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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2017)
REGION Thursday, April 13, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3A CRITFC reveals further details on fatal boat capsize East Oregonian Contributed photo Altrusa International of Hermiston officers for 2016-17. Altrusa celebrates century of service By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian A century of working together to create better communities is being recog- nized as Altrusa International commemorates its 100-year anniversary. As two of the largest clubs in District Twelve — which encompasses Oregon, Wash- ington, Montana and western Canada — Pendleton and Hermiston are proud of their heritage. The district includes 20 clubs with 639 members, said Sofi Smith of Altrusa International of Pendleton. The Pendleton club was chartered in October 1938 with 12 members, including Jessie M. Bell as the first president. It was described in an Oct. 21, 1938 East Orego- nian article as “a classified and selective service club of business and professional woman executives” Altrusa International of Pendleton now boasts 83 members. Sponsored by the Pend- leton club, Altrusa Inter- national of Hermiston was organized May 14, 1977, with 32 initiates. Six charter members — Kay Bennett, Nancy Brown, Margaret Saylor, Janet Severson, Pat Wheelhouse and Jean Ruhl — still belong to the club, said Connie Ferranti, publicity chair. The club’s current membership is 53. “In the beginning, Altrusa was very exclusive,” said Pat McClintock, a longtime member of the Pendleton club. “You had to be a busi- ness owner or manager or professional. Now we have members whose classifica- tion was homemaker — they didn’t have a career outside the home.” McClintock appreciates the more inclusive nature of the group. In addition, she said it’s not as formal. In years past, members had to dress appropriately for dinner meetings. McClintock and Herm- iston club president LuAnn Davison attribute the orga- nization’s longevity to the support of members, who give of their time, talents and financial resources. In addition, they receive tremendous support from the community. “People can see what you are doing,” McClintock said. “They see the results of projects we are working on.” Individuals and busi- nesses support Altrusa fundraisers in both commu- nities. The Altrusans, in turn, Contributed photo A 1950s photo from the archives of Altrusa International of Pendleton. The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commis- sion released details of an April 7 boating accident on the lower Columbia that killed a Yakama Nation tribal member and injured three others, including a member of the Confeder- ated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. According to a Wednesday press release, the four-member crew was aboard a 26-foot CRITFC research vessel near Bridal Veil Falls, returning from a morning sea lion count, when a large wave broke over the bow of the boat and capsized it. All four members, each wearing flotation devices, were able to exit the cabin and cling onto the boat until it sank. They were retrieved from the water by Gresham Fire and Emer- gency Services. Greg George, a fisheries technician and a member of the Yakama Nation, was among the crew. He was transported via a helicopter ambulance to a Portland hospital where he later died. The three remaining crew members — Tyler Simmons of the CTUIR, and Maria Jim and Bobby Begay of the Yakama Nation — were treated for mild hypothermia in area hospitals and released later that day. Davis Washines, Yakama Nation General Council chairman and retired chief of CRITFC enforcement, remembered George, 56, as both an accomplished fisher and research technician. “We are taught to always treat one another in a good way, because we never know when the Creator will call our name,” Washines said in a statement. George worked on fishery projects for the past 20 years for CRITFC, the U.S. Geological Survey and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. His work for CRITFC included measuring gas bubble trauma in juvenile salmon, removing northern pike minnow and evaluating sea lion predation on returning salmon in the lower Columbia River. CRITFC is a Port- land-based agency that supports fishery manage- ment policies composed of four tribes — CTUIR, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Yakama Nation and the Nez Perce Tribe. EO Media Group Contributed photo Altrusa International of Pendleton received the President’s Award during the Pendleton First Citizens Banquet in January. “How we explain it is, you’re not a member of Altrusa, you become an Altrusan.” — LuAnn Davison, Hermiston Altrusa club president pour that money back into the communities through a variety of projects. A person would be hard-pressed to drive through Eastern Oregon’s two biggest towns and not come across a project or program that Altrusa has touched in one way or another. Originally called Altrusa Institute, Mamie L. Bass founded the organization in 1917 in Nashville. The name “Altrusa” is derived from combining altruism and USA. Bass, who was a partner in her brother’s architecture firm, had assisted him in organizing a Rotary chapter. However, Bass wasn’t able to join Rotary, as it was an all-male organization at the time. Founded as a service organization for female business owners, managers and professional women, Altrusa later expanded to include all women, as well as men. Within five years, Altrusa had 20 clubs and by 1935 it became an interna- tional organization when the first group in Mexico was organized. It has continued to expand beyond U.S. borders with clubs created in Puerto Rico, Chile, Ecuador, India, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Great Britain, Bermuda, Canada and New Zealand. In 1946, Altrusa sent its first representative to the United Nations. Altrusa’s main focuses include literacy, education and environmental concerns. Also, each club takes on projects and support programs, both in their individual communities and beyond. From ensuring school children have food during the weekend and providing scholarships for higher education to giving away books and providing grants for community proj- ects, Altrusa is committed to giving back. “How we explain it is, you’re not a member of Altrusa, you become an Altrusan,” Davison said. For more information, contact altrusapend@gmail. com, hermistonaltrusa@ gmail.com or visit www. districttwelve.altrusa.org. In addition, both clubs have Facebook pages. ——— Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4539 A bill requiring water measurement devices for Oregon irrigators has passed the House Energy and Environment Committee. Oregon water measurement bill passes initial committee By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Bureau SALEM — Irrigators would be required to install devices to measure their water usage in Oregon under a bill that’s won approval from an initial legislative committee. The House Committee on Energy and the Environ- ment voted 7-1 in favor of a “do pass” recommendation for House Bill 2705 during an April 11 work session. However, the bill won’t immediately be voted on by the full House. It has first been referred to the House Rules Committee, where bills aren’t subject to the same legislative dead- lines for action as regular committees. Proponents of HB 2705 argue the measuring requirement is necessary for the Oregon Water Resources Department to effectively manage the state’s 89,000 water rights. Farm and irrigator groups are opposed to the bill, arguing that water devices will be expensive to install and will overwhelm OWRD with data that it lacks the resources to analyze. The committee delayed taking action on two other measures related to water: House Bill 2706, which imposes a $100 annual fee on all water rights, and HB 2707, which appropriates an unspecified amount of money for additional groundwater studies. A work session on those two bills was rescheduled for April 12. BRIEFLY CTUIR accepting comment on transportation plan The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is hosting a public comment period and public meetings about the Tribes’ transportation plan. Meetings are scheduled for April 27 at 10 a.m. and April 28 at 2 p.m. at the CTUIR Public Transit Center meeting room, 46322 Timine Way. The purpose of the public meetings is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the coordinated human services public transportation plan. People can also submit written comments. That comment period is set for April 17- May 1. Copies of the current plan are available at the CTUIR planning department and at www.ctuir.org under the planning department tab. For more information contact Susan Johnson, planning office manager, at 541-429- 7525. Red Cross announces area blood drives People can give the gift of life through an American Red Cross blood drive. Donations of all blood types are needed. To donate, people need to be in good health, at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. While walk-ins are welcome, donors can make an appointment at www.redcrossblood. org or by calling 800-733-2767. Upcoming area blood drives include: •Monday, April 17, noon to 6 p.m., St. Anthony Hospital, 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton. •Monday, April 17, 12:30-6 p.m., Good Shepherd Medical Center, 610 N.W. 11th St., Hermiston. •Tuesday, April 18, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pendleton City Hall, 500 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. •Thursday, April 27, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, 565 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermiston. Local author to address Weston library friends WESTON — The annual membership meeting of the Friends of Weston Library will feature a presentation by John Groupe. A columnist and author of the book “My Eastern Oregon,” Groupe will speak and share slides of hunting bighorn sheep in Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness. Copies of his book will be available for purchase. The meeting, which is open to the public, is Monday at 7 p.m. at Weston Memorial Hall, 214 E. Main St. People can renew their FOWL membership for 2017 or join for the first time. Refreshments will be served. Established in 2000, the organization provides support for special Weston Public Library programs and projects. Dues and donations to FOWL are tax-deductible. For more information call the library at 541-566-2378. Young Life announces upcoming fundraisers PENDLETON — A Pendleton Young Life fundraiser is teaming up with Abby’s Legendary Pizza. A portion of the proceeds from food sales Tuesday, April 18 from 5-8 p.m. will go to the faith-based organization. People who are eating at the restaurant or getting carry-out can help in providing support to youth activities sponsored by Young Life. The restaurant is located at 828 Southgate, Pendleton. In addition, Young Life is accepting donations for an upcoming yard sale. People are encouraged to do some spring cleaning and donate gently used items for the event, which is planned for Saturday, May 20. Nothing is too big or too small — they want it all. From kids toys and kitchenware to boats and recreational vehicles, Young Life is interested in donations. For more information, contact Loretta Thomas at 541-379-9168, Chris Thatcher at 541-969-7277 or visit www.facebook.com/ pendletonyl. NARFE seeks new members PENDLETON — April is membership month for the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) and the local 2115 branch is seeking federal employees, working or retired, to join the association. Thursday’s monthly meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. with a no-host lunch at Shari’s Restaurant, 319 S.E. Nye Ave., Pendleton, followed by a guest speaker from St. Anthony Hospital. NARFE is a 501(c)(5) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the earned pay, retirement and health care benefits of federal employees, retirees and their survivors. For more information, call Janet at 541-980-3268. Banquet shines on Irrigon IRRIGON — The Irrigon Citizen Recognition Banquet honors the people and businesses that make the town a special place to live and work. People are invited to help celebrate during Time to Shine. The event is Friday, April 21 from 5-8 p.m. at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 195 N.W. Opal Place, Irrigon. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door, which includes a meal prepared by chef Donna Eppenbach. For more information or tickets, call 541-922-3857. They also can be purchased at the Bank of Eastern Oregon in Irrigon.