’55 Award Given Altrusans
The following article appeared in the Missoulian Centennial issue on page 27 of Section E.
The Missoula Altrusa Club was organized in 1951 and chartered Nov. 14, 1953. Charter membership was 16.
The first officers were Ettabel Aasheim, president; Georgia Roosevelt, vice president; Margaret Squire, recording secretary; Lillian McLure, corresponding secretary, and Mary Mista, treasurer. Directors were Louis Amerman, Marjorie Reiter and Kathleen Thompson.
Mabel Benson was president when the club was chartered in 1953.
Included among the purposes of the club are: To have an informed viewpoint on local, national and international affairs; improve cultural and educational training in the community; cultivate friendly relations among women and in the professions; promote needed civic groups to foster community betterment.
In 1955 the Missoula Club was one of 250 women’s service clubs in the United States to receive an award from the Women’s Home Companion magazine for outstanding community service during the preceding year.
The Missoula Altrusa Club has sponsored girls at Girls State at Bozeman, contributed to the Founder Fund and grants-in-aid, financed a tonsillectomy for a needy girl and granted $250 to worthy women to further business careers.
Also, the club has given three highway signs announcing the meetings of the club in Missoula, and made gifts of clothing, money, magazines and other items to state institutions and charitable organizations. The club has a birthday dinner for members each year.
Officers for 1959-60; Jeanette Keays, president; Mary McDorney, vice president; Alvina Barclay, recording secretary; Mary Musberger, corresponding secretary, and Ernestine Johnson, treasurer.