Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village, AR, Inc., had something to celebrate in April – 20 years of service to HSV and the surrounding communities.
It was a really Happy Birthday for the social gathering before the Business Meeting and the meeting itself, as the Club initiated one new Altrusan and welcomed five guests interested in learning more about the Club’s community projects.
Four Past Presidents hosted the gathering, Immediate Past President Valerie Derryberry, 2022-2023; Sue Spurgin, 2020-2022, who traveled from her new home in Texas for the occasion; Diane Bielanski, 2015-2017, current BRR Chair and Parliamentarian; and Carol Heckert, 2005-2006, a charter member of the club and it’s second President. Joan Schoonover, the Club’s organizer and its first President, injured her knee playing golf and regretfully could not attend. The Club was organized on February 2, 2004, and chartered on March 29, 2004, with 21 members. Two charter members, Joan Schoonover and Carol Heckert, are still active. A third charter member, Ouida Wolfe, was an active and Emeritus Member until her death on Oct. 7, 2023.
Two of the Club’s first projects almost 20 years ago are still going strong: the 4.0 GPA Student Recognition and Scholarship Program encouraging academic achievement and Comfort Kits for sexual assault victims.
The 4.0 program invites all students at four area high schools (Cutter Morning Star, Fountain Lake, Jessieville and Mountain Pine) who have a 4.0 GPA that school year to a luncheon and awards scholarships to graduating seniors at the four schools. In 2023-24, the Club awarded 16 scholarships to seniors who had maintained that 4.0 GPA all four years of high school and honored 130 students who are pursuing that goal.
The Club’s Comfort Kits are distributed to three area hospitals and given to sexual assault victims treated in the emergency rooms. When women are assaulted, the police must take their clothing as evidence and some victims don’t have anyone to call to bring clean clothing to the hospital – some were leaving wearing hospital gowns. The kits provide a T-shirt, sweatpants and shirt, underwear and socks, a blanket, toiletries and a handwritten note of care and encouragement.
Many other community service projects have joined those two programs over the years, including new ones in 2023-24: Birthday Books for Mountain Pine Elementary School students – a free book of their choice to take home and read, and share the siblings; Altrusans Read (reading books to those students one day a month), and free, no-obligation hearing screenings conducted by UAMS audiology professionals. This year, lots of “pop-up projects” (usually one-time events that can be done in a few hours) also appeared. The Club gathered and donated nonperishable food to Harvey’s Chapel Food Pantry; bought candy and stuffed plastic Easter eggs for the community’s Easter egg hunt organized by Village True Value Home Center and Building Supply and posted flyers in the women’s restrooms offering resources for victims of human trafficking, among other projects.
The newest Club member is Chris Hanses, who brings the Club to 33 active members and three Emeritus Members. She is the sixth new member to join in 2023-24. Altrusa of HSV is part of Altrusa International, a worldwide service organization founded in 1917. 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.
Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village, AR, Inc., during the club’s April Business Meeting.
Welcoming her to the club are (from left) Membership Development Chair Mary Kramer; Diane Shaw and Laurie Herman, her sponsors; and President Melanie Pederson. Chris becomes the 33rd active member of the club; five other new Altrusans joined in 2023-2024: Beth Annen, Gail Dann, Joanna Horton, Kathy Jervis, and Brenda Walls.
Featured image: 20 Years of Service to the Community – Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village, AR, Inc. celebrated its 20th anniversary in April, and four former club presidents and 33 Altrusans were on hand to mark the occasion. Cutting the cake are (from left) Valerie Derryberry, president in 2022-2023 and on the club’s Board of Directors as Immediate Past President; Sue Spurgin, president in 2020-2022 and now living in Texas; Diane Bielanski, president 2015-2017 and current club BRR Chair/Parliamentarian; and Carol Heckert, president 2005-2006, current club Secretary and a charter member of the club.
Submitted by Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
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