Altrusa members support 65 years of good deeds

Poplar Bluff’s chapter of Altrusa International is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year and the role the members play in the local community.

More than a century ago, women were not invited to join service organizations. Their answer in 1917 was to organize Altrusa International.

Since the local non-profit group formed, the members have worked to better the community and have earned international and district recognition for their efforts.

While projects can change from year to year, locally the women have included literacy, developing leadership and community service into their activities, the members said.

In 1973, the local group won the highest honor given by Altrusa International for its work helping organize a nutrition program at the Twin Towers Housing Authority, recounts Betty Absheer, who has been an Altrusan for 40 plus years.

The members recall the women who initiated the hard work and service during the first years the club existed.

“Our first president was Gladys Foard,” Absheer said.

Foard was a music teacher in the local school system.

Absheer remembers the late Rose Saracini as an inspiration to the new members.

“Rose was an Altrusan from head to toe,” Absheer said. “She lived it and taught the rest of us that was what we should do.”

Saracini, according to Absheer, “was very active in the group,” as well as active in attending conventions and conferences.

Kathy Hadley wears the late Rose Saracini’s past president’s pin with pride. Saracini was an active member of the Poplar Bluff community. She was circulation manager for the Daily American Republic newspaper and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Hadley recalls, the Poplar Bluff group started the Dexter Club in 1975 and the Sikeston Club in 1979.

In 1980-82, Mildred Lewis was governor of Altrusa District Eight, which covers Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

One of the latest honors was when Absheer received the Marilynn J. Bell Humanitarian Award, which was established to honor the exemplary leadership and contributions.

Absheer has served multiple terms in the local club as president, treasurer, membership chair and nominating committee chair. At the district level, she has been second vice governor, first vice governor, governor-elect, governor, information chair and on the district nominating committee. At the international level, besides representing District Eight on the governors’ council, she served two terms as a director and one term as second vice president.

Current Altrusa President Nila Keller recalls when she was younger reading in the newspaper about Altrusa and saying, “someday, I am going to join them.”

She admired the members and their work. “It is an honor to be invited to join.”

Keller shared, “Altrusa gives members the opportunity to learn to be more professional, help communities, run fundraisers and mentor relationships.”

The conferences and conventions help the members broaden their travel experience, Keller said.

Absheer recalled, “at my first governor-elect training in St. Louis, my roommate was from Bristol, England.”

When local members attended the international conference in Christ Church, New Zealand, Absheer, who was Poplar Bluff’s first woman mayor, met the First Lady or mayor of Christ Church.

The district and international meetings provide the local members opportunities to see not only their district and the U.S., but the world, they all agree.

Among the fundraising efforts was a smorgasbord, which they’ve stopped, but the members still hold a ham and bean dinner.

Shirley Davenport has been involved in Altrusa for 35 years. She was president from 2003-04, earned experience hosting the district conference and was chairman of several committees on the international level.

Today, Davenport serves as president of the local Altrusa Foundation, a 501 (c)3 tax deductible project, which was established to accept donations.

Members recall projects they’ve helped with including the historical Rogers Theatre, the historic train depot and funds for the Historic Railroad Grand Staircase restoration.

Previously, they provided funds to the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program program, and they still help with the nutrition program at the Twin Towers.

Literacy always has been a major project. Altrusa in the past has sponsored Story Time and Reading is Fundamental. They are planning a project with books for the Iron Horse Festival.

Recently, members gathered to read and record children’s books to be played on Black River Public Radio.

Smiling, the members agree, “we stay pretty busy.”