Pre-Convention Breakthrough Sessions.
Serveral Breakthrough or Information sessions were held on Saturday on a nunber of topics related to our work in Zonta. While delegates were unable to attend them all, below are summaries of those that offered concrete ideas that can be used in our clubs.
When Life Quakes: How to Lead Yourself & Your Team in Seasons of Upheaval
Angie Lion www.angielion.com
Key Takeaways
- Take stock of where YOU are on the road to self-actualization, on a scale of 1-10.
Life transitions – like aging, health, losses of some kind, status change, perspective shifts – may be influencing your path.
– Survival Do you have what you need (access to food, water, warmth, rest)?
– Safety Are you feeling safe, secure in your home, work, environment?
– Belonging Are you satisfied with current connections (intimacy, relationships, friends)?
– Esteem Do you feel you are making a contribution, have a feeling of accomplishment?
– Self-Actualization Are you growing, achieving your potential, having fun, being creative?
What do you need right now? What are you struggling with while others think you are fine?
Note: DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE BY JUDGING OTHERS.
For example, if members are leaving or stepping back from engaging in club activities, take the time to have a one-on-one – ask what they need and how you can support them. - Three stages of transition – where are you today?
– The Ending A place where you need to let go of what was, marked by loss
– The Messy Middle The ‘unknown’ place, where identity feels unclear and shaky
– The New Beginning – A new identify is taking shape, perspective shifts, possibility returns - Awareness changes everything – name the fear you are feeding, keeping you stuck.
Transitions activate threat responses – while not real, they feel real in the body and brain.
– Your inner critic, fears and limiting beliefs. You are not ready. You are going to fail. You are not enough.
– Family, friends, and fear of disconnection. What will they think? Will I disappoint them? Will they leave?
– Workplace, culture, and society’s expectations. This is how you SHOULD be. This is how you SHOULD lead. Stay in line. - What do you need for support right now? You should never transition in isolation.
– A Crew Who can help you row when you are tired and need a pep talk?
– Lighthouses Who can help you find direction, resources?
– Lifelines Who or what can be relied on when you are spiraling
When you take care of yourself first, you are in a much better place to help others.
Advocacy in Action
Zonta has compiled numerous tools for clubs to use at
https://zonta.org/Web/My_Zonta/Tools/Advocacy Tools home
What is Advocacy
****Four Focus Areas; Shared Moments of Activism; New Initiatives
Advocacy Policies and Guidelines
Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Training
Zonta Advocacy Series Webinars
Position Papers and Statements
Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Tools
2025 Zonta Says NO Virtual Summit
Women’s Empowerment Principles Tools
Zonta USA Caucus Advocacy Materials
Tips for clubs in their Advocacy action:
- With club members, review the Zonta Focus areas ****above. Determine what support or opposition to a cause/argument/proposal they want to pursue, laws/legislation they want to influence, or attitudes they wish to sway with education. Buy in at the beginning will ensure engagement for the action.
- Complete the following Action Plan to spell out the strategy to be taken to successfully achieve a successful outcome:
– The issue (what is the current situation)
– The advocacy goal(s) (what do you want to see changed)
– The key players (who will be included in the core team)
– The supporters (who are the current or potential players that will be involved in achieving the goal)
– Action Steps defined
For each step, add: Objective, Target Audience, People involved, Timing
Value Driven Leadership – Zonta Core Values
Unlike our mission statement which talks about WHAT WE DO, these guiding principles reflect HOW WE BEHAVE – as leaders, with other members and within our communities. These Core Values and the Zonta Code of Conduct were introduced in 2026 after surveying member groups over a period of 4 years.
Tips for clubs: Take one value at a time and discuss during meeting time what it means. Using the Code of Conduct document, pose different scenarios that are realistically encountered and talk about how a value-driven Zontian would react.
