Golden Valley Z Club Installation
Zonta International believes that young women and men are important to achieving gender equality and ending violence against women and girls around the world. To improve the lives of women and girls globally now and for generations to come, we must invest in youth development and mentor young leaders for gender equality.
On Monday, Nov 9, 2020, the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley chartered a Z Club at Golden Valley High School. These student clubs are intended to offer opportunities for young people to develop communication and leadership skills, plus increase their international awareness and understanding through service and advocacy. These skills will allow them to be strong and have the courage and confidence to be dedicated and caring individuals. The friendships that will occur from the commitment that these students have in common with each other, will last a lifetime.
By empowering and educating them now, the collaboration from these students will create many profound service and advocacy projects. They too will be as passionate about these causes once they complete their first project. The Z Club’s first fundraiser and service project is just that. Helping families enjoy Thanksgiving by assisting “Give a Turkey”. Their hoping they will be able to provide a delicious meal for 500 families this year. Costco of Santa Clarita Valley reached out to us on Wednesday and offered to provide meals for ten families plus sponsoring an additional family with much more.
November is a very important month for our club. Not only is it Zonta International ‘s 101st birthday but it is our club’s 46th birthday. Now with the Z club's inception, November will always be a special month. Zonta International is a global organization of more than 28,000 women and men in more than 1,100 Zonta clubs in 62 countries.
Through this whole process of chartering the Golden Valley Z club, we have been extremely excited and proud of the committee that worked so hard to bring this together. We would like to thank the help and the advice that we received from ZI’s district 9 chair and past governor, Ann banks. She was instrumental in assisting us through this process. We would also like to thank Denise Marchant, our area Z Club liaison. Plus District 9 Governor Brittany Vaughn, Mayor of Santa Clarita Valley Cameron Smyth, Principal at Golden Valley High School Sal Frias, Board President, William S Hart Union High School District Linda Storli, Clerk of the Board, William S Hart Union High School District and fellow Zontian Dr. Cherise Moore, and Beth Heiserman President of the Zonta Club of SCV for speaking and encouraging this amazing service project. Additionally, a special thanks to ZI President Dr. Sharon Langenbeck for saying such inspirational words to our Z Club at this special event.
We are looking forward to the members of the Golden Valley Z Club to strive for excellence and to help make our community and the world a better place. Volunteers don’t always have the time or money, but we have a huge heart. Making sure those in need, will be a little less in need is always satisfying.
Each of the Z Club board members received a package with a Z Club t-shirt, facemask, patch, necklace charm and a few other Zonta goodies. Our Z Club liaisons; Sally Mostafa Eisenreich, Shelley Coe and Deb Escoe have been and will be very influential on mentoring these young adults.
The Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley will be sponsoring the Golden Valley Z Club and will provide these students with guidance and the knowledge to improve the world and this community to be a better place. They will be mentored by fellow Zontians like myself, to have the capability to improve the lives of women and girls here locally and internationally.
Written by
Beth Heiserman
President Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley