Belonging
If you ask 100 Zontians WHY they continue to be volunteers for this organization, the top 3 responses will be: “I joined for the cause, but stayed for the friendships.”
Belonging defined: a feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group and having a good relationship with the other members of the group because they welcome and accept you. Doesn’t it make sense to capitalize on this fact as we work on attracting and retaining membership? Especially since this is a Membership-Driven organization!
The Zonta Spirit Working Group has been gathering and sharing ideas. Key takeaways on building a culture of community, fun, and friendship include:
- People bond from the shared experience of working together on a project – service, fundraising, advocacy, etc.
- Socializing outside of club meetings is where the magic happens – caring and sharing.
- Celebrating each other’s achievements and being there for each other’s low points builds the resiliency we need to advocate for others.
- Shared leadership ensures that we are inclusive, open to new, diverse ideas, and building capacity for succession planning.
- Being a leader of an all-volunteer group is challenging; it is a team effort. The goal is to ensure each person feels valued and empowered.
- Sharing our WHY stories with new members and getting them engaged from the start enhances the feeling of belonging
Click here to watch short videos of District 1 members speak about their why. Recorded at Fall Conference 2023.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Greater Diversity Working Group has been identifying insights about what Zontians can do to create a welcoming and inclusive club environment. As Zontians, we value and respect people of different backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, race, color, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We believe that a diverse community of members is essential to our ability to achieve our mission to create a more equitable future.
How does the club ensure a culture open to Diversity and Inclusion? (credit to Heidi Moore)
• A culture consists of unwritten and written principles and laws that guide how an individual interacts with the outside world.
• They are then taught and reinforced by other members in the group.
• Which then becomes a shared system that is passed on from generation to generation.
What if the practice of valuing and respecting people who are different is not always easy?
Some people may not be willing to consider other people’s views because they like their own ideas and opinions; others may feel uncomfortable around people who are different due to unconscious biases.
Before the culture is negatively impacted, the following tips need to be reviewed and reinforced::
- Accept people’s differences but focus on common ground (including our Zonta WHY) – we often have more in common with people than we think.
- Be curious. Learning from another person’s experience can widen your horizons and develop you personally.
- Allow everyone the chance to express their views and thoughts. It’s nothing personal when someone doesn’t agree with you, They see something from a different perspective – most likely because they had contrasting experiences.
- Avoid using stereotypes and recognize and address your own unconscious bias. Get to know the person; ask questions and listen to their perspectives in a non-judgmental and accepting way.
Resources and Links
Zonta Spirit website – short video tips on building connections and focusing on what’s important
Remarkable Women – Powerful Stories – Interviews with inspirational women in different fields
Diversity Webinar: The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Zonta (60 minutes)
Diversity and Inclusion Definitions – creating a culture where everyone feels accepted, valued, and included starts with understanding the terminology
Resolving Conflicts – A leadership training program that works toward win-win results.
