ALTRUSAGRAM
ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. OF NEW YORK,
NY
____ ___________________
http://altrusanewyorkcity.tripod.com
____ Date: October, 2009
Dinner
Meeting: National Arts Club
Cocktails: 5:30 p.m.
15
Gramercy Park South, NYC
Dinner:
6:30 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, Oct 27- Cost $43
Reservations: Penny Gardner, 212 348-1433
Editor: Marie Gavin marie.gavin@att.net
****************************************************************************
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
In the report
on the Area 1, 2, and 3 Workshop, there is a brief description of a presentation by Dr. Lee Ann De Reus (Penn State Altoona
Campus) on the dangers faced by women in the Darfur refugee camps and the solution presented by solar powered cooking stoves. Several of the District Two, Areas 1, 2, and 3 Clubs were making these stoves a Club
Project.
There is no question
that these stoves will solve a desperate problem and remove the women in the Darfur Refugee Camps from harm’s way by
eliminating the necessity for women and girls to leave the safety of the camps to scout out firewood for cooking.
Women who fled attacks on their villages in Darfur and
are now refugees, have experienced rape and deprivations of basic needs in refugee camps in Chad. The vast majority of instances of rape reported when women left the camps to gather firewood for cooking.
Since
the solar-powered cooking stoves eliminate the need for firewood, they are a positive factor in the safety and security issues
for women and girls. It is believed to be an easier way of cooking. It is certainly a time-saver. It eliminates the health hazards
related to smoke inhalation and fire. There are environmental advantages, as
well.
When
one considers the benefits of purchasing these stoves for refugees in these camps, it illustrates quite vividly how much can
be accomplished with a small investment of $30 per kit. Each kit has one stove,
two pots, and cooking utensils. They are small and portable. What a perfect way
to make a difference.
____________________________________________________________________________________
DINNER PROGRAM – October 27, 2009
Since we switched
the September and October program schedule, this month will be our Literacy Program, presented by our Literacy Chair, Gwen
Acsadi, who, professionally, is the best-selling author, Gwynne Forster. Gwen
has an interesting program on the author’s journey that will include some readings.
_______________________________________________________________________
WINE TASTING -- A COMBINED
FUNDRAISER AND MEMBERSHIP EVENT
There will be a wine tasting at Jessica and Buddy Leeds’ apartment on November 5th. This is a fundraiser and membership event. The charge is $35 per person. If you
plan to attend, you should bring one non-Altrusan friend, male or female. We
will need three volunteers to be pourers. There will be cheese to go with the wines.
We will also need fruit, bread and club soda. Call Carole Kennedy (212-355-1082)
or Jessica Leeds (212-348-5764) if you can contribute.
This event is limited to 30 people or 15 couples. No more than that. So make your reservations
early. Call Penny Gardner (212-348-1433).
We are getting the wines from
Sherry-Lehman. There will be 5 different red wines only from around the
world. It is suggested not to mix reds and whites for a tasting. This will be a blind wine tasting which is a lot of fun.
Let’s make this event a great success.
AREA 1, 2, AND 3 WORKSHOP
The
New York Altrusa Club was represented at the Area 1, 2, 3 Workshop in Bellefonte. PA, on October 3, 2009. Very early in the morning, Catherine Kleszczewski and I drove from Harrrisburg, PA, in a true “pea
souper” fog that didn’t lift until we hit State College. It came
back briefly as we left State College for Bellefonte. Fortunately, we were able
to find the meeting site in time for breakfast.
The
first part of the meeting was a presentation by Dr. Lee Ann DeReus from Penn State Altoona regarding Women Surviving Refugee
Camps in Darfur, Chad, and the Congo. As one of Altrusa International’s
United Nations representative, this topic was of particular interest to me. It’s
been a subject of many briefings at the UN and it was good to hear a first hand report from someone who has actually been
there. Dr. DeReus touched on the dangers threatening women in these camps. They are most vulnerable when collecting fire wood for cooking. She pointed out that one solution to protecting the women was for them to have solar cooking stoves. See President’s Message in this issue.
The
second presentation was by Roger Snyder, a well-known appraiser of all types of antiques. He is often seen on The Antiques
Road Show. We were encouraged to bring our special pieces for him to evaluate
at no cost. I took a bed rug made in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania by Henry Stager.
It had been handed down to me from my great-grandmother’s aunt.
The
Workshop ended around 2 pm and those attendees who were ice cream afficionadas took off for the Penn State Campus to sample
the best ice cream in the world, in my opinion, from Berkey’s Creamery. The
Creamery is a campus landmark.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY PROJECT -- HOUR CHILDREN
Don’t forget to bring books for Hour Children to the next dinner meeting.
I already have a bag of books. The list was in the September newsletter
and is included here as a reminder.
“Alphabet
Book” by Julie Aigner Clark
“Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch
“My First Book of Animals” by Eric
Carle and any other book by Eric Carle
“Sharkopedia” by Nancy Ellwood
“Show Me The Money” by Alvin Dittall
“My Baby and Me” by Reiser
“Are You Ready For Baby” by Cornelius
Slatzberg
“OomgaBoomaga” by Whishinsky
“Jobs” by Litchfield
In addition to
the above titles, the infants’ teachers request cloth books and the toddlers’ teachers are looking for board books--no
specific titles were given.
OCTOBER IS INTERNATIONAL
FOUNDATION GRANTS MONTH
October has been designated as the Foundation’s Grant
Month. Altrusa Clubs and Districts are asked to make a contribution to the Grants
Fund during this month. The Foundation Grant Funds are awarded to Altrusa Clubs
to assist them in supporting community service projects/programs for:
- Local literacy councils, book purchases for libraries, and literacy tutoring
- The disadvantaged, including the elderly, battered women, the homeless, handicapped,
under-privileged children and individuals needing medical care
In
addition, through the Foundation’s Grant Proram, assistance is provided to individuals for:
- Vocational assistance, including job training and retraining, equipment purchases for
start up businesses and employment-related personal rehabilitation programs.
The Altrusa International Foundation is a vital part of the “Altrusa International Family” and in making
this appeal for support of its Grants Program, we can continue to provide needed services, worldwide and make this one of
the most successful years the Foundation has had.
This
year Altrusa Club of New York applied to the Foundation for a tuition assistance grant for Maribel Rodriguez, a freshman at
Rochester Institute of Technology. Maribel is studying photography and is thinking
about a career as a photojournalist. The grant request is to help her pay for
necessary equipment.
Members Birthdays:
October 3
Gwen Acsadi
November 2 Carole
Kennedy
26 Rosemary Schultz
______________________________________________________________________
ALTRUSA EXECUTIVE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES – OCTOBER 5, 2009
The meeting was
convened at 5:30pm.
Present: Audrey Braver, Penny Gardner, Carole Kennedy, Catherine Kleszczewski, Jessica Leeds,
Carol Lancaster, Mary Sikorski, Nancy Lang.
Excused: Julie
Kleszczweski and Henie Parish.
Minutes from the
September meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s
Report: Current figures in bank account as follows:
Foundation Balance: $2,777.00
Club Balance: 4,994.04
Total:
7,771.04
We are exempt
under States and Trust, NYS Department of State, but the sales tax letter has not been received.
New Business: We are looking to support the Solar Cooker Project.
The cost is $30.00 per solar cooker. It’s a kit with a solar cooker
with pots, utensils and cookbook. These cookers would be sent to the women of
Darfur to save women’s lives and conserve wood. We will represent
this project to the membership at the next meeting. Jessica motioned; Catherine
Kleszczewski seconded the motion. *
Old Business: Wine Tasting Fundraiser will be held at Jessica Leed’s apartment on Thursday,
November 5th, at $35.00 per person, 30 people max capacity.
Around holiday
time, we will be selling pecans (2lb. bags at $15.00 each) as another fundraiser.
Meeting was adjourned
at 6:20pm.
Minutes submitted
by Catherine Kleszczewski.
*Editor’s
Note: See PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE this issue for further information on the
Solar
Cooking Stoves.
___________________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT DATES:
November 2
Board Meeting - 5:30 pm, at Jessica Leeds'
home, 1235 Park Avenue, 8C,
212-348-5764
November 24
Dinner Meeting - National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, Call Penny
Gardner to reserve (212-348-1433)
Club Officers
Note from the editor – This is your newsletter. Please email me at audiedaniels@aol.com with committee and personal news. Members are interested in what you are doing. Deadline is 10 days before the dinner meeting.
Club Officers
President Audrey Braver
Vice
President
Henie Parish
Recording
Secretary Catherine Kleszczewski
Corresponding
Secretary Nancy Lang
Treasurer
Mary "Penny" Gardner
Immed.
Past President Julie Kleszczewski
Directors
2008-2010 Mary Sikorski,
Marie Gavin, Margaret Stadler
Directors
2009-2011 Carole Kennedy, Carole Lancaster, Jessica Leeds
Do you Google? Instead, try using www.goodsearch.com
as your search engine
Don’t
forget to checkout the Altrusa International Website, www.altrusa.com for forms, information, upcoming event, and publications - it’s all there. Also,
WWW.altrusadistricttwo.homestead.com The District Two website and our own website, http://altrusanewyorkcity.tripod.com
Join the Altrusa Yahoo group. Discuss issues with other worldwide. If you would like to participate, e-mail Susy Meier of Atlanta, GA at susykm@yahoo.com.
Note from the editor – This is your newsletter. Please email me with committee and personal news. Members are interested in what you are doing. Deadline
is 10 days before the dinner meeting.
