March 2013 Cheerful Earful

THE CHEERFUL EARFUL MARCH 2013 This newsletter is brought to you by the Communication Committee of the Macomb Altrusa Club, Macomb, Illinois “Leading to a Better Community” Altrusa is an international non-profit organization making our local communities better through leadership, partnership and service

Contents  Next Meeting Information

 Next meeting information

March meeting will be hosted by the Finance Committee What: The program will feature Wind for Schools program When: March 27

 “Miriam’s Message” from our President, Miriam Satern  Minutes from February 27 meeting

Time: 7:00 p.m.

 March Treasurer’s Report

Where: basement of Everly House, 811 S. Lafayette St., Macomb

 Additional Announcements WHAT IS The Finance committee will provide dessert!

 Calendar of Events

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What is this? Come to the meeting to find out!

“Miriam’s Message” From Our President, Miriam Satern “March Madness” basketball, the first day of Spring, Easter, and the annual search for signs that mark the beginning of warmer weather (e.g., the re-appearance of robins and blooming flowers) are personal agenda items for the month of March. The election of officers and approval of a new budget to guide our Club activities in 2013-14 are Altrusa agenda items for the monthly club meeting on March 27. We will also collect items for our two delegates to take with them to the District 6 Convention to put in the backpacks for children of military families and items for the Macomb basket we will donate for the Silent Auction. More information about all of these important activities is included in the newsletter. Please read about all that’s happening in our Club and come prepared to cast your vote for the proposed slate of officers and budget projects you wish to see us support next year. I look forward to seeing you at 7:00 at the Everly House. The Finance Committee has an interesting program planned for us, too.

See you soon!

Miriam

Minutes from February 27 General Meeting February 27, 2013 General Meeting Minutes Altrusa International of Macomb President Miriam Satern called the meeting to order and we recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Valerie Dugan and Carla Teslicka were introduced as our guests. The minutes of the January 23rd meeting were approved as reported in the Cheerful Earful. The Treasurer’s report prepared by Marsha McCormick was published in the Cheerful Earful and will be filed for audit. The Chamber of Commerce newsletter was circulated. The Moline Foundation received our donation for the sack lunch program. Get well cards were sent to Alta Sargent and Kelly Shiraki. They

thanked the Altrusa members and we were happy to have them with us again.

Standing committees gave the following reports: Communication – Jackie Lucas – No report.

Thank you to Heather Munro for creating a flip page to our Facebook page.

Finance – No report at this time.

Membership – Ann Abbot – No report.

Service – No report.

Bazaar Report: Miriam Satern reported that she has received information from the following: Publicity – Marsha McCormick Volunteers – Lin Stults Promotions (Raffle, Baskets) - Barbara Sandall Hospitality (Doors) – Kathy Wyatt Cashiers – Marsha McCormick

Date for next year – November 9, 2013 Co-chairs for 2013 will be Judi Dallinger (year 2) and Jean Sowers (year 1) Miriam Satern suggested the following timeline for the Co-chairs: February – create a budget March and April – put together committees May and June – meet with committee chairs July – committee chairs meet with their committees Our Altrusa Club banner has been ordered but we have yet to receive it.

Karen Trusley thanked everyone that participated in the Mississippi Valley Blood Drive on Saturday, February 23rd. Karen reported that we met our goal and asked if the club would like to do it again. The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center would be willing to present a program for us.

Karen Trusley and her guest will be our representative at the Spoon River College appreciation dinner. There was no report on the Summer Tutoring Program. The Miss Macomb platforms were read by Rosalie

Severinsen, Cindy Roon, and Liz Duvall. The final decision will be made tonight.

District Six Convention: Karen Trusley and Penny Pollock will be our delegates to the District Six meeting. On motion of Liz Duvall and second by Kathy Wyatt, our club will send items for the Military Kids backpacks. On motion of Cindy Roon and second by Kelly Shiraki, our club will send a gift basket of Macomb items for the silent auction. A table will not be reserved for selling items. Our club will have a display of club newsletters, yearbooks, fundraisers, and service projects.

The slate of officers for 2013-2014 was presented by the Nominating Committee consisting of Karen Iversen, Kristi Kupka, and Cindy Roon.

President – Liz Duvall President Elect – Cindy Roon First Vice President – Rosalie Severinsen Recording Secretary – Ann Abbot Corresponding Secretary – Kristi Kupka Treasurer – Marsha McCormick Past President – Miriam Satern Director (2013-2014) – Lynn Marlowe Director (2013-2014) – Penny Pollock, Karen Iverson Election of officers will occur at the April meeting.

Marsha McCormick presented the budget for 2013-2014. After some discussion and on motion of Kelly Shiraki and second

by Karen Trusley, each member should rank

Motion

community projects by next month and these projects will be funded pending additional funds available. carried.

Nancy Dobey announced that the AARP booklet on Senior Services is now available. It is a very good resource for anyone in the community.

Guest: Valerie Dugan, Carla Teslicka Respectfully submitted, Lynne Brinker

Next Board meeting – March 13, 2013 – Everly House @ 5:30 p.m.

Next General meeting – March 27, 2013 – Everly House @ 7:00 p.m. – Finance Committee – Wind for Schools District 6 Annual Meeting – April 19-21, 2013 – Carmel, IN. Attendance: Ann Abbot, Lynne Brinker, Judi Dallinger, Nancy Dobey, Liz Duvall, Sara Featherlin, Karen Iversen, Kristi Kupka, Peggy Ma, Marsha McCormick, Heather Munro, Penny Pollock, Nancy Reed, Cindy Roon, Alta Sargent, Miriam Satern, Rosalie Severinsen, Kelly Shiraki, Thelma Smiddy, Jean Sowers, Karen Trusley, Sara Wood, Kathy Wyatt.

Carla Teslicka of the YMCA with Liz Duvall – Carla was a great speaker at the meeting!

 March Treasurer’s Report Altrusa International of Macomb Treasurer’s Report as of 3/1/13 Beginning Balance 2/1/13 Receipts Total Receipts Disbursements: Total Disbursements Checkbook Balance as of 3/1/13

$ 9,293.06 None $ None $ $ 8,943.06

(Bank Statement Balanced) Respectfully Submitted by: Marsha McCormick, Treasurer 2012-2013 (Outstanding Ck #2187 for $350 was ran through acct 2/22) (The difference between beginning & checkbook balance is $350) ******************************************************** Since the Bank statement, the following items have been paid out.

2/27/2013 2189 Spoon River College Foundation (2 Nursing Scholarships) $1,600.00 3/2/2013 2190 Postmaster (PO Box Rent)

Checkbook balance as of 3/13/13 is:

$ 78.00 $7,265.06

Still to be paid out of the budget this year is the following: Delegates to District 6 Meeting in April $ 600.00 Alzheimer's Walk 2013 (to be paid out in March) $ 100.00 Maybe Honor's Flight (March) $ 300.00 $1 ,000.00 Chamber of Commerce Annual Dues (June 1) $ 115.00

Looking Great! Members Sara Featherlin, Kelly Shiraki and Penny Pollock at the Feb. meeting

Additional Announcements  FINANCE – BUDGET Message from Treasurer, Marsha McCormick: Members, please bring a copy of the proposed budget that was emailed to you following the last meeting.

Remember you are to rank your top 3

community events so we can vote on them at the meeting.

If unable to attend, please email Marsha McCormick, marsha@macomb.com to let me know what your top 3 requests are.

Thank you.

 Budget consideration information Altrusa member Kristi Kupka is sharing the following information as Samaritan Well is a request that she sent in for the 2013 budget. Kristi explains that this organization has lost its grant funding and so may have to close its doors at a time when so many more people are homeless and in need of assistance.

Kristi asks that Altrusa members take the following information into consideration when you are prioritizing your choices for funding for the 2013 budget.

Samaritan Well is a homeless shelter for men, women and children in Macomb, but they are more than a place to get out of the cold; they also provide educational support so that residents may finish high school or obtain a GED. In this way, they fit with our Mission: "To promote Community Service, with an emphasis on literacy…”

As their website states so eloquently, “Persistent poverty and human development are incompatible. Without basic skills, residents of Samaritan Services cannot realize their full potential.” And isn’t that what we strive to do as well, with our emphasis on literacy?

The following is a list from their web site of services provided by Samaritan Well. Please note that two of the five items are related to education.  Samaritan Services serves men, women and children who are homeless and wanting to improve their lives and the lives of their children.  Samaritan Services provides shelter and assistance to residents so that they can continue their education, train for better employment and plan a future of independent living.  Samaritan Services provides educational support so that residents may finish high school or obtain a GED.  Samaritan Services assists residents in gaining necessary life skills as well as job seeking /keeping skills.  Samaritan Services teaches social skills, budgeting and savings plans, nutritional meal planning, goal setting/attainment and spiritual growth in an atmosphere of love and acceptance.

 Reminder From member, Nancy Dobey : The updated issue of McDonough County IL Senior Services Directory for 2013 is now out in print. Single Copies can be obtained free-of-charge at Macomb City Hall, McDonough District Hospital (Public Relations Dept.), or YMCA Senior Center. You can also print a copy on line at http://www.macombaarpceo.org.

This booklet contains

important information about area services that would help elderly or incapacitated persons continue to live in their own homes…a parent, a neighbor, or yourself. For more information call Mary Warnock, Chairperson of the CEO Committee of AARP (309) 833-2947.

 Miss Macomb Scholarship Results Altrusa member Nancy A. Dobey shares the following regarding the 2013 Miss Macomb Scholarships.

There were 12 Platform papers written this year.

As a whole, this year’s papers were better than average. This year’s Committee did not have an easy pick. The Guidelines shared with all of you, were also given to the contestants. The Altrusa Committee, Rosalie Severinsen, Liz Duvall, & Cindy Roon, read the papers and chose three…they felt were the most well written. Then the Pageant Judges…before meeting the contestants….read these top three papers and chose one winner and two honorable mention papers.

Rayni Lasley, Miss Macomb 2013 This year’s top three papers were written by: Rayni Lasley (Winner-$250), Karmyn Dorethy (Honorable Mention-$50), and Kelsey Peters (Honorable Mention- $50). The winning paper was titled, “Stand by Me”, about Teen Suicide and Cyber Bullying Prevention. The two Honorable Mention papers were titled: “Childhood Obesity”, about the importance of increasing physical activity of the young and “Dance Therapy for Kids with Special Needs”, which is self-explanatory.

As it happened, the top three papers were written by Miss Macomb and the first and second place winners. In the Miss Macomb competition, many times one or more of the top winners also have the best paper(s). To people who poo poo “beauty pageants”….this is proof that to be a winner of a Miss America competition, you also have to be intelligent and organized in other parts of your life, and all “beauty” pageants are not necessarily equal or nonsense.

 Please donate to the Library Expansion Campaign

The Macomb Public Library is asking all local service clubs to each donate S100 to their expansion campaign. The Kiwanis and the Rotary have already given $100 each

– will

we be able to match that?

As we do not have this donation itemized in our budget, we are instead asking for a

donation from each member.

free will

The hat will be passed at the next meeting and we ask

members to consider donating what they can, so the Macomb Public Library can grow in the 21 st century. All donations from this meeting will be given to the library. For more information check out the Library Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/MacombPublicLibraryCampaign

 PLEASE BRING ITEMS FOR CONFERENCE SERVICE PROJECT Karen Trusley and Penny Pollock, our delegates to the upcoming District conference in April will be collecting items to take for the conference service project.

We ask that you bring either items or money to purchase items to the next meeting.

The Service Project selected for the 2013 District Six Conference is Operation Military Kids (OMK) and during the conference, the attendees will be filling Hero Packs for the children and families of those in Indiana who are serving in the military. Our goal is to fill at least 50 Hero Packs. The OMK provides the bags and some other items, but we are asking our members who

are attending to bring items to include in the Hero Packs. It is not necessary that all Hero Packs are alike, but it is important that all of the items are new.

REMEMBER‌ Items may be purchased, donated, or handmade Items must be new, not previously used All items must be non-perishable Hero Packs are designed for children from pre-school to middle school age. Try to make the contents of the Hero Pack age-appropriate. Items are designed to be a fun, educational pick-meup for the child receiving the Hero Pack -shirts

ers

service organizations, government denominations)

 PLEASE BRING ITEMS FOR GIFT BASKET FOR CONFERENCE As discussed at the last meeting, Kelly Shiraki will be making a gift basket for the delegates to take to the District Conference in April. The gift basket will contain Macomb- themed items if possible. Please bring all items to the next meeting for Kelly to collect. The gift basket will be part of a silent auction at the conference.

Check it out!

The Altrusa Club of Macomb received this special invitation to all our members!

 Facebook Did you know Macomb Altrusa has a Facebook page? Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/MacombAltrusa Click the “Like” button when you visit our Facebook page! and share the page with ALL your friends and tell them to like our page too! 

Adopt-a-Classroom

Readers from the Altrusa Club go to Lincoln School on the first Wednesday of the month to read at 12:45 p.m. to Cheryl Ramos' first grade.

Lynn Brinker is scheduled for April 3rd.

One more reader is needed for Wednesday, May 1st, to finish this year. Two books are read, which takes 20-30 minutes.

Sign up at the next Altrusa meeting!

---Rosalie Severinsen

 Macomb Area Chamber Of Commerce Did you know that Macomb Altrusa is a member of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce & Downtown Development Corporation? The Chamber produces a monthly newsletter and you can read the entire newsletter by clicking here: http://www.macombareachamber.com/Newsletters/Newsletter-3-13.pdf be sure to click on the inserts http://www.macombareachamber.com/Newsletters/Inserts3-13.pdf for info. about special upcoming events!

Members Ann Abbot, Nancy Dobey, Alta Sargent, Rosalie Severinsen discussing Altrusa business and enjoying refreshments at the Feb. meeting!

Need your help!

Do you have any spare recent newsletters, from the past year – either black and white but, especially in color? If so, please bring copies to the March meeting – the delegates will display copies of our newsletters at the display table at the District Conference! Give newsletter copies to Heather Munro -- Thank you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! MARCH AND APRIL Altrusa Club of Macomb – News page http://tinyurl.com/MacombAltrusaNews Macomb Altrusa Facebook page www.facebook.com/MacombAltrusa Altrusa District Six http://www.districtsix.altrusa.org/WhoWe-Are/Welcome-Message.aspx Altrusa International http://www.altrusa.org

March 4 – Penny Pollock March 5 – Paula Rhodes March 9 – Karen Iversen

NEWSLETTER SUGGESTIONS?

April 16 – Peggy Ma

Do you have any suggestions for the newsletter?

Comments or ideas? Please help us to make the newsletter the best it can be!

Email

April 20 – Thelma Smiddy

today!

March 19 – Liz Duvall March 27 – Miriam Satern April 11 – Happy 96th Birthday Altrusa!

First Altrusa Club organized in Tenn. 1917

April 30 – Happy 52nd Birthday Macomb Altrusa!

hrmunro@yahoo.com

2012-2013 Macomb Altrusa Officers and Board President Miriam Satern

Calendar of Events

President-Elect Liz Duvall

March 27 – Altrusa General meeting- 7pm Wind for Schools at Everly House

Past President – Nancy Reed

March 31 – Happy Easter!

Vice-President Rosalie Severinsen

April 1 – Happy April Fool’s Day! April 2 – International Children’s Book Day April 3--—“Adopt a Classroom” – Sign up to read to Mrs. Ramos' first grade class April 6 – YMCA Kiddie Carnival April 10 - Executive Board meeting April 12 D.E.A.R. Day (aka Drop Everything And Read) April 14-20 National Library Week April 19 YMCA Fundraiser – “Dueling Pianos” April 23 World Book Night US April 24 – Altrusa General meeting- 7pm Alternatives for Older Adults at Everly House May 1--—“Adopt a Classroom” – Sign up to read to Mrs. Ramos' first grade class May 8 - Executive Board meeting May 13-19 Children’s Book Week May 22 – Altrusa General meeting- 7pm Installation & Initiation at Everly House June 12 Executive Board meeting June 26 -- Altrusa General meeting-Annual Planning (2013-2014)

Recording Secretary Lynne Brinker Treasurer Marsha McCormick Corresponding Secretary Heather Munro Director (2012-2013) Jackie Lucas Directors (2013-2014) Lynn Marlowe, Ann Abbot Committee Chairs: Communication – Jackie Lucas Finance – Marsha McCormick Membership – Anne Abbot Service – Lynn Marlowe