World No-Tobacco Day

From the World Health Organization's website:

Theme: Tobacco industry interference

16 September 2011 -The World Health Organization (WHO) selects "tobacco industry interference" as the theme of the next World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on Thursday, 31 May 2012.

The campaign will focus on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry's brazen and increasingly aggressive attempts to undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) because of the serious danger they pose to public health.

Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death. The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke. Unless we act, it will kill up to 8 million people by 2030, of which more than 80% will live in low- and middle-income countries.

As more and more countries move to fully meet their obligations under the WHO FCTC, the tobacco industry's efforts to undermine the treaty are becoming more and more energetic.

For example, in an attempt to halt the adoption of pictorial health warnings on packages of tobacco, the industry recently adopted the novel tactic of suing countries under bilateral investment treaties, claiming that the warnings impinge the companies' attempts to use their legally-registered brands.

Meanwhile, the industry's attempts to undermine the treaty continue on other fronts, particularly with regard to countries' attempts to ban smoking in enclosed public places and to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

World No Tobacco Day 2012 will educate policy-makers and the general public about the tobacco industry's nefarious and harmful tactics.

It will also be in keeping with the letter and the spirit of the WHO FCTC. The preamble of the treaty recognizes "the need to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts".

In addition, Article 5.3 of the treaty states that "in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law".

Furthermore, the guidelines to the implementation of Article 5.3 state that Parties are recommended to "raise awareness about…tobacco industry interference with Parties' tobacco control policies".

On World No Tobacco Day 2012, and throughout the following year, WHO will urge countries to put the fight against tobacco industry interference at the heart of their efforts to control the global tobacco epidemic.

Your District Visitor: Make the Most of It!

Ask any current or former district officer, and she will tell you that making club visits is one of the best parts of her position. She gets to travel, meet new people, and lend an ear to clubs to help wherever she can, and then she takes back what she's learned to be applied across the district. I've joked that I steal something from every club I visit ... and I pretty much do! I get a lot of neat ideas and see a lot of places for improvement, too.

Every District Nine club, every year, is assigned a district visitor, but remember that this person can be much more than a guest at one meeting. She's there to be used as a resource all year long; think of her as your liaison to the district board and program team. If she doesn't know the answer, she knows who does and will help you get it ... and all members should feel they have free and open access to board and program team members! Contact us at any time; no question is too simple.

With the beginning of our club year approaching, all club presidents soon will be contacted by a board member to schedule their annual visit. I encourage you to settle on a meeting at which:

• The board (and possibly committee chairs) can meet with the visitor separately from the rest of the club
• The visitor can have about 15 minutes to address the club on happenings across the district

Other tips to remember:

• The visitor will send you a pre-visit survey to return to her before she arrives. The information gathered on this form will help her with her club visit report.
• Shortly after your visit, you should receive the visitor's Club Visit Report. This is to be shared with all club members. A copy of this report, along with another report similar to the pre-visit survey you filled out, will be distributed to all district board members.
• The district governor will visit all clubs once during her four years as governor-elect and governor.
• District visitors love chocolate. Oh, wait. Well, we do. But (bribes and) gifts are not necessary.

I've told many people that every time I visit a club, I come away wanting to be a member there. We have some really terrific clubs in the Mighty Ninth, y'all! I can't wait to see you!

Beth Blair
Governor-Elect

Successful Planning

Here we are, on the eve of another club year. Clubs are in full swing with their planning process, and new committee chairs and officers are chomping at the bit to get their terrific ideas into place. I’m excited about it, too! I’ve heard a lot of great ideas for the coming year, and some interesting ways of planning.

A few reminders as you plan your year:

1.    Remember to review your club, district, and international strategic plan and officers’ goals, and develop projects and activities to support them.

2.    Review the criteria for the Mamie L. Bass Service Award, the Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun International Relations Award, and the Letha H. Brown/Governors Literacy Award, and be sure your plans accommodate the criteria accordingly.

3.    Give every member a true voice, allowing their ideas to be considered. As a builder of women, part of Altrusa’s draw is that it allows us to try new ideas and receive the support of our sisters.

Every club lays out its plans differently. A few examples:

1.    Temple has an all-club retreat, where every member has a say in what service projects will be tackled this year.

2.    Dallas allows its Service Committee to make the plans, then the club has a say in approving the recommendations from the committee.

3.    DFW is implementing an all-club retreat this year, where they will break into smaller groups to make their plans.

What does your club do?

And the Winner Is ...

The excitement builds at Conference as descriptions of the best service projects and leaders in District Nine are read at Saturday’s awards luncheon, and yet some of our members still feel like their project should have been up there as well. Why isn’t it? Awards entries are a snap if you just follow the instructions and a few tips. The district board is asked a lot of questions about filing these awards, and the answers are readily available. Here are some frequently asked questions, along with simple answers, from the current Club President’s Handbook, published by the International Leadership Committee.
 
Where do I get the information concerning awards?
The award applications from Altrusa International Inc. will be sent directly to the president in the Awards Packet included in the January club president’s mailing along with the Club Annual Report. Watch for this very important packet! Every attendee at the 2012 District Nine Conference received a CD with this awards packet included.

Who is responsible for filling out the application?
Generally, a group of members who have worked closely with the project completes the application, or the president may appoint a member or a committee.

When are the entries due?
Dates vary by District. Your District Governor has probably given you a yearly calendar. Check to see if the due dates are included in it. Another source of information on due dates is your local District Service Bulletin. Most awards are due either on May 31 or June 1. You still have time!

How do I know the criteria?
Award criteria information comes with your awards packet. Follow the criteria closely, and make sure you cross all your T’s and dot all your I’s to ensure your entries are qualified.

May we enter the same project for the Mamie L. Bass (MLB), Letha H. Brown (LHB) and the Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun (NFC) Awards?
No! Your club will have to decide which award to apply for if your project fits the criteria for all the awards.

May we enter more than one Letha H. Brown, Mamie L. Bass, or Nina Fay Calhoun entry in a given year?
No! You may make only one Letha H. Brown, Mamie L. Bass and Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun application in any one year.

Are projects that are primarily fund-raising for club use eligible?
No! MLB and LHB awards are meant to show service to the community. The Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun is an International Relations Award.

Who judges the entries?
MLB, LHB and NFC awards are first judged in the District by non-Altrusa judges. The annual first place winners at the District level go to International where they are judged by three non-Altrusan judges.

You will have a much better understanding of the awards program if you read the awards applications, instructions, and criteria in the awards packet.

Good luck in your club’s efforts to achieve these very coveted awards.

Celebrating the Colors of Altrusa

From Linda Moore's Leadership Luncheon presentation at our recent District Nine Conference.

I love to watch all types of sports from football, basketball, golf, baseball/softball, and many others at all levels! My household of husband and two kids refers to sporting events as “family entertainment.”

The past 12 months have called for lots of sporting celebrations in the great State of Texas—aka District Nine—First, Baylor University is now home to the current Heisman Trophy Winner and the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champions!  The Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team won the World Championship! The Texas Rangers baseball team played in the 2011 World Series and was just plays away from winning the title.  

Also in the last 12 months, Altrusa International has adopted a new logo with new colors and I felt we needed to “celebrate” these colors and identify the leadership qualities of each.

Teal: The tallest color in our logo—From our International President’s Message in the October 2011 International Altrusan, “Picture the color of the oceans linking lands around the globe and representing the worldwide nature of Altrusa.” I cannot think of any better way to say it. Teal represents the International organization. Teal is the color of communication, self-awareness, initiative, and sophistication. All four of these descriptions describe qualities of leaders. A leader must be able to communicate with her superiors and her subordinates. Communication is a KEY to being a great leader. A leader must have self-awareness and know when she is in over her head or when she has things in control; know when to speak or when to stay quiet and be aware of personal feelings around her. A leader must have initiative and be able to tackle a project or program without the daily affirmation from others. Even though we need affirmation occasionally, it is not the reason we take on a leadership role. Sophistication is something that we gain as we mature. Look around this room and witness the sophistication and leadership qualities we have in our District Nine leaders. This room is filled with “Teal” leaders!

The next color in the logo is Gray: The gray color in our logo represents the clubs and districts. Gray is the color of intellect, knowledge, and wisdom and is perceived as long-lasting and classic. Well, this is all about leadership. Leaders must possess intellect about their passions. Altrusans are so passionate about their communities and their projects. Just ask an Altrusan and she will share her intellect about her favorite project. Knowledge is ongoing and growing in leaders. A leader must be willing to learn and gain knowledge from every experience. Wisdom is again something that we gain as we mature. This room is filled with “Gray” leaders as well!

The third color of the logo is Gold: The gold color in our logo represents ASTRA, Altrusa’s treasure and future. Gold is a bold color associated with wealth and prosperity. Gold is representative as praise and commendation, value, and excellence. Leaders are praised and valued by groups, mainly because they are selected by those groups. A leader must not forget, they usually have been chosen by their peers to be in the capacity they are in, so they must be willing to listen and work for ideas and respect from their members. A true leader is of great value to their organization because they are willing to step up and take the lead. There is a lot of gold in this room as well!

The last color of the logo is Red: The red in our logo represents the heart and strength of Altrusans. The color red is energizing. It excites the emotions and motivates us to take action, which is exactly what leaders in Altrusa are all about! Red is the color of power and love. Red signifies a pioneering spirit, promoting ambitions and determination—which is a strong leadership trait. Altrusa is such a RED organization! Altrusa allows for members to become leaders, expand their leadership abilities, and promote their love and determination to help with their communities, their country and their world. Again, the room is filled with red leaders.

When you combine these colors, you find our new logo, which now makes sense: These colors were selected because they represent what Altrusa is all about. Leadership Qualities, Leadership Abilities, and the Leadership in this Room! Let’s all stand and wave our pennants in Altrusa celebration and see how the colors combine to invigorate and excite our senses and our abilities as leaders!

I want to make a toast to you to wrap up: Here’s to being open to the infinite possibilities in each soul; May your wonder always exceed your certainty.

Linda Moore
District Nine Director and Leadership Development Committee Chair
From the 2012 District Conference Leadership Luncheon Program

The True Value of Membership

I’ve recently been reminded about how much my Altrusa membership means to me on a personal level. Yes, you hear people say “Oh, I would never have met this person if it hadn’t been for Altrusa,” and while that’s true, it’s also true for anyone you might consider your arch-rival! (“Oh, I would never have met Cruella DeVille if I hadn’t started working at Krispy Kreme in college!”)

What’s priceless about the relationships we make with our Altrusa sisters is that we’re all in this life together. We have no reason to form rivalries, and that leaves us open to forming lasting bonds and meaningful friendships—and real sisterly love. We lift each other up, through thick and thin. Encouragement and laughter come easily among these women whom I have begun to truly treasure. I learn from them, and I enjoy their personalities. I feel like I know their families. I consider them my family.

I grew up as an only child and never had a lot of friends, but I have had good friends. My Altrusa sisters are increasing those numbers for me every day, and as I get older I understand how important those friendships are. These women, who hail from all over the state of Texas and, yes, all around the world, are the ones who will be there for me forever. You can’t buy that.

So reflect a little on the true value of your Altrusa membership, then call that one person you wish would just give us a try because you know the benefit she would get out of membership—and that Altrusa would get out of her.

Beth Blair
Governor-Elect

International Day of Families

While not a political organization, Altrusa places emphasis on many international observances as decreed by the United Nations. Today is the International Day of Families, an occasion to celebrate the importance of families to people, societies, and cultures around the world.

This year's theme is "Ensuring Work and Family Balance."

What Can Altrusans Do?
Change starts at home! Raising awareness in your community can as simple as

• Posting suggestions to balance work and family on your club's or personal Facebook page.
• Sending gift cards (spa, movies, restaurants, etc.) to hard-working folks you know, along with a note reminding them to take some time to be with their familes. 
• Sponsoring family game night or reading night at your local community center or library.

What are your ideas for spreading the word about the importance of family in your community? For more background about the UN's International Day of Families, see the page on the United Nations' website: http://www.un.org/en/events/familyday/.

Meetings for Members (and Potential Members!)

On Tuesday night I attended the DFW Club’s installation banquet. I had a fabulous time! The food was great, the company was great, and of course, the cause was great. I want to tell you, though, about something in particular this club did very well. They hosted an event that was effective for both guests (potential Altrusans) and members (Altrusans we’d like to retain). It was amazing, and looked almost effortless. You can do it in YOUR club, too. Make every meeting an EVENT, and you’ll “gain and retain.”

GAIN GAIN GAIN

I bet DFW gets at least two new members out of this meeting, and perhaps one for another District Nine club. Why? Because they showed off their programs and their members were thrilled to tell the guests all about them.

• A presentation showed off their projects from the entire year. Just pictures set to music. I heard guests asking all about the projects, and I heard members enthusiastically describing them.
• Display boards, along with samples of some of their projects like blankets they are making, set at opposite corners of the room, drew guests in as they wondered “what is up with that cute blankie!” and allowed guests to explore the offerings of their club on their own time.

Cute, cute, cute, napkin ribbons and adorable
programs put the special touch on this
fabulous meeting.

RETAIN RETAIN RETAIN

• DFW has a great group of ladies. They are all chatty and engaging, and they are proud of what they’ve accomplished. The slide show really allowed them to reminisce and reflect about the great things they’ve done. With that combined with the inspirational installation program, current members came away with some inspiration to make the coming club year even better.
• Adorable (yet simple) decorations added a special touch. They had their napkins tied with ribbons … that had our great new logo! I kept my little yellow bow and attached it to my pin ribbon. It’s fantastic!

If I had one suggestion for the club, it would be to make sure to get the contact information for your guests and follow up. You don’t need to “close the deal” right away, just send a note to say thanks, and give her a call about a week before your next event to invite her along.

Thank you, Altrusa International Inc. of DFW, for a wonderful evening. Linda Pavona, you put together a great program and installation. Carla Helstrom, you’re going to be a great president. And Altrusans of DFW, please invite me to your next event. I want to be part of the amazing service you provide!

Beth Blair
Governor-Elect