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The
Fortuna Tierra Ladies Club of Log Hill Mesa held the first
organizational meeting at the home of Zona Humphrey on Sept. 26,
1970. The Charter Members were: Gladys Adamson, Agnes Dodenhof,
Nellie Flowers, Bea Frenze, Beula Griffith, Zona Humphrey, Alma
Knifer, Hilda Maertz, Marian McClaren, Hettie McLaughlin, Mildred
Moon, Irene Nuckolls, Ruth Stanford, Vera Thayer, and Mina Voss.
At
this meeting, officers were elected; monthly meetings were to be
held on the first Tuesday of each month at the home of a member with
a co-hostess. Dues were optional, but not more than 10
cents/month. Members were to contribute one cent for each year of
their birthday and wedding anniversary on that month.
The
name of the club was selected by the members based upon the name of
the La Tierra ditch that flows from Horsefly Creek to water the
fields in northern Log Hill Mesa. The club members shared ideas,
crafts, and recipes and gave help where it was needed in the
community.
That
tradition of community service continues to this day. Their current
Mission Statement reads: "Fortuna Tierra Club is a women's club
organized to promote neighbors coming together to give aid and
support when needed and raise funds for local philanthropic
endeavors."
In
1976, a group of residents from the growing community on Log Hill
Mesa (LHM) met to discuss the establishment of a volunteer fire
department. Many Fortuna Tierra Club (FTC) members and their
spouses were present at that meeting. It seems to have been more
than mere coincidence that this action followed only a few years
after the founding of the FTC.
A
non-profit corporation was formed after that meeting which was
named: The Log Hill Volunteer Fire Department. The men of the
community were to be responsible for building a fire station and
equipping it with firefighting equipment. The women of the
community, including many FTC members, formed a Ladies Auxiliary to
raise funds for the endeavor - there was no taxpayer support until
after the Log Hill Mesa Fire Protection District was established in
1979.
The
fund-raisers were almost never-ending; they included dinners, ice
cream socials, dances, raffles, donation drives, bingo parties,
etc. Along with financial contributions from the FTC, these efforts
were ultimately successful. To this day, the FTC makes monetary
donations to support the fire department and many members contribute
their time to assist in the fund-raising efforts of the LHVFD.
Other major efforts of the FTC include: sponsorship of the annual
Log Hill picnic that is open to all residents; fund-raisers such as
the annual bazaar for many years and more recently garden parties
and home open-houses; scholarship awards are given to worthy Ridgway
High School seniors; school supplies drives for Ridgway students.
The FTC also supports the Second Chance Humane Society and the San
Juan Therapeutic Riding Program.
Each
year at their March meeting, the FTC honors their Golden Age Members
(70 years and older). They each are given a special invitation and
are contacted to be sure they have transportation to the meeting and
that any other special needs are provided.
Eligibility for membership in the FTC shall include all existing and
past members: former, current, and future residents of Log Hill and
the immediate vicinity or an immediate member of an active member’s
family. Click here to see a list of
past Fortuna Club Presidents.
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