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Membership

Zonta Membership Assessment Tool

A Zonta Membership Self-assessment  involves examining your alignment with the organization’s mission to empower women and girls, as well as evaluating the personal value you derive from its community.

Part 1: Why I Joined (Initial Motivation)

Use these questions to reflect on the drivers that first brought you to Zonta:

  • Mission Alignment: Was I looking to advocate for gender equality or end gender-based violence?
  • Service & Impact: Did I want a structured way to serve my local community and support international projects?
  • Professional Networking: Was I seeking a network of like-minded professionals or hoping to develop my leadership skills?
  • Personal Connection: Was I invited by a friend or inspired by a specific Zonta event?
  • Other:

 

Part 2: Why I Stay (Retention Factors)

Members often “stay” for different reasons than they “joined.” Assess your current experience against these common retention drivers:

  • Fellowship & Belonging: Have my fellow club members become a meaningful support system or lifelong friends?
  • Active Engagement: Am I given meaningful “work to do” or a clear role that makes me feel like a valued contributor?
  • Growth Opportunities: Does Zonta provide me with unique experiences, such as mentorship or professional development, that I can’t find elsewhere?
  • Visible Impact: Do I feel a sense of accomplishment from the scholarship awards or advocacy campaigns my club supports?
  • Other:

Part 3:  What do you care about?  What specific projects /committees do you want to be focused on in the new Biennium?

  • Membership: Help in attracting new members and supports; engaging in retention strategies.
  • Advocacy: Identifying action associated with one of the Zonta Causes and or the root cause of why advocacy is needed.
  • Education: Help in promoting Zonta Education awards and evaluating candidates
  • Service: Identifying and filling the needs expressed by our partner agencies working with women and girls
  • Social Media/Communication: Help in 

Part 4:  Would you like a mentor to hone your skills or some level of support at this stage in your life?
We have a lot of talent in the Zonta membership and supporter groups. If you can specify what you need, want, desire – we are happy to help identify possible resources.

You also have access to a free, online Leadership Development program covering several core competencies in short videos and readings.

 

Part 5: Why I Might Leave (Risk Factors)

Evaluate if any of these common stressors are affecting your commitment:

  • Time & Finance: Is the time commitment (meetings, committee work) or the cost of dues becoming a burden?
  • Club Culture: Do I feel welcome and comfortable sharing my concerns with club leadership?
  • Misalignment: Has the club’s focus shifted away from the causes I care about most, or do I feel my skills are being underutilized?
  • Leadership Issues: Is the club’s management style causing frustration or a lack of transparency? [

Actionable Next Step:
If you are feeling disconnected, you might try the Zonta Spirit Exercise to share your story with other members and rekindle your passion for the mission.

 … Read the rest

Advocacy

State Domestic Violence Coalitions

State Domestic Violence Coalitions
Help where you need it.
State coalitions are organizations that support those affected by domestic violence, advocate for effective policies, and collaborate with local service providers. They provide training, resources, and guidance to local programs, ensuring survivors have access to the support and services they need. Through public awareness campaigns and policy advocacy, state coalitions strive to prevent domestic violence and promote safe communities across the nation.

DV Coalitions in Zonta District 1 – ready to partner with Zonta 

Connecticut  CTCADV.org

Maine   MCEDV,org

Massachusetts  JaneDoe.org

New Hampshire  www.nbhcadsv.org

Rhode Island   RICADV.org

Vermont    VTNetwork.org

Nova Scotia  thans.ca/

… Read the rest

Advocacy

ERA – Did you know women are not equal with men?

Wouldn’t it be one of the best feelings in your lifetime to know that you helped to get the United States 28th Equal Rights Amendment to become law! Not only will this personal feeling of accomplishment be gratifying but it will also “build a better world for women and girls” of the future. What a legacy!!

So how can you help achieve this goal? Get your sister Zontian members, friends, family members, and coworkers to sign the Sign4ERA.org petition! Post a link on your social media accounts and ask individuals to “share it”. The goal is to get at least 1 million signatures by November.

You can share the QR code (above) and the link www.sign4era.org to the petition.

 

This petition will bring attention to the future Congress who must immediately recognize the Equal Rights Amendment Joint Resolution which you can read the description of on the petition page.

The Zonta Club of Concord has been holding permitted events in the city to obtain signatures from passersby and will continue to do until at least the end of the summer. We have also posted a large sign in a vacant storefront window that includes the QR code and link to the petition for anyone to either take a picture of or actually take the time to sign the online petition while standing there.

The text of the ERA joint resolution (H.J.Res.80 and S.J.Res.38) introduced in the 119th Congress (2025-2026) can be found on Congress.gov. These resolutions aim to establish the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, with text and related information available directly from the official congressional website. [1, 2, 3]
  • House Joint Resolution 80 (H.J.Res.80): View the text on Congress.gov, which was introduced on March 24, 2025.
  • Senate Joint Resolution 38 (S.J.Res.38): View the text on Congress.gov, which is a related resolution addressing the same issue.
  • Additional Resources: The ERA Action Toolkit by Zonta USA Caucus provides context and links regarding the legal status of the Equal Rights Amendment. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

These joint resolutions, introduced in the 119th Congress (2025-2026), aim to affirm the ERA as the 28th Amendment. [1, 2, 3]
… Read the rest

Advocacy

Biennium Reflection and Goal Planning

District 1 Zonta Biennium Reflection and Goal Planning
A guide for District 1 Zonta Clubs in assessing service accomplishments, identifying advocacy priorities, and setting actionable goals for the upcoming biennium.

  1. Reflect on Service Successes:
    What service projects made the greatest impact?
    Which projects sparked pride and engagement?
  2. Connect Service to Advocacy
    For each favorite service project, ask: Why is this service needed? Identify systemic issues that perpetuate the need for service.
    Brainstorm what policy or funding changes could eliminate the need for that service.
  3. Identify Advocacy Priorities (Core Zonta Focus Areas and Club-Specific Issues)
    Zonta Says No: Domestic violence prevention
    Zonta Says Now: Climate justice
    Ending child marriage: Continue vigilance and support globally
    What advocacy issues are unique to your community?
    Use club meetings to brainstorm and vote on priorities.
  4. Use Zonta Resources
    Advocacy Video: Show ZI’s advocacy video: https://youtu.be/nHNSFPXOBpY
    Read aloud ZI’s January statement on U.S. withdrawal from multilateral institutions.
    Attend Canada/U.S. Advocacy Caucus virtual meetings; encourage nondelegates to drop in and learn.
  1. Support the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
    National Advocacy: Join the movement to make the ERA the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
    Mobilize club members to write, speak, and act in support.
  2. Set Goals for Next Biennium
    SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
    Examples: Host 2 advocacy events per year; Convert 1 service project into an advocacy campaign; Attend 3 virtual caucus meetings as a club
  3. Celebrate and Mobilize
    Empowerment Message: Remind members that we are a mighty entity in an age of global uncertainty.
    Frame Zonta as a continuation of the suffragist legacy.
    Call to Action: Together, we can make a difference.

… Read the rest

JMK

2025 Women in Business Award

Casey McDermott from District 1 was one of the 10 exceptional applicants selected for a 2025 Zonta Women in Business Leadership International Award.

Thirty–five (35) exceptional applicants from 26 countries were considered in the selection for the 10 international awards. The recipients will receive a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International starting in the next fiscal year (1 June 2026) and US $10,000 award. A biographical description of each recipient will be posted on the Zonta International website by the end of January 2026.

Casey McDermott was the applicant from the Quaboag Club selected by the District 1 WBLA evaluation committee to have her application/materials submitted to ZI. This is exciting for our District as it represents what collaboration and communication between District 1 Clubs can result in. Casey is from Nova Scotia and at the request of the Amherst Club, an ask was made of District 1 Clubs to accept her application as the Nova Scotia Clubs were not offering the WBL award this year. The Quaboag Club stepped up and agreed to accept Casey’s application and ultimately determined they would submit her name/application to District 1.
AND here she is the recipient of one of ten awards… such an accomplishment.
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.… Read the rest

Advocacy

Eliminating Child Marriage – Still work to be done

Legal gaps and enduring harm: Analysing the persistence of child marriage in the United States
A new report, Legal Gaps and Enduring Harm: Analysing the Persistence of Child Marriage in the United States, produced by Unchained At Last in partnership with Equality Now, exposes how state and federal loopholes continue to enable child marriage, and what must change to finally end it.

The full report is eye-opening and worth the read: https://equalitynow.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Legal-gaps-and-enduring-harm-Analysing-the-persistence-of-child-marriage-in-the-United-States-English.pdf.

While all of the states in Zonta District 1 have voted to ban child marriage, there is still advocacy work to do here on TWO fronts.  (1) Fighting for the ERA, which would solve this problem, and (2) Supporting girls transitioning out of this nightmare.

The ERA and Child Marriage
 The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is an amendment to the United States Constitution that guarantees equality under the law, regardless of sex or gender. Originally introduced in 1923 and passed by Congress in 1972, the ERA met all constitutional requirements to become the 28th Amendment in 2020.67 In January 2025, in the final days of his presidency, former President Biden announced that the ERA is the “law of the land.”68 If universally recognized and implemented, the ERA would provide a critical tool for challenging laws and policies that reinforce sex-based discrimination. Laws that allow or enable child marriage, at both the state and federal levels, could be struck down as unconstitutional because such laws have a disproportionately negative impact on girls, preventing them from equally enjoying their rights and participating fully in society.69 Additionally, the ERA could open the door for federal legislation that sets a national minimum age of marriage to remedy the discriminatory nature of child marriage. As the United States faces increasing scrutiny for its failure to prohibit child marriage, the ERA could serve as a transformative legal foundation to protect women and girls’ rights and meet its commitments under international law.

Aiding Children Who have been Trapped
In states where child marriage is completely banned, girls under 18 can access a variety of confidential services through specialized organizations, runaway and homeless youth shelters, and legal aid groups. Because these states legally recognize minors as adults in marriage-related cases, girls attempting to leave a forced marriage are no longer subject to the same restrictions as runaways and are entitled to specific legal protections. States that have banned child marriage:

Specialized anti-forced marriage organizations
National and regional non-profits specialize in assisting girls escaping forced or child marriages.

  • Unchained At Last: This organization provides free legal services, social services, and shelter to survivors of forced marriages. They have led the national movement to ban child marriage and can help minors navigate the specific protections offered in their state.
  • Tahirih Justice Center: Through its Forced Marriage Initiative, Tahirih offers a confidential helpline, legal expertise, and case-by-case assistance. They can connect individuals with local resources and guide them through legal options like annulment or an order of protection.

Youth and runaway shelters
For immediate safety, youth shelters offer a confidential and secure place to stay, along with resources to help establish independence.… Read the rest

Club Roles

Fall Conference

Club Roles

Each of the clubs attending the Fall Conference has volunteered member time and effort to make it a successful event. In addition to donating items to the Online Auction to benefit the Zonta International Foundation for Women or to District 1, and bringing items for the Service Project and for the Marketplace, all the participating clubs have stepped up to take a specific role in the weekend event.  Heartfelt thanks to all!

 … Read the rest

Fall Conference

Online Auction

Online Auction to benefit ZI Foundation or District 1

The online 32Auctions to benefit the ZI Foundation for Women or District 1 was available to EVERYONE…members (whether they were attending the Fall Conference or not), co-workers, friends and family!  Sincere appreciation for the auction items donated by clubs and members – thanks to them 100% of the proceeds will go to either the ZI Foundation or District 1.
… Read the rest

Fall Conference

Service Project

Service Project – Emergency Preparedness Bags for Individuals and Families

The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley will introduce a project to educate women/families about the importance of planning for an emergency evacuation that no one wants to think about. With the help of all clubs in the District – conference attendees will attempt to create 50 ’Go Bags” filled with a few important items and an educational pamphlet that provides insightful tips. Clubs will take home a few bags each as templates to use as appropriate in their communities.
Bags and printed educational pamphlets have already been donated. Each club is asked to collect items to include in the bags.  To minimize the expense, the intent is to get donations of items (with or without logos) from local businesses and like-minded organizations, and ask students to help us collect/advertise for donations. All who contribute will be named as PARTNERS for this project..

CALL TO ACTION:  We have template solicitation letter and an Amazon Wish List below to help jumpstart collections. Please reach out to your networks and bring items in person or have them sent prior to Conference start date. Be sure to send the names of contributors to info@zontadistric1.org so they can be recognized.    WHEN YOU HAVE SECURED DONATIONS – PLEASE NOTIFY SECRETARY MARY KNIGHT.  A MESSAGE WILL BE ADDED ON THIS PAGE TO AVOID DUPLICATIONS.
So far we have 50 Educational Pamphlets, 50 KN95 masks, 50 boxes of matches, 50 whistles, 50  8-oz hand sanitizer bottles, 50 can openers, 50 toothbrushes and toothpaste, 100 emergency blankets, 50 Bic lighters, 48 small first aid kits. 50 Fireproof document bags.

 Educational Pamphlet PDF

Invitation to Sponsor Emergency Preparedness GoBags Google Doc

Amazon Wish List… Read the rest