Serving the High Plains

Woman honored for 50 years with Altrusa

A Tucumcari woman recently was honored for her 50 years of membership with Altrusa International of Tucumcari and remains its only active charter member.

Pat Clark was honored last month for her half-century in the Tucumcari chapter. They gave her a certificate signed by Altrusa's governor, cake and a gift watch during a surprise ceremony that included a "This is Your Life" presentation.

"I think they told more (about my life) than they needed to," Clark said about the presentation, laughing.

Clark said she's served in just about every office in the Tucumcari chapter, including president, secretary, treasurer and vice president, over the years.

She said the Tucumcari chapter was formed in May 1971 after several woman who had been in the Clovis chapter noted there wasn't one in Tucumcari.

Clark said she had two children at home at the time and was attracted to launching the Tucumcari chapter because it would hold its meetings at noon, when she wouldn't need a babysitter.

Clark said there remains another original charter member of Altrusa International of Tucumcari, but she lives in Colorado and is no longer active.

Janie Hoffman, the current president of the Tucumcari chapter, said Clark still serves a valuable role though she no longer holds an office.

"She's very helpful and always does whatever we ask her to do," Hoffman said. "She's just a joy to be around."

"I try to do what I can and serve on the committees," Clark said, noting she's on the group's finance and bylaw groups.

She also sells about 30 tickets each year for Altrusa's annual Cash Drawing fundraiser, which once was a Thunderbird Party during the 1970s when the organization gave away a new Ford Thunderbird car each year.

"As long as I'm able to keep going, I enjoy meeting the girls. It's been a wonderful 50 years. We've done a lot for the community," Clark said.

Altrusa gives thousands of dollars each year to community service projects. When asked what was the chapter's most consequential act during her 50 years there, she said it was their work to keep Trigg Memorial Hospital operating, including raising money for a new helipad so medical helicopters could land and take off near the facility.

"At one point, they'd line up cars, with their headlights on, to help the helicopter land," she said of the days before the helipad. "That (helipad) was important in keeping the hospital open."

 
 
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