HISTORY

In May 1996, five members of the Altrusa International, Inc., P.M. Club came up with an idea to formulate a new Altrusa Club within the community of Tarrant County. These ladies felt there were women in the community who wanted to give something back, but could not do so with the two existing Arlington Altrusa Clubs because of the time each club met.

These ladies were: O. Elaine Archie, Evelyn Flood-Coles, Jackie Henson, Ellen McCall Hires and Beatrice Self.

The dream began. The ladies began to meet, to share and to get the club started. In August 1996, the first Club meeting was held at the Shady Grove Country Club in Arlington. The Clubs intentions and goals were set forth in this meeting. Several ladies were in attendance.

Numerous board and general meetings were held to organize the new Club and prepare for the upcoming Chartering Banquet. The members voted to name the Club the Southeast Tarrant County Early Risers. This name would ensure that our activities were not limited to Arlington, but spanned throughout Tarrant County. The name also expressed our desire to meet early in the morning, when our minds were fresh and it would not interfere with our other life obligations. This time would be used to take care of all Club business, to share and to fellowship.

The Grand Day finally arrived! On Friday, January 24, 1997, the Altrusa International, Inc., Southeast Tarrant County Early Risers were chartered with twenty-six members.

Altrusa International, Inc., Southeast Tarrant County Early Risers have and are currently participating in numerous charitable events, such as Feed Arlington and Expanding Your Horizons. Our Club has also distributed books, in conjunction with the League of Women Voters, for Reading is Fundamental; supplied food and gifts for children at Morton Elementary School during Christmas; participated annually, since 1997, in the Arlington Martin Luther King Celebration; awarded monetary prizes to students at Morton Elementary Schools for essays written during Black History Month; sent students from Morton Elementary and the local community to summer camp; donated books to students in Ghana; participated in Arlington Teen Court; in 1998, co-sponsored a successful Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar with the American Cancer Society; and in 2003 started a Mentorship Program with Venture School in Arlington, Texas.

Our fund-raisers have included a golf tournament, quarterly White Elephant sales, raffle ticket sales and an annual Roast.

Altrusa is truly a service-oriented organization. A commitment to the community is our number our priority. The Southeast Tarrant County Early Risers participated in which we are very proud. Collectively the Early Risers have volunteered thousands of hours. We believe in not just talking the talk, but walking the walk!

The Southeast Tarrant County Early Risers are already making our mark in the community, but as the song says, “WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN”!

 

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