About Us
Altrusa International of Delta is a group of strong community advocates who prioritize service, regularly donating their time and talents to benefit Delta County, and engaging in fundraisers to support the many service projects Altrusa does.
Chartered in 1985, Altrusa International of Delta has been serving the Delta County community ever since. The very first service fundraising project was the Deltarado Days Kick-Off Barbecue in July of that same year. The club continued to host the event kickoff until 2024, when the event folded. The Club’s Sugar Plum Festival & Little Side Street Market is a popular event held each October and raising critical funds for over 20 years.
All funds raised by Altrusa International of Delta stay right here in Delta County. Altrusa gives in a variety of ways: everything from supporting food pantries operating in all five communities in Delta County; providing books free of charge for babies born at Delta Health in our Baby's First Books program up to adults in nursing and assisted living facilities, and all ages in between; providing emergency toiletries to local crisis centers and unhoused shelters; providing over $10,000 each year in for scholarships for local high school students and adults continuing their education, and professional development grants for upskilling or reskilling; and many more activities and programs!
Delta Altrusans have also been a part of numerous unique and special projects, including:
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In addition to annual financial support for the Delta Food Pantry, Altrusans volunteer at the food pantry every Thursday, distributing food to the hungry. Altrusans also regularly donate food to the pantry and support the nonprofit during special events like the annual Stamp Out Hunger.
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Supporting Days for Girls, a nonprofit organization that prepares and distributes sustainable menstrual health solutions to girls around the world who would otherwise miss school during their monthly periods.
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Partnering with CASA of the 7th Judicial District to furnish and outfit a six-unit apartment in the city of Delta for emancipated youth aging out of the foster care system.
Service is our business, and we have a ton of fun together while we are making good things happen!
Board of Directors
Cindy Lonis
President
Emma Mitchell
1st Vice President
Vacant
2nd Vice President
Toni Deluzio
Secretary
Karen Basher
Treasurer
Vicki Ripp
Treasurer Elect
Jackie Allinson
Finance Committee Chair
Jo Rosenquist
Communications Committee Chair
Maria Clark
Membership Committee Chair
Kami Collins
Service Committee Chair
HeatherLea Ullrey
Rusty Gavel
(Past President)
Vacant
Foundation Chair
Our Board serves at the pleasure of the membership and is voted on annually with terms running from June 1st to May 31st, which coincides with our fiscal year. The Board structure of 1st VP and 2nd VP allows for growth and development in leadership before reaching the role of President. The retiring President then serves on the Board one more year as a Rusty Gavel (a title that reflects past-president status) and provides continuity as our club moves forward. Because officers may be elected to serve on the Board in different roles over time, it’s possible to have multiple Rusty Gavels serving on the Board at one time.
Committees
Membership
Our membership committee is all about people! Their role is to introduce people to Altrusa and to what the club does within the community. When new members join our Club, it's the Membership Committee that welcomes them by connecting new members with sponsors and conducting initiation ceremonies. After you’ve been a member, the Membership Committee is the group that is here to answer your questions about the organization. The membership committee also tries to keep in touch with every member. They’re the ones who try and catch up with you if your life is too busy and you miss meetings to just see how life is going for you. They’re also the party planning machine committee! They plan fun events like Add an Altrusan, the Christmas party, and other fun social events throughout the year. If you are a people kind of person, the membership committee is definitely the place for you!
2025-26 Chair Maria Clark
Meets 4th Tuesday of each month, 5:30 p.m., St. Luke's Church, Delta
Finance
The Finance Committee’s responsibility is to design and implement fundraisers, which include the popular Sugar Plum Festival & Little Side Street Market every fall, and other fundraisers as needed. These fundraisers ensure funds are available for Service projects. Do you love planning events, working with a creative group of people and knowing your efforts help fund vital community projects? Join Finance!
2025-26 Chair Jackie Allinson
Meets 3rd Wednesday of each month, 5:30 p.m., St. Luke's Church, Delta
Service
The Service Committee spends the money that the Finance Committee earns! The committee funds or organizes service projects to help the community, including financial support for countywide food pantries; the Baby's First Book program, where we give books to babies born at Delta Health; providing We Care Bags, bags filled with emergency toiletries to local crisis centers and unhoused shelters; an annual electronic waste reduced-cost recycling event; and providing financial support for GED testing, scholarships for graduating high school seniors and adults continuing their education, and professional development grants for upskilling and reskilling. Literacy is a primary focus of Altrusa's, and so we also distribute books for all ages at a variety of events, including board books for babies up to seniors in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and all ages in between.
2025-26 Chair Kami Collins
Meets 4th Monday of each month, 5:30 p.m., in the side room at CB's Tavern, Delta
Communications
The Communications Committee is the group that keeps you informed and up to date on all Club upcoming projects, events, and meetings. They talk to Altrusans via phone, text, and email, keeping members informed of activities, projects, birthdays, and any and all happenings. We talk to the public via digital media, social media, and print media, and let the general public know what Altrusans are up to. If you like to talk, are social media savvy, or want to create fun features about our club, come to a Communications Committee meeting... we have snacks!
2025-26 Chair Jo Rosenquist
Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month, 5:30 p.m., Contact Us for location
