Altrusa supports the HFH Women's Build

On Saturday, May 7th many members of our Club volunteered to help the local Habitat for Humanity with the annual Women's Build.  As in past years, we provided coffee, breakfast items and pizza and sandwiches for lunch, with the help of the Community Market in Madison.  The new homeowner and building crew were very appreciative of our contributions and enjoyed their lunch.  This year we also had the children from Kids Who Care helping to serve and picking up wood scraps.

Altrusa District One Conference

What a great time we had at our District One Spring Conference on April 29 & 30!  Our 3 New Hampshire Clubs served as hosts for the 60th Conference held at the White Mountain Hotel in North Conway.  Members helped by creating centerpieces, favors and welcome bags for the 113 attendees and helped to facilitate the presentations.  Our International President, Sylvia Silverman of Maryland joined us to share information about all the work Altrusa International is doing to streamline communication, the service projects done at the International level and Club 21.  Workshops were offered on Grant Writing and managing an Effective Meeting.  It was great getting to know some of our other Altrusa sisters from distant clubs.  Attendees had some free time to shop, hike and travel to the historic Mt. Washington Hotel for tea, guided by some of our own members.  Saturday night we laughed for over an hour as we were entertained by Rebecca Rule, noted New Hampshire storyteller.  We all agreed that we are looking forward to next year's Conference hosted by the Northeast Connecticut Club and to be held in Mystic, CT.

Judy Yeary, Flag bearer

Welcome sign created by Melinda Fallen.

A small group took a hike around Echo Lake.

John and Rebecca Rule, storyteller and entertainer for the evening.

Members of Altrusa of Carroll County gathered at the White Mountain Hotel.

Altrusa helps with Read Across America Week

Members of Altrusa of Carroll County worked with teachers and students at Madison Elementary School to help celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday and Read Across America Week.  Our members baked more than 100 cupcakes to be decorated by the children as part of the birthday celebration. Dorothy reported that she had lots of fun reading to the students.  Although several members had planned to read to the children, the snow and delayed opening of school shortened the story time. 

Pond Hockey Fund Raiser for the Laura Foundation

On Saturday, January 30th and Sunday, January 31st, The Laura Foundation for Autism and Epilepsy hosted a pond hockey competition on Purity Lake by the King Pine Ski Area.  The competition was a fund raiser to support the work by The Laura Foundation for the construction of an adaptive sports and recreation center in East Madison. The event raised more than $20,000 for the Laura Foundation with 24 teams with 150 players competing.  Altrusa of Carroll County was asked if we would help with the fund raiser by serving food to the hungry hockey players and their families.  We had members sign up for the 2-hour shifts for both days, selling soup and chili and mac & cheese and snacks to help fund the construction of the center.

Elves at the North Pole

Four members of our club volunteered as Santa's Elves to support the Believe in Books Literacy Foundation fundraising effort with the Journey to the North Pole.  We had lots of fun sharing some of the magic at Santa's Workshop with all the children and families who came on the Polar Express.  We laughed, we sang, we shouted and clapped and ended the evening truly believing in the magic of Christmas.

Cathy, Thelma, Kathy, and Cindy as jolly Elves.

County Altrusa - Cohost DCYF - Foster Family Christmas Party - December 12th

One of the first community service projects that Carroll County Altrusa participated in was the Christmas party for the Foster Families in Carroll County. We have moved from the Tri-Cap building, to Runnells Hall and now to the Madison Elementary school. The party grows and is an event that members and the families look forward to. This year, Santa arrived quietly and the excitement on the children's face told the whole story. The smiles were big and the hugs even bigger. We respect the privacy of all of our families and children, so there aren't any photos.

One of our members made balloon animals, other friends did face painting, there was cookie decorating, and a craft table. A big box of lego's was set out and many of the youngsters gravitated to that table. There was a buffet with appetizers and wonderful desserts. A good time was had by all.

Santa was happy to pose with the members attending. Santa has joined us every year and is so special to the children.

The set up crew....

  
Visiting with Santa before we left

Cindy creates a crown for Kathy M

Face painting wasn't just for the children.

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays and Fabulous New Year to all.

Stockings for Soldiers

On Sunday afternoon, November 22nd, this great group of Altrusans joined other volunteers at the White Mountain Hotel to fill Christmas stockings for soldiers.  All the stockings will be shipped to those servicemen and women stationed overseas during the Christmas season.