Sept 2013 by Michelle

NEWSLETTER Volume 2

Issue 3

September 2013 The President’s Welcome…

CALENDAR Sept. 6 10:00 a.m – Grandparents Day @ Clayberg Sept. 10 5:00 p.m. – Planning Meeting@ Michelle‟s House Sept. 11 5:00 p.m – Strategic Plan Team Meeting @McDonald‟s Sept. 15 10:00 a.m.Meals On Wheels @ Sunset Nursing Home Kathy and Michelle Sept. 16 – Reports and Agenda Items Due

Wow! What a crazy couple of months it has been! September always gets me fired up. This time of year feels like New Year‟s to me. I think it is the beginning of a new school year, a fresh start. Even though my son is grown, I still look at the end of summer as a time for new excitement, energy and opportunities. Exciting things are happening for our club too. We initiated a new member in August and are scheduled to have two initiated in September! New members, new ideas and lots of things going on…now that‟s exciting! Michelle NEW FRIENDS In July, members of the Canton and Quincy clubs attended the Macomb club‟s monthly meeting. It was great to meet everyone, share ideas and eat delicious food provided by the members of the Macomb club. I know we can‟t wait to do it again!

Sept. 21 – International Day of Peace Sept. 26 5:30 p.m. – Monthly Meeting – Wiener Roast at “the farm” Oct. 1 – IRS Form 990-N Due

Altrusa is an international non-profit organization making our local communities better through leadership, partnership and service. We are civic-minded people who strive to create better communities worldwide

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY

The 3rd Annual Back To School Bash was held in Jones Park July 28th. Club members collected books for children of all ages. Over 200 books were donated to children that day. Kids, parents and members all enjoyed the event.

On July 18, (the hottest day all summer, at that point) members celebrated Nelson Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x;s birthday by donating 67 minutes (a minute for each year Mandela has devoted to public service) to do some good in their community. This year members helped to clean up a local park.

INITIATION JENNIFER CLANTON At the July meeting, we welcomed, Jennifer Clanton. Jennifer leads our local Salvation Army and has attended a few meetings and participated in some of our events in order to find out what Altrusa is all about. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t waste any time putting her to work either, for the August meeting, she brought a friend to help us make cards for our Grandparents Day gifts. Jennifer is co-sponsored by Judy Walloch and Michelle Florea. We are very happy to have Jennifer join us! Welcome!!!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU Angie, tell us a little about yourself…. I am Fulton County born and raised. I almost got out once, but I guess it wasn‟t meant to be. I try to be kind to animals and small children and I have never needed bail money. I have worked in banking or accounting all my life. My husband, Rich, and I have been married for almost 8 years and we have weathered many storms. He means the world to me and I can‟t imagine my life without him. I have one daughter, who is a Speech/Language Pathologist and who teaches in this field at Western Illinois University. She and my son-in-law, Erik, are the „parents‟ of my granddog, Gus, who is a very spirited miniature dachshund. My dream when I was younger was to become a famous writer. I imagined that by this time in my life I would be enjoying success comparable to what John Grisham has. Apparently, that was not meant to be either but I am quite happy with where I am. If I play my cards right, I may be able to retire in 3,101 days. Give or take.

What’s rocking your world this month??? I prefer my life when my world isn‟t rocking, thank you very much. I function well in a nice, comfy rut. Unless you mean roller coasters. I love roller coasters and will climb out of my rut for a short thrill ride. But not this month. This month I will spend a week on a beach in South Carolina with the hubs, my Mom, and my Aunt from Arizona. As you might suspect, my husband is a very patient man. Also, this month my Mom, my daughter, and I will enjoy our annual multi-generation shopping weekend. We haven‟t decided where to go yet, but it will involve a hotel room, a mall, a good dinner, and much love.

What do you like to do in your free time/on vacation? Beaches and books are my thing. I love nothing more than settling down with a good book, and if I can do that on a beach, I‟m in heaven. I don‟t want to get in the water, mind you, I just want to look at it and marvel at its majesty. That is when I feel closest to God. I also love spending time with my husband. Many times (unless there is a baseball game or a football game on TV), we sit and talk for hours, without the annoying background noise. This was especially true when he was on dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant. He would be very sore and exhausted after a treatment and we‟d spend hours planning all the things we would do when he was well. We thank God every day that we have been able to do that since his transplant in 2006. I relish the time I spend with my daughter and mother, as well. We have a strong bond that sustains us all. But, as much as I love my family and friends, I also love time alone. Sometimes I feel when I‟m alone, I‟m in my best company. Ssshhhhh….you didn‟t hear that… I learned long ago that „alone‟ does not mean „lonely‟ and if you can‟t be happy by yourself, nobody else is going to be able to make you happy either.

How did you get involved with Altrusa? My friend and co-worker, Sandy Robbins, invited me to an Altrusa meeting a couple years ago. I had never heard of it and I was intrigued by the things they did (and still do!). That was all it took. I have never known a greater group of ladies who do as much for the good of others.

What do you like best about being a member of Altrusa? Wow. Where to begin. I love that we remember nursing home residents on Grandparents‟ Day. I enjoy dressing teddy bears to give to children at Christmas. I am so proud that we make significant donations to local food pantries and deliver Meals on Wheels. This year we decorated a room in which children can feel safe and loved while they wait to be transferred between their custodial and non-custodial parents. How awesome is that! I normally really, really dislike garage sales, but when you do it with people you like and admire so much, even that can be fun. One of the best things about Altrusa, is our flexibility and adaptability. Wherever there is a need, we love the opportunity to make a difference. We are outstanding community and world citizens, and where we go, a light shines. It is not a spotlight to impress the world, but we see it and feel it and it guides our efforts.

GRANDPARENTS DAY Each year our club puts together gift bags for the residents of a local nursing home for Grandparents Day. This year the recipients were the residents of Clayberg Nursing Home in Cuba. At the August meeting members filled bags with small, personal items for the residents including lip balm, a hairbrush, tissues, chocolates, etc. All items were chosen with the approval of nursing home staff members. On Friday, September 6, members met at the home to deliver the gifts and visit with the 50 residents. The residents enjoyed the attention and the members enjoyed visiting with them and their pets. The employees even decorated a display in the activity room recognizing our visit. It was a lot of fun!

Peggy and Sue work on filling the gift bags for the residents

Display in the Activity Room at the nursing home

Lynne, Kathy, Becky and Jennifer create handmade cards for each bag.

L to R: Judy Walloch, Sandy Robbins, Lisa Graham, Kathy Wright-Salvidio, Michelle Florea and Pat Mitchell (in front) deliver Grandparents Day gifts at Clayberg.

FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS Members bring non-perishable items to the June, July and August meetings each summer and the donations are then given to a local food pantry. In addition, to the food items listed below, a monetary donation was also made. Not too bad for a club of 10! Pictured L to R: Sue Livingston, Michelle Florea, Pat Mitchell and Judy Walloch present the Cuba Food Pantry with items collected by the members of the club all summer.

COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR

MEETING NEWS The September meeting will be a wiener roast hosted by the club board members. Martha Daly, her husband and friends are very generously allowing us have it at “the farm” again this year. THANK YOU!!!

JUNE 27 Presidents SEPTEMBER 26 - Board DECEMBER TBA - Board MARCH 27 Membership

JULY 25 Finance OCTOBER 24 Finance JANUARY 23 Communication APRIL 24 Service

AUGUST 23 Membership NOVEMBER 14 Service FEBRUARY 27 Sips & Apps MAY 22 Communication

HOW TO FIND ALTRUSA INFORMATION

If you were not at last year‟s wiener roast, it was a blast! Even our district visitor loved it!

Altrusa International, Inc. of Canton Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/cantonilaltrusa

We‟ll try to get a club picture that night and we‟ll have an initiation.

Altrusa International Website: www.altrusa.org

Directions From Canton, take the Canton-Cuba Blacktop to the college intersection and turn right. Cross the tracks and it is the first road on the left, and then follow the path.

Visit our web page at: http://districtsix.altrusa.org/District-Clubs/DistrictSix-Illinois/Canton-Illinois/Canton-Club-News.aspx Altrusa International‟s Blog can be found at: www.leadingtoabettercommunity.com

From Cuba, take the Cuba-Canton Blacktop to the college intersection and turn left. Cross the tracks and it is the first road on the left, and then follow the path. Altrusa is an international non-profit organization making our local communities better through leadership, partnership and service. We are civic-minded people who strive to create better communities worldwide