Welcome to the last quarter of this Biennium
It’s truly inspiring to reflect on all the incredible achievements and efforts made during this biennium. The hours of service you’ve done to help your communities, the hours putting on for your fun fund-raising events, the massive book sale in Whangarei & Thames, the Christmas House Tour in Christchurch, the Zonta Yellow Rose Run 5th year, the advocacy such as International Women’s Day #inspireinclusion and the new Zonta Dragons, Dragon Boating team in Christchurch to name but a few.
Every single thing you do for Zonta really does dedicate itself to a Better World for Women and Girls so thank you so much.
With your clubs doing well with the Zonta Spirit, please be brave and ask your friends and/or family to join you for a visit to your Club. We often hear “I wanted to be asked, but didn’t think I was allowed” – you just don’t know what someone else is thinking so do feel comfortable about inviting. Don’t hesitate to invite your friends and family to join you for a visit to your club. You never know who might be interested unless you extend the invitation, and 95% of the time I ask, I get a yes, please! Remember too, however, we also need supporters for our events, so even if they’re not interested in becoming members, their support is invaluable, so do thank them for this too.
One thing I’ve noticed and appreciated deeply is the care you have for each other within our Zonta community. Let’s continue nurturing this spirit of friendship and support. Remember, when we work together share our skills, and leave that legacy of what we want to be known for, we achieve so much more than when we work alone. Keep checking in on your fellow Zontians. Together, we can accomplish incredible things.
Let’s keep the Zonta Spirit alive and thriving, and remember, we are always better together. #alwaysbettertogether
Area Meetings – the Great Club Recharge!
We’ve had the pleasure of hosting three Zonta D16 Area Meetings already, and I want to extend my gratitude for your valuable feedback on these occasions. It’s sometimes surprising to hear remarks like, “I’ve been to one before, so I don’t need to go again,” which indicates a need for us to better communicate the benefits of attending.
Having personally attended 17 Area Meetings over my 17 years in Zonta, I can attest that these gatherings offer much more than a one-time experience. They provide valuable learnings from Zonta International, insights into local happenings, opportunities for friendship with other clubs, and connections with our own members. While we’re always open to exploring different formats for these meetings to accommodate everyone’s schedules, the feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the fun, knowledge-sharing, reconnection, and overall recharging experience they provide for all attending clubs.
If you have an upcoming Area Meeting and you’re still undecided about attending, I urge you to join us. You’re sure to enjoy the experience. And let’s reconsider the term “Meeting” – it doesn’t quite capture the engaging and enriching atmosphere we aim to create. Instead, think of it as a gathering for learning and fun, with a purpose, of course!
Lt. Governor Jen McKinlay-Birkin and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time visiting many of you at these Area Meetings. The enthusiasm we’ve witnessed in the rooms has been truly inspiring, and we’re immensely grateful for all that you contribute. We eagerly anticipate our upcoming visits to Area 5 and Area 3 and look forward to connecting with even more of you.
Still to come!
AREA 5 – Zonta Club of Timaru – Saturday 23rd March
AREA 3 – Zonta Club of Christchurch North – May 4th
IWD and Zonta Rose Day 2024
Wow! Congratulations to everyone involved! It’s truly heartwarming to see our news feeds and newsletters adorned with yellow Roses, symbolizing the celebration of women in our community.
I had the privilege of attending my own club’s International Women’s Day (IWD) event in Christchurch before heading to Wellington, where we held a panel discussion featuring three incredibly capable women who shared insights on the DigitALL space: “DigitALL: Innovation & technology for gender equality.” It’s remarkable to reflect on how far we’ve come since the first IWD in 1910, yet acknowledge the significant distance we still have to travel.
The energy at the Wellington Club’s Annual IWD Breakfast, hosted at Parliament, was professional, inspiring and so heartwarming, with over 300 attendees, including representatives from 19 local schools for whom I got to meet before the event started, which was very special. Similarly, Zonta Ashburton organised their legendary annual IWD Breakfast, also drawing a crowd of 300+, with special guest Emma Poole, the FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2023. I can’t name all the clubs – but thank you so much.
It was truly inspiring to see the sea of yellow as many of your clubs presented Yellow Roses, honouring those women in our communities who are making incredible contributions. Let’s not forget to express gratitude to each other. Often, we overlook the remarkable individuals right in front of us – yes… YOU! You are all making an incredible difference in our communities every day. I’d like to extend a virtual YELLOW ROSE to each and every one of you for all that you do!
#inspireinclusion
Zonta D16 Announcement
Zonta D16 is thrilled to announce that the slate for the 2024-2026 Biennium includes three candidates from New Zealand. These positions will be voted on at the Zonta International Convention in Brisbane in June 2024:
✅ Souella Cumming: Zonta International Board Treasurer/Secretary 2024-2026
✅ Phillippa Jacobs-Lory: Zonta International Board 2024-2026
✅ Desirae Kirby: Zonta International Nominating Committee, at Large 2024-2026
We would also like to extend our congratulations to our fellow members who are running for other positions. You can find more information about the official slate candidates for the 2024 Convention on the Zonta International website.
Make sure you are logged in to see the candidates list:
New Z Club at Columba College
A massive congratulations to the Zonta Club of Metropolitan Dunedin for sponsoring the new Z Club at Columba College! It was a true pleasure for me to charter your new club on 5th March 2024. Congratulations to you all! We know you will do an incredible job building a Better World for Women & Girls locally, nationally and internationally! Thank you to all who have helped make this happen!
Share your Stories, Nationally and Internationally
We want to hear from you! Please send our PR Chair Nicola your ‘Share their Stories” even as we continue into the next Biennium, please make this a continuing club priority, as it is so wonderful to see what you are all up to. Send a photo or two and a caption (remember we don’t know what the photo is about) for the D16 content please email nicolastonezonta@gmail.com
Click here to go to Zonta International’s Share your story.
Voting, Delegates and Proxies
We know there are a lot coming to the Convention, however, if you aren’t, please don’t let your club miss out on your vote or two. Your Club Presidents will be getting you all to check that you are registered properly on the ZI website. Why? If you don’t show up, you won’t be counted as a member for voting. Hence how important this is. We want you all to have your say. Your voting information will be out soon. So please presidents, stay tuned to your emails.
JMK Award Sponsorship giving to you too.
When a firm supports an award, it indicates that they recognise our alignment of values.
It’s always fitting to help people who help us. Women’s Wealth seminars are presented by Craigs Investment Partners, providing you with the chance to make autonomous decisions about your future. During our conversation, I proposed that if you were interested you could be invited to attend any seminars. They host these events across the nation, so perhaps this might be of interest to you. It is the way they help Women really be their own independent decision-makers. After all, assisting you also contributes to the creation of a better world for women and girls. Our Zonta D16 Award Winners have been kindly granted $1000 annually for a period of five years. Let’s help them in everything they do as well.
If you would like to register your interest, email Tara at Tara.McHardy@craigsip.com
Zonta Says NOW to gender equality and Climate Change
While we are busy concentrating on the two International parts to Zonta, the Zonta Says NO! to Violence against Women ZSN and the International Women’s Day and Zonta Rose Day, I would also love you to add some Climate Action into your year plans.
How do you do this? What could you do?
One thing is April 22nd, is Earth Day. Perhaps you post something on your socials about the effect that climate change has on our planet, affecting women and girls first with job losses, and families sex trafficking their children into the sex slave world to keep their families alive. Perhaps the planting of trees is a great idea if we can eliminate the effects on our planet as much as we can as individuals, it all adds up. Just remember every little helps. The Zonta International Project in Madagascar is a great place for you to start researching what is happening there. We know this is a bigger problem than just us doing our part, but by all of us doing something, we are making a difference in many lives.
April is Earth Month – therefore a great time to start adding Zonta Says NOW into your club programs. Think about the different ways to do this. One could be to add a 5-10 min talk on the Engaging Girls on Climate Change in Madagascar.
While we are super fabulous at doing IWD in March, and ZSN in November, let’s add Climate Change to our bucket list. There is always a lot to learn about the incredible things Zonta International is doing.
D16 “Pull Up” BANNERS
Please see the new Banners designed for your use for your Clubs. Your presidents were all advised in May 2023 that there is a protocol of:
The Zonta D16 Board has pre-approved branding for your new ZONTA Club Pull-Up Banners.
These are available as of now.
This past protocol states that your Zonta Club cannot design your own “Pull Up Banners”.
We need to keep the standard of design and the clear messaging is consistent throughout Zonta D16.
NOW, YES or NO Banners, or a combination are available. Please email our D16 Secretary Kay for your orders and pricing. secretaryd16@zonta.org.nz
Once the money has been received, we will order your banners.
Presentation to our Amelia Earhart Fellow – Minduli Wijayatunga
It was a true pleasure to present the Amelia Earhart Award to Minduli Wijayatunga at the Area 1 Meeting recently, Minduli is an outstanding woman. She was in California working for NASA as we presented this highly prestigious award to her. It was great that technology was on our side as we could present it live to her at NASA from Mangawhai. Congratulations Minduli, we are so proud of all you are achieving and we are thrilled to hear you are living your dream with the help of the $ 10,000 USD you won along with 30 other Amelia Earhart Fellows around the world. Minduli is working on deflecting asteroids from Earth. Imagine!
D16 Insurance
We are thrilled to announce that our D16 Board and Clubs’ insurance proposal is in the final stages, and we have determined the amounts required. We are pleased to inform you that our insurance broker, Bruce Gray from AIC Risk Advisors, has diligently negotiated with insurance companies to secure coverage at an even better price than before. Our D16 Treasurer, Jenny Philipson, will soon be invoicing your clubs for the updated amount, which is lower than the previously presented and voted-on amount
at the Conference.
We extend our gratitude to Bruce Gray for his outstanding efforts in securing this improved insurance coverage. This has been a matter close to my heart for over six years, and I am thrilled to see it come to fruition at an affordable rate, ensuring our safety and security for the future. Thank you all for your support in making this possible.
Zonta International Brisbane Convention! Exciting – the time is getting closer.
June 27-30 2024, Brisbane, Australia
You may still be considering attending, and you absolutely can! While you’ve missed the “early bird” special, registration is still open. Please don’t hesitate to join us if you’re still contemplating it. This Convention offers the most affordable rates we’ve seen in years, and the availability of cheaper flights, especially to Australia, might just tip the scales in favour of attending.
Please be aware that when registering, the fees are in USD, not Australian dollars, as this is a Zonta International Convention, not specifically an Australian one.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, take a moment to explore the website and learn more about what awaits you at the Convention. You can find all the details below. Watch the fun video on the home page, that just might excite you to commit to come and have an amazing life experience with your Zonta friends.
Please register also with Leigh Murdoch, Area 4 Director in Tauranga. She is our liaison with the Convention and is organising who is going so we can communicate with you all about NZ get-togethers etc!
Leigh = area4directord16@zonta.org.nz
Cross-Mentoring
Great Girls Meet Great Women Zonta International Mentorship
We are mentioning at our Area Meetings about the Great Girls Meet Great Women Zonta International Mentorship.
We know some in NZ are doing this.
Registration is closed. However feel free to join the programme in the next generation, starting probably in Brisbane in June 2024.
Thank you again for all you do, it is a true pleasure being your Zonta International D16 Governor. I absolutely get inspired by you all. Keep being visible and keep thinking of new ways to do this. We need to keep Zonta Fresh and inviting.
Let’s make this last quarter of this Biennium incredible.
Nga mihi,
Phillippa Jacobs-Lory
Governor 2022 – 2024,
District 16
Zonta International,
New Zealand