WE WISH EACH AND EVERYONE of YOU a SAFE, HAPPY and Healthy 2024
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to Altrusa of Meredith, please click the PayPal link below. Please note a PayPal account is not required to make a donation.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
Community Dinners are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month ( except for October, November and December due to the holidays). Please refer to our calendar of events for updates.
our community dinner will be cancelled as well. The meal is free but donations are accepted and will be used to fund future community dinners. If questions, please call 603-520-0434.
THERE ARE NO DINNERS FOR JULY AND AUGUST.
The Meredith Altrusa 2023-2024 Officers and Board of Directors
Seated, Left- Right: Immediate Past President Sylvia Detscher, Director Judi LeCount, and President MaryAnne Skawinski:
Back Row, L-R: Foundation President Nancy Law, Foundation Treasurer Kathy LaPoint, Vice-President Marie Stephens, Director Lynne Cayer, Secretary Connie VanDam, Treasurer Cindy Day, Director Linda French
Membership Committee members welcoming one of our new members, Doreen Carson, are: L to R: Altrusans Nancy Law, Carol Gerken, Doreen Carson, Jodi Wilson, Betty Cook, Connie Van Dam, Linda French and Monica Bennett.
Membership Committee members welcoming Lynne Cayer as the new Secretary to the Board of Directors. Left to right: MaryAnne Skawinski, Lynne Cayer, Monica Bennett, Jodi Wilson, Betty Cook, Connie Van Dam and Linda French.
Altrusa Information Board
An Organization With a Rich and Colorful History
Altrusa International was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1917, originally as Altrusa Institute. During that time, a record number of women were going to work during World War I, and there was a need for women’s civic organizations. Dr. Alfred Durham, a member of Kiwanis, began organizing clubs throughout Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, and Dayton, OH, before he moved on to Indianapolis, IN, where he met Mamie L. Bass. Mamie L. Bass had served as the Superintendent of the Women’s Division of the United States Employment Bureau and was a partner in her brother’s architecture firm. She also assisted him in organizing a Rotary chapter in Indianapolis. While she admired Dr. Durham’s Institute, Bass felt that Altrusa could serve a higher purpose.
In June 1918, when Altrusa held its first convention in Indianapolis, Mamie L. Bass’s vision became reality. The Altrusa Institute became a classified service organization for women. Later, the Altrusa Institute was renamed as the National Association of Altrusa Clubs and adopted By-Laws that laid the groundwork for today’s Altrusans. Soon after, Mamie L. Bass created the Principles of Altrusa which defined Altrusa as "a builder of women" and an organization based on merit and accomplishment. The Principles were officially adopted in 1921 along with a major club building effort. By 1922, Altrusa had 20 clubs. In 1935, Altrusa became international when the first club in Mexico was organized. Since that first step over US borders in 1935, Altrusa moved into Puerto Rico, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, India, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Great Britain, Bermuda, Canada, and New Zealand.
In 1946, Altrusa sent its first representative to the United Nations. In 1962, Altrusa International established the Altrusa International Foundation, which is dedicated to improving economic well-being and quality of life through a commitment to community services and literacy.
In 1966, the organization began to look to America’s youth as the future of Altrusa and established ASTRA service clubs. ASTRA encourages young people, ages 13 to 21, to participate in community service. Expanding on its commitment to youth, Altrusa adopted literacy in 1977. The eighties and nineties brought many exciting changes to Altrusa.
With the end of Communism, the former Soviet Union saw its first Altrusa clubs. Increasing its global outlook, Altrusa expanded projects beyond literacy and education by adopting a resolution to promote environmental concerns in 1989.
An Organization With a Rich and Colorful History
Altrusa International was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1917, originally as Altrusa Institute. During that time, a record number of women were going to work during World War I, and there was a need for women’s civic organizations. Dr. Alfred Durham, a member of Kiwanis, began organizing clubs throughout Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, and Dayton, OH, before he moved on to Indianapolis, IN, where he met Mamie L. Bass. Mamie L. Bass had served as the Superintendent of the Women’s Division of the United States Employment Bureau and was a partner in her brother’s architecture firm. She also assisted him in organizing a Rotary chapter in Indianapolis. While she admired Dr. Durham’s Institute, Bass felt that Altrusa could serve a higher purpose.
In June 1918, when Altrusa held its first convention in Indianapolis, Mamie L. Bass’s vision became reality. The Altrusa Institute became a classified service organization for women. Later, the Altrusa Institute was renamed as the National Association of Altrusa Clubs and adopted By-Laws that laid the groundwork for today’s Altrusans. Soon after, Mamie L. Bass created the Principles of Altrusa which defined Altrusa as "a builder of women" and an organization based on merit and accomplishment. The Principles were officially adopted in 1921 along with a major club building effort. By 1922, Altrusa had 20 clubs. In 1935, Altrusa became international when the first club in Mexico was organized. Since that first step over US borders in 1935, Altrusa moved into Puerto Rico, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, India, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Great Britain, Bermuda, Canada, and New Zealand.
In 1946, Altrusa sent its first representative to the United Nations. In 1962, Altrusa International established the Altrusa International Foundation, which is dedicated to improving economic well-being and quality of life through a commitment to community services and literacy.
In 1966, the organization began to look to America’s youth as the future of Altrusa and established ASTRA service clubs. ASTRA encourages young people, ages 13 to 21, to participate in community service. Expanding on its commitment to youth, Altrusa adopted literacy in 1977. The eighties and nineties brought many exciting changes to Altrusa.
With the end of Communism, the former Soviet Union saw its first Altrusa clubs. Increasing its global outlook, Altrusa expanded projects beyond literacy and education by adopting a resolution to promote environmental concerns in 1989.
