Ilona Kerby is passionate about reading. She grew up in a household with no television so she had no choice but to read through her childhood. Nowadays, she reads every spare moment she gets, even if that moment is just a minute waiting for her shower to heat up.

As a former employee in the Corrections Department of Washington State in the United States she saw first hand the devastating effects of illiteracy.

Today, Mrs Kerby is the International President and District Governor of Altrusa International, a service organisation with thousands of members around the world including 22 members in Bermuda. Altrusa International is particularly dear to her heart, because its international focus is literacy.

Mrs Kerby was in Bermuda to speak at the 58th Annual Conference for Altrusa District One, of which Bermuda is included along with the New England states and Quebec, Canada.

“I joined in 1987 when my two daughters were young,” Mrs Kerby said. “They grew up learning about community service and giving back to the community. I have always believed that was important.”

For almost ten years she was the Offenders Services Director of Cowlitz County Corrections in Washington.

“The percentage of people who don’t have a high school education or skills to get work is incredible,” she said. “Where I worked the illiteracy rate was very high.”

She is now the Executive Director of Lower Columbia CAP, a social service agency and community action programme in Oregon.

“For ten years I chaired a Celebration of Literacy and we would spend a whole week doing activities with the community to focus on literacy,” she said. “We gave away a few thousand books during that time.”

In addition to literacy, Altrusa International is also working on projects that target HIV AIDS education, and also programmes that improve the literacy of young women.

“We have a duty to give back to our communities and the world,” Mrs Kerby said. “One of the things I like about Altrusa is that I get the opportunity to give back in my community, but we also have international projects as well.”

During a four-year period as president elect, and then a two-year period as International President, she is required to visit every district conference within the 14 district organisation. From Bermuda she planned to fly on to Florida.

“My youngest daughter tells me I am driven,” she said. “I have always worked full time while they were growing up, but I felt a need to give back.”

But she said some of the benefits of becoming an Altrusan is that the organisation is extremely supportive.

“They are there when something happens in your life,” she said. “We don’t just give to the rest of the community; we also take care of each other.

You make friendships across the world. Last year our convention was in New Zealand.”

During the conference in Bermuda, she spoke to Altrusa International District One members about changes in the Altrusa office, provided resources and encouragement.

“Every time I come to Bermuda I am always amazed at the amazing work being done here,” she said.

In the last five years the Bermuda Altrusa club has raised funds to refurbish several public school libraries in Bermuda. Their next project is helping to increase the holdings of the library at Francis Patton Primary School in Hamilton Parish.

The local club is always looking for new members and is open to both men and women. For membership information write to Altrusa Club of Bermuda, PO BOX DV531, Devonshire DVBX and Bermuda.