2009-2011 International President Donna C. Johnson

Altrusa Friends:

Technology certainly is amazing.  I just got off my cell phone on a three way call with Executive Director Regina Baras and President-Elect Dona Garretson where we were planning for the 2013 International Convention in New Zealand and discussing ways in which on-line self publishing might make us more efficient in distributing hard copy and on-line versions of Altrusa publications.  Now I’m still sitting here in the car on my laptop working on this letter to you, while I’m sneaking away with my husband to celebrate his birthday at the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT in Orlando.  (Now if I could only figure out how to get wireless into the car I’d have it made.)  Seriously, when you think about it, technology has changed so many aspects of our life, but there are some things it hasn’t impacted very much at all.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the best way to retain Altrusans and to tell the Altrusa story to my community and potential members.  It’s not about cell phones or computers.  It’s all about good old fashioned one-to-one conversation or one-to-many communications.  The next time I go to a Club, committee or project meeting for Altrusa, I’m going to make a point of engaging in “social talk” with a member or two; finding out what’s happening in their lives.  I’m also going to get started on a project I’ve had in mind for a while.  I’m going to create a list of community groups who might find our story interesting and I’m going to get on their next meeting agenda to tell it to them.  I’ll let you know how it works out.  (And how nice it will be to have those fabulous new brochures and cards to hand out.)

Drop me a line at president@altrusapresident.org if you’ve got a good idea for an organization to include on my list, or a good Altrusa story I should tell.


Sincerely,