Extended Ventures for Clubs-At-Large

(Alexina Y Baldwin, Chair, International Clubs-At-Large Committee; published in the April-May 2010 International Altrusan)

This is a call to all Altrusans to harness the energy that has been generated by Carol Latham, the Altrusa International Clubs-At-Large Committee, and Terri Weeks during the last biennium, to make this new decade one that will see a growth and stabilization of our Clubs-At-Large.

Explorations for new clubs have been started in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, China, and Russia. With new technology that brings the entire world into our living room, this is the time to extend Altrusa’s message of service and leadership around the globe. Clubs will develop if our message is heard. Many of us became Altrusans because of this leadership in service of which we wanted to be a part.

The task is not an easy one but the rewards are worth the time and energy spent in experimenting with new ideas for outreach. Why not try on some of these for your club? Much energy can be generated I am sure.

• Encourage your club to adopt a Club-At-Large. Support the work of the selected club through their local projects. This can be done as an individual club or in cooperation with another club. The list of Clubs-At-Large can be secured from altrusa@altrusa.com.  If you make a decision on a club, send that information to clubsatlarge@altrusa.com.
• Encourage your sister club to join you in obtaining information on possible places for developing new clubs.
• Secure information from community centers that you visit overseas about their volunteer and charity work.  Share your “Altrusa business card” and make contacts.
• The International Office knows about the many services we are doing for communities around the world so that these efforts can be shared and inspire other clubs.
• Check with your Chamber of Commerce about becoming a sister city to one in another country.  Or check with them to see if there is already an active sister city program. Lawrence, Kansas, has three.  There are others I am sure. What an opportunity for growth in these cities!
• Mine your club for relatives, friends, and business contacts in various countries.
• Use time during District Conferences to provide supportive activities for your Clubs-At-Large or community.
• Join Facebook or utilize other social media communication strategies to keep in touch with prospective clubs or present Clubs-At-Large.

Every attempt will be made to secure information about the projects in which our Clubs-At-Large are participating so we can support their efforts in any way that we can. You and your club can become more global in your ideas about Altrusa. Let’s give it a try.

No one said this would be easy, but we can make a difference. Please. . .join us in continuing the ALTRUSA GLOBALIZATION VENTURE.