At our November meeting along with initiating new members, we had guest speaker Katie Young from Believe in Books and an update from Deb Weinstein of Starting Point. Donations were given to both organizations.
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| Deb and Beth show the food donations for Starting Point's Grace House Kitchen |
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| Comfort bags for Grace House include personal care items and a note of encouragement |
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| This donation should help the Journey to the North pole Program |
On November 1, our club welcomed to new members, Theresa and Juanita. Last spring member Pat McCoy met Theresa when she went to register to vote. Theresa, new to the area inquired about various opportunities and pat filled her in on the work Altrusa does in Carroll County. Theresa jumped right in and was initiated at this November meeting. Juanita is a neighbor of Nancy Spaulding. Juanita has been impressed by Altrusa and also visited several meetings got involved in a project and also officially joined us. The number one way to increase membership is by personal invitation.
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| New member Theresa with her sponsor Pat |
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| Membership Committee and the new initiates and their sponsors |
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| Nancy sponsor to new member Juanita |
On Tuesday, October 18 our Carroll County club hosted our Tri Club party, the first since pre Covid times. Members of our club as well as Meredith and Laconia gathered at River's Edge Restaurant in Ossipee to celebrate our mutual service to our communities. Laconia was the original club which then lead to the creation of the Meredith Club and eventually to our Carroll County Club. We had an informative talk given by Michele
Brooker and Kim Poirier from Northway bank. They discussed popular scams
and how to best prevent ourselves from being victims of internet and
banking scams. Socks were collected for the Meredith club to give to the
HS for their sockathon. Our district One Vice Govenor joined our celebration. It was a joyous and energy filled event!
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| Michele and Kim talk about scams |
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| Club Presidents with Rita Cote District Vice Govenor |
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| Socks for the Sockathon |
We are deep in the midst of autumn leaves, cold nights and warmish days. I love fall; it's probably my favorite time of year mostly because of the beautiful leaves. It's also a time when our activities and meetings get into full swing and we gather to discuss new projects and enjoy one another's company.
If you are looking for a fun and educational activity this weekend consider taking a ride on Saturday the 15th down the Kanc to the Russell Colbath House where they will celebrate Heritage Day from 10-3. Our own Nancy Spaulding and Pat McCoy will be leading games from way back when while re enactors will fire their Civil war cannon at 11, 1, and 3. There will be two ladies spinning and dying yarn, a gentleman demonstrating axes and other wood making tools, a docent giving tours of the historical house, someone cooking on the open hearth and a musical group playing old time songs.
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| Packers meet the 4th Thursday to pack over 100 bags |
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| Contributing to End 68 Hours of Program |
Meetings provide an opportunity for us to socialize as well as hear about and support our various programs.
Upcoming events: Tuesday October 18- Tri Club party with Meredith and Laconia- River's Edge 5:00PM 50/50 raffle, sock collection and learn about cyber scams.
Thursday, October 27- Packing End 68 Hours of Hunger bags
Tuesday, November 1 Club Meeting where we will collect sneakers, all shapes sizes and conditions as well as food and personal care items for Starting Point Grace House.
Wow! The summer has flown by so quickly. It seems like just last week we gathered for our annual meeting at River's Edge Restaurant in Ossipee where we thanked outgoing officers and board members, welcomed new officers for both our club and foundation and celebrated Sue Battles with a 15 year member pin.
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| Pat and Cindy prepping the craft table |
Even in the midst of our summer activities we gathered to host the 2nd Summerfest party for the foster families in Carroll County and continued to have a table at the Farmer's Market in Tamworth.
Crafts and Face painting were very popular!
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| Altrusa friend Kathy shares her painting skills |
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| Our Comfort bags stuffed with personal care items and a note of encouragement |
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| Notes, Cards games for Soldiers |
What do notes, shampoo and books all have in common? They are all part of our ongoing projects to support soldiers, victims of domestic abuse and entice youngsters to read! Throughout the Spring, Altrusans have been busy writing notes to soldiers for our Support Our Soldiers project, preparing and delivering to local preschools our Make Way for Readers bags and putting together Baby book bags to be given to local newborns and their families. Many hands make for light work and it is always a great social gathering too!.
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| The LIST! |
This past month our club created and delivered several comfort bags to Starting Point's Grace House. Each bag contains personal care items as well as a personal note of encouragement. The bags are given to the guests who engage the services of Grace House. Imagine leaving in the middle of the night seeking shelter and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. No time to gather the simple essential items, like shampoo, body wash etc. A comfort bag is helpful in feeling a but cared for at a time that can be very full of emotion. Thank you Altrusa sisters for shopping, gathering and delivering these special bags.
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| Cathy, Nancy and Donna present Deb with the first bags |
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JEN'S FRIENDS
At our March meeting board members from Jen's Friends gave a presentation about the support they give to for families experiencing cancer. They gave a brief history of the organization and we learned that they currently support 75 families and spend nearly $30,000 a month through food, gas, rental assistance. Often families have huge medical bills and the support from Jen's friends for basic needs means that medical costs can be paid for by the family. Since this is an all volunteer organization means that 100% of
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| Valentine Cookies ready to be delivered! |
We love to bake and show that we care for our first responders, medical folks and of course our military. February meeting allowed us to show the love by packing cookies for distribution as well as collecting items such as crosswords, cards, gum and notes of thanks to be sent to military serving abroad.
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| Letters of encouragment, gum, cards, pencils and games for | our SOS project |
At our February meeting, our group heard from Deb Weinstein, the director of Starting Point, a local non profit whose mission is:
Deb shared much important information such as the increase from assisting 5,000 victims to get housing in 2019-2020, to 16,000 the following year . Housing can be emergency or shelter housing. The pattern that they are currently seeing is people staying longer and having a higher level of trauma with increased long term needs.
Starting Point runs a shelter called Grace House. It is a safe environment for victims to get help in the way of emotional support as well as housing. Our Altrusa Club is starting a new project; Care bags, which incoming guests will receive. The bags are filled with personal care items as well as a not of encouragement. Many times when someone leaves an unsafe situation they literally only have the clothes on their backs so being able to have a bag with shampoos, conditioners, toothbrushes etc. is helpful.
Pictured: Nancy Spaulding, President, Deb Weinstein from Starting Point holding the Care Bag and Cathy Babutt who brought the idea to the club.
