To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 1

President’s Post

While I was in America with our son and family, we visited the town of Snohomish which was settled by American’s

First Nation people.

Along the wall beside the Snohomish River walkway, plaques told the stories of those

early settlers to the area. One plaque read:

“In a society rich in culture and art, your wealth as a Snohomish

person is measured by the value of things you give to others”

I’m sure that you will all agree that our wealth as an Altrusan can be measured in the

same way.

In fact we must be extra wealthy at present as the calendar is bulging with so many up

and coming things we are doing for the good of others – Daffodil Day, Jenny Magee Day,

Girl Guide scarf making, IFF Day, Irish Breakfast, Knitting for babies, Make a Difference

Day, Combined Services Dinner, Rotary Fashion Fundraiser and there’s more being

planned for next year just to keep us on our toes!

I think the one difference, though, between us and the Snohomish people is that we like

to have plenty of FUN while we are serving others. Let’s keep in mind that we don’t all

need to partake in the whole smorgasbord of events coming up! Keeping ourselves sane

and happy is a priority if we want to be there for others.

So let’s -

Make Each day worth living but have Fun at the same time!

PRESIDENT’S POST

EDITOR’S NOTE

COMMITTEE

CORNER

MEMBERSHIP

MINUTE

MEMBER’S PROFILE

JENNY MAGEE

RECIPES

CALENDAR

DISTRICT NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

FUN FACTS

ACCENT

CONTACTS

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 2

Editor’s note - Amongst all the rainy weather we have had, we have still been able to

continue our decluttering and selling, in preparation of moving house in August. We made up a

few “apprentice toolboxes”, advertising them as such. So happy to see one man answering the

ad. saying his son was just beginning his career and he bought it for his

birthday present. One lucky boy there. Another lady with three little kiddies

came and bought a stepladder, She was a lovely, caring lady so I sneaked into

her car a small foodmixer, heater and my dear Mum’s breadmaker, with the

recipe inside. That night, I received her message on Facebook saying how

lovely the bread turned out! I silently gave my prayerful thanks to my dear

Mum 😊 Another lovely lady is the seller of the house we have bought . . . she

was happy to allow me to transplant my 200 cloves of garlic!

May the sun shine and reward us for a good Christmas crop.

The other night, my dear Hubby said he’d take soup out of the freezer for next night’s tea. OK

I said. Next morning, I had to chuckle when I saw it thawing out – Whoops – it’s rabbit!!!

MEMBERSHIP MINUTE

People were created to be loved

Things were created to be used.

The reason the world is in chaos

is because

things are being loved…

and people are being used…

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 3

C O M M I T T E E

O

R

N

E

R

Communications: Held on Wednesday 10th July at Ruth’s home.

Newsletter – personal phone numbers now excluded from contact information.

Asset Register – Lynette advising members of the list at next business meeting.

Sticky labels – Several sticky labels kindly donated by Cristal for knitting and books.

Prog. Meeting – guest speaker from Taste Horowhenua now confirmed.

Membership: Held on Wednesday 10th July at Dot’s home.

Jenny Magee booking confirmed, Thompson House Monday 19th August 8am – noon.

Discussed ideas for later in the year – yes, we need a year planner!

New morning tea venue in Brown Butter in Oxford St drew favourable responses.

Next meeting: Wednesday 14th August 3.00pm at Alison’s home.

Service: No meeting this month, - we all have our thinking caps on though for various

upcoming ventures . . .

Next meeting: TBA

Literacy: Held on Tuesday 9th July at Jackie’s home.

Guest speaker for September programme meeting has been confirmed.

Suggested we cater for National Poultry Show Queen’s Birthday weekend 2020.

Requested funding of books for children of mothers in TPU.

Next meeting: Monday 12th August 3.30pm

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 4

Programme Meeting – 17th July 2019

This was a fun night. With no guest speaker, the Membership Committee cleverly rustled up a

question time as we were all sitting with our BUDDIES . . .

According to the dictionary a buddy system is a procedure in which two individuals, the "buddies",

operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other. As per

Merriam-Webster, the first known use of the phrase “buddy system”

goes as far back as 1942. Webster goes on to define the buddy system as

“an arrangement in which two individuals are a pair.

Did you join a club like ours with all of the best ideals and intentions

about what Altrusa was about, and then feel completely lost about

what was going on? If so you are not alone!

Were you able to “hit the ground running,” or did it take a while for you to

come up to speed with what we are about, our fundraising

processes, and those unspoken rules that seem to pop up at meetings!

Becoming a new member can be exciting, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming, especially

as you may be friends and familiar with only a couple of the Altrusa members.

Assigning a buddy who can help ease the transition into their new roles can be very beneficial for all

involved, especially during the onboarding process.

Implementing a buddy system in our club not only provides benefits for the new member, it can also

be valuable to all of our club members.

A formal buddy system can also become an unstructured knowledge share.

What can Altrusa buddies do to support each other:

• Offer support about club rules and procedures

• Provide advice about Committee work

• Discuss new initiatives and opportunities that may arise.

• Acknowledge Birthdays and events

• Offer assistance where required or sought

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 5

A wonderful opportunity that members of Altrusa Levin

are inviting you to share with them.

As a keynote speaker at the 2019 National Conference Jenny Magee left

Altrusans moved with her message and entertaining presentation of

A Bold Life: How Women are Reinventing Life Beyond Fifty,’

By good fortune Jenny is passing through Levin next month and our club, as a members’ development

initiative, have engaged her to speak to us all. Too good an opportunity to not share this chance visit with

other women in our area. Please come along to Thompson House on Monday 19 August 10am for a

cuppa and muffin, before we hear Jenny’s talk.

There is a small charge of $10 for non-Altrusans towards costs.

RSVP please by Friday 9 August to Denys

denysdavid@gmail.com

Bio: Jenny Magee

Jenny Magee knows about making tough choices and working

towards a positive future. Through a decade of personal

upheaval, she learned what she needed to live her own version

of a bold life. Now she is committed to helping other women

make the most of the second half of their lives.

She’s a baby boomer who knows that we need support and

encouragement to be as courageous as we want to be.

Frustrated by the wasted potential of women who are stuck and

settling for less than they want, Jenny loves to work with those

who are ready to test new paths and live true to themselves. As she says, if you only have 20 really good

summers left, how do you want to spend them?

So, get ready to think about your Bold life and what more there is still to be done!

Jenny’s book, ‘A Bold Life: How Women are Reinventing Life Beyond Fifty,’ is available for purchase at

our workshop.

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 6

FEIJOA WALNUT CAKE Ingredients

▪ 2 cups feijoas, peeled and roughly chopped (important to measure correctly – 2 cups when peeled and

chopped)

▪ 1 cup walnut pieces

▪ 1 cup sultanas

▪ 1 cup sugar (Ruth preferred only ¾ cup sugar)

▪ 100 grams melted butter

▪ 1 egg

▪ 1 cup flour

▪ 2 teaspoons mixed spice

▪ 2 teaspoons baking soda

Method

1. Mix feijoas, walnuts, sultanas and sugar together in a large bowl.

2. Beat egg and butter together and mix into feijoa mixture.

3. Sift flour, mixed spice and baking soda and add to feijoa mixture. Stir lightly.

4. Turn into well greased 25cm cake tin or deep ring tin.

5. Bake 180ºC for 40-45 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

6. Cool in tin before turning out.

Cheesy Shortbread (Shirl)

150 gm butter

150 gm grated tasty cheese

1 ½ cups flour

Generous salt and pepper, to taste

1. Put all ingredients in food processor until mixture clumps around the blade.

2. With floured hands, roll dough into sausage shaped log.

3. Wrap and chill for 20 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 180 deg C and line oven tray with baking paper.

5. Slice dough into 3-4 mm thick rounds, onto tray, bake 15 – 20 minutes.

6. Cool on a wire rack.Makes about 30, but I rolled out thinner, got about 48!! ( Scottish ancestry! )

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 7

DISTRICT NEWS - I F F Day

21 SEPTEMBER 2019 Information, Fun & Friendship

AREA 2 IFF DAY A chance to talk and share with fellow

Altrusans

Theme: “Embrace the Journey”

Please save the date !!! Hosted by The Hawera Club Venue: Normanby Hall

94 Ketemarae Road,

Normanby, Hawera.

Cost $25 per person for the day including morning / afternoon tea & lunch. But only $15 for First Timers! Registrations close Monday 9th September. Please register and pay through your club.

INTERNATIONAL

Altrusa International was founded on 11 April 1917 in Nashville Tennessee and is an organisation actively involved with

community service and literacy throughout the world.

The name Altrusa comes from ALTR for Altruism and USA for the United States of America.

The organisation now has over 380 clubs and 10,000 members in 13 countries around the world.

Clubs are organised regionally into Districts.

There are currently fourteen districts. New Zealand

= District Fifteen

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 8

LENDING A SMILE . . .

Light travels faster than sound

– this is why some people appear bright,

until you hear them speak . . .

Give a man a fish – he eats all day

Teach him how to fish –

You get rid of him all weekend !

MIDDLE AGE –

is when broadness of the mind

and narrowness of the waist

. . . CHANGE PLACES

It is important you find a man who

- Makes you laugh

- Doesn’t lie to you

- Loves you and spoils you

- Helps around the house and has a job

It is important that these 4 men

- don’t know each other !

Fun Facts’ time 😊

Did you know that . . .

NZ exports 95% of its milk produced each year?

Lichtenstein produces more false teeth than anywhere else in the world?

Giraffe has a tongue half a metre long . . and is the only animal that can’t cough . . . I wonder why ☹

In California (where else?) it is illegal to threaten a butterfly . . .

People in Siberia generally buy their milk . . frozen on a stick . . .

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 9

MEMBER PROFILE - WHO AM I ?

What I am good at: Wasting time . . .

My worst fear is: forgetting to be somewhere at a designated time

My greatest aspiration would be: make a difference in something or someone

My profession whilst working was: a payroll specialist

The worst thing I’ve ever done is: taken a job for the money it paid – not worth it!

My best baking recipe is: using heaps of feijoas – try my walnut and sultana cake over the page

The best advice I’ve given someone is: just eat the “elephant” one bit at a time, you’ll get there.

In my next life, I’d like to come back as a … cat And why? ‘cos I’d sit in front of the fire all night while

someone keeps putting the wood on it . . . purrrrfect………

What I am good at: Swimming, reading, organizing, drinking wine . . .

My worst fear is: being buried alive

My greatest aspiration would be: to play music really well

My profession whilst working was: Office Manager

My best recipe is: none . . . I don’t enjoy cooking . . .

The worst thing I’ve ever done is: forgot to collect a friend to take her shopping ☹

The best advice I’ve given someone is: just be yourself

In my next life, I’d like to come back as a … bird And why? So I could fly

- answers in next newsletter July answers were Diane Cotter and Jackie

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 10

Days For Girls - Ethiopia

Amlaku is the man Ric (from Ashurst) sponsored through university many

years ago after he had met him as a local guide in Ethiopia.

Amluku went back to his village and set up many modern watering and

farming systems and has now encouraged the setting up of an enterprise.

Ric and Amluku asked DFGNZ to pay for girls (and men) to go on the DFG course

in order to start their own enterprise. DFGNZ also provided the funding for the

sewing machines.

Be yourself –

Because an original is worth more than a copy . ..

ACCENT - TRUE COMPASSION

True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason.

Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they respond negatively.

Through international altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others:

… the wish to help them actively overcome their problems.

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 11

PROFILE - Altrusa Board 2019/20

President Helen

President Elect

Vice President Christine

Secretary Shirley

Treasurer Ruth

Directors Glen & Diane G.

Past President Tui

CLUB CONTACTS FOR ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL LEVIN

PRESIDENT HELEN (president.levin@altrusa.org.nz)

SECRETARY SHIRLEY (secretary.levin@altrusa.org.nz)

COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR TUI

LITERACY CHAIR LIZ

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR ALISON

SERVICE CHAIR CHRISTINE

COMMITTEES

Communications Literacy Membership Service

Tui Liz Alison Christine

Shirley Airini Heather Shona

Ruth Catherine Jill Diane G

Bev Jackie Maureen Sandra

Lynette Trish Jan Diane C

Cristal Cherry Dot Marie

Lynn Denys Glen

Annette

To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid . . . 😊 12

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3

AUGUST 2019

B =

Cristal

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

B= Tui

B = Dot Business mtg 5.30pm

11 12

Literacy mtg 3.30pm

13 14

Membership mtg 3pm at Alison’s

15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

B = Chris

Membership day 10am Thompson H.

Programme mtg 6pm by Comms

Morning Tea Happy Hour

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MOW MOW MOW

Board mtg 10.00am Helen’s

MOW MOW

Daffodil day at Countdown

B = a very happy birthday to you 😊

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Father’s Day Business mtg 5.30pm

B = Marie

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

B = Trish

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Combined Service Mtg

Programme mtg 6pm by Literacy

IFF Day

B = Catherinee

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Board mtg Happy Hour Morning Tea

29

Irish Breakfast

Night 7pm Sandra’s

30

SEPTEMBER 2019