Make A Difference Day 2013

Make A Difference Day 2013

Make A Difference Day, created by USA Today magazine and Points of Light corporate institute, took place on October 26^th .  This is not a day of merely wishing others well it is a day of action; a day of working to make others well. Millions of people volunteer on the 4^th Saturday of October finding different ways to make a difference in their communities. We at Altrusa International of Evansville participated by giving a dorm room at the YWCA a ‘makeover’.
 

 Feeling down is worse when your environment is drab. With that in mind, the community service committee chaired by Diana Kellogg decided to focus on a dorm room at the YWCA that houses six women all fleeing from domestic violence. 

Taping.

Painting the register covers.

Bringing up supplies.

YWCA building downtown Evansville, Indiana

                             

Painting the first coat.

Ironing the curtain valances.

Workers from Altrusa used paint donated from Porters Paints.  The teal green color gave the room a calming effect.  

  Rebecca Soskin states in her article from Mind and Body magazine (Mar 2012 issue) “Blue is a very soothing color that helps calm your mind and reduces tension. It’s often used in bedrooms because of its ability to help people sleep. When choosing the right blue you want to make sure that it’s soft, neutral, and restful.” 

Teal, the color chosen by Altrusan Diana Kellogg, is not a true blue there is a little green in it.  However, according to Rebecca Soskin, green is a good color too. “Because it symbolizes nature, green is very visually soothing and therefore allows us to stay calm and refreshed.” In general a fresh coat of paint can make the world seem brighter, change seem possible, and attitudes lift in the right direction.

 

Stenciling words of encouragement.

One side of the room finished.  Yellow gift bags were placed on the beds.

 “Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence. And while physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one should have to endure this kind of pain—and your first step to breaking free is recognizing that your situation is abusive. Once you acknowledge the reality of the abusive situation, then you can get the help you need.” (Help guide. Org)

  These women at the YWCA, having run from violence, will now walk into a room with color, new bedding, pictures on the walls, curtains with valances, and a bag of goodies containing toiletries, cosmetics and an inspiring book. 
   

On Saturday October 26, 2013 Altrusa International of Evansville made a difference.

 Altrusa of Evansville's 2013 Author Event

There was food...  Yummy food...  Fattening food...  The kind of food
October welcomes... The kind you can't get enough of...
 It wasn't a trick.  It was a treat.

Award Winning author Margaret McMullan spoke to us about her books and shared what her inspiration for writing her first novel "In My Mother's House" was.  She found out as an adult when her mother was under the influence of some pain medication in the hospital that her mother was a spy.  Imagine her shock!  Well-- it inspired a book and I for one am going to read it.

Angie Karcher talks about her book "Where the River Grins:

 a history of Evansville, Indiana."  It is a book great for children 

as well as adults.  I bought one because I live in Evansville and 

I want to know more about it.

Margaret is holding up Angie's book "Where the
River Grins: a history of Evansville, Indiana.

Margaret McMullan and Angie Karcher

Author Mike Mullin begins his presentation talking about taekwondo.

Mike Mullin acting the part in his novel "Ashfall" when Yellowstone's

super volcano erupts and his main character, Alex, is tossed about in his

kitchen.

Mike Mullin preparing to break concrete.

Mike Mullin talks about taekwondo, writing, and his novel

"Ashfall."

With determination, concentration, and practice success will happen.

Multicultural Library at Caze Elementary

These pictures were taken at Caze Elementary School.  Altrusa of Evansville helped

them start their Multi-Cultural Library.

"Cooking with Nuts" Cookbooks

Our main fundraiser is selling Terry Lynn nuts.  Selling these nuts enables us

to do the good work we do in the community. One of our members, Cristie Harry,

had the idea of putting a cookbook together with recipes that have nuts as one 

of the ingredients.

These are the Terry Lynn nuts we sell.  If you are interested in buying some, 

asked any Altrusan.

At the Zoo

Our Altrusa group is busy planting banana trees at Mesker Zoo.  It was one of 

the first really nice days of spring; a day that held a blue sky and a golden sun.             

Everyone that participated in the zoo activities left feeling happy and 

satisfied with all that was done.

This is taken at the zoo after planting our banana trees and visiting the 

big cats.  We donated "hot rocks" for those kitty cats.  They probably

didn't need those "rocks" the day we were there, but on cold winter

nights I'm sure the large cats are purring because of the rocks.

We donated this bench for Mesker Zoo to Commemorate 

Evansville's 200 years.

Rag Dolls 2 Love

                                                       Nita Voorhees on her machine.

                                         

The doll bodies ready for stuffing.

Ladies stuffing dolls and hand sewing

openings in arms and legs.

Left to right (back row) :  Nita Voorhees, Susan Huck, Margaret Harp, Cristie Harry, Carolyn Stephens, Myrrly Choate, Hope Rold, Donna Conner, Diana Kellogg, Doyne Moreland, and Lola Perkett

Left to right (front row):  Mary Alice Bertram, Bettye Statham, Donna Feagley, and Eileen Will

Altrusa International District Six 57th Annual Conference

District Six 57^th Annual Conference was sponsored by The Altrusa Club of Muncie, Indiana. This

 gathering was held April 19 - 21, 2013 at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel.  The flags in

front of the hotel were flown at half mast as were most flags around the United States in honor of

the victims from the Boston Marathon bombings. My son lives in Boston and ran in the Marathon.

  We were grateful he made it through everything without injury. Those bombs made an impact on

the lives of those who ran, of those who live there, of those who were watching and to a certain

extent to everyone in our country.  The world needs our organization.  The world needs altruism…