Altrusa of St. Augustine is an association of professional persons who volunteer their energies and expertise in projects dedicated to community betterment.

We adhere to the Principles of Altrusa written in 1917 by Mamie L. Bass, the first President of Altrusa.

Altrusa is a builder of men and women.

Altrusa is an expression of the search for the best in character, in business, and in citizenship.

Election to Altrusa is an evidence of confidence which imposes upon the recipient the obligation to strive to be true to the highest standards of life in his or her personal and business relations.

Altrusa in the very derivation of her name is committed to the philosophy of unselfishness, of the joy of giving rather than getting, and to the search for that happiness which is based upon spiritual worthiness.

Altrusa is practical idealism. Its service consists, not in saying great things, but in the daily earnest practice of its principles.

Altrusa commends to its members an active interest in public affairs, realizing that the State is but the individual writ large.

Altrusa develops true leadership, concerned with accomplishment and not with recognition.

Membership carries with it no obligation to transact business with other members. It makes no promise of returns in any commercial specie. Its rewards are in proportion to the loyalty, the unselfishness and character of the member, and the coin of the realm cannot equal its value.

Altrusa expresses good will for all mankind. It emphasizes the good and lets the evil sink into the oblivion it merits.

Altrusa is democratic; it knows no class, no favorites, but is founded upon merit alone.

Altrusa believes that the way to progress lies not in emphasizing the faults of people and their failure to give proper recognition, at times, to people in business, but rather in arousing people to their responsibilities and their possibilities, so that their accomplishments will blaze the trail for greater things.

Altrusa believes it is not enough to be good; Altrusa must be good for some thing. Each member must be doing the piece of work that is theirs in a way that puts them in the front ranks of accomplishment.

– Mamie Luella Bass
” Historical Altrusa material as written in 1921/Adopted at Altrusa’s fourth convention in Dayton, Ohio, in 1921”