2026Convention

2026Convention

2026 – 2028 Fundraising Goals

With the support of our Zonta clubs, club members, supporting members and friends, we are committed to raising US$5,200,000 to support our international service projects and education programs in the 2026-2028 Biennium.

Here is an outline of how that money will be allocated and information on each of the programs.

 … Read the rest

2026Convention

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

  1. With club members, review the Zonta Focus areas ****above. 
… Read the rest

2026Convention

Blueprint for the Future

Deadline extended for feedback on Blueprint for the Future

The International Board and Governance Advisory Committee have extended the deadline for feedback on the Blueprint for the Future to 31 October 2026. Please send your feedback, questions and suggestions to governanceblueprint@zonta.org. You can find the Blueprint for the Future Executive Summary, Full report and Q&As at https://www.zonta.org/Web/My_Zonta/Governance/BluePrintForTheFuture.

Note from Governor Lynn:

The ZI Blueprint presents some interesting changes in the way we work.  I encourage you to look at the summary.  In a nutshell, to reduce costs for members and to facilitate consistency in messaging, in a few years each district will be a country with one Governor.  Rather than twelve Governors in the United States, there will be one.  We know Governors having more than one country in their district creates some confusion, especially when you don’t know the ins and outs of the other country’s advocacy options, and some unique opportunities, like cross-country conferences and relationship building.   The positive thing here is that countries will be able to design their own governance structure under one Governor.

On August 10th I will met with all the D1 Presidents to talk about these changes and how it might impact our district. In October, all the North American Governors will meet to start discussing what this could look like in the United States.  Over the next year we will identify the concerns, brainstorm possibilities, and bring in other Zontians to create a proposal.  We will take in all the concerns about what we might lose and all the hopes of what we might gain.  The goal is to create a governance structure that meets our needs as a very large country – geographically and club/member-wise.  We will find ways to maintain the things we enjoy about our relationships with our clubs in Canada.
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.  The deadline for feedback from the districts is the end of October.  Together we will work to make these changes enhance our ability to build a better world for women and girls.

As a global membership organization, Zonta International has been supporting women and girls for more than 106 years. While our vision and mission remain as relevant as ever the challenges with a declining and aging membership base are affecting: Our ability to enhance the visibility of Zonta as an international women’s rights organization, and The impact of our global advocacy efforts and international service programs.

This executive summary (and related Blueprint for the Future) summarizes the results of that work and sets out the case for change for discussion with members commencing at the 2026 Convention in Vancouver.
Successive boards have recognized this, and with the development of the 2030 Strategic Plan, the organization now has a longer-term future-oriented focus. As this has implications for Zonta’s governance arrangements 2024–2026 International President Salla Tuominen established a Governance Working Group “to analyze how the Zonta International governance structure could be streamlined and -modernized” to ensure Zonta’s long-term sustainability.… Read the rest

2026Convention

Elections

,Electronic elections for the International Boards and Nomination Committee were held in advance of the Convention. The successful candidates were on hand at Convention ready to get to work in the new biennium.

2026-2028 Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women Boards

International President-Elect
Sandra Venn-Brown, D22, Zonta Club of Stanthorpe Inc, Australia   (District 1’s Liaison to the ZI Board)

International Vice President
Renée Coppock, D12, Zonta Club of Billings, USA

International Treasurer/Secretary
Monika Geise, D29, Zonta Club of Münster, Germany

International Directors
Kathrin Laubacher, D28, Zonta Club of Liestal, Switzerlan)
Ria Matthijssens, D27, Zonta Club of Antwerpen, Belgium
Jennet (Jen) McKinlay-Birkin, D16, Zonta Club of Wellington, New Zealand
Opeibea Omaboe, D18, Zonta Club of Accra II, Ghana
Sheena Poole, D04, Zonta e-Club of Cross Border (Canada-USA), Canada
Shreejana Rana, D25, Zonta Club of Kathmandu, Nepal
Jutta Trube, D14, Zonta Club of Aschaffenburg, Germany

 

 

2026-2028  International Nominating Committee

Africa
Margaret Mercy Akofio-Sowah, D18, Zonta Club of Accra II, Ghana

Asia
Primitiva (Baby) Sison, D17, Zonta Club of Manila I, Philippines

Australia and New Zealand
Lynne Foley, OAM, D22, Zonta Club of Toowoomba Garden City Inc, Australia

Europe
Ruta Jasioniene, D13, Zonta Club of Alytus, Lithuania

North, Central and South America
Lorene (Lori) Robinson, D04, Zonta Club of Brampton-Caledon, Canada

At Large
Ofelia (Lia) Bautista, D17, Zonta Club of Greater Rizal I, Philippines
Christine Dersch, D28, Zonta Club of Marburg, Germany
Dorte Olesen, D13, Zonta Club of Copenhagen I, Denmark
Salla Tuominen, D20, Zonta Club of Helsinki 1, Finland… Read the rest