International News

Dear Zontians,   November is an important month for Zonta International.  November 8th marked the 92nd anniversary of the founding of Zonta International, and three of our Zonta clubs celebrated 90 years of club service to advance the status of women in their local communities and around the world.  Congratulations to the members of the Zonta Clubs of Cleveland, Jamestown, NY and Toledo I on this remarkable milestone for their clubs.  As we look to the future and the celebration of our centennial anniversary in 2019, I encourage clubs and districts to use the resources that have been produced and shared by the Centennial Anniversary Committee on the Zonta International website. In November, we also focus on raising awareness of the issue of violence against women on 25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign, which runs from 25 November through International Human Rights Day on 10 December.  Ending violence against women and girls is a priority for Zonta International throughout the year; however, please read my President's Message to commemorate these two important events.  I look forward to hearing about events and activities throughout the Zonta world. Zontians around the world dedicate countless hours in personal service to Zonta and our mission to advance the status of women worldwide; however, occasionally, the Zonta International Board recognizes Zontians for exceptional service contributions at the international level with the Zonta International Meritorious Service Award.  The Award was recently presented to Ulla Ljungh-Hoff of Sweden and Irene Wiese-von Ofen of Germany.  There will be an official award presentation at the 2012 Convention in Torino; however, you can read about some of Ulla and Irene's contributions in this issue of the e-Newsletter. Finally, members of the Zonta International Board and Headquarters Staff participated in a membership retreat at Headquarters last month.  A brief recap and pictures from the retreat are provided below. As always, thank you for your commitment to Zonta International and the Zonta International Foundation and our mission to advance the status of women worldwide.    Warm regards, Dianne K. Curtis Zonta International President Zonta International Foundation President

Meritorious Service Awards Two members were recently awarded the Zonta International Meritorious Service Award. The Award, whose recipients are determined by the Zonta International Board upon nomination, recognizes members for exceptional Zonta service at the international level, including outstanding Zonta leadership and remarkable, successful efforts in O&E, service, public relations or other Zonta activities at the international level. Irene Wiese-von Ofen has been a member of Zonta for 38 years. Her commitment to Zonta service has included serving as Vice President of the Zonta International Foundation, International Director and member of the International Nominating Committee. In addition to these international roles she has continued her commitment to District 29 and the Zonta Club of Essen.   Ulla Ljungh-Hoff receives the Meritorious Service Award from Past International President Beryl Sten  Ulla Ljungh-Hoff has served Zonta as a member of the Zonta Club of Stockholm II in Sweden for 45 years. She has held the roles of International Director, member of the International Nominating Committee and Chairman and member of the International Bylaws and Resolutions Committee. Along with these roles, she has continued her commitment to District 21 and the Zonta Club of Stockholm II.  These women will be recognized at the 2012 Convention in Torino, Italy. We thank them for their many years of service and hope they continue to serve as an inspiration for others.        Back to top  Membership Retreat During the most recent Board meeting at Zonta International Headquarters, members of the Zonta International Board and Headquarters staff participated in an all-day membership retreat.  Facilitated by Susanne Bowman of The Haefer Group Ltd., a membership marketing consulting firm, the retreat examined generational differences, widespread challenges facing membership organizations, and the unique challenges Zonta faces in expanding its membership.  The collaboration between the Board and staff generated healthy debates and cultivated new ideas for addressing the issues of membership retention and recruitment. Results of the retreat are currently being compiled and will include strategies for consideration and implementation in the future.  We will keep the membership updated as those plans unfold; however, in the meantime, please consider dedicating one of your club meetings and/or district or area meetings to a discussion of membership.  Also, if you are attending the 2012 Zonta International Convention, join us for a special membership discussion during the Open Forum on Saturday, 7 July.  Growing and maintaining our membership is a responsibility we all share, and we appreciate those members who have already taken an active role in recruiting new members and strengthening their clubs.           Back to top  Torino 2012 Convention Website The website for the 2012 Zonta International Convention in Torino, Italy is now live.  Everything you need to know about the 2012 ZI Convention is only a click away, including registration fees, optional convention events, pre- and post-convention travel tours and general information about the city of Torino. Visit the 2012 Zonta International Convention website today! We hope to see you in Torino in July 2012!    Back to top  Zonta International Foundation  To mark its 64th year of service to the UN community, UNFCU (the United Nations Federal Credit Union) is recognizing the work of eight organizations whose work and exemplary service are answering UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's call to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015.  Zonta International Foundation (ZIF) was highlighted by UNFCU for our work to further gender equality.  Members of UNFCU were asked to vote for the organization who is contributing most to important development benchmarks, with the organization with the most votes receiving US$5,000 from UNFCU.  Although Zonta International Foundation was not selected by the voters, the Foundation did receive a US$1,000 donation in recognition of our work.  Read more about the contest and the NGOs selected on the UNFCU website.    Back to top  Women in the News Zonta International celebrates the achievements and accomplishments, big and small, of women around the world every day.  Here are a few women who have recently made the news. The Argentinian president, Cristina Kirchner, has been re-elected with one of the widest victory margins in the country's history. Kirchner had nearly 54% of the votes cast in Sunday's election after almost 97% of polling stations had reported. Her nearest challenger got just under 17%.   Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and Africa's only female president, was re-elected by an overwhelming margin earlier this month   Back to top Message from the Centennial Anniversary Committee OUR CLUB SECRETARY HAS A VERY SPECIAL ROLE TO PLAY! We all respect the work of our club secretary, one of our most hardworking members.   Now, as we look ahead to our Centennial celebrations in 2019, we understand that our secretary has an additional and vital role to play - as primary archivist of our club's history.     Is it difficult? - no!  It means  sourcing, sorting, listing and storing the 'everyday' records which form the basis of our archives collection - the agendas, minutes of meetings, annual reports, newsletters, event posters and flyers.  "Today's records are tomorrow's archives." Once clubs have a well-documented inventory of their archival materials, it is possible for historians to begin their work.  Historians interpret the materials and write the story. PICTURE PERFECT If you are fortunate enough to have a photographer in your club, you will have an equally valuable collection of images to illustrate that story. On the ZI website under Centennial Anniversary Tools, you will find Zonta photographic tips with sound advice on management of your visual images, written by Sally Gordon, the official photographer for District 23. Back to top ZI Membership Z and Golden Z Club Contact Information If your club sponsors a Z and/or Golden Z club(s), please send any new or updated general email addresses for the Z and Golden Z clubs to memberrecords@zonta.org to assist our communications with Z and Golden Z clubs and their members. Dues Payment Please submit your dues payment and club officer contact information forms to memberrecords@zonta.org if you have not already done so.  Half year dues begin on 1 December 2011. A chart of international dues and fees can be found on the website. *Special Note about Dues Payments to Euro Account* Please note that if you are submitting dues to the new Zonta International Euro account, dues must be sent in Euros and not US dollars.  European clubs can use the existing US accounts to send US dollars if their club chooses.  Instructions can be found on the back of Form C.  The three versions of Form C can be found on the website under Club Tools. ·         European (uses Euros) ·         North American (uses US dollars) ·         Non-European/Non-North American (uses US dollars)    Membership Incentive Program Recruit 2 or more new members before 31 May 2012 and receive special recognition at the Zonta International Convention in Torino in July 2012.  More information and forms can be found on the ZI website.  Thank you to those members who have already participated.  Back to top  New on the Zonta International Website See what's new on the Zonta International website:     District Conference Press Coverage     October 2011 LAA Committee newsletter  Updated Club Manual    What is the process for Club/District Amendment to the Zonta International Bylaws?  UNICEF Impact Report  Liberia Fistula Project Presentation  Safe Cities Success Stories     Haiti Project Update  Z and Golden Z Club Manual    If you have problems or questions related to the Zonta International website, please contact webmaster@zonta.org. Do you have a club success story that you'd like to share with the Zonta International community? Submit your club success stories on the website. Please note, you must log in to share your story.   Back to top Member Profile Sakineh (Simin) M. Redjali, Ph.D. FAAIDD     Education has always been an important part of Sakineh (Simin) Redjali's life. Simin received her Ph.D. Magna Cum Laude in Education and Clinical Psychology from the University of Heidelberg, Germany after graduating from the University of Tehran with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Science and Philosophy. While studying in Germany, she met her musician husband, Dr. Sa'id Khadiri, at an Iranian Culture and Art presentation she gave at the university. Upon returning to Iran, she taught as an associate professor at the Teachers Training University. A year later, she was awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of London and spent time learning about the education system in England, Wales and Scotland. After she returned to Iran in 1963, she was offered a job as Professor of Psychology at the National University of Iran, the first woman professor to reach the highest-grade position at the university. In 1966, Simin was given a National Science Foundation Fellowship at the University of Michigan; and, in 1967, she became a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Illinois. As a professional woman in Iran, she worked tirelessly to promote the social status of women. She was the Secretary General of the Women's Organization of Iran from 1969 to 1971 and established more than 150 Family Welfare Centers (Houses for Women) throughout the country. Read more... If you would like to nominate a Zontian to be profiled in a future e-newsletter, please send the member's name and a brief reason why they should be profiled to pr@zonta.org.  Please note that depending upon the volume of submissions received, not all members may be profiled.         Back to top

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Wahine Forum in Honolulu

Aloha All,  Just a quick note to say we had a wonderful day at the Wahine Forum. We networked with women from many organizations to include Jr league of Honolulu. We also had a huge interest in our club from people stopping by our table.  A big Mahalo to Mele who set that up! I also got to know Marlene from the Kauai club and her chocolates!

Here is a picture from our table of the three of us.  I will post more about the event later.

Thousands Race For The Cure in Honolulu and the Zonta Club of Honolulu with girls from Sacred Hearts manned a water station

The Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure Draws About 7,500 Participants

Donna, Bobbie, Nancy, Linda

Sacred Hearts Volunteers

 

 

 

 

Jodi Leong KITV4 News Reporter

 

HONOLULU -- The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure drew thousands of people to Waikiki Sunday morning, all in the name of breast cancer.Race organizers say the 17th annual event raised more than the $650,000 raised last year.A sea of pink made its way around Kapiolani Park as breast cancer survivors and anyone touched by cancer took part in the 5K or one mile race.Participants dressed in ballet tutus, matching shirts and a variety of costumes.

Read more: http://www.kitv.com/news/29502274/detail.html#ixzz1b0EuTFbL

From: Linda Weiland Zonta Club of Honolulu.  I hope you enjoy the pictures from this morning. There are more pictures on the Zonta Club of Honolulu facebook.  I want to give A big mahalo to all who helped at the water stand!! It was great fun and I think I made new friends! It was really good to see all the support to get rid of breast cancer.

Again thanks!

 

District 9 conference

Aloha Ladies,
I want to share what the Hilo club put on their blog.  I also hope to get tidbits out there on the event.  It was awesome and I think I have made new friends for life.

There was something special and inspiring to be at the Zonta International District 9 conference among women of like minds when word came of the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to three women.

Even before the announcement, there had been a strong endorsement for Zontians to view “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” a documentary film on the Liberian women who brought an end to the civil war there.  Two of the three women Nobel peace winners are involved in the Liberia recovery.  For more information about the film link here.  For information on the Nobel peace prize winners go here.

Standing: Weiland, Neumiller, Hastings. Sitting: Spencer, Foissette

From Hawaii, there were 5 participants at the D9 Conference: Area Director (and Hilo Club member) Mele Spencer, former district Governor Karen Foissette (now a Honolulu Club member), Linda Weiland, president of Honolulu Club, Edie Ignacio Neumiller of Kauai Club and myself. Mele, by the way, has been elected to the D9 nominating committee.  She is well-regarded in D9 Circles.

Our Hawaii group is determined to set up at least-quarterly Club presidents video conference meetings with Mele.

Snippets from the Conference:

• Membership remains the biggest issue for Zonta International.
• What younger members want:  More service projects; service projects that can be completed quickly; social media; exposure of projects on social media.
• Whatever a Club does should be evaluated against our mission—Advancing the status of women.  That doesn’t mean you can’t take on other efforts for community, particularly children, but those should be in addition to, not in place of projects directed at women.
• We need to use technology to enhance participation in meetings at all levels.  You don’t always need to be physically present.

Lois Frankel, Ph.D., Corporate Coaching International, was a keynote speaker. She is author of Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office; Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich; See Jane Lead and other books. Her website: www.drloisfrankel.com Highlights from her talk:

A woman leader must be a leader for your time. The times are changing. “We still think of powerful women as an anomaly.”–she quoted Margaret Atwood

Women lead all the time, Frankel said, they just don’t call themselves leaders. She asked the audience why that’s so.  Reasons that were called out;

• We don’t what to be seen as arrogant
• Push back from other women
• We were not raised to it

Dr. Frankel said “command and control” leadership no longer exists. It will sabotage you. There is a feminization of leadership going on across the globe.

“We’ve reached turning point,” she said. But the numbers don’t show it. Right now, only 9 of 190 countries are run by women, and women make up about 13 % of legislative bodies. (It has been estimated elsewhere that it takes 30% of women in a legislative body before the female impact matters.)

“We (women) have track record,” Dr. Frankel said, we are just too modest to put it out there. We need to elevate ourselves. (Aside: I thought of this when Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in an interview with the New York Times, said she is prepared because she’s been preparing both inside the country and out. She was confident, rather than modest.)

Dr. Frankel said our EQ–emotional intelligence—is more important than  IQ.  Emotional intelligence involves self awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. The new brand of leadership is collaborative, networked, personal, teaching, fosters others to speak up, is flexible and reaches out.

Dr. Frankel outlined eight ways to help women be effective leaders:

1. Articulate your vision.
2. Develop your strategy.
3. Resist perfectionism.
4. Choose the hill you are willing to die on. (Pick your battles.)
5. Get to the point. (First thing should be most important that you say.)
6. Practice 7:1 rule.  Seven positive to one negative feedback.
7. Manage meetings effectively.
8. Build leadership brand. (That means defining it and selling it.)

I’ll make every effort to post more D9 Conference information as time allows.
Cheers,
Barbara Hastings