* While Zonta International District 1 is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization and your donation is not deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes, it may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses. Please consult your tax preparer.… Read the rest
Learn how you can participate in the Equal Rights Amendment – Disrupt Now Campaign;
Equal Pay – Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders – August 28th;
Learn about what States we hope to take the forefront in ending Child Marriage in 2026;
Zonta Says No – ZI will have a Share Your Stories program on August 26th;
Legislative actions you can take;
Learn about Tennessee’s Safe Bar Program, then check to see if your community has one;
Learn how Missouri Zontian’s are working to help the rights of pregnant women;
And more!
As a reminder, check out Zonta International’s Statement on remaining steadfast in its mission to build a better world for women and girls, commitment to the sustainable development goals, and remaining steadfast with our partnerships and commitment for our UN international service projects. There are 3 (2025) statements to share with your Districts, Clubs, and Members. https://www.zonta.org/Web/Web/News_Events/Zonta_International_Statements.aspx?hkey=34051c4c-679c-4251-8178-fe80033fad4d
From aerospace engineering and space sciences to business to leadership to STEM, learn how The Zonta Foundation for Women’s educational programs are building a better world for women and girls in our own backyard.
Discover how the Foundation is partnering with UN agencies this biennium to address relevant issues of our time, like climate-induced gender-based violence and child marriage. See firsthand the groundbreaking approach for addressing gender-based violence and sexual reproductive health in a virtual safe space.
Whether you want to pay it forward, connect with others who share your values or just bring some positivity to your life, consider donating. Every dollar donated makes a difference.
Please contact me for more information or check out online resources:
As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, governments have adopted by consensus a powerful Political Declaration to respect, protect, and champion the rights, equality, and empowerment of women and girls.
Here is the 8-page political declaration on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women… Read the rest
It’s that time of the year to be thinking about the annual dues payments to Zonta International and Zonta District 1! Below is dues information at both the ZI level and District level – both amounts remain the same as last year. You will also find some instruction information on how to pay the dues as well as where to send the District 1 payments.
2025-2026 ZONTA INTERNATIONAL DUES (from the ZI website)
Note:All Clubs: The US $15 new member/reinstatement/charter member fee is included in the dues amount listed above. North American Clubs Only: The US $3 club liability fee is included in the dues amount listed above.
Print out a copy of your Membership Roster at this time which should be sent to the District 1 Treasurer with your District 1 dues payment.
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**The next step is to pay your club’s annual District 1 dues either online through Square or by check in the amounts indicated below no later than May 31.
2025-2026 ZONTA DISTRICT 1 DUES
Full Year (existing member or new member as of June 1, 2025 = $28 per member
Half Year (any member who joins between December 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026) = $14 per member
To pay your dues online: Log into https://zontadistrict1.org. Click on “Resource Center” then “Finance/Treasurer”. Half-way down the page you will see the “Online Payment to District 1” menu. You can process your $29pp (the extra dollar covers the processing fee) payment through Square there. Please also mail or email a copy of your updated Membership Roster which you printed out following payment of your ZI dues.
To pay by check: Send your $28pp check made payable to Zonta International District 1 to me at: Janice Severance, Zonta District 1 Treasurer, 14 South Spring St., Concord, NH 03301 It is imperative that you send me a copy of your updated 2025-2026 Membership Roster so that your District Board can compile a list of all of the members of District 1.
I am here to help in any way that I can so don’t hesitate to contact me at zdist1treasurer@gmail.com or call me at 603.229.0211 (work #).
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Think spring!
Zonta International remains steadfast in its mission to build a better world for women and girls
For over 100 years Zonta International and its members have fought hard to advance the rights of women
and girls around the world. Sadly, over the last several years, we have witnessed a systematic disturbing
rollback of women’s rights globally. These efforts to undermine the rights of women and girls, coupled
with now an alarming significant decrease in funding for development aid from the United States and
several European countries, are both deeply troubling and regressive actions that threaten the
fundamental hard-won progress achieved in advancing gender equality, human rights and sustainable
development.
Undermining women’s rights, cutting critical funding for programs that empower women and girls, and
disregarding the needs of the most vulnerable populations, set back decades of work toward a fairer,
more just world not only for women and girls but for entire societies. Attacks on women’s rights and cuts
to critical funding not only harm individuals but also destabilize [international] efforts to fight poverty,
inequality and oppression. This short-sighted approach weakens global partnerships and betrays the
values of equity and human dignity that should guide us all.
Similarly, the reduction in development aid threatens vital efforts to address poverty, inequality, and
climate change, all of which disproportionately affect marginalized communities, and especially women
and children. As global challenges continue to affect the most vulnerable among us, it is crucial that we
come together to support organizations that are on the front lines of providing lifesaving aid and promoting
human dignity.
Zonta International supports this work through our long-standing partnerships with UNFPA and UNICEF,
organizations that work tirelessly to protect and advance the rights and well-being of children, women
and families around the world. Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women do not receive any
government funding, and our contributions to UNFPA and UNICEF will continue to support critical
programs to prevent violence against women and girls, advance climate justice and end child marriage.
We will continue to recognize and support women’s educational and professional advancement in
aerospace engineering, space sciences, broader STEM fields and business leadership globally through
the Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship, Zonta Women in STEM Award and Zonta Women in
Business Leadership Award. Our Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award will honor the brightest
emerging young women leaders worldwide.
We want to reassure all our members and supporters that our commitment to advancing women’s rights
remains steadfast and unwavering, regardless of the political or societal pressures we may face. Our
mission is rooted in the belief that every woman and girl deserves equality, justice and the opportunity to
thrive. With the dedicated support of our members, friends of Zonta and our Zonta International
Headquarters Team in the United States, we will continue to stand up for these values with courage and
resilience, ensuring that the voices of women and girls are heard and respected, and advocate for the
restoration of funding and the protection of women’s rights as key pillars of global progress.… Read the rest
The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship was discontinued in 2024. Moving forward for 2025 and in the future, it is now known as the “Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award”.
It is imperative that Club Presidents and/or Club Members responsible for oversight of submission of applications to these awards to their club, and subsequent submission of an applicant’s name/application to District 1, carefully review read and review the description and guidelines for each of these awards. Eligibility requirements and guidelines have significantly changed.
Here are some key elements to be aware of:
Applicants for the 2025 “Zonta Women in Business Award”, aged 18-35 at the time of application, who demonstrate evidence of exceptional leadership in a business-related field of study or industry; entrepreneurial spirit; ethical conduct and significant contributions to addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice are eligible to apply.… Read the rest
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence was initiated in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute at Rutgers University. Activists around the world recognize it as a time to raise awareness in their communities and to call for the elimination of all types of gender-based violence. The designated 16-day period begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov. 25 and ends on Human Rights Day Dec. 10. In addition to Zonta, more than 6,000 organizations from 187 countries have participated in the campaign. Here are highlights from District 1 Clubs!
Zonta Club of Chelsea and North Shore
Note from Governor Donna Raycraft: “A perfect match for the goals of 16 Days. I love that they were packed in an orange reusable Zonta bag, too. The bags not only promote Zonta, but their reusability hits the mark on the second ZI goal of reversing climate change by using sustainable products. A win all the way around.”
The Zonta Club of Halifax Nova Scotia CA Carol Dobson, President notes: I have secured the illumination of Government House, which is also in flux as our wonderful Lieutenant Governor is ending his term and no date has been set for the change of command. We have a message into Peggy’s Cove and will be chasing Marcy the first of the week.
The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Karen Keough-Huff, Vice President and Chair of Advocacy is pleased to announce a ‘first’ for the club. 16 poems posted on our Zonta of Quaboag Valley web page and on Facebook.
Women are increasingly impacted by gender-based violence – our hope is that our personal writings will raise awareness and inspire others to address these issues in their communities.
Thank you for registering for the 4th Annual Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Summit. It was an informative and inspiring event, with three incredible speakers and reflections from some amazing young people. Please find recordings of all three sessions below.
The Zonta Says NOW Intercontinental Think Tank meets on the third Sunday of each month and members may register via the Zonta International Events page. Recordings of Intercontinental Think Tank meetings and can be found here.
The November Zonta International Think Tank shared the newly released Fact Sheet on Women’s Economic Opportunities in the Context of Climate Change. This 24 page document is colourful and easy to read. It is designed to be read online as it contains many hyperlinks. If you don’t understand the links between climate change and women’s economic opportunity, this is the document for you!I
Click on the visual below to open the PDF – and please share with friends and colleagues to educate them on the issues as well.
MISSION Zonta International is a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls.
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.
As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, governments have adopted by consensus a powerful Political Declaration to respect, protect, and champion the rights, equality, and empowerment of women and girls.
Karen Keough-Huff, Vice President and Chair of Advocacy is pleased to announce a ‘first’ for the club. 16 poems posted on our Zonta of Quaboag Valley web page and on Facebook.
… 
