Altrusa International Inc, District Fifteen
District Fifteen
The Altrusa organisation is divided into geographic areas called "Districts". Clubs in New Zealand form District Fifteen. The District was formed in 1985 and there are currently 22 clubs. Altrusa International Inc District Fifteen is a registered charity.
The organisation assists with the development and maintenance of Altrusa clubs around the country. An annual district conference and four regional training days are organised each year. The District also runs a leadership training seminar for incoming club Presidents. A District Service bulletin (Altrusa Down Under) and a website are key district communication devices.
The District also co-ordinates country wide service projects. The current District service project is supporting a hostel at a school in Gilgil, Kenya. Altrusans in clubs around the country are busy making quilts for the children's beds. At recent District Conferences Altrusans have raised funds to support national literacy groups through a "Walk for Literacy".
Meet the District Board
Governor - Leanne Milligan
Leanne is a member of the Te Awamutu Club and joined in 1994 'to do something good in the community and meet people in Te Awamutu' - she hails from Gisborne where her mum, dad and brothers live. She enjoys the fun, working together and opportunities that comes with being an Altrusan. Fraidy (the first cat) lives with Leanne (along with a zillion soft toys!). Leanne enjoys walking and when time allows she likes to decorate cakes and scrapbooking. Her favourite holiday destination is the USA and her favourite food is chocolate. If she could change just one thing in the world it would be to provide an education for everyone.
Governor Elect - Patricia O'Donnell
Patricia joined Altrusa in 1992 to be involved in community service and meet other women. She is a member of the Wellington Club and enjoys the fun and support shared by a grand group of women. She enjoys cross-stitch and reading (favorite author is Barbara Michaels), listening to 60's music and Garfield. Her favourite holiday destination is Queensland, Australia. In answer to the question 'What one thing would she change in the world?' she gave three answers: 1. that cabbage is fattening and chocolate is not, 2. that peace would reign, and 3. that a committee of women run the country.
1st Vice Governor - Lynda Turner-Heaton
Lynda has been a member of the Invercargill Altrusa Club since 2000 and joined to meet professional women outside of the accountancy field (she has just completed her role as District Treasurer). She enjoys the teamwork with a focus on service and literacy. She is interested in interior decoration. Her favourite holiday destination is Hawaii and her favourite food is chocolate. The one thing she would change in the world would be that everyone was kind to all animals and children.
2nd Vice Governor - Jenette Borrell
Jenette has been a member of the Timaru Club since 1992 and credits Olwen Norton and community involvement with the reason why she joined.. She is married and has one daughter and is interested in theatre and dance, enjoys reading, travel and gardening.
Director - Pam Hayes
Pam joined the Auckland Club in 2003 for the opportunity to serve the community and fellowship with like minded women. She enjoys fun, fellowship and personal growth opportunities. Pam has three children and four grandchildren. She enjoys kayaking, reading and quilt making. Her favorite holiday destination is Paihia, NZ and the Pacific Islands and her favourite food is Bluff oysters. The one thing she would change in the world would be to issue every person over 10 years of age with a copy of the book "The One Minute Apology" by Ken Blanchard.
District Treasurer - Cynthia Clark
Cynthia has been the Supplies Officer for many years, having served in this role for five District Governors. She joined the Rotorua Club in 1991 and enjoys the friendship and fun doing projects. She has a supportive husband, two daughters and three grandchildren. Cynthia keeps busy in the garden and also enjoys card making and scrap booking. Neil Diamond is her favourite singer and Mama Mia her favorite movie. Her favourite holiday destination is Rarotonga and Great Britain. If she could change just one thing in the world it would be poverty. Cynthia is presently shifting to Carterton and will transfer to the Wellington Club.
District Secretary - Robyn Atherton
Robyn joined the Te Awamutu Club in 2000 because it was a natural progression of involvement from kindergarten, school and sports committees and she had always enjoyed a literacy focus. She likes the fellowship, fun and service to the community and the personal growth. Robyn is married with a daughter and a son and loves walking, reading, gardening and travelling. Country and western music and Bryce Courtenay as an author are her favourites. She dotes on her dog Molly. One thing she would change in the world would be to have no war.
Immediate Past Governor - Chris Mouter
Chris is a member of the Nelson Club and has been since 1992 when she decided to give service to her community and meet new people. She enjoys reading autobiographies and thrillers, walking, listening to music (loves opera, 60's and 70's music) and has a great fondness of cats, both big and small. Her favourite food is Indian and she loves travelling to new places. She has no family in New Zealand; her siblings all being in the UK where she also has many nieces and nephews. Chris enjoys 'making a difference' when undertaking service in the community, as well as the fun and making friends. If she could change just one thing in the world, it would be to eliminate all forms of violence.
District Fifteen History
On the 29th March 1985 New Zealand's 27 Altrusa Clubs came of age with the official formation of Altrusa International Incorporated District Fifteen at the Annual Conference at Wellington's Shaw Saville Lodge. Formerly the New Zealand clubs did not have a voice on the International board. The first District Governor elected was Mrs Margaret Maylor (Auckland) who had been on the International Long Range Planning Committee for five years. The International visitor was Verona Bordock from Barstow, California, the principal of a large co-educational high school.
The first clubs formed in 1966 but didn't get their charters until 1969, Auckland being the first, followed by Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Nine clubs chartered in the 1970s and nine in the 1980s. Mount Maunganui was the nineteenth club to be chartered on 2nd July 1982. There are currently 22 Clubs in the District.
The District Board is elected once every two years and is comprised of Governor, Governor Elect, 1st Vice Governor, 2nd Vice Governor, Treasurer, Director, Immediate Past Governor and Secretary (non-voting). The Board's objective is to support the activities of District Clubs and be a communication link between clubs and International. A representative of District will be elected to the International Board for two out of every four years - the first occurred during 2005 - 2007.
