District Eleven Altrusans Welcome International Representative to Conference 2010

Chris Mouter, Director

Altrusa International, Inc.

District Fifteen

Altrusa International, Inc. of Nelson, New Zealand

District Eleven is pleased to have Chris Mouter join us at our upcoming Conference in Long Beach, CA.  Everyone will have a chance to meet and welcome Chris during the Captain's Reception on Friday evening and throughout the Conference.

Chris has been a member of Altrusa since 1992. She has served in various positions at Club level including Club President.

At a District level, Chris has served as Leadership and Training Chair + Strategic Planning Trainer; Conference Chair; 2nd Vice Governor; 1st Vice Governor; Governor-Elect; and Governor, October 2005 to May 2009, her theme being “Raising the Bar for Altrusa”.

On the International level, Chris was Vice-Chair on the Service Committee 2005-2007 and was installed as a Director at the 2009 International Convention in Indianapolis.

Chris has lived in New Zealand for over 30 years and in Nelson for most of those. She originally came from the UK to New Zealand as a nurse in 1974. She enjoys traveling, listening to music, reading and gardening. She is also an avid “tramper” (hiker) and loves to explore the many beautiful National Parks in New Zealand.

Altrusa is a big part of Chris’ life and she thoroughly enjoys her involvement in her Club as well as at the District and International levels. Chris’ full time employment is with the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board as a Quality Improvement Advisor, which involves a wide range of activities including policy development, customer surveys, audits, project work and risk management.

Chris has also been actively involved with the local branch of the New Zealand China Friendship Society and has been honored with an award for outstanding voluntary service.

Rock the Vote!

Spring has sprung!  On the West Coast, anyway!  That means Altrusa Clubs are voting for their incoming slate of officers. 

According to our Encyclopedia (2009), "The election of Club Officers and Directors is held each March. . ."  (in April for some Clubs).  Here are just a few of the responsibilities incoming officers will assume:

• Club President: "Preside with enthusiasm. . ."?  Yes, enthusiasm is a job requirement!
• Vice President:  "Act as a sounding board for the President".  Start working on your listening skills.
• Secretary:  Minutes must include "The exact wording of motions, the name of the maker, . . ."  You must write very fast and have eyes in the top of your head! 
• Treasurer:  Your job is so important, International issues a special guide for all your responsibilities!

Incoming officers and chairpersons would be wise to review their responsibilities to their respective Club, the Board, the District, and International. 

In keeping with Altrusa's Code of Ethics, I expect you all to conduct yourselves accordingly and run a clean campaign.  May the best woman win!

Hats off to San Diego Altrusans!

San Diego Altrusans know how to host an event!

Their Hats off to Fashion event was totally packed!  And everyone in attendance looked great, but the women in their hats looked FAN-TAB-U-LOUS, including my hostess, Marcy See, looking very elegant in pearls and a hat reminiscent of the Roaring 20's.

The Altrusa Board also came out in full force to support this event -- Governor Ann, Treasurer Rosemarie Hudson, Secretary Carol Schumaker, and Service Chair Helyn Sloan.  Although not pictured, International ASTRA Chair, Dr. Willa was also present.

 

 Over the past year, the San Diego Club has actively supported such issues as literacy, homeless women, abused women and children, education and vocational scholarship, as well as many other community projects. Proceeds from this event will allow them to continue to support: 

• Altrusa Adopt a New Teacher
• Presidents Project
• Altrusa International Foundation, Inc.
• Altrusa Family Fund-Rady's Children's Hospital
• Autism Program-Rady's Children's Hospital
• Alzheimer's Association
• Literacy Program in Zambia Africa
• Project Linus
• Ronald McDonald House
• San Diego Food Bank
• Winners Circle Equestrian
• ASTRA Club

 

 

Volunteer for Good Health

(President's Message, Arva Dell, Monterey Peninsula Feb. 2010)

Does volunteering lead to improved health or is it a simple matter that healthy individuals are more likely to volunteer? What do you think? How, if at all, does it apply in your own life?

The research has been done and the data analyzed. The results show a strong relationship between volunteering and health; volunteers have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer. The good news is that older volunteers are most likely to receive the greatest benefits from volunteering. Perhaps this is because volunteering provides increased physical and social activity. More importantly, volunteering gives a sense of purpose to elders at a time when their other social roles are waning.

I know first hand about this “sense of purpose”. When my husband and I were still operating our dental office, I decided to volunteer as a dental hygienist on Holland America cruise ships. My husband was unable to leave the business to join me on all the cruises, so I sometimes volunteered alone or with a girlfriend. I would never otherwise have done a cruise without my hubby, but donating my services gave me a reason for being far from home on the high seas.

Altrusans can look positively toward a future of increased membership growth, due to the phenomenon of the Baby Boomers, (those born between 1946 and 1964) entering their retirement years. The U.S. Census data indicates that the number of volunteers age 65 and older should increase 50% over the next 13 years, from about 9 million in 2007 to more than 13 million in 2020. The numbers should continue to rise since the youngest Baby Boomers will not reach 65 until 2029.

It is clear that Altrusans stand to benefit from the retirement of the Baby Boomers. However, we must act now to ensure that we get our fair share of the “volunteer pie”. It is time to invest in our potential future

growth, to get rebranded, to look attractive, so the retiring Boomers will choose us instead of another organization. Note to self: Remember to donate to help pay for rebranding and new marketing materials.

We have always known the benefits of volunteering on the recipients in a community. Now we know that those who volunteer receive greater health benefits than those who receive support! Volunteering and increased physical and mental health are part of a self-reinforcing cycle. There is more research I’d like to share, --perhaps in the March President’s letter.

The citation for the referenced research is: Corporation for National and Community Service, Office of Research and Policy Development. “The Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research, Washington D.C. 2007.

Call to Conference DSB

Done and done!  The last of the almost 600 February 2010 DSB's went out in this evening's mail. 

More than any other issue, this one was a group effort.  Belinda Berry, Conference Co-Chair, Melanie Hodges, Barbara Lindquist, Judy Sorensen and I are now BFF's.

When I had to suddenly go out of town, Donnalee Monninger led several of the Glendale Altrusans in sorting, labeling, assembling, and mailing DSB's.

A friend picked everything up the from the printer and my husband made multiple trips to the post office to mail bundles of finished DSB's and pick-up more stamps.

Definitely a group effort!

In deference to all the hard work that went into this edition, I think you should gently remove it from your mailbox, get yourself a refreshing beverage, find a comfortable chair and read it very slowly and deliberately.  Enjoy it.

We're all looking forward to seeing you at Conference 2010!

If you or any of your fellow Altrusans do not receive the DSB in the coming week, please let me know.

Phoenix Altrusans Honor Graduates!

Altrusa of Phoenix hosted a graduation reception on February 17, in support of the Frank X. Gordon Education Program of the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department.  Approximately 105 graduates donning their bright blue caps and gowns were in attendance to receive their GED diplomas.

Altrusa awarded scholarships, including the Reba Eldredge Memorial Scholarship, to three graduates who were exceptionally dedicated in their studies, and who have commited to further their education in the medical and HVAC field.  Altrusa Vice President, Faye Owens and Board Member, Linda Puchi, also presented each graduate with a gift during the ceremony.

Following the graduation ceremony, Altrusa members hosted a reception in the courtyard, which included refreshments and home-baked cookies for the graduates and the more than 450 proud family members in attendance.