Highlights from 2020-2021
Painting with a Twist
Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley held a VIRTUAL fundraising event on August 20, 2020 with “Painting With A Twist”. It was a wonderful way to spend Thursday evening as each participant painted beautiful red poppies on a 16” x 20” canvas with the help of Mollie, our very friendly painting guide. Who knew painting virtually would be so much fun?!
Due to the covid-19 pandemic, this virtual event was an innovative way to raise money for our club so that we can continue working on programs & projects benefiting women & girls. For those who were unable to participate that evening, gift certificates were available for purchase to be used at “Painting With A Twist” at a later time. In addition, club members & supporters sent monetary donations directly to our club. What a great way to support Zonta Club of SCV during these unprecedented times!
Check out the picture from the fundraising event with our finished masterpieces.
Campaign for Sharon
Members of The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita and all District 9 Zontians are justifiably proud of Dr. Sharon Langenbeck being named President of Zonta International. Nowhere is that fact more evident than in the successful fundraising campaign, “A Campaign for Sharon”, through the raising of $10,000 in private donations to fund a special Amelia Earhart Fellowship in Dr. Langenbeck’s honor and name.
Club receives Zonta International Recognition Award
On behalf of the Zonta International Foundation Board and the Foundation Development Committee, we wish to recognize your club’s generous support of the Zonta International Foundation during the 2018-2020 Biennium. Zonta’s funding of the international service projects and education programs is only possible through the collective efforts of Zonta districts, clubs, members and friends. Your donations have helped Zonta to:
Reduce the practice of child marriage in 12 countries
Support the economic advancement of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian women
Provide equal access to education for girls Madagascar
Give fellowships, scholarships and awards to women and girls around the globe
Thank you again for your club’s generosity. Through donations to the Zonta International Foundation, you and your fellow club members are indeed making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide!
Sincerely,
Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International Foundation
Joy Orlich, Chairman. Foundation Development Committee
Zonta International Virtual Convention News
Dr Sharon Langenbeck. Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley
At the end of last week, 813 of our 2,242 registered delegates and alternates participated in three online sessions that we organized to make all voting members feel comfortable with the voting platform and process. If a delegate or alternate were unable to attend, they could watch a recording of the session.
Election results are now finalized. Below is the new ZI Board of Directors and Nominating Committee for 2020-2022. Congratulation to all!
Zonta International President - Dr Sharon Langenbeck, Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley
President Elect - Ute Scholz, Zonta Club of Verden, Germany
Vice President - Salla Tuominen, Zonta Club of Helsinki I, Finland
Treasurer - Mari McKenzie, Zonta Club of Saginaw, USA
Directors - Akiko Kinoshita, Zonta Club of Kitakyushu, Japan; Horten Chékété, Zonta Club of Cotonou, Benin; Fernanda Gallo Freschi, Zonta Club of Milano-Sant Ambrogio, Italy; Souella Cumming, Zonta Club of Wellington, New Zealand; Dorte Marianne Olesen, Zonta Club of Copenhagen I, Denmark; Florence Fischer-Herber, Zonta Club of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Ina Waesserling, Zonta Club of Erfurt, Germany
In addition Sharon Langenbeck, President of Zonta International recently introduced the 2020-2022 Biennial and Fundraising Goals and our international projects. To help all our members better understand the project proposals, our partners, UNICEF USA and UNFPA, created videos* that give an in-depth look at each project.
Proposed 2020-2022 Biennial & Fundraising Goals | PDF
Proposed 2020-2022 International Project Descriptions | PDF
Adolescent Girls' Health and Protection in Peru | PDF | Video
Strengthening Response to Gender-Based Violence Survivors in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste | PDF | Video
Let Us Learn Madagascar | PDF | Video
Ending Child Marriage | PDF | Video
Installation May 2020
From the comfort of their homes, 32 SCV Zonta Club members “Zoomed” in to witness the swearing in of the 2020/2021 club officers and directors, nominating committee, and foundation trustees, as well as the announcement of the 2020 Zontian of the Year. As always, the event was hosted by the Past 
Presidents. The event was chronicled by a beautiful virtual program created by Peggy Edwards, and members joined from as far away as Texas (Cindy Kittle) and Arizona (Judy Penman).
Adele Macpherson guided the technology, and Lois Bauccio served as MC for the afternoon event that featured guest appearances from Zonta International and District 9 notables as well as Santa Clarita community leaders. VIP guests included ZI President-Elect, Dr. Sharon Langenbeck, “PIP” (Past International President), Dianne Curtis, District 9 Governor-Elect, Brittany Vaughan, and Former Santa Clarita Mayor and current City Councilmember, Marsha McLean.
First on the program was the presentation of the 2020 Zontian of the Year Award. Barbara Meyer, as Chair of the Committee, presented the coveted award to the very deserving, Francine Fiel. She was appropriately surprised and very grateful. She will receive her special plaque when the club can meet again.
Out-going Club President, Barbara Meyer, was lauded for her amazing and kind service to the ideals of Zonta. In an emotional tribute to her year, JoAnn Rodriquez was remembered fondly, and Adele and Darleen spoke to Barbara’s strength and determination as well as her successful accomplishments. Past President Barbara made a powerful “farewell” speech that thanked her board, supporters and friends, and gave a passionate overview of her year in office. She will be presented with her Past President’s pin when the club can gather again in person.
Installing Officer, Zonta International President-Elect, Sharon Langenbeck was introduced to lead the swearing in ceremony. She began by installing Foundation Trustees, Adele Macpherson, Lois Bauccio, Francine Fiel, Barbara Cochran, Terry Kanowsky, Mary Ree, Beth Heiserman and Nicole Miller, followed by the Nominating Committee, Pat Warford, Christine Sexton and Pat Willet. Next were the incoming Directors, Christy Ferguson, Francine Fiel, Patrice Rifkind and Immediate Past President, Barbara Meyer. This was followed by the installation of the incoming 2020-2021 Club Officers who are: Secretary, Alicia Estrada, Treasurer, Adele Macpherson, and Vice President, Nicole Miller. and finally, the in-coming President, Beth Heiserman.
It was then the time for newly installed President Beth to take to the virtual podium. She provided a sincere and thoughtful vision for the next year, revealing her theme as “Plant the Seeds of Success”. She asked every single member to be involved in some way, in service or in philanthropy, but hopefully both. After leading the club in the Collect, she performed her first official act, adjourning the meeting.
City of Santa Clarita Honors Zonta Santa Clarita Valley and Zonta International
On Tuesday evening, November 12th, the outside of Santa Clarita’s City Hall was bathed in orange light, while inside Orange balloons flanked the City Seal, and the Council Chambers were flooded with a celebratory sea of orange and maroon as 21 tee shirt wearing Zontians filled the front seats of the Council Meeting. Among the collection of women leaders was Zonta International President-Elect, Sharon Langenbeck and on the dais was Zonta member, Mayor Marsha McLean. The celebration was in honor of the Centennial Anniversary of Zonta International and the 45th Anniversary of the Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley.
The color orange symbolizes Zonta’s anti domestic violence campaign, “Zonta Says NO”, and the club selected that important advocacy program to represent it during this important milestone event.
Not only is Zonta SCV known for service programs, scholarships and grants that benefit women and girls through service, advocacy, and awareness, but it has been known throughout its history for helping charities throughout the valley through hands on volunteerism. Too numerous to mention are community charities that have thanked the club for its commitment to comprehensively improving the quality of community life.
Mayor McLean recognized the local club for outstanding community service throughout its 45 years. She also outlined the founding of the original Zonta way back in 1919 in Buffalo, New York. That original band of Zonta Sisters, all professional women, sought to continue the suffrage movement to ensure that the rights of women, first in America and then abroad, would continue to strengthen and reach equality. Today, Zonta boasts 30,000 members throughout 67 countries, worldwide. On this night, the Mayor presented club President, Barbara Meyer, with a beautiful City Proclamation commemorating the two anniversaries.
After the Zonta members crowded onto the dais to shake hands with all five Council Members, photographs were taken for posterity.
The event closed with the announcement from the Mayor that the Council Meeting would be closed in memory of our dear Zonta sister, JoAnn Rodriguez, who passed away after a long and valiant battle with COPD a few weeks earlier. It felt really good to have JoAnn present with us, and as such the celebration was truly complete. We thank the City of Santa Clarita Council Members for making the evening so memorable.
Annual Strategic Planning Meeting 2020-2021
On May 7, Beth Heiserman, president-elect, held her first strategic planning meeting via Zoom. This was a first for our club, a virtual meeting. We had approx 16 members join in the Zoom meeting. Beth discussed her thoughts for next year in Membership and Socials/Fundraising. Several good discussions and ideas came from the meeting. Another planning session will be held with other topics.
Our Zoom Strategic Planning for 2020-2021
EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Women Do Not Have Equal Rights in the Constitution!
Late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said,” The issue is whether the Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex – it doesn’t.” Incorporating the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) into the Constitution provides that ”Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
Constitutional Amendments are introduced and approved by the House of Representatives and Senate and ratified by three-fourths of the states before Congress incorporates the Amendment into the Constitution.
Congress passed the ERA March 22, 1972 and sent to states for ratification. Three-fourths (38) of the 50 state Legislatures must approve before Congress can incorporate into the Constitution. By 1977, 35 states had approved the amendment; In 1978, Congress voted to extend the deadline to June 30, 1982. No additional states were ratified.
Title IX , Violence Against Women Act, the Fair Pensions Act, and the Paycheck Fairness Act, are pieces of legislation that work to achieve social, political, and economic equality for all genders, but have been opposed and even attempted to be overturned. While the 14th Amendment addresses sex discrimination, it does not grant equal rights on the basis of sex in the uniform and inclusive way that ERA will, i.e., provide a clear judicial standard for deciding cases of sex discrimination and benefit people of all genders, including men. For example, the ERA will guarantee that men and women will be equal in all areas of family law. While strides are being made in areas of sports, harassment and equal pay, the ERA will help to eliminate discrimination for all.
January 27, 2020, Virginia provided the required three-quarter votes. February 13th, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to remove the 1982 deadline. If the Senate passes the resolution, the ERA will become part of the Constitution; women will have equal rights for the first time in history!
The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley and Zonta Clubs across America support equal rights. A recent US poll shows 94% of men and women support the ERA. Let the Senate know of your support! Future generations should not have to live without being protected by the Constitution because of their gender.
Soroptimist Clubs joins Zonta for an informal evening
Vibrancy set the tone as 60 local women representing members of Soroptomist of Greater Santa Clarita Valley (SCV), Soroptomist International, Valencia and Zonta Club of SCV – host of the evening - convened in the Valencia Hills Clubhouse on January 29, 2020. The overall mission of these international organizations is to empower women and girls worldwide to achieve equality and self-sufficiency; these service organizations have consultative status as a nongovernmental organization with the United Nations; locally, each organization pursues projects and programs that support their mission. While the clubs have different approaches, their commonality of goals is similar.
A Mexican Fiesta, featuring homemade tostadas and accoutrements, was enjoyed by all. After dinner and camaraderie – guest speaker Vickie McCoy from ZOE International stated, “Human Trafficking is the buying and selling of children through force, fraud or coercion!! It happens right here in our community!” Everyone’s attention came direct center! Vickie says, “Human trafficking takes many forms - being sold for labor and especially for sex.” Current estimates reveal over 40 million people worldwide are trapped as victims in forced labor, sex trafficking and forced marriages; 10 million are children with an average entry age of 12-14 years old.