News & Events

In this issue:

Invite to District 1 Spring Retreat 
Important message about driving for equality
Resources for Members and Supporters 
Alert: Protect Women’s Voting Rights 
Upcoming Events – International Womens Day and Zonta Rose Day, 
   CWS and Zonta, May Retreat and Zonta International Convention
Club News
Resources request for AI Literacy tools 

 

Past Newsletters

 

 

Upcoming Events
Click here to submit Club Programs to share with other Zontians. 

March will be a key moment for global advocacy as Zonta engages in the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) and marks International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026. This year, we are also launching the Zonta Yellow Rose Campaign, expanding our celebration of Zonta Rose Day to honor remarkable women and girls throughout the entire month of March. Guided by the yellow rose, our symbol of friendship, this campaign recognizes the generosity and resilience that bring our mission to life.

CSW70 9-20 March 2026
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the largest annual gathering on women’s rights worldwide, and is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. As an NGO with General Consultative Status, Zonta International is invited to participate in the annual CSW in New York – in person or virtually for FREE.
Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers. Join the ZI CSW Mail List to be kept updated!

New Member Orientation – 19 March 2026 10AM and 7PM EST
Are you new to Zonta? Join members of the Zonta Headquarters Team as we welcome you. We will provide a history of Zonta, highlights of the programs we support and tips for the resources available to you. This is also an opportunity to meet longtime members who serve on the International Membership Committee and other new members from around the world.  Registration links.

April – CLubs are encouraged to begin preparing for Earth Day and to continue advancing climate justice through local action.

23 April  Coffee chats with Salla –  Volunteer appreciation week (19-25 April)
Zonta International appreciates our 25,000+ volunteers around the world. Join Zonta International President Salla Tuominen for an open discussion all about volunteering and how it drives Zonta’s advocacy and service work globally. Registration coming soon

2 May 2026 —District-wide Spring Retreat Hampton Inn, Wells, Maine.   Hotel rooms available for Friday and Saturday. Stay tuned to see the agenda for this one-day retreat!
If you have not taken our quick survey, please do so right away!!

11-14 July 2026 Join us in Vancouver for the 67th Zonta International Convention. 

Past Events Shared by District 1 Clubs.

 

The Zonta Club of Northampton Area proudly announces its first Lynn Goodhue Zonta STEM Award Winner

The Zonta Club of Northampton Area invited all who were instrumental in the creation of the Lynn Goodhue Zonta STEM Scholarship to join the February 19 meeting to celebrate our first awardee!  Her name is Baran Zibaei, and she is an incredibly well qualified PhD candidate in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management at Western New England University in Springfield.  

Baran’s inspirational acceptance speech in printed HERE, with permission.

Read about Baran and about this prestigeous scholarship.

 

Amherst Area’s Zonta Says NO proclamation

On 25 November 2025, the Zonta Club of Amherst Area, Canada, led a community-wide advocacy effort as the Town of Amherst officially proclaimed Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day, marked by a flag-raising ceremony.

The event was part of the global Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and UNiTE campaigns and focused on raising awareness of violence against women and girls, including both offline and online forms of abuse. In advance of the day, the club implemented a strategic communications campaign, issuing press releases to local and regional media outlets and extending invitations to elected officials and community partners. Coverage included publication in local and regional newspapers and a radio interview with club president Lisa Emery.

Mayor Robert Small, town councillors, representatives from Lilac Place for Women, Anchor Youth Space, the Amherst Police Department and Zontians gathered at the community flagpoles for the ceremony. Mayor Small read the official proclamation declaring 25 November 2025 as Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day, followed by remarks from Emery, who reinforced the campaign’s call for awareness, prevention and collective responsibility. The Zonta International flag was then raised, and orange Zonta Says NO ribbons were distributed to attendees.

Following the event, the Town of Amherst shared the proclamation, photos and a summary of the ceremony through its website and social media channels. The Zonta Club of Amherst Area also sent formal correspondence to the federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality and the Premier of Nova Scotia—copied to local Members of Parliament and the Legislative Assembly—urging strengthened legislative and policy responses to digital violence against women and girls.

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, the club amplified advocacy messages through daily social media posts supporting Zonta Says NO and the UNiTE 2025 campaign. Community partners expressed appreciation for the club’s outreach and emphasized the importance of coordinated action rather than working in isolation.

The campaign holds particular urgency in Nova Scotia, where domestic violence was declared a provincial epidemic in September 2024. Since 2019, demand for women’s shelter services has increased by 182%, with approximately 4,800 women and children accessing support last year. The province also reports one of Canada’s highest rates of youth cyber violence, while the Amherst area lies along a known human trafficking corridor, underscoring the need for sustained, visible and informed advocacy.

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Zonta Club of Malden ~ 16 Days of Activism 2025
On November 25th, the Zonta Club of Malden kicked off their annual 16 Days of Activism Campaign. It was launched with an appearance before the Malden City Council at one of their regularly scheduled public meetings. That same night, Zonta members set up their Silent Witness display around the outside perimeter of the City Council Chamber so that it was visible to the public. The exhibit aimed at raising public awareness, advocating for change, and encouraging local action to end domestic violence. President of the Malden Club, Maria Luise, addressed the City Council and explained the significance of the “16 Days of Activism” and the goal of the Silent Witness exhibit. She invited all Council members as well as the public to join Zonta as allies against domestic violence. She mentioned that they would be “touring” the City with a “Zonta says No” banner to bring awareness and to urge everyone to take action against gender-based violence. The presentation was captured on local cable television as well as in the Malden Advocate which can be found here: Zonta Article.

During the 16 Days that followed, led by Zonta Club of Malden’s Sharyn Rose-Zeiberg, who chairs the Service and Advocacy Committee, the members spread the word and took action by addressing the Malden School Committee and visiting the Malden Police Station, Malden Fire Station, a local Eastern Bank, the Malden Public Library, the Bridge Recovery Center, Malden City Hall, and the School Superintendent Office. In addition, the Public Library set up an area with books and resources focused on this critical issue and a playlist was created and shared with songs to empower women. On December 10th, Malden concluded its 16 Days with a solemn and moving final program dedicated to honoring victims and survivors. The club gathered at City Hall in front of the Silent Witnesses to read aloud the stories of the women whose lives were lost over the last year due to gender-based violence. This tradition is meant to humanize the statistics and remind the community of the real people behind the headlines. Zonta members were joined by Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, City Councillors, and members of the public to hear the heartbreaking accounts of lives cut short. The readings provided space for reflection, empathy, and renewed determination. Mayor Christenson also issued a Proclamation declaring December 10, 2025 as Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women Day in Malden. The event served as both a tribute and a call to action. Listeners observed moments of silence, held candles, wore orange in solidarity, and discussed the continued need for community awareness. Finally, member Ari Taylor, created a video focused on the 16 Days of Activism which was shared on all social media outlets.

District 1 e-Club in formation

President-elect Heather Oatis encouraged everyone to sign the pledge to Say No! to Violence Against Women.  She also sent a letter to the editor for a Hartford Newspaper:

Dear CT Insider,

Globally, one in three women experience physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner. Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations. The Zonta e-Club of North Atlantic – a member of Zonta International, a leading global organization of more than 26,000 members worldwide dedicated to building a better world for women and girls, will be participating in the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign from November 25 through December 10, the e-Club is looking to join with Zonta International’s more than 1,100 clubs in 64 countries are participating in this effort in their local communities to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world through service and advocacy.
Zonta International has launched an online pledge inviting individuals, businesses, and community leaders to commit to speaking up and taking action to end gender-based violence. This initiative unites voices around the world in support of a future where every woman and girl can live free from fear and harm.
Today, in the United States, two in five women have experienced physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Lawmakers who do not activy support protecting women from violence are denying women an inherent human right. Enough is enough. Women cannot, and should not have to, fight for safety from violence. We need to unite communities in the global appeal to all governments to end violence against women once and for all.
Take action
The Zonta e-Club of North Atlantic urges you to make positive changes in your community. Some suggestions are:
  • Arrange a public meeting with a prominent speaker/panel and discuss human trafficking in your community.
  • Educate yourself and others.Read more about how child marriage is a violation of human rights from this child marriage data report from UNICEF.
  • Donate to Zonta International’s International Service Program.
Violence against women is a complex issue and is perpetrated in many ways. We cannot solve this issue alone, so please join us in saying NO.
Sincerely,
Heather Oatis, Zonta e-Club of North Atlantic
 

The Zonta Club of South County, Rhode Island
 In support of the worldwide efforts of Zonta International and the United Nations, our club members have been wearing orange ‘Zonta Says No to Violence against Women’ ribbons to prompt discussions with friends and neighbors. We also placed baskets of orange ribbons at select local businesses along with an explanatory poster. And finally, we submitted an editorial piece to our local newspapers, The Independent and The Westerly Sun. According to the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 46.7% of Rhode Island women have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or staking victimization by an intimate partner during their lifetime. We joined Zonta International in raising awareness of this global and local problem.

The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Kick-off for the 16 Days of Advocacy and Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women
Karen Keough-Huff, chair of the Advocacy Committee, explained that all clubs around the world are united during this campaign to educate about and advocate for preventing violence, protecting victims, and prosecuting perpetrators. She then introduced the table of Writing Sisters, who are here tonight to share their personal writings and inspire action in support of women survivors. Karen aka ‘Q’ started with her poem, followed by presenters Darlene Elias, Jupong Lin, Jacqueline Velez, Mydalis Vera, Marissa Quintero, and Kaia Jackson.  One after another, the readings were heartfelt, inspiring, and professionally delivered. Zonta is proud to stand with these amazing women. The orange scarves were handmade by the Zonta Club of Concord, NH for the 2025 District Conference.

The Zonta Club of Chelsea and North Shore recently delivered needed items to ROCA’s Young Women’s Program in Chelsea. The gift was the club’s 2026 annual project supporting programs that help women and girls.  ROCA’s Young Women’s Program does just that, providing needed services to at-risk young women, many of whom are young mothers.  Each year the Zonta Club provides a local gift marking the globally recognized 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, between November 25th and December 10th.

 

Photo, Left to Right:  Stephanie Hattori, Assistant Director of Programming for Young Women; Maria Jose Albarbari, Young Women’s Program Manager; Sunindiya Bhalla, Executive Vice President, Women & 2Gen; Zonta Club members Georgia Green, Sheila Arsenault and Diane Cambria; Jorge Ortiz, Young Women’s Education and Workforce Readiness Instructor; and Jessica Rivera, Young Women’s Youth Worker.

 

The Zonta Club of Northampton Area
At its November meeting, the club decided to divide up the16 Days of Advocacy and Zonta Says No to Violence against Women: November 25 – December 10, and do something meaningful in support of this cause. A sampling of activities reported:

  • Audrey’s assistant minister works in safe shelters in and around Manhattan, and she explained to him the work that Zonta International does in advocating for an end to domestic violence.
  • Donna shared information about LAAHA, the impact it is having world-wide for women and girls, and the importance of sharing this resource with your family, friends and colleagues.
  • Laurie traveled to Niagara Falls, New York, to join District 4 members at a Candlelight vigil, Indigenous Strong Water Singers, Orange lighting of the Falls.
  • Jayma shared that the Zonta Zoom team will be participating again this year in the Hot Chocolate Run – a fundraiser for Safe Passage, serving survivors of all genders in western MA.
  • Verna encouraged all members to participate in the 12/10 Zonta Says No online Summit, which will focus on the critical role of male allies in preventing and addressing gender-based violence (GBV). 

The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is pleased to announce that Casey McDermott of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is the winner of the club’s 2025 award for Women in Business Leadership, AND has been chosen by the District 1 Evaluation Committee to be sent up to Zonta International Headquarters for further consideration as a potential recipient of the Zonta International Award.

The Quaboag Club accepted Casey’s application, as there were no clubs in Nova Scotia offering the award. According to Scholarship Chair, Trish Pupek, “This young woman’s essay was amazing and she scored 100% on the evaluation form.”

The Women in Business Leadership Award honors exceptional leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, ethical conduct and significant contributions while addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate change. We believe Casey McDermott’s application exemplifies her commitment to these things and that she has and is taking action to build a better world for women and girls through service and advocacy. 

Read more about Casey, including her essay, on ZontaQV.org/scholarships. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

 

Zonta Club of Malden annual reports
The Malden Club celebrated our Annual Dinner this past week and I compiled all our committee reports into one report. Attached is the report with the two attachments that are referenced.  Best Maria Luise, President 

Zonta District 1 2025 Young Women in Leadership Award winner:
Annabelle Cattabriga – Senior, Bow High School
Zonta Club of Concord NH

Annabelle plans to study political science on a pre-law track in college as her goal is to be a lawyer and represent victims of all forms of crime; specifically, children who are victims of physical or sexual abuse. Annabelle is currently the President of Student Senate, Executive Board Member of the National Honor Society and a member of the Theatre Department. For the past two years she has taken part in the Harvard Model United Nations Conference.  She is also the student representative on the “Future Ready Schools Committee” that created goals for the high school that reflect the needs of students. Annabelle was the student representative on the hiring committees for the current school principal and superintendent. She is an active member of her community and has volunteered at the Manchester SPCA and a local nursing home, collected feminine hygiene products for women in need and participated in community clean up days picking up trash on the side of the road. She also spent over 100 hours volunteering for the Hillsboro County Child Advocacy Center.

For her senior project Annabelle researched child abuse and volunteered at numerous law enforcement, counseling and community-based agencies in the summer of 2024. This culminated in her creating a training which was endorsed by the School Superintendent and presented by her as part of mandatory training to the entire SAU faculty and staff, over 200 people, on the first day of school.

FYI:  Zonta Club of Concord presented thousands of dollars in scholarships to seven New Hampshire women and girls at the start of June.  READ MORE

Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Service Committee Chairs Dr. Mary Ann Rubis of Chicopee and Liz Reeves of Ludlow are proud to announce that the Spring 2025 Service Grants have been awarded to four organizations:
Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts – to help support youth who could not otherwise afford to participate.
Ware River Valley Domestic Violence Task Force – to help support the Library Book Project on Consent and Boundaries for ages 0-8.
YWCA of Western Massachusetts – to boost efforts to educate families in the Y’s shelter about eating locally-sourced, fresh fruits and vegetables—and to show that it’s not just healthier, but more affordable too.
Girls Inc. of the Valley – to underscore the girls’ connection to the organization, increase their safety, and increase the visibility of the organization in the community.

The Zonta Club of South County RI held a Period Project & Period Poverty Awareness Week   During April and early May, our club collected cash and feminine hygiene products to donate to local organizations and schools. We assembled 98 kits and a number of boxes of various products. For women and girls living with homelessness or poverty, having a period is a financial burden that often causes shame and embarrassment. Basic menstrual hygiene products are costly, but pads and tampons are considered “non-essential” by the federal government, so they are not covered by SNAP and WIC programs. What’s more, women and teens who are homeless or financially strapped often lack consistent access to hygiene products.  


The Zonta Club of Northampton Area installed three new members: Laurie Messer and Gena Rotas and returning member, Alexis (Lexi) Johnson. Shown here: Donna Sroka, co-President, Laurie Messer, Jayma Hall-Membership Chair, Lexi Johnson, Christine Rotas-daughter of Gena Rotas, and Gena.

“Tehani’s graduation was wonderful. She was the student speaker! I was so proud of both her and Khushi. Zontian connections worldwide!”  Past District Governor Donna Sroka met Tehani at the ZI Convention in Hamburg, Germany in 2022. Learning that she was attending nearby Mt. Holyoke College, Donna offered to be a resource for her, and a 4-year friendship was formed. 

 

Planning for the annual Zonta Fibre Arts Bazaar and Zonta Cafe is underway! Please share with friends in Nova Scotia!

The Zonta Club of Amherst Area just completed their annual month of giving calendar and donated the food items to the Amherst Food Bank. In the photos below are: Chairperson Lisa Emery; Secretary Vicki Randall; Treasurer Charlotte Ross; and members Mary Sinclair, Betty MacLaren, and Marg E. Smith. Items were also donated by member Angela Bourgeois.

The Zonta Club of Malden celebrated Earth Day with a tree planting at the Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden. As part of the Zonta Says NOW campaign, the organization joined the global community of Zonta International in recognizing Earth Day as a day of equality. The event focused on increasing awareness of climate change and its gender-related consequences. Our climate is changing, driving more extreme weather events that not only trigger social disruption but also magnify gender inequality. At the event, the City of Malden Tree Warden, Chris Rosa, demonstrated how to plant a tree and explained the environmental benefits of a tree canopy. He was joined by Erica Holm, a certified arborist, who explained how trees help to absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and provide habitat for various species, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable environment. The Jefferson elm tree, which will display a plaque noting that it was donated by the Zonta Club of Malden, was planted close to the memorial site of Judge Emma Fall Scholfield who officially organized and chartered the Zonta Club of Malden. 

The Zonta Club of Malden awarded scholarships to four graduating seniors in a celebration recognizing the students as well as Malden’s Z-Club members. The evening was organized by the Scholarship Committee led by member Debbie Umlah-Smith. The recipients impressed the Committee with their academic success, leadership roles and overall achievements. The recipients were: Emily Taylor attending Suffolk University, Kimberly Tropnas attending UMass Lowell, Thalia Louigene attending UMASS Amherst, and Amelia Foti attending Northeastern University. The Keynote Speaker was Komal Bhasin, Malden Public Schools Assistant Superintendent, who inspired the students with her personal stories and words of encouragement. The Malden Club was also proud to recognize the incredible work and service of their Z-Club members, led by member Sharyn Zeiberg: Ollie Dodge, Natalie Keating, Tuan Bui, Amelia Foti and Emily Taylor. Throughout the year, they have assisted the Club at events and meetings and worked to put together “blessing bags” for victims of domestic violence.

Members of the Zonta Club of Chelsea & North Shore recently delivered Scholarship Checks to the School Districts of Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, Everett and Saugus. For many years the Zonta Club has donated these scholarships to 5 Senior High School women who will be attending college. We are pleased to continue awarding these scholarships to deserving young women. We are proud to be able to support the High School’s scholarship program and we wish the recipients all the best in their future endeavors.  Shown here: Superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools Dr. Almi G. Abeyta (left), and Zonta member Adele Lubarsky.

Zonta Club of Northampton Area celebrated its 90th anniversary in March by honoring nine local women – recognizing the nine decades of service our many Zonta members have provided through the years,” says Donna Sroka, co-President of the Northampton Club. “We are especially proud of the nine women who represent the past, present and future of Zonta’s focus – many of them are ‘unsung heroes’ who have really rolled up their sleeves to improve our world for women and girls!”  Pictured here, left to right: Lisa LaPierre, Linda Gibbon, Alexis Johnson, Ava Blum-Carr, Maedeh Ghasemzadeh. (Not pictured: Audrey Millgate, and deceased honorees Verda Dale, Alice Scott Ross and Lynn Goodhue.)

 

The Zonta Club of Berkshire County held a special community celebration dinner in recognition of International Women’s Day at the Berkshire Hills Country Club.  The dinner was an opportunity for the community to come together and honor six outstanding women of Berkshire County who have made significant impacts in their fields and within their communities.  The room was filled with people building a better world for women and girls..

Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Club Women Making a Difference 2025 Event. 
The room is filled with inspiration, empowerment, and the collective energy of women committed to making a difference! The event celebrates the incredible impact of women leaders and changemakers in our communities

 

On March 8th, the Zonta Club of Malden celebrated Zonta Rose Day in honor of International Women’s Day and to kick off National Women’s History Month. The Malden Club recognized local women with a special rose and message while also raising funds to support Zonta’s mission of ending gender violence. A special shout out to members Michelle Luong, Sharyn Rose-Zeiberg, Ari Taylor and Maria D‘Esposito.