When you receive two pages of handwritten information from 94-year-old Clara Swan of Hampden, it not only makes you smile, it makesyou appreciate how many lives she has touched over the years.
Clara wrote to ask that I inform our readers one of our localnonprofit organizations, Altrusa International of Greater Bangor, iscelebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Clara has been a member of Altrusa for 45 of those years, she toldme.
According to its Web site, 'Altrusa International is aninternational association of professional women and men who volunteertheir energies and expertise in projects dedicated to communitybetterment.
'Altrusa is also a community service organization that espousesvolunteerism, service and fights for literacy and against AIDS.
'Assistance is given to projects emphasizing literacy through theAltrusa International Foundation, Inc.'
In recognition of the local association's 50th anniversary, Clarawrote, Bangor City Council chairman Richard Greene declared Thursday,Nov. 17, Altrusa International Day.
'At a special ceremony,' she continued, 'members were honored fortheir devotion to the community,' and past presidents were recognizedas well.
Among the many activities that have been part of this year-longanniversary celebration, Clara said, is the donation of $50 to eachof 'five deserving organizations': Spruce Run Agency, Ronald McDonaldHouse, Manna Ministries, Good Samaritan Agency and the Bangor HumaneSociety.
'In addition,' she continued, 'the town of Glenburn is starting alibrary, and 50 new books, donated by the Altrusans, will bepresented at a later date.'
She also informs us that Altrusa International of Greater Bangor's'major project has grown from one scholarship to three scholarships'for students attending local colleges.
Other community activities in which Altrusans participate haveincluded supporting the Terry Fox Run, Make A Difference Day, TheSalvation Army Angel Tree program and the Fairmount Boarding HouseChristmas Party.
Members are also busy each month, she wrote, as they 'plan,purchase the food, cook and serve a dinner for those currently livingat Ronald McDonald House' in Bangor.
And one final bit of information concerns the local organization'snew, legal name change from Altrusa International of Bangor toAltrusa International of Greater Bangor.
Clara said that change was necessitated by the fact that Altrusa'smembership now represents several communities, including Bangor,Brewer, Glenburn, Hampden, Eddington, Hermon, Carmel, Orrington,Veazie, Levant, Corinth, Holden and Howland.
Congratulations, Altrusans, on your 50th anniversary of service toresidents of the Greater Bangor.
Keep up the good work!
With no pun intended, here's a heartfelt, public expression ofgratitude written by Charlotte Ross of Hampden.
Ross extends a 'special thank you' to Alice Page, who iscoordinator for WomenHeart in the Bangor Area.
Page helped found the local organization affiliated with theNational Coalition for Women with Heart Disease a few years ago.
In early December, Ross wrote, Page organized 'a terrific nightout for 28 of us Heart Sisters.'
The group was transported in two white stretch limousines, whichwas a first for many of them, Ross wrote, on a 'mystery ride' whichtook them first to the Bangor Mall.
After each received a rose, the women were escorted to the JCPenney Beauty Salon, which was 'decorated with red balloons and evena manikin dressed in red,' Ross wrote.
The women 'were all treated to a shampoo and set' by theemployees, whom Ross described as being 'very cordial, and treated uslike queens.'
Each woman received small, red gift bags with cosmetics.
Then they got back into the limousines and were off for dinner atthe Olive Garden, where they found representatives of WABI-TV waitingfor them.
'We were televised a couple of times during the news,' Ross wrote.
The women were also visited by a representative of Macy's, whopresented them gift bags and gift certificates.
Ross wrote that 'Alice and her elves did a super job,' that theirlimousine drivers 'were such good sports' and that 'a good time washad by all.'
Ross thanks everyone from Page to the 'lady with the roses' for awonderful evening out, and she recommends this support group to anywoman who has heart or vascular problems.
'There is something new to learn, each day, and those in chargeare very knowledgeable and helpful,' Ross wrote.
WomenHeart meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month atSunbury Village, 922 Ohio St., Bangor.
For more information, e-mail Bangor@womenheart.org or call 285-7592.
Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.
