DAILY NEWS PEOPLE: RUTH MEHLBERG.In the mid-1930s Ruth Mehlberg helped organize the Wa-tan-ye Business and Professional Women's Club Women’s clubs first arose in the United States during the post-civil war period. As a result of increased leisure time due to modern household advances, middle class women had more time to engage in intellectual pursuits. in Sac City, Iowa Sac City is a city in Sac County, Iowa, United States, situated on the rolling hills along the valley of the North Raccoon River, in one of the prime agricultural regions of the United States. The population was 2,368 at the 2000 census. . People told her it wouldn't last, but it still exists. Like the club, Mehlberg is still going strong. She has been volunteering at the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. for 55 years and doesn't plan to stop. AGE: 86. RESIDENCE: Burbank resident since 1940. BORN AND RAISED IN: Born in Sac City, Iowa. OCCUPATION: Worked for the Automobile Club of Southern California The Automobile Club of Southern California was founded December 13, 1900 in Los Angeles as one of the nation's first motor clubs dedicated to improving roads, proposing traffic laws and improvement of overall driving conditions. for 29 years. MARITAL STATUS marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. : Married 12 years to Chauncey. VOLUNTEERISM: In 1949, Mehlberg was elected the first chairwoman of the Burbank chapter of the American Red Cross. She has helped with flu clinics, blood drives, health fairs, fund raising and publicity. By her own devotion, Mehlberg instills the mission and goals of the Red Cross in the young volunteers that work with her. Mehlberg is active in the Burbank Order of the Eastern Star The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts who had been an official with the Freemasons. and the Order of the Trinity White Shrine Masonic organizations as well as two genealogical ge·ne·al·o·gy n. pl. ge·ne·al·o·gies 1. A record or table of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; a family tree. 2. Direct descent from an ancestor; lineage or pedigree. societies. And she's also part of the First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church is a generic church name, and can refer to hundreds of churches within the English speaking world. If you followed a link here, please consider making it more specific by including the city or town in which the church resides. of Burbank and Church Women United. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?: ``I was active out in Iowa, and I felt I had to do something. It helped me get acquainted with Burbank and made me feel at home.'' Mehlberg started taking Red Cross first-aid classes, and it grew from there. BIGGEST DILEMMA: ``Keeping up with everything at home after volunteering, especially the batch of mail.'' MOST DIFFICULT DAILY TASK: ``Looking at the calendar and seeing what is lined up for the day.'' Mehlberg has a volunteer activity almost every day of the week. FAVORITE DAILY TASK: ``Reading the newspaper and seeing what is happening all over.'' GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: ``All my volunteering in the Red Cross for many years. (My work with) the blood banks, because I've been involved with that ever since they were started. And the health fairs; you do a lot of good keeping people informed.'' GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: ``Maybe we can get back into traveling and take a few trips. We would like to go to China. I have a goal of 60 years with the Red Cross.'' ROLE MODELS: ``My parents and my church; their solid living and their outlook, the family relations, family values family values pl.n. The moral and social values traditionally maintained and affirmed within a family. . I was the oldest of five girls and one brother, and my parents were supportive of all of us through their whole lives.'' HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?: ``Loving people and being honest and caring.'' HOBBIES: ``I play bridge once a week as a rule. I exercise every day at home. I exercise in the morning when I wake up. It gets me going. I've always been an early riser.'' WHAT WOULD BE A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU?:``A nice sunny day; maybe take a trip to a place where you can go and relax - the park, the ocean, down in the desert, the mountains - and really enjoy nature.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: No caption (Ruth Mehlberg) Evan Yee/Daily News |
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