UNICEF program topic at Zonta

The October meeting of Zonta of Jamestown was called to order by President Pam Phillips. Katrina Christianson was the guest for the evening. The 120 seconds on women’s issues presentation was giving by Christine Burchill. She spoke on the role of UNICEF and how it aids women as well as children. Kiwanis International in conjunction with UNICEF has globally launched The Eliminate project. This project aims to vaccinate 129 million women who are at greatest risk of contracting tetanus during labor and delivery thus passing it on to their newborn child. UNICEF also helps sponsor women’s shelters in Afghanistan (became a U.N. country in 1946). Under Taliban rule there were no shelters and to date there are now 14 with 40 percent of the women in them being under the age of 18.

Jane Austin presented the program on “Going from Being Informed to Advocating.” Strategies she outlined included: be aware of legal and policy issues affecting women, be informed of how individuals are voting that you are voting for, track federal bills, how to remain nonpartisan, how to develop a three-person team (collector, connector, persuader) and tips on how to persuade.

The renovations on the cupola in Zonta park are now complete. The next step of the project is to update the landscaping surrounding the cupola. Funds are still needed for this project and may be donated to the Jamestown Community Foundation, designating the funds to Zonta Park for restoration of the cupola. Proceeds from the Jamestown Speedway Calcutta fundraising event in September were donated to the park fund.

On Oct 17, volunteers gathered to package 300 pounds of nuts for the second annual holiday nut sale. The kickoff for sales was the Nov. 4 craft show.

Oct. 11 was the International Day of the Girl Child. This day is held to recognize girls’ rights and the challenges girls face around the world. The theme for 2012 is “ending child marriage.” Around the globe one in three young women aged 20-24 years were first married before they reached age 18. One-third of them entered into marriage before they turned 15. In developing countries, 90 percent of births to adolescents aged 15-19 are to married girls.

The name Zonta is derived from a Lakota (Teton Dakota) word meaning honest and trustworthy. It was adopted in 1919 to symbolize the combined qualities of honesty and trust, inspiration and the ability to work together for service and world understanding.

The November meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Gladstone Inn & Suites. Guests are always welcome; let Kara Helgeson know in advance so a meal can be ordered.

Tags: life, clubs