Altrusa dedicates new bench at courthouse

The Red Oak Altrusa Club recently celebrated a major milestone.
Last year, Altrusa International of Red Oak celebrated the 100th anniversary of the club, which was organized in 2024 and began in 1925 after being chartered with 11 charter members. The club, which is currently led by President Tammi VanMeter, and in 2025, boasted a 55-member roster which is currently the largest in the state of Iowa.
As for the club’s long-standing projects, one of the longest is nuts. In 1950, Margaret Ostrom became president of the local chapter and in that same year, she began the annual nut sales, Beginning with pecans only, the sales drive has grown to now include mixed nuts, almonds, walnuts, and cashews. This fundraiser, now 76 years strong as of this year, serves as a major fundraiser for the club. With these funds, Altrusa has served the community in numerous ways over the past 100 years.
In honor of the club’s 100th anniversary, club members worked on a project as a way to celebrate the club and give back to the community. That project is a bench that has been placed in a beautiful spot on the Montgomery County Courthouse lawn.
A special presentation and bench dedication was held on June 25 at the courthouse. During the presentation Altrusa President VanMeter highlighted the efforts of Rosalie Hansen and Evon Carlson.
“These two ladies are the backbone of this bench. They did all the hard work and research on what we wanted to get, they brought it to our club and we decided on this, so congratulations and appreciation to those two ladies for all the hard work,” said VanMeter.
VanMeter added she’s thrilled to be a part of this great group and was happy to dedicate the lovely bench to the city of Red Oak and the courthouse and we thought what a better place to put it so that they could see our mural over on the wall next to the Red Oak Public Library when they are sitting here on this bench,” commented VanMeter.
VanMeter reiterated that for more than 100 years, the club has been dedicated to serving others and strengthening the community through the power of literacy, education, and volunteer service.
“By promoting, reading, supporting schools and libraries, providing books and educational resources and encouraging lifelong learning for our members, we have opened the doors for opportunities for countless individuals,” stated Van Meter.
VanMeter told the crowd that these efforts have enriched lives, empowered families, and created a long-lasting legacy that continues to benefit our community today.
“As we honor our past, we also celebrate the vision, the compassion, and the dedication that continue to guide us forward. May the legacy built over these 100 years inspire future generations to serve with the same passion and purpose,” advised VanMeter. “It is with great honor that we dedicate this bench and celebrate the members of the past, the present, and the future for all of those who contributed to make this bench and this dedication possible. Happy 100th anniversary Altrusa and may the next century be filled with greater services and success. So congratulations to all of us.”
Altrusa has spearheaded several projects for the community. The first two thermal imaging cameras were purchased for the Red Oak Fire Department, and the summer Read and Feed program sent bags of food and books home for children and families.
Altrusa also coordinated other community betterment events. There were three years of a local winter coat drive, several years of working with law enforcement to create child identification cards through the “Child Find” program. Altrusans also provided infant care packages for newborns at Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, and a project at the former Hysham House that included an Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility ramp, landscaping, and a bathroom remodel.
Altrusa has also helped numerous Red Oak students over the years. Every spring there are scholarships awarded to graduating seniors in Red Oak, Stanton, and Villisca, and Altrusans are always looking to partner with other local service clubs to strengthen everyone’s impact. Among those partnerships are charing the Junction Days parade in partnership with the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association, volunteering at the Red Oak Grand Theatre, selling duck tickets with the Kiwanis, and creating anf posting signs on the trails in partnership with Friends or the Red Oak Trails. Friends of Viking Lake, and Montgomery County Conservation are other partnerships that Altrusa has forged.
In the last 100 years there have been countless projects, meetings, members, and service hours contributed to the communities. Altrusa continues to look for meaningful ways to contribute to the community and make a difference in the lives of others. As Mamie L. Bass, Altrusa’s founder once said, “It’s not enough to be good. Altrusans must be good for something.”
Alrusa International of Red Oak currently meets monthly on the second Thursday at 6 p.m. for a meal, with the meeting following at 6:30. Guests are welcome to attend the meeting and see if Altrussa is right for them. To learn more about Altrusa and follow along with what the club is doing in the community, follow the Facebook page at facebook.com/altrusaofredoak.