Zonta Woodstock, District 4 & Zonta International
WE’RE CELEBRATING WOMEN
Zonta Woodstock, the club and its members are members of Zonta International. Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. There are 26,103 members in 62 countries working together to improve the lives of women and girls locally and internationally.
Zonta International’s 1129 clubs are globally divided into 32 districts and each district further subdivided into Areas. The ZC of Woodstock resides in Area 1 of District 4.
Currently, the Zonta Club of Woodstock has 18 members who are very passionate about improving the lives of women in Oxford County and have the privilege and opportunity to help women at a global level. We raise funds through our Zonta Golf Classic, Rheo Thompson Mint Smoothie sales, and International Women’s Day Rose Sales enabling us to disperse net proceeds and meet our club’s mission and vision, and that of Zonta International.
Zonta International’s History
In the early 1900s, while working in a prominent role at the Buffalo Express newspaper at a time when women rarely held leadership positions, playwright and journalist Marian de Forest conceived the idea of a strong network of women in executive positions who would work to take their rightful place in the professions next to men. Early members were keenly aware of the challenges of carving a place for themselves in what was still a predominantly male domain. Zonta was founded in 1919 and has continued to evolve into a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Women’s equality is not yet a reality. Women worldwide still face systemized discrimination – they lack opportunities to live healthy lives, free from legal, social, economic and political inequality albeit in differing proportions. Zonta International raison d’etre is to improve the status of women by empowering women to overcome barriers to equal human rights through its International Service Projects funded by Zonta International.
The Founders
Delegates from the nine charter clubs who met in Buffalo, New York, at the Statler Hotel on November 8, 1919.
Our Community
“The Woodstock Hospital Foundation is proud to have a strong partnership with the Zonta Club of Woodstock. Together we have worked to support various needs at Woodstock Hospital and we look forward to continuing the tradition of working together to support our community.”
Joycelyn Jenner, Senior Development Officer, Woodstock Hospital Foundation
Our Club
Mission
Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women through service and advocacy.
Vision
Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.
In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision making positions on an equal basis with men.
In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.
Engaging Women Through Leadership, Service and Advocacy
Club members provide service and advocacy to both their local and international communities through service projects, donations, and events. Our members regularly support functions to acknowledge International Women’s Day and Zonta Rose Day on the 8th March and raise awareness of violence against women during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
Zonta Business
Zonta Woodstock
Our club holds monthly business meetings on the Fourth Tuesday of each month, except June & December when club socials are held and during the summer months of July & August. Executive board meetings occur on the Second Tuesday of active months and club committee meetings are convened as needed by the committee chair.
Area – 1
Area Meetings/Workshops are a one-day event held each April/May to update members on the latest procedures and information on activities within Zonta. Two to three Meetings/Workshops are held, members generally select one, covering the Western New York & Pennsylvania & Central Ontario within District 4 allowing Zonta members to attend within a reasonable distance from their homes.
District – 4
District Conference is a three-day event held in September of odd-numbered years and provides opportunities for our members to interact with other Zonta members while conducting District business. All members are welcome and a club delegate acts on behalf of our club during business proceedings.
Zonta International
Zonta International Convention, a four-day event held at the end of June of even-numbered years, is a time to conduct Zonta International business. All members are encouraged to attend while our club’s delegate actively participates in the review of new and existing bylaws, biennial advocacy and service projects, as well as approving the allocation of fundraising efforts. It is a time for a member to discover a new country or city, rekindle and develop global friendships, and foster their commitment to the equality and empowerment of women and girls through service and advocacy.
Meet Our 2020-2022 Zonta Boards
Zonta Woodstock
(Left to right): Sue Fenlon, Treasurer, Anne Campbell, Director, Dr. Maria Odumodu, President & Marg McBurney, Past President. Lee-Ann VanWees, Secretary (taking the photo). Absent: President-Elect, Jane Miller.
District 4
(Top row left to right): Governor Janice Durmis, Lt. Governor Sheena Poole, Treasurer Nancy Peacock, Secretary (appointed) Rosie Papalia, Area 1 Director Jane Newman, Area 2 Director Marion Reeves
(Bottom row left to right): Vice Area 2 Director Margaret Geare, Area 3 Director Kathryn Bunyan McClendon, Area 4 Director Mary Vacanti, Area 5 Director Melinda Johnson, Area 6 Director Janet Dell.
International
