News & Events
News
November 2024 #Shorts
- District 1 Fundraiser!
- Message from Governor Donna Raycraft
- Zonta Says NO! and 16 Days of Advocacy
- Being Intentional with Positive Messages for Girls
- News/Updates from Clubs and Members
Past Newsletters
Send highlights on members and club news to info@ZontaDistrict1.org.
Amy Virginia Evans’ new book Debriefing Darly was recently released. In this novel, Darly is studying the effects of the Women’s Liberation Movement on women who are middle-aged today. She chooses five women at random who have completed her survey, and they meet weekly for discussions that take Darly and her hypothesis to task. This book is available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold, and it’s turned out to be an excellent book for discussion around the four major areas in Darly’s thesis, all of which are of interest to Zontians. Amy Virginia Evans lives in Concord, NH and is a member of the Zonta Club of Concord. The club is holding discussions in various ways.
Send Club Event announcements to Info@ZontaDistrict1.org
Events
The Zonta club of Concord says no to violence against women by donning orange sunglasses.
Donna Raycraft has been a member of the Zonta Club of Concord for 21 years. She has served as the president, a board director and the membership and program committees chair. She was also a part of the ways and means and service committees. She has served as the lieutenant governor, the district membership committee chair and was on the district board.
Donna’s most recent employment was as executive director of a crisis center for domestic and sexual violence, which has made the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign near and dear to her heart.
For 24 years, Donna worked in various positions at a community mental health center. She volunteers with Granite VNA Hospice, journeying with people who are dying and facilitating grief groups. She also sits on the board of directors of several nonprofits, including a women’s counseling center and a daycare center. Most importantly, Donna is a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. These experiences have encouraged Donna to work with others to build a better world for women and girls.
Lorraine Bartlett, Scholarship Chair of Zonta Club of Concord NH, with Amanda Vance and Sophia Anderson, the Club’s 2024 YWPA award winners. Amanda Vance went on to represent Zonta District 1 and win the International award of $5000.
Amanda Vance – 2024 Zonta International Young Woman in Public Affairs.
Amanda is a Senior at Bow High School in Bow, NH. Her anticipated course of study is Mechanical-Aerospace Engineering. She is a member of the National Honor Society, served 4 years as her high school’s class treasurer, has played viola for 4 years as part of the school orchestra, served as lead designer for the school newspaper, participates in the school’s DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) Club, and is an active volunteer with youth in her community. She is President of the local First Robotics team’s 4-H Club and worked with a team from South Africa at the “Robotics Team Challenge” in 2023, participated in the BAE Women in Technology program and the Boston Leadership Institute. The projects and research opportunities from these programs resulted in her “having a different perspective & greater understanding of the world”. Amanda describes herself as a “passionate advocate for women to have equal access to STEM-related education, activities, and career opportunities.”
The Zonta Club of Berkshire Count is excited to share our fundraising calendar raffle will be in AUGUST and feature more prizes! For $25 donation, you have a daily chance to win a prize donated by our club members and business supporters! WOW! Over $1,885 in prizes because we never know how much our scratch ticket extravaganza winner takes home! Thank you for your support in helping #BuildABetterWorldForWomenandGirls.
Anna Dyjach , daughter of Judith and John Dyjach of South Hadley, has been chosen as the 2024 Young Woman in Public Affairs (YWPA) by the Zonta Club of Northampton Area. Attending Hadley public schools since kindergarten, Anna was an honor student at Hopkins Academy before transferring to Deerfield Academy as a sophomore. She graduates from Deerfield on May 26, and will attend Mt. Holyoke College in the fall.
Anna is shown here with Northampton Club President Seren Derin. PRESS RELEASE
The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is proud to welcome new member Cherie Nordstrom Braun. Cherie and her husband, Charles Brown moved from North Carolina to Granby, Massachusetts in October 2023 to be near Cherie’s daughter and family. Cherie has a BS in Behavioral Sciences, specializing in Organizational Management from the University of Maryland, and attended Duke University’s Master of Liberal Studies program. She was a member of General Federation of Women’s Clubs in both PA and NC for 24 years, active on the local, district and state levels, serving as club and County President, International Affairs Chair, and District Director for GFWC PA, and Environmental Affairs Chair for GFWC NC. For the Woman’s Club of Raleigh, she chaired their first Designer Showhouse fundraiser. Cherie is currently retired but held leadership positions – including sales and management – in the workplace as well. She is well-traveled and speaks a bit of Spanish, German and Italian. Please join us in welcoming another amazing woman to our Zonta family.
Veera Patel: 2024 Young Women in Public Affairs Award Winner from the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley
Veera is a senior at Minnechaug Regional High School where she is President of the National Honors Society, plays on the Girls Varsity Volleyball team, and is involved with Student Council, Key Club, International Club, and World Care Club. She also enjoys volunteering at community organizations and working with and mentoring youth in sports and social skill building. When asked about her thoughts on Zonta’s mission, Veera noted that while she is proud of her Indian culture and background, she is aware that the role of women in many Indian societies is secondary. “Through my own leadership efforts here in America, my ambition is to inspire other females, not only Indian, to learn how to stand up for themselves and know their value.”
Looking forward, Veera would like to pursue the fields of business finance and law at Bryant University in Rhode Island.
Congratulations to the Northampton Area Club in District 1 on their 90th anniversary!
Miriam (Meme) Exum – member of the Concord NH club – works closely with her friend and curator, Christina Landry-Boullion in the Glimpse Gallery, a new venture for both.The concept behind Glimpse is to uplift artists and provide exposure without expensive gallery fees or constricting contracts. Best wishes for success!