Warsaw Altrusa Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Altrusa International of Warsaw celebrated its 40th anniversary Saturday with a brunch at the Russell Center on the Grace College Campus. Club members, charter members and past members joined together to remember with pride the services the Altrusa Club has provided to the Kosciusko County area since 1973. Special recognition was given to charter member Rosemary Parsons.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer issued a proclamation praising the club’s service and indicating that “Altrusans have made this community a better place to live by giving of their time, talents and resources in support of many organizations and entities in this area through volunteerism and monetary support.” He declared May 11 as “Altrusa Day.”
Nearby Altrusa Club members from Muncie, Ind., Dunes and Hamilton County joined in the celebration. Altrusa’s District Six Governor Linda Barb installed Warsaw club officers for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The new officers are Sue Creighton, president; Jeanine Knowles, vice president; Vicki Martin and Christie Beldon, co-treasurers; Beth Huffer, secretary; and directors Sharon Sanders, Susan Woodward and Jan Sloan.
Several of Altrusa’s service partners reinforced the work the club has provided during the program. They included Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build representative Jenna Secrist; Tracie Hodson, executive director of the Beaman Home, which the Altrusa Club founded in 1985; Peggy Lisenbee-Wright of Combined Community Services; Upson House representative Libbie Tom; Linda Tinkey of Kosciusko Literacy Services; and Janelle Meyer of CASA, which was founded by Altrusa in 1992.
CCS’s Project Independence student Melissa Fletcher praised the club for their support of the program that is helping her continue her education.
Creighton ended the celebration with a presentation of pictures and information featuring the club’s 40 years of projects, fundraisers, conferences, conventions and fun times. Mary Stouder, long-time club member, and Dorothy Bullock, honorary member, were remembered during a special tribute.
Altrusa is an international non-profit organization making their local communities better through leadership, partnership and service. More information about the organization may be found at their website.