Altrusa of Montrose turns 40

Altrusa of Montrose celebrated our local club's 40th anniversary at their meeting on June 16, 2015. The International organization will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2017.

President's Year End Remarks

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.

Powerful Earth Day Celebration

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?

Membership guidelines

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.

Christy Biella demonstrates the art of holiday decorating

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.

Happy 90th Birthday, Rita!

Our Club was pleased to celebrate Rita Maser's 90th birthday during today's meeting. Rita has been part of Altrusa of Montrose since 1990, and still plays an active role in numerous Altrusa fund raisers and service projects.

Ruth Heath smiles as Rita Maser discovers
 the flowers on the greeting table are for her. 
(She hadn't seen the birthday cake yet)

Commemorating United Nations Day & Human Rights Day

Carol Parker, vice chair of our Altrusa International Relations committee, gave an informative and inspiring presentation at our December 4, 2007 meeting about Altrusa, the United Nations, and Human Rights.

The complete text of her presentation can be read or downloaded here.

Some of her key points:

Carol contacted one of Altrusa’s UN Representatives and learned that Altrusa is a dues paying member of the Commission on the Status of Women and also of the UN Association of the USA. As an NGO (non governmental organization) Altrusa is attached to the Council of Economic and Social Affairs and the Department of Public Information. Altrusa has 3 active representatives who try to cover as many committees as possible. We have presences on the NGO committees for UNICEF and the UN Trust Fund for Women as well as the Migration Committee. Our representatives attend weekly briefing held by the Department of Public Information.

In 1946, Altrusa was the very first international classified service club to have an official observer appointed to the United Nations.

In 1978, Altrusa received consultative status with UN, the most prestigious category of status for NGOs. This status is for NGOs whose competence enables them to make occasional and useful contributions to the work of the United Nations and who are available for consultation upon request. We can be proud that Altrusa falls within this category.

Eleanor Roosevelt, an Altrusan, served as chairman of the Commission on Human Rights at the UN, and was one of the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Here are a few of the projects ASTRA and Altrusa have been engaged with that speak directly to basic human rights:

We have supported several projects in Nepal, one the poorest nations on earth. We have populated a school with much needed books and sent many duffel bags of shoes and clothing to very poor villagers. ASTRA funded a teacher for a year in Nepal, whose ongoing efforts have afforded many village children the education needed to pass the entrance test for higher education. ASTRA funded a Nepali infant nutrition program that retrieves babies from the brink of death because of basic nutritional deficiencies.

Altrusa funded the development of educational materials for a project of HM International that seeks to empower villagers in Zimbabwe.

Last year Altrusa funded water filters in Mexico. ASTRA funded orphans in Uganda one year and a child soldier rehabilitation project there last year.

Our impact is not only being felt by the international community but right here in Montrose as well. How are we combating poverty here? By providing Buddy Bags to at risk youth, by funding numerous projects with the Resource Center and Safe House; by providing 1000’s of books to disadvantaged children through our Seasons Readings program, through ASTRA’s provision of nearly 100 emergency supply boxes for Social Service kids; and even by supplying Life Line units to the elderly, many of whom live on fixed incomes.

And so as we remember United Nations Day and Human Rights Day, I feel honored to be part of an organization that values peace, human dignity, education for all, and works to combat the effects of poverty and illiteracy worldwide…..and I hope you do as well.

Altrusans thanked for sponsoring new members

Evelyn Lawson, Lori Bollig, Donna Herman, and Dorinda Elder were recognized and thanked this week for sponsoring new members of our Montrose club.

Each was presented with a pin and a note from International President Zaida Perez-Mendez stating:

Thank you for sponsoring a new Altrusan.

As members, we are committed to the future of Altrusa and nothing will stop us; that is why we believe in our dreams and "Embrace the World" as Leaders in Service.

District Ten Governor visits Montrose

We were very pleased to welcome Governor Rhoda Struhs to our meeting on September 25, 2007.

Governor Struhs spoke to our group about a number of topics of interest to Altrusans. She encouraged us to visit the international website as it continues to be enhanced with information, publications, and inspiriation for all of us. She congratulated our Montrose club for our history as a "flagship organization," and commended us for our numerous projects, active participation in Conferences, and our numerous awards.

Rhoda also gave an interesting presentation based on a workshop at the 2007 Convention discussing the differences among 4 major "generations" -- Traditionalists (born 1925 - 1945), Baby Boomers (1946 - 1964), Generation X (1965 - 1980) and Generation Y (1981 - 2002). Our differences in priorities and goals sometimes make it difficult to understand and motivate one another; yet each generation has much to offer to Altrusa.

President Susan Woody announced that Altrusa of Montrose is making a donation in Rhoda Struh's name to the International Foundation.

Programs for July through November, 2007

The following programs will be presented at our Tuesday meetings in the coming weeks and months:

July 24 - Altrusa Enrichment Day (presented by Susan Woody)
August 7 - Northside Schoolbased Health Center (Linda Gann) - Video Clip from 7/17/07 Montrose Daily Press
August 28 - Samaritan Aviation
September 4 - Fatherhood Initiative / "Men in the Mix"
September 25 - Rhoda Struhs, District Ten Governor, will be visiting us
October 2 - Concerned Citizens for Funding Our Future
October 23 - Fun Motivation (Barbara Bernadette)
November 6 - Meth Task Force (Sergeant Paul Eller) - Video Clip from 10/30/07 Montrose Daily Press

Upcoming Programs - March through May 2007

March 27: Connect to Life Coalition
April 3: Promise House
April 24: Kids on the Block Puppeteers
May 1: Todd Casebier - High School Sports programs

Meeting Schedule

We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at Noon
at:
Hampton Inn
1980 N Townsend Ave,

Each month
1st Tuesday: Program meeting
3rd Tuesday: Business meeting
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5th Tuesday: Initiation - location and time TBA

For information about meeting topics for specific dates, see the Calendar of Events.