Greg Mortenson’s best-selling book, Three Cups of Tea.

Altrusa's International Relations committee is donating an additional $500 to Pennies for Peace. Altrusans, along with several representatives from the high school project, plan to present the total donation to Greg Mortenson in person over Memorial Day weekend in Telluride.

A portion of the monies raised by MHS will be donated for purchasing school supplies for local Montrose students in need next Fall. Altrusa has been asked to assist with organizing this portion of the project, since we have often donated school supplies for area children in the past.

Montrose Club wins numerous awards & special honors

2010-05-04T15:34:00.013-06:00

Each year at our District Ten Conference, awards are given for service projects, club membership achievements, club communication, and more. Altrusa of Montrose is very proud to have been honored with the following awards for the 2009/2010 year:

Mamie L. Bass Service Award - 1st Place for our Lifeline project

Nina Fay Calhoun International Relations Award - 1st Place for multiple projects, including Pennies for Peace, supporting a school in Nepal, American Flag exchange, and Kiva micro-loans

Distinguished Club Award - for our activity and productivity at every level of program involvement, including Service, Programming, Membership, Leadership and Communication - this is our 17th consecutive year of earning this designation

District Ten Membership Award, Membership Net Gain Award, and Hazel Henderson Membership Award - 1st Place for all three awards recognizing the most new members, the most net gain in membership, and the percentage of membership gain

Yearbook Award - 1st Place

Website Award - 2nd Place for this club website

Newsletter Award - 2nd Place

In addition to Club awards, Altrusa members Donna Herman (District Ten Governor-Elect) and Elaine Moore were recognized for having sponsored two new members during the past year.

And last, but most certainly not least, Donna Herman received the prestigious Governor's Award, which is given to just one individual in the District each year for outstanding service and positive impact on his/her local Altrusa Club and at the District and International levels as well as other community involvement. We are very proud of Donna and her dedication to Altrusa and to our community. She is an inspiration to all of us.

Club members display awards from the 2010 District Ten Conference.

Left to Right: Alice Vest, Roberta Hoey, Diane Winger, Linda Riba, Val Burnell, Kaye Hotsenpiller, Elaine Moore, Margaret Goodhue, Anita Johansen, Marianne Cross, Donna Herman, Natalie Frush, Ginny Spaven, Lorie Bollig

And the winner is...

2010-05-02T18:42:00.001-06:00

...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose
...Altrusa of Montrose

No, the above repetition wasn't an accident. And no, the slide show isn't showing duplicate award presentations.

Our club President, Roberta Hoey, got plenty of exercise during the awards luncheon at our annual District Ten Conference walking up to the podium again and again as our club received 9 awards.

Teaser: We won't post the details on the awards won until after our Club meeting this Tuesday so that the members who did not attend the Conference in Colorado Springs can still enjoy some surprises!

April 2010 Newsletter

2010-05-02T12:25:00.001-06:00

The April 2010 newsletter can be read here:

Altrusun Newsletter 2010 04

Powerful Earth Day Celebration

2010-04-28T20:43:00.004-06:00

In celebration of Earth Day, our Environmental Committee hosted a potluck luncheon. It was a “zero waste” event—utilizing reusable plates and silverware for the scrumptious food and glasses for the beverages. There was an amazing array of food that was shared by our Members. Environmental Committee Members modeled fashions that were “recycled” - purchased from local second hand stores or donated by friends.

There was a presentation by Lesley Hallenborg, the recycling/environmental education field trip coordinator for the 3rd Grade Classes in Montrose. Our Altrusa Club has provided funding to enable this program to continue in the schools.

A highlight of the luncheon was the reading of a poem written in about 1985 in a self-published book of poetry by a nearly-95-year-old Hazel P. Spaven. Hazel is the mother of Montrose Altrusan Ginny Spaven (see photo). It was a moving and powerful tribute to all that we need to do to save our planet—no matter your age!

Here is the poem for your contemplation for Earth Day!

SECOND THOUGHTS
by Hazel P. Spaven

We thought our air could clean itself
with normal wind and rain,
but smog pollutes our atmosphere,
a noxious yellow stain.

We thought earth could regenerate
our trash dumped on its floor,
but landfills choke on our excess
while we are making more.

We thought our oceans could absorb
the waste we chose to hide,
but seas regurgitate our filth
with the ebbing tide.

We thought that we could populate
the world as we saw fit,
but now we find our habitat
was never infinite.

We thought resources of our land
were ours to use or spend,
but stockpiles of a million years
are coming to an end.

We thought our Day of Reckoning
was very far away,
but it could be tomorrow
or was it yesterday?

March 2010 Newsletter

2010-03-30T08:41:00.005-06:00

The March 2010 newsletter can be read here:
Altrusun Newsletter 2010/03

Montrose Club applies for multiple awards

2010-03-27T11:31:00.002-06:00

Each year at our Altrusa District Ten Conference, awards are given for a number of service projects and an Altrusan is recognized for outstanding community service and service to Altrusa. Our Montrose club has been honored with a number of awards over the years, and our hopes are high for the upcoming Conference.

Several of our current award entries for 2010 are available for viewing (these are large PDF files):

Nancy Taylor Award - Kids-on-Wheels project
Mamie Bass Award - Lifeline project
Letha H Brown Award - Dr. Michael Shoulders literacy assemblies
Jen Hanson Award - Litter League
District Ten Governor's Award - Donna Herman

Of course, we know there will be many additional outstanding projects submitted by the other Altrusa clubs in our multi-state region. We're proud of the services we provide, and even more proud of the difference Altrusa International members make worldwide.

Recycling Grant Opportunity for Local Nonprofits

2010-03-23T15:44:00.010-06:00

Altrusa International of Montrose Inc. will award two $100.00 grants to two local nonprofit organizations to be used in 2010 towards the cost of recycling its electronic waste. To apply - print, fill out and return a Grant Application Form, or email an application request to marchaj@gmail.com.

Application deadline is April 18, 2010.

ASTRA sends "pocket" flags to U.S. Troops

2010-03-18T10:36:00.001-06:00

During the January ASTRA meeting, the girls completed a Pocket Flag Project. The goal of the Pocket Flag Project is to get as many pocket flags as possible into the pockets of our military personnel on the front lines. At the meeting, small American flags were properly folded into the traditional triangle. Along with the flag, the following message was included:

“A flag for your pocket so you can always carry a little piece of home. We are praying for you and we are proud of you. Thank you for defending our country and our freedom."

The girls also included a personal note to the soldiers.

Over 300 flags were folded. The ASTRA girls flocked the Montrose Armory to kick off their flamingo flocking season. At the flocking, the girls presented the flags to the leadership of the Montrose Armory as they are planning deployment within the next 6 to 9 months. The honor guard gave us a very informative presentation about their daily duties.

ASTRA would like to thank Robb Ruyle of Powderhorn Industries for cutting the flags to the proper sizing.

ASTRA helps endangered children

2010-03-18T10:28:00.000-06:00

Over the last few months, ASTRA has been gathering lightly-used duffle bags and new personal hygiene items for their Curtis’s Case Project. The girls gathered on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the Aquatic Center to make fleece blankets and assemble the cases.

Each fleece piece of fabric was cut and knotted along its border to create a cozy blanket. Each case included the following: a blanket, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other age-appropriate items like crayons and coloring books. In total, 29 cases were created: 8 for older girls, 7 for younger girls, 7 for older boys, and 7 for younger boys. The bags were then given to Theresa Harris of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Montrose Drug Endangered Children’s Alliance. These bags will be given to kids who are taken into foster care providing them with basic necessities and a place to store personal effects.

ASTRA Projects - Holiday Wreaths

2010-03-18T10:11:00.004-06:00

Each year, ASTRA members head into the woods and cut down boughs to make wreaths. This year was no exception! Nine ASTRA members were in attendance along with four Altrusa members. The following weekend, November 29, 2009, several Altrusa members, 14 ASTRA members and some of their moms gathered together to create the wreaths. Piece by piece the boughs were wired onto the frames, bows were attached, and other holiday decorations completed the beautiful and festival wreaths.

In total, 35 wreaths were created and sold. The fundraiser went to support Hilltop Tandem Families.

February 2010 Newsletter

2010-02-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

The current issue of our local newsletter, ALTRUSUN, is available online:

February 2010, Volume 33, Issue 7 (1 Mb PDF)

Pomona students send a really big "Thank You"

2010-02-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

This large poster was sent to Altrusa and to our guest literacy speaker, Michael Shoulders, after he spoke at their school last week.

Children's author inspires local kids - "Reading is Magic"

2010-02-04T13:41:00.002-07:00

Altrusa's Literacy committee was pleased to bring author Michael Shoulders to Montrose and Olathe elementary schools to get local children excited about reading. Shoulders gave a presentation at an Altrusa District Ten conference several years ago, and our local members who heard him felt his dynamic and entertaining messages on the importance and the magic of reading would be highly beneficial to our young students. Altrusa, with the help of additional grants from Rotary Club and Academic Booster Club, arranged for Shoulders to come to Montrose to give presentations at 5 local elementary schools and to meet with our local library staff over the course of 3 days.

Altrusa members had a surprise visit from Shoulders at our February 2 meeting, as he stopped in briefly between multiple presentations for Oak Grove and Northside. He entertained us with a reading -- no, more of a performance -- of one of his books, V is for Volunteer, an alphabetical tribute to his home state of Tennessee. His Elvis ("E is for Elvis") was a particular hit with his audience.

Michael Shoulders is a former educator, and the author of nine children's books, including Say Daddy, which won a National Parenting Publications award. His presentations to local students taught them how an idea can eventually become a book, and he told us that an idea he had while eating breakfast with Altrusa members at The Daily Bread may grow into a new book.

Tickets available for 2010 Spring Luncheon

2010-02-02T10:02:00.003-07:00

Come to our Garden Party on Saturday, March 20, 2010 and enjoy a fashion show, entertainment, a live auction, an exclusive shopping boutique, and -- of course -- a wonderful meal at beautifully decorated tables in the Montrose Pavilion.

Best of all, when you attend this annual fund raising party, you are supporting the many projects and scholarships which our local Altrusa Club provides to our community.

Tickets are $35 per person and available by mail only. Send check or money order, a self-addressed, stamped envelope and Attendee’s name for each ticket ordered to:

Altrusa Luncheon
PO Box 3184
Montrose CO 81402

For ticket information, please call Marge Keehfuss at 249-8298

Download the 2010 Spring Luncheon flyer.

Would you like to help even more? Consider sponsoring one of our decorative tables! Download a Luncheon Table Sponsorship form.

Altrusa of Montrose especially wants to thank our major sponsors for this event:
Alpine Bank - Diamond Sponsor
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - Emerald Sponsor
Flower Motor Company - Ruby Sponsor

"Eleanor Roosevelt" visits Altrusa of Montrose

2010-01-27T13:30:00.005-07:00

In honor of World Health Day and World Food Day, Carol Parker invited a special guest and Altrusan to join us at our January 26 meeting. Here is Carol's introduction of our honored guest, Eleanor Roosevelt.

Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with shepherding the Universal Declaration of Human Right through difficult negotiations to the point where it was adopted the UN in 1948. She has devoted her life to the promotion of the rights of people everywhere and she has said more than once that "the first human right - the great human right- was food.” So it gives me great pleasure to have Eleanor join us to speak in her own words to you today.

(Carol continues as "Eleanor" after donning a jacket, hat, and glasses)

It’s a pleasure to be back among my fellow Altrusans! It’s only been about 60 years! First, a little background on my service at the UN.

I have always been assigned to Committee III. That is the committee that deals with education, cultural, and humanitarian subjects. When I was first put on this Committee, I felt quite sure that one reason for the assignment was that our delegation was worried about having a woman as one of the delegates. They said, "Committee III--that's safe. She can't do anything there." Sometimes I think it has not been quite as safe as they thought it would be at the beginning.

When someone commented on how I chaired my meetings, I said, "I drive hard and when I get home I will be tired! The men on the Commission will be also!" One member went so far as to suggest that his own human rights were violated by the length of the meetings!

I am pleased to say that the Declaration included the following statement: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food…"
I long ago decided that the first human right for which people fight is the right to eat.

Freedom to eat is one of the most important freedoms.

Food is a real weapon both for war and for peace.

Hunger, lack of opportunity, poverty, unhappy people—they make war; they make revolutions. . .

The hunger of the world demands our sympathy and our production.

The first great human right to most of the people of the world is the right to eat. We have been blessed by the Almighty with a land that provides us with a surplus of food and yet we have not learned how to share this surplus with the people of the world.

If we eat, but our neighbors starve, we may have power for a little while, but we will not have assurance of peace and security for all.

Somehow we in this country who have so little experience of what it is like when there is no food available have got to try to understand this situation. For us, hunger comes to people who cannot afford to buy, but there is always the chance that some kind person will buy for one or that the government will look after one's needs. But when there just is no food, neither kindness nor the government can provide it. This is the kind of situation that calls for much imagination on our part in order to understand.

We cannot exist as a little island of well being in a world where two-thirds of the people go to bed hungry every night.

Freedom means nothing to a man with an empty stomach. He will accept a dictator if, with the dictator, comes the promise of food shelter.

Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home -- so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.

On the evening of 10 December 1948, the General Assembly endorsed the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights without amendment. There were no dissenting votes, but eight countries abstained. The Assembly, in a rare gesture of appreciation, gave Mrs. Roosevelt a standing ovation.

Assembled by Christopher M. Young, based on an concept suggested by Patricia Young, with quotes provided by Dr. Allida M. Black, from the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers project, George Washington University (© 2007 Christopher Young and Patricia Young, Washington, DC.) http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/CMS/2952/17831.aspx

Altrusa receives grants for Lifeline Project

2010-01-26T09:03:00.006-07:00

Alice Vest, left, Chairperson of Altrusa's Lifeline Committee, visits Mary Robinson while servicing her Lifeline Responder Unit in her home. Mary wears a necklace containing an emergency button which she can press if she needs assistance but cannot get to her phone to call for help.

Altrusa of Montrose recently received a grant from Altrusa International Foundation, Inc. for $1,000, and a grant from Montrose Community Foundation for $2,000 in support of our local Lifeline project. The Montrose Club must replace 46 older Lifeline Responder Units presently in service in Montrose, as they will no longer receive technical service and repair after December 2010. Each new unit will cost $576 when ordered in groups of 20.

Altrusa of Montrose provides this service for the elderly members of our community who live alone so that they may contact emergency help when in need. Altrusa members purchase, install, and service 105 units, and there is a continual waiting list. Altrusa has been providing this service to Montrose area residents since 1985. Because of the generous support of the Montrose community, Altrusa has raised enough money in the past through fundraisers to fund the Lifeline Project. However, without additional donations and grants, the replacement of the 46 older units during 2010 will not be possible.

Would you like to help support this project? Look for the Donate button in the left column of this website to make a secure, tax deductible donation to Altrusa Foundation of Montrose CO. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

January 2010 Newsletter

2010-01-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

The current issue of our local newsletter, ALTRUSUN, is available online:

January 2010, Volume 33, Issue 6 (786 Kb PDF)

How to apply for a Service Grant from Altrusa

2010-01-15T10:26:00.008-07:00

Organizations may request a Service Grant from Altrusa of Montrose for your not-for-profit event or project. To apply, send a letter to:

Altrusa Service Committee

PO Box 3184

Montrose, CO 81402-3184

Please be sure to include: contact name, phone number, mailing address, funding recipient ("who to make the check out to"), the amount of funding you are requesting, and describe how the funds will be used. We recommend that you contact us at least 60 days before the funds are needed.

In addition, please provide answers to the following questions with your application:
1. Do you receive any federal funding?
2. Do you need matching funds?
3. Do the proceeds from your endeavor stay local?

Preference is given to grants for a specific purpose rather than general funds for an organization. Service Grants will not be made to benefit a single individual.

Membership guidelines

2009-12-10T09:19:00.005-07:00

The following guidelines for membership in Altrusa are taken from our Bylaws and Club Policies, which are available to each member.

Membership shall be conferred only upon written invitation from the club.

Active membership in a Club shall be confined to recognized leaders in their businesses or professions who are of good character and who subscribe to the principles and purposes of Altrusa International, Inc. In addition to being recognized as outstanding in their businesses or professions, members must meet one of the following criteria:

* Must be or have been actively engaged in the practice of their profession as a degreed or registered/certified or licensed employee.

* Must be or have been in the operation of legitimate businesses as owners, partners, officers, managers, local agents or branch representatives or holders of important positions.

* Must be or have been a holder of important position with executive capacities and having discretionary power.

* Must be recognized for outstanding work within the community.

MEMBERSHIP

Guests should be invited to attend program meetings when possible. Since invitations to become members of Altrusa must be issued by the club, care should be taken not to verbally invite prospective members to join.

A sponsor has a continuing duty to assist those the sponsor recommends for membership. A new member is automatically on the same committees as the sponsor. Committee chairs should make an effort to actively involve new members.

During the first year of membership, a member who wishes to bring a prospective member guest or sponsor a new member should enlist the help of a co-sponsor who has been a member for a term of longer than one year.

All members are expected to actively participate in club projects, community service activities and fundraising projects. A minimum of 25 hours are required each year.

Each member shall actively participate on at least one committee and shall assist with one service project and one fundraiser each year.

Questions about membership may be directed to the Membership Chair (1st Vice President) or to the President of Altrusa of Montrose. Our club is always pleased to consider enthusiastic and qualified people as candidates for membership. What are we "about"? Quoting from our Bylaws:

The purposes of this club shall be:

(a) To cultivate friendly relationships, promote mutual understanding, and foster the solidarity of people who are actively engaged in business and the professions.

(b) To encourage high ethical standards of business and professional conduct.

(c) To give vocational information and to be of service to people already engaged in or entering business or professional fields.

(d) To encourage participation in community and public affairs on a nonpartisan basis.

(e) To do any and all things conducive to the service, betterment and ultimate welfare of people in business and the professions.

(f) To promote educational and cultural training and improvement.

(g) To be informed on International affairs and to promote mutual understanding between peoples of all nations.

Supporting Altrusa when you shop

2009-12-09T13:43:00.003-07:00

Did you know?....

Altrusa members can help generate funds for our local Foundation when we shop at City Market or buy goods and services from Big O Tires.

If you use a City Market Value card, you can designate that a percentage of all of your purchases be donated to Altrusa Club of Montrose Foundation. You don't pay any more for your groceries -- City Market simply credits us with a donation amount every time you shop and scan your card. However, you must register your donation preference. To do that, simply give your name and your City Market card number to Janis Marcha (Treasurer-elect), and she'll take care of the rest. Your friends can also register to have donations made to Altrusa, so spread the word!

Altrusa also benefits when you buy tires or any other products or services at our local Big O Tires store. You need to present a special card when you make your purchase at Big O in order to credit Altrusa of Montrose Foundation. These cards are available from Roberta, and you can pick up and use a new card as often as you need one.

Remember that you can also use GoodSearch instead of Google when you want to look up something on the internet, and our Foundation received a donation as well. There is a GoodSearch button in the left-hand column of this webpage and just below this paragraph. When it asks "Who do you GoodSearch for?" be sure "Altrusa International - Montrose CO Foundation (Montrose CO)" is filled in. Tip: just type "Altrusa Montrose" in the search area, and you'll find our Foundation easily.

Not only can you Search, you can also Shop online with a number of merchants who will donate through GoodShop to our club's Foundation. More information is on the same page as GoodSearch.

Remember: you don't pay a cent more by using these tools when you shop, and Altrusa Club of Montrose Foundation benefits. And when our Foundation benefits, our community benefits!

November/December 2009 Newsletter

2009-12-04T14:52:00.003-07:00

The current issue of our local newsletter, ALTRUSUN, is available online:

November/December 2009, Volume 33, Issue 5 (400 Kb PDF)

Altrusans prepare gifts of books for children

2009-12-02T09:43:00.005-07:00

The Montrose Daily Press and Altrusa of Montrose partner to bring new and gently used children's books to clients of Health and Human Services for the Holidays. The two have been bringing books into the homes of local children for 10 years and have collected and donated thousands of books for area youth over those years.

Seasons Readings runs through December 15, 2009 with donation drop off sites at the Montrose Daily Press, City Market South, Genesis Christian Book Store, Starbucks, and The Coffee Trader.

Montrose Altrusa members tie ribbons on the first batch of Seasons Readings books for the season.

2009 Holiday Festival raises needed funds

2009-11-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

After hundreds of hours of planning, organizing, decorating, cooking, and more, Altrusa members can sit back and relax (briefly!) knowing that another Holiday Festival & Gifts fundraising event is complete. Preliminary figures show net revenues of just over $13,000 raised by this event. This amount is slightly less than half of our fundraising goal for the year; our Spring Luncheon is our other major fundraiser each year.

With the funds raised, along with funding from our Foundation's reserves, Altrusa of Montrose hopes to provide services, grants, and scholarships totaling over $41,000, primarily to our local community. Since our fiscal year began in June 2009, Altrusa has already funded additional units for Lifeline (helping seniors live safely in their own homes), purchased stuffed toys (Love Hug Bears given to children having surgery or emergency care at MMH), helped fund the expansion of Christ's Kitchen (helping to feed members of our community), and provided grants to organizations such as Bosom Buddies, Dreamcatcher Therapy, Hospice, Montrose Community Dinners (Thanksgiving dinner), San Juan Health Care, and Youth Appreciation Day.

If you missed this fundraiser, or simply would like to help Altrusa fund scholarships and projects such as the ones mentioned above, please consider making a donation to Altrusa Club of Montrose CO Foundation -- a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. To make it easy, you can use the SECURE Donate button above to donate $25.00, or any other amount you care to give.

Altrusa is very grateful to all the organizations, businesses, and individuals whose generous donations and contributions made this fundraiser successful. Montrose is a wonderful community, and our Montrose Club is proud of what we've been able to give back to our neighbors and our region.

Altrusa and Library kick off Pennies for Peace drive

2009-11-04T08:26:00.002-07:00

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009, about 50 people attended a special Pennies for Peace event at Montrose Library co-sponsored by the Library District and Altrusa of Montrose. Jana Ackerman, Outreach Coordinator for Children's Services at the Library, read the story Listen to the Wind to the children in attendance. Listen to the Wind is the best-selling story of Greg Mortenson ("Dr. Greg") arriving in the mountain village of Khorphe in northern Pakistan and promising to build a school there. The story is told from the point of view of the children of Khorphe, who previously had attended "school" outdoors, scratching their lessons in the dirt.

The children and adults who attended the program were also treated to a short video describing how the Pennies for Peace program began over 16 years ago. His non-profit organization, Central Asia Institute (CAI), has built or provided support for 131 schools, paid salaries for over 1,200 teachers, and 58,000 students (including 40,000 girls) have been educated as a result of their work. The organization has also worked with various educational and vocational programs for women in the region, and has provided health care services and projects.

Many individual classrooms as well as entire elementary schools in Montrose plan to collect pennies to donate to CAI. Altrusa members have placed Pennies for Peace collection jars in a number of area businesses so that community members can also contribute. This Montrose Pennies for Peace drive will conclude on Wednesday, December 16 when Alpine Bank East (on East Main) will count the pennies collected and a donation will be made to Pennies for Peace (Central Asia Institute) to help build additional schools, provide school supplies to children, provide scholarships to advanced students, train teachers, and more.

Teachers, families, businesses, and individuals who wish to have their collections counted and included in the donation to Pennies for Peace on December 16 may contact Diane Winger through Altrusa's email address -- altrusa.montrose@gmail.com.

Also, please contact Altrusa if you would like someone to come to your business or club to give a presentation about Pennies for Peace and/or read Listen to the Wind to a children's group.

Greg Mortenson is also the author of best-selling book Three Cups of Tea - One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time. Altrusa of Montrose has donated copies of Mortenson's book to the Montrose Library and to all Montrose schools.

Altrusa Literacy & Litter League Book Giveaway & Recycling Event

2009-11-03T11:04:00.001-07:00

Altrusa and ASTRA joined forces on October 24, 2009 for a special project on Make a Difference Day.

Kickoff: Altrusa and ASTRA volunteers met at Anita Johansen’s home on Hwy 90 and did more than just collect trash for the landfill on stretches of Hwy 90, 6100 Road, Oak Grove Road, and Dave Wood Road. They sorted through roadside trash to collect recyclable plastic and glass containers and metal cans in orange bags and non-recyclable trash into grey bags. The following week, Waste Management picked up all the bags, taking the orange bags to their recycling center and the grey bags to the landfill.

The next step for this event: On a date to be scheduled, all available ASTRA members, Altrusans, and representatives from the Montrose school district, Montrose Library, and MHS 350 club (who did their own cleanup of Cerise Park on Make a Difference Day/Int'l Day of Climate Action) will be presented with sets of 3 books about global warming, carbon footprint, and green living from the Literacy and Environmental committees. The books will go to all District middle school and high school libraries and to the Montrose Regional Library. At least one WM representative will also join this presentation for a newspaper photo and article.

2009 Holiday Festival coming soon

2009-10-27T07:41:00.003-06:00

Altrusa's annual fundraising event, the Holiday Festival & Gifts event, will be held on Friday, November 20, 2009 at Wells Fargo Bank downtown from 6:15 - 8:15 pm. This year, a $10 per person donation at the door includes an extensive appetizer selection, desserts, beverages (including wine and beer), and a souvenir wine or beer glass to take home.

A wide assortment of decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces, and a variety of gift baskets suitable for all occasions will be on display in the lobby of the bank starting Monday, November 16 from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm daily. Everyone in our community is encouraged to stop by the bank to view and bid on these silent auction items. The silent auction will end on Friday, November 20 at the conclusion of the evening event.

Altrusa Club of Montrose CO Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation, relies on funds raised at this event to enable the club to fund local area scholarships and grants for other charitable organizations, as well as our numerous other service projects. These include Lifeline (with over 100 units in local homes), Love Hug Bears (stuffed animals for children at MMH), Buddy Bags (tote bags filled with books and items for children), Tender Touch Turbans (for cancer patients), Pennies for Peace (raising funds to build schools in remote villages in the Himalaya), Kids on Wheels (promoting bike usage & safety), and many more projects.

The flyer for the 2009 Festival can be downloaded here (1.2 MB PDF)

Kids on Wheels contest winners announced

2009-10-26T09:18:00.000-06:00

(left) Altrusans Kylee Smith and Janis Marcha present the Altrusa Kids on Wheels Bike challenge winner Zach Lasher from Columbine Middle School with a new Haro Mountain Bike donated by Jeans Westerner.

Altrusa's Environmental committee held a month-long Kids on Wheels contest that challenged students from both Columbine Middle School and Centennial Middle School to ride their bikes to school to help the environment and create better health. The contest ran from September 21 through October 17.

The bikes were presented to students on October 17th 2009.

(right) Altrusan Cheryl Gibson presents Andrew Cretti, the winner from Centennial Middle School, a new Haro Mountain Bike donated by Altrusa and Jeans Westerner.

Altrusa and ASTRA help support Bosom Buddies 2009

2009-10-25T08:15:00.002-06:00

More photos from Bosom Buddies 2009:

(top left) Altrusa members Mary Watt, Becky Wolford, Susan Bony, and Margaret Goodhue assist with registration for the walk/run.

(top right) Francie Smiles presents plaques to several organizations which supported the fundraising event. Roberta Hoey, Altrusa of Montrose President, accepts on behalf of our club. The plaque reads:

Supporting the Fighters
Admiring the Survivors
Honoring the Taken
and never, ever giving up Hope

Altrusa International of Montrose
Bosom Buddies 2009

(bottom center) ASTRA members and friends who walked to raise money for Bosom Buddies pose with their "signature" flamingos.
Front row: Taylee Neubauer, Stephanie Speck
Middle Row: (unknown), Pat Myers (MHS Guidance Counselor), Carol Parker (Altrusa), Kassey Petschl, Sara Kuta, Lori Michaels (Altrusa)
Back row: Kyle Ayer, Lauren Bony, Taylor Petschl
Other ASTRA members who walked but were not in the photo: Vanessa Lohr, Marcia Wanner

October 2009 Newsletter

2009-10-23T18:12:00.000-06:00

The current issue of our local newsletter, ALTRUSUN, is available online:

October 2009, Volume 33, Issue 4 (539 Kb PDF)

Altrusa & Montrose Library to kick off Pennies for Peace program

2009-10-19T11:14:00.002-06:00

Altrusa of Montrose is teaming up once again with the Montrose Regional Library Children's Department to host a special Pennies for Peace program.

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Library, there will be a reading of Listen to the Wind, the beautiful story of Greg Mortenson's first school-building project in Pakistan. We will also watch a moving video about Pennies for Peace to kick off a community-wide penny drive to support the remarkable work of building schools in remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, described in Mortenson's best-selling book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time.

Altrusa will provide naan (a regional flat bread) and chai (spiced tea) at the event.

Pennies for Peace jars will also be distributed to businesses and organizations in our community, and many elementary school classrooms will begin to collect pennies. Our community Pennies for Peace project will run through December 16. All funds collected will be donated to Mortenson's non-profit organization, Central Asia Institute.

Download the flyer for 2009 Pennies for Peace night here.

Download general information about Pennies for Peace & Mortenson's Central Asia Institute here.

Christy Biella demonstrates the art of holiday decorating

2009-10-03T14:33:00.003-06:00

At our September 30 meeting, Christy Biella demonstrated decorating techniques to appreciative Altrusa Club members in preparation for our annual Holiday Festival & Gifts fundraiser. Christy, whose background includes graphic design and floral design, created a beautiful wreath, candle centerpiece, and tall centerpiece right before our eyes.

This year's Festival will be held on Friday, November 20, 2009 starting at 6:15 PM at Wells Fargo Bank downtown. Businesses and individuals may "sponsor" a wreath, centerpiece, or tree with a donation to Altrusa International Foundation of Montrose, a 501(c)3 organization. For more information on sponsorships, please contact Dena at 249-4702.

Members of the community are invited to attend the Festival, enjoy food and beverages, and bid on decorations and gifts during a silent auction. Admission to the event is a donation of $10 at the door, and attendees will receive a wine or beer glass to use during the event and to keep as a memento. All proceeds benefit Altrusa International Foundation of Montrose, and enable us to provide our many community services, scholarships, and grants.

Altrusa participates in Volunteer Fair

2009-10-03T13:05:00.000-06:00

Several Altrusa members talked to community members looking for volunteer opportunities at the 2nd annual Volunteer Fair sponsored by the Montrose Library on September 26, 2009. President Roberta Hoey, 1st Vice President Diane Winger, Alice Vest, and BJ Vinson-Neeld told participants about numerous Altrusa projects, including Lifeline, Love Hug Bears, Buddy Bags, Tender Touch Turbans, and Pennies for Peace.

The Fair offered our club an opportunity not only to talk to prospective Altrusa members, but also to answer a question we're sometimes asked: What is Altrusa? Some people who stopped by know our name because of Altrusa Park, or have seen our name in the paper, but don't realize the broad range of service projects, scholarships, and grants we provide.

Altrusa of Montrose - FORMS

2009-09-29T18:30:00.011-06:00

Membership application (to be filled out by sponsors - submitted to Membership Chair)

Recommendation for Membership

Altrusa of Montrose Fee Schedule
PDF

Request for Disbursal (to be submitted to Foundation treasurer)
PDF

2011 Scholarship Applications

September 2009 newsletter

2009-09-26T16:53:00.000-06:00

The current issue of our local newsletter, ALTRUSUN, is available online:

September 2009, Volume 33, Issue 3 (305 Kb PDF)

Buddy Bags assembled and ready

2009-09-22T17:08:00.003-06:00

Altrusans formed an assembly line at today's meeting to stuff 120 Buddy Bags with childrens' books, notebooks, crayons, pens, pencils, rulers, and other goodies. Altrusa expects to distribute a total of 160 Buddy Bags this year to area agencies to be given to children who come for services for themselves or family members. Some Buddy Bags featuring Spanish-language books were also created to serve children in families not fluent in English.

Kids on Wheels off to a fun & safe start

2009-09-20T20:12:00.001-06:00

Altrusa's 1st Annual Kids on Wheels event started off with a bike safety rodeo, licensing of bicycles, bike tune-ups, and free goodies for all the kids who attended.

Altrusa of Montrose is thankful for all the support for this event that came from our community! Jeans Westerner sponsored this event by letting us hold it on their property, and donating to our give away bags. We had bike maintenance technicians from Sports Authority and Jeans Westerner (Edward Barnett and Shane Singer). Officers from the Montrose Police Department (Chris Hoeh and Giovanni Mendoza) volunteered to conduct the bike safety rodeo, and sent one of their office personal (Jolene Blowers) to license the bikes. We had volunteers from Altrusa and Kiwanis to help set up and run the program. Donations for the giveaway bags came from Jeans Westerner, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, McDonalds, and Kiwanis. Our flyers and labels were designed and printed by Altrusa members Anita Johansen and Christy Biella, and other Altrusans helped out during the event, including Janis Marcha, Cindy Donohue, Susan Bony, Marge Keehfus, Cheryl Gibson, Diane Winger, and Kylee Smith.

During the next several weeks, students at Columbine and Centennial Middle Schools will be able to participate in a Ride-a-Bike-to-School Challenge sponsored by Altrusa.

Altrusa donation to help feed our community

2009-09-19T16:18:00.000-06:00

Altrusa International of Montrose has pledged a donation of $10,000 to help the Mexican American Development Association (MADA) and Christ’s Kitchen add an addition to their existing building to enable them to feed more people and store more food donations. The club hopes that their support will spur other organizations and individuals in our community to donate to the building fund so that additional dining space can be used to serve the increasing numbers of people who need a nutritious meal.

Christ’s Kitchen currently serves a free hot lunch to approximately 100 people per weekday, but the demand can often be much higher. For some, this lunch may be their only meal of the day.

The building expansion project is expected to cost $50,000, and construction will begin when all the funds are raised.

Love Hug Bears comfort kids at the hospital

2009-09-17T13:42:00.001-06:00

After discussions with personnel at Montrose Memorial Hospital in 1997, the Altrusa Club of Montrose decided to offer each child entering the emergency room a cuddly, soft, stuffed “Love Hug” bear to comfort him or her during the traumatic ordeal of being poked and prodded and experiencing a great deal of anxiety and fear. In many instances, the bear is used as a teaching tool to explain upcoming tests or procedures. Personnel in the ER at the hospital felt there was a need for this service for children who were brought to the emergency room.

Rose Price, Love Hug Bears Committee Chair, expanded the project in 2005 to also provide toy bears to children having surgery. The surgical staff at the hospital have reported that the bears are a great comfort to the children and help to put them at ease. They also use the bear to demonstrate procedures.

The “Love Hug Bears” project began with $2,000 worth of stuffed bears donated by Altrusa in 1998; today the donation has grown to $3,000 per year. Funding for this project comes from the fundraising efforts of all members of Altrusa of Montrose.

In 2008, over 800 bears were distributed in the emergency room and surgery unit at Montrose Memorial Hospital.

Altrusa members Pat MacTiernan and Rita Maser prepare Love Hug Bears to donate to the hospital

Altrusa awards scholarships

2009-09-06T13:45:00.001-06:00

Altrusa of Montrose established a scholarship program 25 years ago, rewarding scholarships to outstanding students.

This year, seven scholarships were awarded to the following students for 2009-2010:

• Clancy Garoutte, Mesa State College, Grand Junction Campus.
• Matthew Smelser, University of Colorado, Biology and Pre-Med, Business Administration & Radiology.
• Andrea Flowers, Mesa State College, Montrose Campus.
• Megan Flanary, Colorado State University, Biological Science and Performing Arts.
• Emily Capshaw, Baylor University, Theater Performance (hopes to teach at MHS).
• Melissa Smith, Mesa State College, Montrose Campus, Elementary Education.
• Brenda Capp, Delta-Montrose Technical College, LPN Mechanical Engineering.

Altrusa’s 1st Annual Kids On Wheels event announced

2009-08-31T14:28:00.002-06:00

Our Environmental Committee has been hard at work organizing a great new community event and contest!

Kids on Wheels Bike Rally
On September 19, a Kids on Wheels Bike Rally will be held at Jeans Westerner. Kids and teens are invited to bring their bike to the event between 10 AM and 1 PM

• Register your bike with the City of Montrose Police Dept. (Altrusa will donate $1 fee for the first 100 participants).
• Bike maintenance clinics at 10, 11 and Noon. Work with experts from Jeans Westerner and The Sports Authority to service your bike.
• Bike safety clinics every half hour: Learn the rules of the road from Kiwanis experts.
• Free gift bag for completing maintenance & safety clinics donated by Altrusa, Kiwanis, and
Jeans Westerner (while supplies last).

Ride-a-Bike-to-School Challenge
Following the Bike Rally, a Challenge for Centennial and Columbine Middle Schools will run from September 21 through October 16. During this challenge period, every day that students ride a bike to school, their name will be entered in weekly drawings to win great prizes. Each Friday, a drawing will be held; one girl and one boy from each school will win a $25 gift card from The Sports Authority. On October 16, one bike challenger from each school will win a bike donated by Altrusa or Jeans Westerner!

View or Download the Bike Event Flyer (956 Kb PDF)

Montrose ASTRA Club wins 1st Place Service Award

2009-08-27T15:22:00.001-06:00

MHS ASTRA Board members Kassey Petschl and Sara Kuta are presented with a 1st Place trophy by ASTRA Chairperson Lori Michaels, and by Altrusa President Roberta Hoey. Our local ASTRA club was recognized by Altrusa International for their service projects "Connecting Schools and School Children."

Our own Montrose High School ASTRA Club was honored with a First Place award by Altrusa International, Inc. for their outstanding service projects that benefited schools and school children locally and internationally. Our local club has won this prestigious international award 5 times.

During the 2008-2009 year, ASTRA completed the following projects:

· Student Scholarship Project – donated $500 to support scholarships for needy youth at Montrose High School to pay fees for elective classes such as, music, art, and sports.

· Tandem Families –purchased Christmas presents for 30 needy area youth. The club shopped for and wrapped the presents.

· Breast and Cervical Cancer – hosted a workshop about teen breast cancer and cervical cancer issues. Altrusans supplied brunch items and ASTRA advertised the event to high school students. This event tied into our participation and support of the Bosom Buddies Walk-Run.

· Youth Experiencing Grief - served as coat checkers and servers for Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado’s benefit gala. The club “flocked” the event with 80 flamingos and donated all of their tips from coat checking to support the Youth in Grief program.

· Nurturing Parenting Program - babysat infants and toddlers for 3.5 hours per week for 16 weeks for Hilltop’s Nurturing Parenting Class

· International School Project – purchased school supplies to a remote primary school in the Himalayan region of Nepal.

· Historic Colona School Project – acted as tour guides, sales clerks, and food servers at fundraising events for preserving the historic Colona School,

The Club’s projects connected ASTRA with schools and school children locally and internationally, and benefited our Montrose community.

ASTRA is a volunteer organization for young people, sponsored by local Altrusa Clubs. There are over 100 ASTRA Clubs throughout the United States and in several other countries. Altrusa of Montrose is extremely proud of our ASTRA club for their exceptional dedication to service!

A bit of history: Eleanor Roosevelt - Altrusa member

2009-08-27T10:54:00.004-06:00

Altrusa has a history of selective recruitment of women leaders (and now men as well) in a range of professions. Over the years since our start in 1917, there have been many successful Altrusans who have contributed to their local communities as well as worldwide.

Our best-known Altrusa member was Eleanor Roosevelt. An active member of the Altrusa Club of New York City, her profession was originally classified under "Furniture," because she was an owner of a factory. Mrs. Roosevelt maintained her active interest in Altrusa on up to becoming First Lady when Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States. While FDR was Governor of New York, Eleanor helped organize the Altrusa Club of Albany by inviting prospects to dinner at the executive mansion to finalize plans with the national field representative; the documents were signed with the Governor’s pen in his private sitting room.

Source: The Altrusa Tradition (revised 2005)

Youth Appreciation Day face painting

2009-08-22T13:07:00.003-06:00

The line was long, and the children were patient waiting for their faces to be painted Saturday, Aug 15th at Youth Appreciation Day.

There were boats and trucks, snakes and spiders, ghosts and pirates requested by the boys. The girls wanted flowers and butterflies, kittens and stars, and hearts and rainbows.

Altrusa was represented by member June Estep as one of the painters, and as fast as all three painters could paint, the line continued for hours.

Altrusa of Montrose also provides financial backing for this annual event which is scheduled just before the young people in our community return to school at the end of each summer.

Altrusa of Montrose wins International Relations Award

2009-08-11T20:30:00.008-06:00

Members of the International Relations committee hold the 1st Place certificate awarded by Altrusa International, Inc. in recognition of their projects emphasizing Himalayan empowerment through education in Nepal, Tibet, and Afghanistan.
Pictured are Rose Price, Carol Parker, Diane Winger, and Val Burnell.

Altrusa of Montrose was honored with a 1^st Place award for projects supporting education in Himalayan regions during the worldwide organization’s biennial convention held recently in Indianapolis, IN. The Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun International Relations Award was established to encourage and stimulate international relations, to create an awareness of other cultures and people of the world, and to recognize outstanding achievement in international relations by Altrusa clubs.

Our club’s winning projects were:

· Three Cups of Tea - Building Hope in Central Asia – We organized and sponsored four evening presentations at the library illuminating issues of literacy, culture, religion, gender and politics in Central Asia.

· Main in Motion - “If you read just ONE book…” – We loaned copies of Three Cups of Tea to anyone interested in reading it.

· Book Donations – We donated copies of the Young Reader’s edition of Three Cups of Tea and Listen to the Wind (both by Greg Mortenson) to all Montrose elementary and middle schools, plus the Montrose Library District

· Tibetan orphanage - In partnership with ASTRA, school supplies were provided to an impoverished school in remote Gorepani.

· Kiva micro-financing – We made several micro-loans to small groups in 3^rd world countries related to medical and educational needs.

Consider this: Altrusa International has clubs in more than 370 locations throughout the United States and nine other countries -- and our International projects were recognized, along with those of an Altrusa club in New Zealand, with this prestigious award!

Vietnam Moving Wall

2009-08-05T12:40:00.005-06:00

On August 4, Randy Havens presented a program to Altrusa about the successful display of the Vietnam Moving Wall in Cerise Park in Montrose over Armed Forces Day weekend. Altrusa of Montrose was one of the financial sponsors which made it possible to bring this half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC to our town.

He reported that about 17,000 people visited the wall while it was displayed in Montrose. Because of donations from sponsors like Altrusa, students were able to be bussed from schools in Montrose, Olathe, Delta, and Cedaredge to view the wall and discuss its significance. On May 16, 2009 -- Armed Forces Day -- a Huey 'copter was flown in to Cerise Park, a 36 piece trumpet band played, and many other special events marked the occasion.

This fall, 13 Austrian Pines will be planted in the footprint where the wall was displayed, and benches and a memorial plaque for Veterans will be added as well.

Randy Havens, along with Gary and Nancy Johnston, received Extraordinary Citizen Awards for their roles in organizing the Vietnam Moving Wall. He showed a very moving slideshow set to music written about the wall to our Altrusa Club.