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AltrusaIn essence, Altrusa International is women helping women.April 11 Altrusa International will celebrate its Golden Anniversary, marking 50 years of service to communities, the nation, and the world.Locally, Altrusa was organized February 11, 1925.At the call of Clara Edna Berry, eighteen business and professional women of Kokomo met and formed the local Altrusa Club.The 20 charter members included: Clara Edna Berry,Maud? Cosier, Nellie C. Dawson, Frieda P. Haseltin, M' zie Ingles, Dorothea Koper, Lena A. Leafgreen, Bertha Metzger, Mable H. Noble, IsabelH. Purdum, Mary E. Redmond, Susie B. Reed, Blanche Ryker, Margaret Sage, Dana H. Sol-lenberger, Ruth D. Turley, Anna B. Ward, Flora E. Ward, Ida I. Ward, and Meade F. White.Officers of the local Altrusa Club are Mrs. Robert Hutto, president; Mrs. Neil Stilwell, first vice president; Mrs. Hugo DiSalvo, second vice president; Miss Esther Wyandt, secretary; Mrs. Arthur Bourff, corresponding secretary; and Miss Helen Walsh, treasurer.Recognized as honorary members are Mrs. Clara Hamilton and Mrs. M. E. White. Mrs. White, Miss Frieda Ha-seltine, Miss Mazie Ingels, and Miss Lena Leafgreen are living charter members.Mrs. T. L. Knipe was national Altrusa president 1918-1919.Contributions made by the local Altrusa club to various causes over the years form an impressive list. They are; United China Relief, Service Club for Enlisted Men, United War Chest, Y-Teen Canteen, Gifts for Yanks Aborad, Girl Scouts’ Kokiwanee Camp Site, Livestock for Poland, Save theChildren Federation (Belgium), Shoes for Belgian Children, Salvation Army Building Fund, YWCA Building Fund, Women’s Medical Library Building (Chicago), Supplies for Korea, Neighborhood House, five road signs, YMCA Expansion Fund, and YWCA Swimming Pool.Other groups receiving donations from Altrusa have been; American Field Service Student Exchange Fund, Bona Vista School, Cancer Fund, CARE, Crippled Children Society, donations to a blind student at theI.U. Center and for a patient’s room at Howard Community Hospital, Easter Pageant, Easter Seals, Friendship Home for Girls, Heart Fund, Kokomo Civic Theater, Kokomo High School Choir, Kokomo High School Dramatic Club, March of Dimes, Sangralea Valley Boys’ Home, TB Association, United Fund, and the Memorial Fund. From the Memorial Fund, purchases have been made of clothing dental care and eyeglasses for needy school children.Each year the Altrusa Club of Kokomo grants scholarships to two local high school girls, one in education at the Kokomo Campus of Indiana University and the other a nurse’s training scholarship.Helping others is an important part of Altrusa International.To expand the idea of service Altrusa put into action its Grants - in - aid program. The grants - in - aid program is the only one of its kind and is maintained by voluntary contributions from clubs and from individual Altrusans. Anyone is welcome to contribute to the grants-in-aid fund and donations are tax exempt.The maximum grant is for $1000 and the program includes women from Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, New Zealand and Latin America. Outright grants of $250 to $750 are made to students already embarked on graduate work in schools in North America, to aid them in completing their work, meeting emergencies, or to relieve them of financial strain so that the students may concentrate more fully on achieving their educational goals.The program enables the student to return to her homeland with the scientific, business, professional or human welfare skills needed to better living conditions for her fellowmen.In 1940 the Founders Fund was established to assist older women in particular. In 1952 the Founders Fund VocationalAid Project was established andmarked a major step in the program of vocational services to girls and women. Again Altrusa Clubs have done something unique since the Founders Fund Vocational Aid is the only awards program of its kind for women. The awards are given according to need, to women of all ages regardless of edu-HONORED MEMBERS of the Kokomo Altrusa Club are: Left to right: Mrs. T. L. Knipe, second national president and charter member of the Indianapolis chapter; andnniversarycational background. When an award is given the recipient must have plans to move into the labor market, into a more skilled job, or become self-employed within one year.Founders Fund Vocational Aid awards will not be given for college degree education, but may be used for training that will qualify a womm for employment, re-training that will move a woman from a low-level skill job to a skilled occupation, purchase of equipment needed to start a business or personal rehabilitation.Founders Fund Vocational Aid awards are designed for the woman who needs to earn, but because of reverses in life lacks the funds with which to learn a trade, or the funds with which to become self-employed.Selection is based on aptitude and need. While women ofall ages may qualify, preferenceis given to the older woman.Founders Fund Vocationalawards go to; the widow who suddenly has to re-enter a changing labor market without current skill requirements; the mature woman who his never worked outside her home, who needs training and a job to sustain herself with dignity; the sole support of a family, who finds her job threatened by automation and needs upgrading or re-training to survive; the deserted mother, with small children to support, who could start a home business; the handicapped woman who, with training in an occupational skill, could lead a productive life.It is an honor to receive this Altrusa award because it represents the club’s faith in the ability of the recipient to become employable or self-employed and to be a contributing member of her community.MontageSmall and toddling, he plucked a yellow-button flower from the lawn. On short, fat legs, he hurried to the house.“Mama, Mama,” he called.And as she stop;ed to pat his head, he gave the yellow flower to her, resting his dusty hand in her own.His eyes shone of love.And time passed and the babe grew to be a shy, young man. Awkward and gangling, he hesitated and then entered the flower shop.“A bouquet of spring flowers,” he mumbled in a trembling voice. Then with the green-wrapped flowers swinging at his side, he ambled to the park.She was there, the girl with laughing brown eyes and golden hair. Blushing and with low-bent head,he gave the flowers to her.As days turned into weeks and weeks melted into months, their love grew.They strolled in the garden . . . hand-in-hand in the moonlight. The moon was low in the sky, a slice of ivory on a black velvet drape.By a rose bush they stop;ed. He picked a scarlet rose. Looking into her upturned face, he placed the rose in her hand.His eyes of blue were full of love.And she loved him.The years passed ... a rose garden bloomed in the front yard. Red, yellow, pink, and white, the roses spoke of love and peace.It was spring. The budding roses filled the newborn air with soft fragrance.An old man now, with faltering steps he climbed thehill.The yellow-green leaves of the weeping willow tree gently brushed the soft and tender grass. The warm spring sun shone gently on his snow-white hair.Now hs hands were gnarled and brown . . . but gentleand kind. He placed alwhite rose on the grave.Love rested in his eyes . . . and tears fell down hischeeks.Miss Mazie Ingles, Miss Lena Leafgreen and Miss Frieda Haseltine, all charter members of the Kokomo chapter, (MorningTimes Photo)
Newspaper Details
Kokomo Morning Times
Kokomo, Indiana, US
Sun, Apr 09, 1967
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Kokomo-Howard C.
IN, USA 15 Feb 2022
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