Past Governor Fran McDonald, 1930-2013

With her 1988-1990 biennium theme, "Altrusa in Wonderland--Through the Looking Glass to Service," Governor Fran McDonald marched into District Nine history. Fran passed away on Friday, May 17, 2013; she had been an active member of the Fort Worth Club for many years, and the Temple Club for years before that.

Known for her big personality packed into her tiny frame, Fran was a much-loved District Nine Altrusan who had enough warmth and support for us all.

Past Governor Peggy Sturrock of The Big Country served as Fran's program coordinator from 1988-1990 and said she loved Fran dearly. "Fran loved Altrusa and was a mentor to many of us 'has been there and done that' back in the olden days," Peggy said. "We each gained much from those who went before us and most of all we also LEARNED TO LOVE ALTRUSA. My heart is heavy."

Jan Skinner of the Richardson Club remembers Fran fondly. "I remember my first year of Altrusa (~1993), I went to leadership training event in Nacogdoches (it was before the District Conference got moved to the spring)," Jan said. "Fran was leading the session about BRR. I was the only one who attended that training session! At the time, I was impressed to have a past governor leading my session. Fran always remembered my name – she spoke to me every time I was at any Altrusa functions. That was just Fran. A big hole is in my Altrusa heart!"

Past Governor Kathy Folley of Temple also remembers Fran's light spirit. "I was introduced to her at one of my first conferences and remember her great smile and inviting personality," Kathy said. "She was one of the nicest people you would ever want to met. She had a way of making you feel special and that was especially true once I began serving on the District Board. Always encouraging and telling me what a great job I was doing. I seemed to always gravitate toward her for a hug.  For such a tiny lady she had one great big heart. A very special person."

Fort Worth Club President Dianne Robinson said the club feels the loss of their dear friend deeply. "Words cannot express how sad we all feel," Dianne said. "This is a huge loss."

In addition to being a past governor of the Mighty Ninth, Fran served on the Altrusa International Foundation Board of Directors from 1993 to 1997.

From her obituary in the Fort Worth Star Telegram: She was a 1948 graduate of Temple High School, followed by work at Mary Hardin Baylor and then obtaining a BA degree in 1952 from Southern Methodist University, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. Her business career began with work for radio station KRLD in Dallas. She subsequently worked for the Batten, Barton, Durstine, & Osborn advertising agency, the Texas Tuberculosis Association and was an associate member of the Crowder Davis & Company Insurance Agency. She devoted over 70 years of faithful service to the Episcopal Church in Temple, Dallas and Fort Worth. She spent 40 years with All Saints in Fort Worth, serving on the Altar Guild the entire time as well as being a member of the St. Ann's Guild and in support of St. Ann's Bookstore. She served many years with the Women of All Saints and she served as a member of the vestry. Her work for the church also included service to the diocese as a member of the Episcopal Church Women's Cabinet for nearly 15 years, serving variously as Western Deanery Representative, Diocesan Historian and Secretary.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, June 1.

Why I Remain an Altrusan

I mentioned something to my husband the other night that still has him shaking his head.

"I know now why God made me fat," I said. "It's because He wanted me to see that other people can love me exactly for who I am."

And before you start in on me, let me just say up front that I know my family and my husband and my husband's family all love me just the way I am. But this is my other family I'm talking about: my Altrusa family.

A couple of weeks ago I experienced one of the best nights of my life, literally filled with all the people I love. There were tears and countless hugs and champagne. There were beautiful dresses and photographs taken and wonderful things said about wonderful people. There were gifts and flowers and parties. And there was a spotlight, figuratively, on me. Little ole me from Texarkana. Little ole me who got bullied on the bus by this boy named Shannon until this other boy, whose name I don't remember, told him to stop, so Shannon started bullying both of us. Shannon made fun of me because I was quiet on the bus. Yes, you read that right. And because I was overweight, which probably was partly WHY I was quiet on the bus.

Thank God for athletics, because starting in the sixth grade through my junior year in college, volleyball, basketball, track, and softball had me on a year-round workout regimen that kept my weight fairly managed. But when I quit sports my senior year, I started ... uh ... growing. And since then I've been skinny and I've been not-so-skinny (I can seriously recommend Weight Watchers; it works when you work it.) and I've been on this yo-yo self-image kick that can sometimes feel like carrying a load of bricks. I can, in a flat second, convince myself that all my failures are due to weight.

But it occurred to me--no, it had already occurred to me, but I think it finally sunk in--on the night of April 20, 2013, that my weight has no bearing on who I am. Why? Because there are people who love me with a true, sisterlike love. There are people who genuinely LIKE me because of the things I have said and done. They believed in me and elected me as their leader, and then they stood and clapped. And I geniunely love them, like them, and believe in them ... right back.

I became an Altrusan "to do community service." These people are the reason I remain an Altrusan today. Over the past 15 years I have met some fascinating women (of all shapes and sizes). I have doubled over with laughter with them, and I have been moved to tears by how proud I am of them. I have followed their advice and I have allowed them to shape me into a leader. I am changed because of knowing them, and when I stopped that night to comment to my husband, I realized that my God used them to get to me. I will always be an Altrusan, and I would encourage everyone to try it. Who knows what person you might become?

Beth Blair
2013-2015 Governor