Hope my Altrusa family is all well and surviving the day to day chaos and challenges we all are facing. I have added a lot of information to this newsletter about all the cancellations and guidelines for us to follow. We don't have all the answers at this point but I can promise you our International and District Board Members are meeting and working making decisions and will get answers to us here in the new future. We will follow the Suggested Guidelines listed below meaning we will not meet in the month of April. I will keep you posted as guidelines are updated. The board is planning to have a meeting Tuesday as scheduled via Zoom. I know we have many Altrusans working on masks. Some are cutting out patterns some are sewing. If you are interested please contact Brenda Hill or Susan Cory. I ask that we please check on a fellow Altrusan as we go thru some challenging days ahead. Stay home and be safe. Look forward to the time that we can meet again and have a big hug from our club huggers, Debbie Fendrick and Sherry Woodard. # Altrusa Strong.
1. All District Board visits to clubs will be cancelled through April 30, 2020, pending further guidelines from the CDC.
2.Club meetings and projects should be restricted to meetings of fewer than 10 people. Larger clubs may decide to use electronic methods of communicating to members such as zoom meetings.
3.Meetings that are conducted should include provisions for social distancing.
4.Video conferencing should be used for as many meetings as possible. Please check out freeconference.com or zoom.com.
5.Greetings should be without touching.
6.Projects should be restricted to those that can be done in smaller groups and consideration should be given to not including those who may be most vulnerable to contagion. See the factors listed on the website for the CDC.
7.Personal hygiene practices should be followed as suggested by CDC.
8.Use your personal judgment regarding attending meetings but please stay home if you have symptoms of respiratory disease.
9.Please try and stay connected to your fellow Altrusans and communicate with those Altrusans who may be more vulnerable to the disease or who may be more isolated. Assist them with online communication methods if requested and assist with essential needs as necessary.
Altrusans are diligent about serving those in need. For the next 15 days, serving may include quarantine for many households. However, our more vulnerable Altrusans may need some help doing exactly that such as simple errands for basic necessities. Stay in contact with each and be cognizant of measures that will reduce the spread of exposure for all of us.
"I am so missing my Altrusa family right now but know that we are all doing the best we can! Stay positive and keep doing what you do best....helping others!" Big Altrusa "Virtual" Hugs.
Linda Moore
So good to hear from you!!! All this craziness is starting to bother me, not sleeping good & starting to feel down. :(( I have been doing some cleaning, reading, watching lots of movies & praying! 🙏 I wanted to share with my precious Altrusa sisters to remember that having faith with carry you far & God never gives you more than you can handle! I really miss everyone & would love to hear from you & hope everyone is safe & healthy! Sending love & hugs!!
Regina Phinney
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Hope LaGrone hope.pruett@yahoo.comHide
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From Hope— I am thinking of everyone and miss seeing all my Altrusa friends during this time. It is very quiet at my house- will start working from home a few more days this week so I might be calling folks just to hear someone talk back to me 😀. Hugs to all!
Well, right now I’m clinging to Christ. The UMHB students are safe at home and Olivia & I have this HUGE building to ourselves so we are making the best of things. She begins school today where she is able to go to my commons room and get out of our apartment (Amen) and I can stay in my pjs for meetings if I want. I am so thankful for a job, roof over our heads, and food to eat. Although, I am hurting for those who are hurting. I wish there was more I could do. I am able to keep The Source (UMHB Food Bank) open on Mondays & Thursdays. The students who have lost jobs need so much support. I keep this verse in my heart, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we shall not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea”. Psalms 46:1-2. Traci Squarcette
*Remain positive during this ever fluid and changing time. Protect yourself and loved ones. Many blessings abound each and every day!
*With the cancellations of many events, it has allowed me to do more at home; baking(which I love), cooking more(yes, I have graduated from being Bill's sous chef) LOL! And, one of my favorite hobby's is sewing, I will make face masks for those who can use them.
*Cleaning out my closet; which allows me to donate clothes, items, etc to those in need!
*Bill and I have been playing Dominoes and Yahtzee!
*Yes, I miss seeing everyone, I miss meeting but we will get through this and in a few weeks we will be back to gathering again and Altrusa Strong!
Love and prayers to all! Michelle
As far as what I've been doing -
Working part-time from home;
Trying to keep up with necessities from grocery store (luckily I usually stay stocked up!)
Communicating with family/friends to try to keep all of our spirits up!
Cutting rectangles for Susan Cory to sew for masks.
Take care & let me know if I can do anything I can do for you!
Marsha
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Carol Fleck carolpfleck@gmail.com,Debra Hicks dhicks@pbhcpa.com,Hope LaGrone hope.pruett@yahoo.com,Linda C. Moore moorelindac@yahoo.com,Marsha Oliver marshajeantx@hotmail.com,Michelle DiGaetano digaetano.jm@gmail.com,Regina Phinney rphinney85@gmail.com,Taryn Warren tabtx@yahoo.com,Traci Squarcette tsquarcette@umhb.edu,lori_luppino lori_luppino@yahoo.com
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I’ve been home with the grandkids. We have put together 4 puzzles and play in the backyard a lot. They like to catch lizards. I know people are anxious, just have faith cause God always knows what we need. Make wise choices and stay healthy. Miss everyone. Diana
Well both of my shops are open so we have learned a whole new way to do business. Downtown we are serving curbside and Loop location we have a walk-up window. Trying to remember the old saying " If there is a will, there is a way." I believe this to be true as we have been blessed by amazing customers helping to keep the small businesses open. Go home straight after work which has been nice. I have stocked my pantry cause you know I don't cook at home. Jeff and I have decided we should use the drive thru service at other local small business and save our groceries "just in case." My oldest sister from Minnesota has been here for the last two weeks taking care of my 90 year old mother. That has been a huge blessing as we have enjoyed playing dominoes and Temple-Oply. I miss all my Altrusa family and we will celebrate together again one day soon. Love to all. Carol White
As a nation, we face an unprecedented crisis in current times. We will all be tested to address the needs of our families and loved ones in new creative ways. District Nine is responsive to the safety and welfare of our Altrusa Family and with that in mind, the 64th Annual Conference scheduled in April of 2020 is CANCELLED. [I apologize that the hotel cancelled rooms before we were able to get this statement emailed out.]
Your board members and conference chairs are working through the details of refunds for registrations fees, paying the expenses that must be paid, and negotiating with the hotel regarding the cancellation of the contract as a result of this public health disaster. The details of these arrangements will be shared in the coming days. Bylaws require that the business of Altrusa is conducted in March, April or May. This includes election of the nominating committee and approval of a budget after certification of delegates. Procedures to conduct this business online will be proposed after consultation between the board and many of you to coordinate these new processes as timely as possible.
What we need for you to do:
·Cancel your hotel reservation asap
·Take care of your personal wellness
·Be patient as our conference chairs work through the finances to do refunds to Altrusans, Vendors, and clubs who placed advertising
·Make sure Altrusans in your club know the latest on ALTRUSA CONF. 2020 ONLINE which will be in the subject line of emails relating to this cancellation---these emails will contain information regarding online presentations about programs and progress for training, voting, and budget approval
·Consider the suggested guidelines for club meetings and projects as the situation evolves in coming weeks
Be prayerful for all of our Altrusa Family members and their loved ones. We pray that our communities flourish in addressing the fears and challenges in the wake of the spread of this pandemic. Our highest calling as Altrusans is to serve and we must each decide how we can do that safely at this time.