The District Nine awards luncheon at Conference is always an exciting and
inspirational time as District Nine Altrusans learn about the outstanding projects
and accomplishments of the Mighty Ninth Clubs. This year was no exception. All of the winning entries are posted on the
International Altrusa website under District Nine shared files. We had 10
submissions for Mamie L Bass, 13 for Letha H Brown and seven for Dr. Nina Fay
Calhoun. Read through the submissions and then plan to share your success by
submitting your project.
The Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun International
Relations Award was adopted in 2003 as a memorial to the only International
President who served two terms and who focused on the International aspect of
our organization. Activities nominated for the Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun
International Relations Award are judged each year at District Conferences.
First-place winners from each District are entered in the competition at the
International level. Judging criteria can be found on the all conference CD and
the District and International websites. The first place winner receives a $100
check and certificate from International and a $50 Check and certificate from
District Nine.
The first place winner of the Dr. Nina Fay
Calhoun International Relations Award was Altrusa
International Inc of Richardson, Texas. The Richardson Altrusans adopted Bead
for Life, a 501(c) 3 organization that eradicates extreme poverty by creating
bridges of understanding and commerce between impoverished Africans and
concerned world citizens. Ugandan women turn recycled paper into beautiful
beads and use shea nuts to create cosmetics and soaps. People who care open
their hearts, homes, and communities to buy and sell both products. The club
hosted three Bead Parties where members made jewelry from the colorful beads
and then sold the jewelry and shea butter products, raising a net profit of
$723 which was returned to Uganda through Bead For Life. During the three
events, a video was played introducing shoppers to the women of Uganda, the
lives they live, and the products they produce to help foster awareness of the
struggles of women in other countries. Four club meetings were dedicated to
International Relations. They participated in District Fifteen’s “Altrusa Great
Read” project, had a presentation from HELPS International, Inc. (on a
Guatemala school) and North Lake College (on Cross Cultural Immersion). The
club hosted a Chinese New Year Celebration for Pre-K through Second Graders
where the children were entertained by a Lion Dance and festive music. Theses
Altrusans observed all 11 International dates in a variety of ways including: publishing
11 articles, conducting Bead parties, and making monetary
donations to Haiti Disaster Relief, Heifer International, and the USO United
Through Reading Program. The club utilized resources and presented information
about the Altrusa U.N. Representative. Congratulations
to Altrusa International Inc of Richardson for your outstanding international
relations work.
The second place winner of the Dr. Nina
Fay Calhoun International Relations Award was Altrusa International Inc of Downtown Dallas (DTD).The club members
worked with Friends of Wednesday’s child, a Dallas agency that helps foster
children to host an outdoor Modern Family festival held on May 15th,
the International Day of Families. The family and pet-friendly event featured
live entertainment, vendors, food, children’s activities, and games. It was
held in a Dallas area predominantly populated by lower income immigrants of
Hispanic origin and had over 500 people attend. The club participated in event
set-up (signs, tables, and decorations), registration, games with children, the
Kids Circus, and clean-up activities. The DTD club dedicated 2 meetings to
International Relations which included hosting a speaker recently emigrated
from Venezuela who recounted her story of fleeing her country and a
presentation on international aspects of social networking. They observed all
11 International dates with newsletter articles, accents, or club calendar notations.
They contacted one of the Altrusa UN Representatives for ideas and shared
information with members about how Altrusa is associated with the UN as a
Non-Government Organization (NGO). Congratulations
to Altrusa International Inc. of Downtown Dallas.
The third place winner of the Dr Nina Fay
Calhoun International Relations Award was Altrusa
International Inc of Garland, Texas. This club partnered with Heifer
International (HI) and expanded The Read to Feed program to a third school. During
the -2011 school year, 1,034 students read 50,787 books. Students then selected
animals from the HI catalogs with budgets based on the number of books read. The
project was funded by cookbook sales profit of $4,720, $250 from individuals,
and a $250 grant from Walmart. In addition, two club meetings were dedicated to
International relations, including a presentation on life in Belize and
information about travel to Turkey and South American countries. Eight
international dates were observed with various activities. Congratulations to Altrusa International Inc of Garland, Texas.
The Letha H. Brown Literacy Award was
established by the International Board of Directors in July, 1993, to honor
Past International President Letha H. Brown, who in 1977 introduced literacy as
a major emphasis of the organization. Literacy projects nominated for the Letha
H. Brown Literacy Award are judged each year at District Conferences. First-place
winners receive a $100 check and certificate from International and a $50 check
and certificate from District Nine. First
Place winners from each District are entered in the competition at the
International level.
The first place winner of the Letha H
Brown Governors Literacy Award was Altrusa
International Inc. of Richardson. The
club members adopted a multilingual pre-kindergarten class. Children qualify
for the pre-K program based on household poverty or English as a second
language. To help enrich their English language skills and improve their
readiness for kindergarten, the Altrusans created thirteen different backpacks
for children to check out, much like a library book, and use at home. The
contents of the backpacks were designed to build reading, writing and
vocabulary skills, to teach concepts such as shapes, patterns, numbers, and
opposites, and to encourage exercise and healthy eating habits. A committee of
seven members designed the contents of the backpacks and wrote instructions to
guide parents in their use. The backpacks and kits cost approximately $400 to
create. After backpacks were turned in by students, club members performed
weekly inventories of the contents of the backpacks to replenish supplies and
to make certain students took responsible care of the packs. A pack with lost
items could result in removal from the backpack program, and students and
parents were so excited by the backpacks that everyone worked hard to stay in
the program. The children’s teacher was so pleased with the success of the
program as a tool for kindergarten readiness that she has introduced the idea
to other schools to encourage similar programs. This project required nearly
100 hours creating the backpack contents and instructions. A weekly commitment
by two members to inventory the packs required an additional 30 hours of
volunteer time. For the pre-K students of Terrace Elementary, it was time well
spent, and they all appreciate the Terrace Elementary Homework Backpack Project.
Congratulations to Altrusa International
Inc of Richardson.
The second place winner of the Letha H
Brown Governor’s Literacy Award for their Books for Cove’s Kids was Altrusa International Inc of Copperas Cove.
Members of the club believed that all children should have a book of their
own. When a local credit union stopped funding the local Reading is Fundamental
program which provides books to students from kindergarten through third grade,
this club leaped into the gap and took on this project. To fund book purchases,
they held a golf tournament and spent over 200 hours soliciting sponsorships
and donations, sending flyers to local businesses explaining how improved
literacy helps the whole community. Eighty-six percent of the membership helped
in various ways to make the tournament a success. Club members gathered and
distributed 5250 books to grade school students at six elementary schools and
another 560 books to kindergarteners. They also donated new and gently used
books to over 100 children in the local Head Start program and to the
children’s ward of a local hospital. They provided large print Reader’s Digest
copies to nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. The total volunteer time
for this project exceeded 500 hours as this club spread the gift of reading
throughout its community. Congratulations
to Altrusa International Inc of Copperas Cove.
The third place winner of the Letha H
Brown Governors Literacy Award was Altrusa
International Inc of Garland, Texas. This club’s ongoing F.R.O.G. project
strengthens reading fluency and comprehension for students in three elementary
schools. Club volunteers have weekly story time with kindergarten and first
grade students, and also tutor twenty-two at-risk third graders. Older students
participate in the Read to Feed program and the club makes a donation to Heifer
International for each book read by a child. Over 1000 students participated in
the Read to Feed program, reading over 50,000 books—a 53% increase from the
previous year, with the club sending over $4500 to Heifer International.
Additionally, the club hosts an annual book fair and purchases books for
children. This year 1621 children received a book of their own, and the club
recognized the top three readers in each grade. Eighty-two percent of club
members participate in this project with over 1900 hours of service. The
project was funded by the club’s poinsettia sale, a $1500 grant from
International, $3250 from corporate sponsors, and some individual donors. Congratulations to Altrusa International
Inc of Garland, Texas.
The Edith DeBusk President’s Award is
based on the leadership role the club president has maintained throughout the
club year. The 2010-2011 awards were judged on the Club Activity Report and the
President’s annual oral report given at the close of the year.
Congratulations to the First Place
recipient of the Edith DeBusk President’s Award for 2010-2011, Sharron Vance of Altrusa International Inc
of Dallas. She received a $50 check and a plaque from District Nine. Sharron
stated she now has a better understanding of the phase “Altrusa is a builder of women” because Altrusa helped shape her. She
wants no credit for herself … only her club. Under Sharron’s leadership, this
club added seven new members, introduced a new fundraiser, and made membership
and communication a priority. They provided text books, supplies, and funds for
children with dyslexia and autism; provided school uniforms for children of the
homeless; and worked with a local food bank to provide food for both humans and
their pets. They supported the Children’s Advocacy Center by providing cameras,
school supplies, toys and holiday gifts; and sponsored women in Ghana &
Tanzania so they could start their own business. Sharron wrote in her report
“we raised money, increased our membership, served the community, had
outstanding programs and through it all had lots of fun. Her theme for the year
was “Reach for the Stars”.
Congratulations to the second place
recipient of the Edith DeBusk President’s Award, Holly Roundtree, Altrusa
International Inc. of Downtown Dallas. Under Holly’s leadership this club
supported many worthwhile organizations in their community. They provided
Christmas gifts, held holiday parties, wrote birthday greetings, gathered
school supplies and even prom dresses. They taught clients how to dress for
success, and found out first hand that “School (really) is Cool”. On top of their many service projects, they also
held a successful fundraising event that brought in $66,000 to fund their
programs. They added 10 new members and kept everyone happy with enlightening
programs, fun-filled retention and recruitment events, powerful service
projects, amazing fundraising, and strong leadership. They even managed to host
one heck of a District Conference.
Congratulations
to the third place recipient of the Edith DeBusk President’s Award, Mary Beth McLemore, Altrusa International Inc of Richardson. Mary Beth began
preparing for her role as Club President far in advance. She spent time
attending meetings, listening to members, and observing to determine how she
wanted to lead this powerful club. Under her leadership the club added 12 new
members, provided for a local food bank, a women’s shelter, and a local Santa
program. They gathered books and promoted literacy with their adopt-a-school’s
“Teddy Bear Time” and “Read to Me” programs, worked with seniors &
participated in a memory walk. They shared their experiences with other Altrusa
clubs by working with them on service projects, supporting their fundraising,
and sharing in their membership events. Mary Beth’s buzz word throughout the
year was “empowerment” and she set out to make this the “Year of Leaders” by
empowering each member to move the club forward.
The Mamie L. Bass Community Service Award
was established by the International Board of Directors in July, 1963, as a
memorial to the first National President of Altrusa. The name was changed to
the Mamie L. Bass Service Award by the International Board of Directors in
July, 1975. The objectives of the award are: to stimulate interest in
developing action programs in the community that fall within the scope of
Altrusa programs of service, to encourage members of local Clubs to participate
actively in service projects designed to meet specific local needs and to
recognize outstanding Club achievement in service to the community.
The first place Mamie L Bass Service Award
with a $100 check and certificate from International and a $50 check and
certificate from District Nine went to Altrusa
International Inc of Lubbock. The club’s service project, Red Raider Riders
involved a therapeutic riding program. Over 100 children and adults with
physical, emotional or mental disabilities participate in a therapeutic riding
program. Members enthusiastically adopted RRR in July and started the project
in August by collecting and donating $150 in school supplies for the kids and
their siblings. October “Make-A-Difference Day” found club members taking
photos and creating laminated flashcards to be used as teaching and therapy
aids, cleaning and oiling a barn full of horse tack, and working to spruce up
the outdoor sensory trail for the Fall by purchasing and planting fall/winter
flowers. Club members provided emotional support and outreach at Christmas by
hosting a family dinner complete with an Altrusan-made knitted stocking cap and
horse ornament for every child, a blanket for every family, a visit with Santa,
and a hayride to see the Christmas lights. To promote literacy, 150
horse-themed reading books were donated for Valentine’s Day in lieu of the
original “Read-to-My Pony” week that was foiled by icy weather. The final
activity for the year was a “Spring Cleaning” of the sensory trail. Altrusans
provided paint, mulch, plants and lots of elbow grease partnering with
volunteers, and staff, and students to power wash, scrape, and paint the
sensory trail gazebo, reset sand-buried rock borders, plant flowers and overall
maintenance of the trail landscaping. During this year-long project, 100% of
the club members participated by donating over 800 hours of service. The
project was funded through a $2,000-Altrusa Foundation grant and $1,500 from club
fundraisers for a total of $3,500. By year end, and as a result of so many
donations, $1,200 of the original $3,500 budget was dedicated to build a much
needed handicap-accessible ramp for the facility at the Texas Tech Therapeutic
Riding Center. Congratulations Altrusa
International Inc of Lubbock.
The second
place Mamie L Bass Service Award went to Altrusa
International Inc of Downtown Dallas
for their service project, Friend’s of Wednesday’s Child, a non-profit
organization dedicated to filling the needs of foster children in North Texas. This
project also became the primary focus of fund raising and service for the club.
The club conducted several projects beginning in July with birthday cards with
personal messages and Wal-Mart gift cards for over 70 children to purchase
back-to-school clothing. October found 100% of the club members raising an
astonishing $40,000 for Friend’s in their Dessert First Fundraiser. For
Make-a-Difference Day club members provided school supplies for Friend’s
as well as for two other groups. January found club members using their
organizational skills emptying toys, games and stuffed animals from a Friend’s
storage unit and delivering them to the Friend’s main offices for
distribution. That same month Altrusans again prepared personalized birthday
cards containing gifts cards for over 60 foster children. Altrusans visited
with children at a Valentine’s party making Valentine’s and bookmarks, playing
bingo and decorating cookies. In May, the Club enlisted the help of their two
ASTRA Clubs to help with a prom dress drive donating 100 dresses, shoes,
purses, jewelry and goodie bags. The year was topped off by helping with
“Modern Family Fest”, an event to allow foster and biological families to
socialize and play together. This club opened their hearts and willing hands to
support the efforts of Friend’s donating 171.5 hours of service and over
400 hours in fund raising to erase the stigma articulated in the Nursery Rhyme
“Wednesday’s Child is full of woe.” Congratulations Altrusa International Inc
of Downtown Dallas.
The Mamie L
Bass Service Third place award went to Altrusa
International, Inc. of Central Texas. The purpose of this project for this
new club charted in 2008 was to provide comfort to children mostly from low-income
families that were hospitalized in a new pediatric unit of the Metroplex
Hospital. Because of the “institutional” nature of this hospital wing, the club
chose to devote several years of service to the facility beginning with a
project that all members could participate – making fleece blankets and
assembling “comfort bags,” containing donated hygiene items, a book, and a
blanket that each child could keep for their own. To finance the project the
club obtained a $1,000-grant from Altrusa International, organized and
sponsored a “Night of Giving” raising over $600, and by soliciting donations
resulting in 250 books and 200 yards of material from Wounded Warriors at Fort
Hood. Additionally, 600 Altrusa-imprinted cloth bags were donated by a local
merchant. Club members resourcefully enlisted the help of a high school service
organization to assist with the cutting and tying of the fleece blankets. In
all, these Altrusans donated over 200 hours of personal service that helped
make each child’s hospital stay a little less frightening and overwhelming with
a “comfort bag” made with “Altrusa love.” Congratulations
Altrusa International Inc of Central Texas.
Laura Trainor-Collins
First Vice Governor
Program Coordinator
