Highlights from 2018-2019
Zonta Club hosts annual Area 3 Seminar 2019
On May 4, 2019, the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita hosted an all day seminar for sister clubs in District 9 Area 3. Clubs from Porterville, Burbank, Antelope Valley and Conejo Valley all gathered to hear the latest news about Zonta International Projects, Membership, Leadership and our goals to increase fundraising and recruit new members as possible future leaders at Club and International Levels.
Emphasis was placed on the Need for Zonta Clubs to grow in the United States and new Clubs to be mentored by existing Clubs.
Speakers included President Elect Sharon Langenbeck, Governor Ann Banks, Historian Nickie Bonner and Gloria Salas, Brittany Vaughan, Lori Montigel and Ela Pandya.
All of these women brought interesting information to us and it was a chance to talk to so many Zonta members in our
District. A great learning experience for all!
Next District 9 Area 3 meeting will be hosted by the Zonta Club of Burbank in 2020. Watch for the details!!
Girls Robotics joins Zontians at monthly meeting 2019
What, besides chaos, do you get by mixing 8-12 year old girls with Zontians in a big hotel? A roaring good time! On Wednesday, April 10, 7 young girls from the Boys and Girls Club attended Zonta’s monthly business meeting to demonstrate their skills in building and programming Lego robots. The robotics program, sponsored by Zonta for the past ten years, introduces the girls to the mysteries of math and science. The girls shed their nervousness within moments and shrieks of joy and laughter broke out as robots raced across a special mat or followed a black line. Even speaking into a microphone or performing real-time programming projected onto a big screen failed to intimidate the kids. The Zontians, perhaps twenty-five in number, were amazed—perhaps delighted is a better word. The good news? The robotics demo will take place again next year!
It was a lot of fun and the girls thanked all the Zontians for the Lego robots and the support.
Fun with Chocolate! 2019
The event was well attended with 16 candy loving contributors. Nancy and her assistant Patty were sweethearts and taught us how to make filled chocolates, peanut butter cups, chocolate covered cherries, chocolate dipped Oreos and chocolate mints - all with a choice of milk, dark or white chocolate! And we also went home with 2 pounds of Chocolate Swag each!!Zontian Peggy Edwards honored by Los Angeles County
Zontian Peggy Edwards was recently named Los Angeles County 5th District Woman of the Year. Peggy was honored for her work with Bridge to Home, the homeless shelter in Santa Clarita. Congratulations Peggy!
Centennial Anniversary of Zonta International
November 8th, 2019 is the Centennial Anniversary of Zonta International ... what an amazing accomplishment!!
Zonta Zing Jan 17, 2019
Zonta Zing, the club’s annual orientation meeting, was a fun and informative meeting for new and long-standing members alike.
Zonta Zing 2019
Thanks to Board Member and Past President, Pat Warford, the meeting was held at what seems like the club’s second home, the beautiful Valencia Hills Club House on Thursday, January 17th. Following a lovely selection of hors d’oeuvres, snacks, desserts, and of course, Zinfindel, the committee organized a round robin of presentations regarding topics of interest for all Zontians. Presenters included Darleen Lyons, Dianne Curtis, Lois Bauccio, Adele Macpherson, Phyllis Walker, and Alicia Estrada. Topics included were Foundation, Fundraising, Zonta International, Girls Robotics, Advocacy, and Scholarships. Following introductory remarks by President, Debra Blakely, President-Elect, Beth Heiserman, 1st Vice President, presented a wonderful Powerpoint on Zonta. Barbara Meyer did a great job of keeping the discussions flowing. Many thanks go to the members of the committee who provided the food, decorated the tables, and created audio-visual and graphic enhancements. The real highlight of the evening was welcoming prospective new members as well as those Zontians who have joined the club since our last orientation. Welcome aboard, Ladies!
Zonta Holiday Party 2018
Zonta Holiday Party 2018
37 Zontians and UnZons celebrated the Holidays on Sat. Dec 8th at the home of Suzie Alziebler. Party guests donated gift cards and needed personal hygene supplies for our Advocacy Projects foster girls and also our local homeless shelter.
An afternoon of visiting, feasting on a tritip and chicken buffet and yummy desserts ended with pictures in front of the Christmas tree. Special thanks to the Holiday committee for all the wonderful desserts they made. They were delicious.
Also special thanks to Chuck Willett and Geoff Campbell for bringing guests up and down the hill.
A visit with Zontians from Kaliningrad, Russia 2018
Thank you to all of our members who came out to Barb's house and supported our last minute social on Oct 30, to meet Liudmila from Kaliningrad. A special thanks to Sharon Langenbeck, our ZI President-Elect for asking us to host such a special opportunity to meet a fellow Zontian from so far away. Sharon met her in Yokohoma, Japan at the 64th Zonta International Convention and mentioned she would be visiting Santa Clarita in the fall.
She had a wonderful presentation for us and shared the special projects they do. The club of Kaliningrad started in September 2004. They promote the health of children, the members of their club and the Club of Essen partnered on a joint project and Doctor of Medicine, Bettina von Falkenhausen, trained specialists in the educational sphere in Kaliningrad. They participate in JMk and YWIPA. The Zonta club of Kaliningrad is implementing projects aimed at raising the status of women in our society and protecting the family. Their club is rendering assistance to Kaliningrad's regional Women's Crisis Center. the women who happen to be in a difficult situation in their life, experiencing physical violence at home will stay and live at the Center with their children.
New Human Trafficking Project announced
Human Trafficking is our educational and advocacy target for 2018-19. We will focus on teenage girls in Santa Clarita who are the most vulnerable to be trafficked. Foster youth including emancipated youth and incarcerated teens at Camp Scott.
City of Santa Clarita presented Zonta with a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awarness Month. Several Zontians attended the council meeting wearing their "Zonta Says No" shirts.
LifeForward for Teens:
At Camp Scott 40% of the girls are victims of human/sex trafficking. By investing our time and experiences with the young ladies our goal is to increase their confidence and self-worth so that their vulnerability to accepting the lies of traffickers will decrease.
Fostering Youth Independence:
Our members are encouraged to become “FYI Allies” to the girls in the program who are currently in foster care or are emancipated youth. The Allies will guide and encourage the young women as they pursue a post-secondary education, we will be providing personal care kits for the young women, through out the year, as well as gift cards for their holiday stockings.
We also plan on Adopting 2 young women for the holidays.
The 16 days of Activism – Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.
The seven red dresses will again come to life in trees around Santa Clarita in early December. These dresses represent women in our town who lost their lives because of domestic violence. When hung up the wind begins to move them and creates a haunting and moving image as reminder that we should “ Stand up and Speak up” if we suspect there is domestic violence.
JR's Comedy Club Social 2018
Zontians Having Fun!
Lots of Laughs!! Laughter filled the room at JR’s Comedy Club located in Mimi’s Restaurant on Magic Mountain Parkway on Saturday evening, October 20, 2018. Over 25 Zontian’s and guests attended for a fun night of fellowship and dining - followed by hilarious stories presented by Ron Kenny and Marty Ross accompanied by two guest comedians. Everyone left feeling relaxed from an enjoyable event.
October 2018 Business Meeting
Oct 2018 Business meeting
Members of the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley held their latest meeting at the Holiday Inn in Valencia. Toni Wade was inducted as our newest member. Also, Edna Dimataga-Fernandez, who was a member in 2011, rejoined our club. Welcome both Toni and Edna!
Beth Heiserman, 1st Vice President, presented a short program on the history of our club. It was fun to see old pictures of our members and try to guess who they are! Thank you Beth for putting this together.
The surprise of the evening, was having two club members, Jeanne Mayberry and Jamie Russell, who live in Bakersfield attend our meeting. It was very pleasant surprise. Thank you for coming! We capped off the meeting with a photo with our two Bakersfield member front and center.
Color Me Mine Social 2018
Beautiful!
Zontians recently gathered for a fun evening of painting! About 20 Zontians and friends, met at Color Me Mine on Town Center Drive, where we all picked out our ceramic piece we wanted to paint. Then the fun began. 
Thank you to Heather and Stacy, they were outstanding. They were so helpful to everyone as we all needed help. A couple of the pieces were difficult to paint and they were so kind to extend our stay so that some of the ladies could finish their creative pieces.
We would like to thank everyone who came out and supported the Zonta Club of SCV Color Me Mine Social/Fundraiser. Our Socials & fundraising committee did an amazing job to organize this wonderful event.
Everyone got to enjoy being creative while having snacks and wine. There were so many choices to choose from like; a clock, piggy banks, bowls, measuring spoons, dog biscuit jar and so many other cute items. Some of us had a hard time deciding. Several of us can't wait to go back and create another item. We saw some very creative pieces from the ladies; a mug, cookie jar, tea light holder, doggy bowl, popcorn bowl, chip n’ dip plate and more.
Zonta Summer Jazz and Blues Concert 2018
One of the great Santa Clarita summer traditions is the Friday night Valencia Jazz & Blues Summer Concert Series. The longest running privately hosted annual series in our valley (this year is the 19th!) selects a different charity each week to receive the proceeds of the free event. On Friday night, July 27th, Zonta was selected as the featured charity. According to Barbara Myler, CEO of Summit West Public Relations and producer of the event, our club set a participation record as 17 Zonta volunteers (plus three Unzons, Ken Rifkind, Lee Lodes, and Geoff Campbell) joined the fun and excitement!
But after all, volunteering is what we do best, and our members had a blast hustling drink orders for the crowd who were enjoying fabulous Wolf Creek Beer and other libations as the incredible Kelly’s Lot played an irresistible combination of favorite cover tunes as well as remarkable original songs. You could see our Zonta servers wrestling over the urge to dance while remembering how to pronounce “Hefeweizen”. We were grateful when a guest asked for white wine!
Under a full moon in beautiful Valencia, Zontians earned nearly $250 in tips for our fabulous club. Many thanks to Zonta member Patrice Rifkind of Audiology Associates, an event sponsor, for making the arrangements, and Barbara Myler for her generosity. And after all, what could be more fun on a hot July night than to meet great new neighbors while listening to wonderful music and volunteering for Zonta?
Zonta Club holds 2018 Summer Social at Reyes Winery
The beautiful Reyes Winery in bucolic Agua Dulce was the setting for the 6th Annual Zonta Club of SCV’s Summer Social on Sunday, July 22nd.
Club Vice President, Beth Heiserman, an executive at the winery, and her committee of Zontians including Sue Hayward, Barbara Meyers and Darleen Lyons, prepared and served a delicious array of summer dishes as the winery poured its premium, award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, among other special vintages.
As a special surprise, guests were treated to the delightful live music of the local band, Sierra Highway, who played their special take on Americana acoustic, folk, Irish, bluegrass and fiddle tunes.
Despite the summer heat, the club and guests kept cool under a pavilion set on Reyes’ spreading green lawn surrounded by grape-laden vines. What a great day of fun and friendship! All proceeds supported the Zonta Club.
Zonta Foundation Annual 2018 Meeting
Under a welcoming pergola at the home of Terry Kanowsky on July 12th, Zontians gathered for the foundation’s 20th Annual General Meeting. Kanowsky, long-time member of the Zonta Club and in-coming Foundation President, presided over the meeting. A wonderful dinner was provided by members of the outgoing foundation board.
Each year, members of the Zonta Club of SCV gather to review annual financial statements and other business matters unique to the foundation. While both club and foundation are registered, non-profit entities, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable organization that holds a tax identification number and fiduciary responsibility for Zonta SCV. Because of the foundation, Zonta can offer tax receipts to its donors and file special 990 tax returns reserved for tax exempt entities, maintain investments, and Zonta members are interested in various banking and budgetary information that gives them a snapshot of the group’s financial status.
In addition to fiscal information, the meeting featured a key-note presentation regarding the history of the foundation given by Lois Bauccio who announced the upcoming 20th anniversary of the foundation which was founded on August 18, 1998. The highlight of the evening was an installation of the new foundation board and trustees presided over by Adele Macpherson. The new Foundation Board is comprised of Zontians Terry Kanowsky, Barbara Meyer, Christine Sexton, Susan Hayward, Nell Campbell, Francine Fiel, Cathy Gundy, Mary Ree, Judy Penman, and Debra Blakely.
News from Zonta International Convention
Dr. Sharon Langenbeck elected Zonta International President Elect
Zonta International just concluded their biennial convention in Yokohama Japan. The highlight of the convention was the election of our very own Dr. Sharon Langenbeck as Zonta International President Elect. Dr. Langenbeck will assume the President of Zonta International at the next convention July 2020 in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition Sue Hayward was recognized for recruiting 12 new members into our Zonta Club between 2016-2018. We are so proud of Sue.
Zonta Club holds annual 2018-2019 planning meeting
Members of the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita met at the Savia Center in Newhall on June 23rd to chart the club’s course for the new fiscal year. Under the direction of President Debra 
Blakely, SCV Zontians had round table discussions on community service projects and fundraising ideas, among other important aspects of club involvement. As a result of the vibrant conversations, the group is excited to continue serving underserved women and victims of domestic violence through the Life Forward Workshops and the community awareness program called The Red Dress Project, a haunting reminder of those victims in the SCV who have died from domestic violence.
A host of other service ideas will be investigated by ad hoc committees. These will include the possibility of mentoring newly emancipated foster care girls, helping senior women navigate their medicare/medical allocations, and a host of other worthwhile service ideas.
Fun and informative fundraising events will take place including Lunafest (fall of 2019), a salute to women filmmakers, and Women in Service, Zonta’s signature event honoring amazing women who volunteer in our valley. Also, for the 2nd consecutive year, Zonta has been selected as the recipient of the proceeds from the fabulous Sierra Pelona Valley Wine Festival at Reyes Winery.
Debbie Blakely and her 1st Vice President, Beth Heiserman, will head out soon to Yokohama, Japan for Zonta’s International Convention. Be watching for photographs! They will bring back a host of new service initiatives for worldwide and local attention in keeping with our mission of “Empowering women locally and worldwide.”