Greetings Fellow Altrusans,

The year’s most festive month is upon us. December, the year 2024's final month, is also a perfect time for new beginnings, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of our club’s purpose. So, as we see 2024 end, we remember to be thankful for our club and its members. Reflecting on the year’s accomplishments, we’ve done much to improve our community. This month, we've continued our literacy focus with reading to students at Green Run Elementary School. We have allocated funds to assist needy families with grocery store gift cards and gifts have been purchased for underprivileged children. Additional school supplies will be donated at the social. These are just a few examples of how we make a genuine difference in people’s lives.

December is always an exciting time for our Tidewater club. We look forward to our largest fundraiser, which I would like to call our signature event, the Holiday Bazaar. Then, the following week, we can celebrate and unwind at our Holiday Social.

Now that we’re preparing to enter a new year, we can make 2025 meaningful by supporting our ongoing projects and adding new ones. I’m looking forward to working with this group of wonderful Altrusans, who are always willing to share their skills and talents. In addition, we can look forward to our District Conference in May and the International Convention in July in the upcoming year.

I hope to see everyone at the bazaar and social, and I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season.

Warm regards,

Kathy

There was not a board meeting this month.

2024 is Almost Over! Have You Recorded Your 2024 Service Hours?  

Service Committee Meeting Notes - November 25, 2024

Our next meeting will be on January 6th at 6pm via Zoom. Join us!! 

In attendance:  Joanne, Shari, Deb, Barb S., Kathy, Jennifer

Topics:

Creating an international service project to support Mirror of Hope.

• There are two ways we can support Mirror of Hope:  Scholarship support for students and a service project for the Sewing Courses.

• A large problem with providing items is the possibility of theft when items arrive at their destination, as well as the cost to ship.  Deb will not be traveling there any time in the near future.

• Scholarship Support:  

  • Use one of our scholarship funds to support a student.

  • Ask Susan if it's possible to use the square for donations for scholarship funds.

• Develop a project to support the Sewing Courses.  Here are ideas:

  • create instructional videos to send to them to view

  • work with them virtually (via zoom or other virtual app) to create business cards or other business related topics that can help their business.

  • Contact companies (i.e. Singer) for donations.

  • Have a yard sale to raise money for a library for their sewing location.

  • Deb will contact the lead for Mirror of Hope to see what kind of books/budget is needed to create a library.

  • Note:  there are not any computers at the location for sewing classes, so they would need to make arrangements to meet with us or view videos.

January:  We are planning to meet at JoKell's in January for a Saturday meeting to create Valentine Cards for A Soldier's Hands.  The club agreed to support bags for veterans at the VB Veterans Center with $100.  This money may not go far.  We ask members to pick up trial size items to bring to this meeting.  A list of items will be created and distributed.

At this time, I am not sure of the date for this Saturday meeting; it will be added to the calendar once I know. 

February Ideas:  

• Plan a membership drive/service project to collect canned food.  

• Serve lunch or dinner at a location to support the homeless (Oceanfront - Joanne).

• Volunteer at the Food Bank as a club.

 The 2024-25 Yearbook is Available Online

Our 24-25 Yearbook has been posted on our website.  It does require a password, the the same password as last year's yearbook.   

For your convenience, on November 16th, a digital copy of the yearbook  with an attached link to the yearbook was sent to each member. This link DOES NOT require a password; however, the file on our website DOES require a password.  

Please be mindful if you forward this email or share the password with others that the information in this file is private and has information that could be harmful to others if in the wrong hands.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.  

Sincerely,

Shari

Altrusa International of Tidewater, Inc.

Program/Business Meeting Minutes

Jo-Kell, Inc.

November 18, 2024

Attending: Marcy, Martha F., Barbara S., Elizabeth, Shari, Sherral, Kathy, Joanne, Ellen, June, Jennifer, Betty, Joyce,
Colleen, Lisa, Susan, Emily C. 

Attending Via Zoom:  None

Call to Order, Kathy, President

Meeting called to order at 6:01 PM

Sherral read the Altrusa Collect

Program

Program time will be dedicated to Bazaar planning.

Business Meeting

Welcome to Visitor(s) - Kathy

No visitors

Recording Secretary - Barb S.

Minutes were approved as distributed in the newsletter.

Corresponding Secretary - Joanne

Marcy shared an invitation from Lake Taylor Hospital December 5,  2:00 PM for the Love Light Tree  event, and celebration of volunteers.  

Treasurer’s Report - Emily

Beginning Balance:$6,453.41 / Ending Balance: $8,100.52

Treasurer’s report filed for audit. 

33 members

Committee Reports

Service Committee - Joanne  & Shari, Co-Chair

• GRES:  Joeanne has added dates to the calendar for reading to kindergarteners.  She passed around a sign up sheet for  volunteers. The Guidance Counselor will select families for our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner Wal-Mart gift cards.

• Tree Trimming Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital:  Tree was decorated Monday, November 18.  We discussed a date to take down the tree.  

•  Mayflower Marathon:   Saturday, November 23rd, from 12:30 to 2:30 at Lynnhaven Mall behind AMC Theater. Robyn has organized volunteers:  Jennifer, June, Marilyn (June’s sister), Robyn, Shari, Emily C., Susan, Tracey, Joanne, and Cathy M.              

• A Service Committee meeting will be on Zoom on Monday, November 25 at 6:00 p.m. Topics include the Mirror of Hope project and projects for January-March.                                                                                                 

• Add an Altrusan:   Scheduled Saturday, January 11th at JoKell, 9:00 AM for our January monthly meeting. 

• The board suggested that members assemble Goodie Bags to be delivered to the veterans at Jones and Cabacoy on Valentine’s Day. The Board passed a motion for $100 to be allocated for this project. Discussion for the motion:  how many residents?  44 ;  What items.  The motion was tabled. 

Ways and Means - Barb S., Chair

• Bazaar Planning, Sherral and Joyce:  Members displayed items they have made for the bazaar. Set-Up Friday, 6 PM.  Coleen and Joanne will monitor bake sale.  Table covers are adequate.  Lisa has signage.  Ellen & Jennifer in charge of Regift table.   Check out for sales table will be rearranged per Susan.  Raffle ticket price was discussed. Sherral moved the price 1-$2.00 or 6 for $10.00.  Joyce seconded.  Discussion.  Barbara amended the motion to $1 -3.00 or 4 for $10.00.  Emily seconded.  The amended motion passed.  After further discussion, Barbara withdrew her amendment. Marcy moved 1 ticket for $5.00 or 3 for $10.00.  Emily seconded.  Marcy’s motion passed.  

• Pansy Sale Profits:  $1313.52.  Two invoices are still outstanding.  Donations for Vet Center - 18 pots and $418 in cash.  

Communications - Shari, Chair

• Yearbook update:  Shari emailed the 2024-2025 yearbook to members on November 16th.  This document is password-protected in the newsletter. See Kathy or Shari for the password. It is not password-protected in the email.

• Lisa is willing to work on a new brochure for our club. However, Lisa will need input on what information should be included and the design and format. Who can assist with this project?     

• Small card with a QR code for the bazaar.                              

Environmental - Jennifer & June, Co-Chair

Sensory Garden, J & C Vet Care Center: Barbara needs a volunteer make a diagram of the garden.  Once we know the dimensions and where existing plants are located, we can start planning.   June volunteered to diagram the garden bed.  

Unfinished Business/Upcoming Events. 

Holiday Social

Saturday, December 14th at 5:30 PM Social - dinner at 6:00PM.  West Neck Village Hall, 2580 Signature Dr. VA Beach.  

Please bring school supplies.  We will divide supplies to schools where members are teaching.  Shari will post a sign-up sheet on the website. Joyce volunteered to coordinate food.  

District Two Conference
May 1-4, 2024;   Location changed to Altoona, PA

Altrusa International Convention
July 23-26, 2024;  Quebec City, Canada

Add an Altrusan Day - January

Saturday, January 11, 9:00 AM, JoKell:  Bring guests as potential members.  We will make Valentines for Service members. .  Refreshments will be discussed by committee.

New Business

Lam Family 35th Anniversary 

The Lam family arrived January 26, 1990.  Members discussed options for a celebration.  A Planning Committee formed to plan the anniversary event:  Marcy, Betty, Joyce                                                            

Announcements

• Kathy’s husband has been moved from a nursing facility to a private home in order to receive more personal care. He remains under hospice care.      

• Cindy Pare has moved to another house for hospice care.  Someone has adopted her two cats.  

Benediction / Adjournment

After Kathy adjourned the meeting at  7:03 PM, members said the Benediction.

Birthdays

November  December 

Martha H:  11/6    Joanne:    12/4     

Barbara S:  1/4   Cathy M:  12/12    

Judy I:       11/23 Robyn:     12/13    

   Dorothy:  12/13

Joanne won the 50/50 Raffle of $7.50.  $7.50 will go into the treasury.  

District Two Board and Committee Chairs

This document lists the board and committee chairs.

District Two Service Newsletter:  

Click here to view the September 2024 District Two Service Newsletter.

International is interested in gauging member interest in attending the next Convention in Quebec.  Click here to complete the survey.