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Your District Six Conference convenes April 17 in
Sandwich IL. DeKalb-Sycamore Altrusans have
chosen the theme: Plant a Seed, Watch it Grow! Your
District Six Board is looking forward to seeing many of
you in Sandwich having a great weekend. We have
workshops planned and elections of new officers who
will be installed Saturday evening. Come celebrate
the passing of the gavel to your new Governor, Chris
DeVlieger as she and the new Board take office.
Remember to bring your Club banners and
something for the silent auction to support our Altrusa
International Foundation.
th
April IN Touch, 2015
Calendar:
March
Elect new club officers
Send list of delegates &
alternates for
Conference
April
Add an Altrusan Month
New members pay full
dues
World Health Day
Altrusa’s Anniversary
District Six Conference,
Sandwich IL
April 7
April 11
April 17-19
May 1
Nominations due for
Eleanor Roosevelt
Humanitarian
Award to International
Office
International
Foundation Community
Leadership
Award due to
International Office
Begin work on Annual
Club Report
It has been my distinct pleasure and honor to serve as
your Governor this biennium. The many memories of
my travels throughout the District and getting to know
so many members will stay with me forever. District
Six officers have been hardworking on your behalf and
supportive of each other as we have weathered
personal losses and illness the past two years.
My District Six Committee Chairs have been so helpful
and stepped up when needed. They will be
recognized at our Conference. I’d like to give a
special thanks to my Communications Chair, Lola
Perkett of Altrusa International of Evansville. Without
Lola’s efforts the IN Touch, Call to Conference and
Governor’s Touch would not have been possible.
https://www.themuse.com/advice/10-ways-to-make-the-most-out-of-a-conference
10 Ways to Make the Most Out of a
Conference
By Kate C Farrar
Before the Conference
1. Gain Visibility
A great way to maximize your conference experience is to participate in some way—
like being a presenter, session facilitator, or committee volunteer. (When you see the
initial posting for the conference, check out if there are these options available, or email
the conference organizer directly to ask.) While you’re there, you’ll be among hundreds
or thousands of other participants, but if you can take on a visible role, that’s an easy
way to set yourself apart from the crowd.
2. Build Stronger Relationships
A conference is the time to meet new people, but it’s also a time to build on the
relationships you already have. If you know of people you want to reconnect with or get
to know better who will be attending—clients, vendors, friends-of-friends—reach out a few
weeks before the conference to set up a time to meet for coffee or a meal while you’re at
the event.
At the Conference
3. Get Briefed
A lot of conferences try to be extra welcoming to newbies and will host a first-timers
briefing. You definitely want to build this type of session into your schedule—not only to
get the scoop on things, but also to meet other participants who, just like you, are a little
uncertain and looking to form some new relationships.
4. Choose the Right Sessions
At most conferences, there will be an abundance of sessions to choose from—many more
than you’ll be able to attend! So when you’re plotting your schedule, take a look at the
conference as a whole. Look at all the sessions and events you’re interested in, then
make sure you’re getting to attend a range of topics, skill-building sessions, and social
events, and still allowing for some down time. And if you find yourself in a session that
isn’t quite what you thought it was going to be, don’t feel bad about skipping out and
going to a different one. A conference is all about using your time wisely and getting the
most out of all that’s there.
5. Remember What You Learn
With days full of speakers and sessions, there’s a lot to take in—and you’re probably not
going to remember all of it when you get home. So, collect your notes and information in
a way that makes it easy to access when you return to the office. Regardless of your
note-taking format of choice (pen and paper, laptop, tablet, smartphone), at the end of
each session you attend, write down the three key takeaways and any follow-up you want
to do on the topic or with the speakers. This will help jog your memory and give you
specific to-dos when you get back to work.
6. Connect With the Speakers
The speakers and panelists at any conference are likely key experts in your field—read:
people who you want to know. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or hang around (even
as the last person) at a session to say hello, tell them you loved the presentation, and
grab their business cards. And if you don’t get a chance to ask your question in person,
you can always follow up by asking them on Twitter.
7. Schmooze at the Social Events
Definitely make time to attend the conference’s social events—they’re a great
opportunity to connect with people in a more relaxed setting. (Hint: These events are
often more important than the sessions!) And don’t be afraid to linger even the event is
over—you don’t want cut off a great conversation with someone just to be on time to your
next session.
8. Put Away the Smartphone
You may be thinking: “But—I have so many emails waiting!” or “They told me to tweet
about the event!” But here’s the thing: You’re at a conference to have in-person
interaction, and you don’t want your electronic devices to be a barrier to making those
connections. So while you don’t have to disconnect completely, put the phone away
when you’re waiting for a workshop to begin or taking a break at the coffee bar, and give
yourself a chance to strike up conversations with the other attendees around you.
After the Conference
9. Friendly Follow-up
At the conference, you were collecting business cards, new Facebook friends, and
Twitter followers. Afterward, you it’s time to do something with them. Within a week of
returning from the event, send a
personal follow-up to everyone you met to let them know you enjoyed meeting them. Also
set up a phone call or face-to-face meeting with anyone you specifically want to do
business or build a relationship with.
10. Pay it Forward
You gained a lot of new information, inspiration, and contacts at the conference, and one
of the best things you can do with those resources is to share them with your fellow coworkers, colleagues, and friends. Send out videos of the sessions you thought were
particularly valuable, give a talk about something you learned at your next staff meeting,
and tell your boss about some of the interesting contacts you met. You’ll spread your new
skills and knowledge—and hopefully your colleagues will reciprocate the next time they
go to a great event.
District Six members who have passed away
recently will be remembered at a Memorial Service
on Sunday morning during Conference. If you
have not already, please send information about
your member. and a photo if possible, to District
Six Treasurer Elaine Wolf, 2969 Caldwell Lane,
Geneva IL 60134, wolfelaine@comcast.net
The Ambassador (Muncie, Indiana)
“Through the many years that I have gone to our District Conference (my first one was in
1985 and I have not missed one since), I have made great friends with people I would not
have had the privilege to meet. It has given me special contacts for help with situations
that have come up in my business dealings as well as working with volunteer
organizations. Linda Barb will be retiring as Governor of District Six. It would be great if
we had a large delegation there to help her celebrate the work she had done for the
organization.” Mary Burford
Fox Valley Backpack
Project
Tales Along the Fox (Fox Valley, IL)
On Monday evening,
March 2, Debbie Bacom,
Elaine Wolfe and Cheryl
Von Huff (president of
Kiwanis) joined the
group pictured to
present the backpacks
and other items to
Michelle Meyer of
Mutual Ground. The
Voice sent a
photographer to capture
the event also.
As you can tell by the photo, there were lots of items donated that can be used by Mutual
Ground to create backpacks specifically tailored to the children.
Altrusa of Kokomo
“We have a Facebook page now! Check out “Altrusa of
Kokomo IN”.”
Elgin
ALTRUSA International Club of Elgin
"CHEWS TO READ" Literacy-based Service Project
The Altrusa International Club of Elgin has initiated a new "Chews to Read" literacybased service project in collaboration with the Dental Clinic of Greater Elgin Family Care
Center located at 450 Dundee Avenue in Elgin. It has been proven that students in the
United States miss 51 million hours of school instruction every year because of dental
health problems. Students who are consistently absent do not receive critical instruction
time, especially those in the early grades where reading skills are an important focus
and the building blocks to future learning. To raise awareness of this problem and to
build good oral health and literacy habits, the dental health professionals of Greater
Elgin Family Care Center and the Altrusa Club of Elgin are encouraging children and their
parents to brush their teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times per day, and read for 20 minutes. In
addition to the oral health care items provided by the clinic, every new patient under the
age of 7 will receive an Altrusa "Chews to Read" Bag filled with a dental health themed
book, a brushing and reading calendar, a stuffed animal or game, and a suggested book
list. This project is supported and funded by the Altrusa International Foundation of
Elgin, Illinois, Inc.
New Members
Canton: Stephanie Herink, sponsor Michelle Florea
Champaign-Urbana: Marta Grothe, sponsors Kathy Ahearn & Lee Straayer;
Marianne Herriott, sponsors Lee Straayer & Kathy Ahearn; Karen Moody,
sponsors Dawn Aubrey & Cathy Burge; Katie Smith, sponsors Pat Phillips &
Kathy Bennett; and Holly Thompson, sponsor Kathryn Hines
Chillicothe: Emily DeVlieger, sponsors Chris DeVlieger & Donna Armstrong
Decatur: Sharon Colbeck, sponsor Janice Bryant
DeKalb-Sycamore: Dianne Donaldson, sponsor Debbie Overbeck; Zulma
Himpelmann, sponsor Betsy Rychlewski
Galesburg: Julie Van Fleet, sponsor Edith Baker
Indianapolis: Patricia Everett, sponsors Mary Schuman & Ann Everett; Alice
Fae Johnson, sponsors Mary Schuman & Connie Knoll
Lafayette: Liz Mercier, sponsors Sarah Johnson & Judith Field
Lexington: Melody Kazee, Denise Sergent, Annette Norman & Cynthia Pettit
Macomb: Kerry Bishop, sponsor Karen Trusley; and Brae Hattaway, sponsor
Nancy Dobey
Marion: Dixie Burnau, sponsors Nancy Edwards & Dee Ann Koegel; Judy
Owen, sponsors Nancy Edwards & Dee Ann Koegel
Muncie: Tina Bernachi, sponsors Nancy Norris & Brenda Williamson; Erika
Hayes, sponsors Nancy Norris & Brenda Williamson
New Castle: Kimberly Kilgore, Virginia Sharpe & Amanda Troxell
Springfield: Virginia King
Warsaw: Cindy Adams, sponsor Sue Creighton; Anne Bailey, sponsor Jeanine
Knowles; and Mary Corwin, sponsor Sue Creighton
2015 Convention
Our Altrusa International Convention is coming up in July in Kansas City. Plan
to Jazz it Up and join many District Six Altrusans for the weekend.
Save the dates July 17-20, 2015!
We’re excited to invite you to join the International Board, Staff and District Eight Altrusans
as we “Jazz it Up!” in Kansas City at Convention 2015!
Registration is open at https://altrusa.webconnex.com/2015Convention.
Registrations made March 16th through June 15th will be at the regular rate of $385. Late
registrations, made after June 15th, will be charged $424. Single day registrations are
available at $100 per day, meals not included.
*Altrusa.org
Altrusans, get ready to JAZZ IT UP at our 2015 International
Convention!
Dates: July 17-20, 2015
Location:
Kansas City, MO Accommodations: Westin
Kansas City at Crown Center
(1 E. Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108)
Traditional Rooms Rates are $159 single or double, $184 triple, and $209
quad. Several different types of suites are also available. The rates do not
include taxes and other fees or charges. It is critically important that you
book your stay with the Altrusa group so credit is given towards the total
1,105 room nights required to avoid penalty fees. Unfor- tunately, the Westin
has been unable to provide instructions on how to begin booking rooms,
but this will be remedied. STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Be sure to check out the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association
website (https://www.visitkc.com/visitors/things-to-do) for some great
suggestions of things to do and see during your stay in Kansas City.
Registration Fees:
Standard Registration—$385
Available March 1 through May 31
Late Registration—$424
Available after May 31
Partial Registration—$100 per day
Meals are NOT included
Information from Altrusa.org, Altrusa
Compass found under “News Room.”