ALTRUSA began in 1917 in Nashville Tennessee and was the first women's service club in the world.

   The word 'Altrusa' is a derivation of the world 'altruism' which means selfless concern for the welfare of others.

   In 1966 Altrusa was introduced to New Zealand where clubs were formed in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

   One of the Christchurch Club's founding members was Edna Neville, who some will recognise by her other name, Aunt Haysl. 

   In 1974 the New Brighton club was formed (later renamed Pegasus Bay), becoming part of the Christchurch club in 2006.

   As a service club, Altrusa members continuously fundraise to support numerous projects and community events.

   It supports Portsmouth Kindergarten in Aranui by providing clothing and healthy food items on a regular basis and arranges an annual Christmas party complete with a visit from Santa and gifts.

   The club provides an annual scholarship for development courses at the Next Step Centre for Women at Christchurch Polytechnic and also funds fee subsidies for the courses.

  It holds a Magic Carers event where the club treats 10 carers of special needs children to a day (or weekend) of rest, relaxation and pampering.

   This is just a smidgen of what the club does for the community and it is all funded through fundraising events such as sausage sizzles, selling marmalade, chocolate and market stalls.

   Altrusa Christchurch has just arranged to fund an eight-week YWCA Encore programme for women recovering from breast cancer surgery. 

   Literacy is a focus of Altrusa worldwide and District Fifteen (the New Zealand branch of Altrusa international) has launched a project called 'Altrusa Great Read'.

   The aim is to get as many people as possible to read for 10 minutes between 9am and 3pm on International Literacy Day on September 8.

   Christchurch Altrusans want to get as many schools, organisations and whanau as possible involved in the event and encourage people to register online at www.altrusa.org.nz/AGR.html

   To be an Altrusan is an honour, not a duty.  If anyone is interested in finding out more about Altrusa, please visit www.altrusa.org.nz or contact Christchurch Altrusa Club president Val Lee at president.christchurch@altrusa.org.nz