Carole Thompson, a longtime member of Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village, AR Inc., has been elevated to Emeritus status by Altrusa International District Eight. Only Altrusans who have been active in their club and community service projects for at least ten years are eligible for the honor. Carole has been an active and valuable member of Altrusa of HSV for twelve years since June 2011.
During that period, she was instrumental in establishing the Altrusa International Foundation of Hot Springs Village, Inc. and obtaining its 501(c)(3) status for charitable contributions. She served as the local Foundation Treasurer in 2016-17 and on the Audit Committee in 2017-19. As a Club member, she chaired the Membership Development Committee for two years, 2017-19, and has remained an active member of the committee, 2019 – 2023. She led the Comfort Kits service project for many years and assembled and stored the kits in her home. Comfort Kits contain clothing and toiletries that Altrusa of HSV distributes to area hospitals for victims of sexual assault, whose clothing is taken by police as evidence.
Carole participated in many, many service projects enthusiastically for Altrusa of HSV until her health forced her to reduce her activities. Even now, she attends functions when she is able and does her part.
“Carole’s dedication and willingness to get involved led to establishing our club’s Foundation as a 501 (c)(3) for charitable contributions and growing membership during her tenure as chair of the Membership Committee. Carole’s positive spirit and willingness to do what she can, when she can, is the mark of a true Altrusan,” said Melanie Pederson, president of Altrusa of HSV. Among the club’s projects: It awards scholarships to seniors at four area high schools who have maintained a 4.0 GPA and scholarships for nontraditional nursing students at National Park College; it assembles and distributes Comfort Kits for sexual assault victims; it arranges free community-wide hearing screenings; and it buys and distributes dictionaries for third-grade students at area elementary schools and “Birthday Books” for Mountain Pine Elementary School students.
Altrusa of HSV is part of Altrusa International, a worldwide service organization founded in The HSV club that has served the community since 2004. Find information about the club at Facebook.com/AltrusaHSV or districteight.altrusa.org/hot-springs-village. To learn more or attend a meeting, contact Membership Chair Mary Kramer at 215-740-0678 or email mqdelp@gmail.com.
Article submitted by Diane Bielanski, Webmaster Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village, AR
