From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.

“Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” is a Zonta International campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world.
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The campaign, which began in November 2012, features the service and advocacy actions of Zonta clubs and districts to prevent and end violence against women and girls in their local communities.  It also highlights Zonta International’s ongoing efforts to end violence against women and girls through the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence against Women (ZISVAW) program and through Zonta’s partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies.

The Zonta Club of Midland along with District 15 and many other districts around the world are coordinating daily Facebook posts and members are encouraged to like and share the posts. In addition Advocacy has placed a Zonta Says No billboard on US 10 as part of the campaign.

One hundred years ago, a small group of pioneering women came together in Buffalo, New York with a vision to help all women realize greater equality while using their individual and collective expertise in service to their community.

Their vision became Zonta International, an organization that has grown to more than 29,000 members in 63 countries, working together to make gender equality a reality for women and girls worldwide.

November 8, 2019 marks Zonta’s centennial anniversary. Join the ad hoc committee to plan local celebrations. Contact Ashleigh Summers to join at summersa@northwood.edu 

The showing of Little Stones at Northwood University on November 6th was well attended by a mix of students and community members. The editor of Catalyst Midland was in attendance and followed up with Advocacy Chair Rachelle Ferman to learn more about Midland organizations advocating for the eradication of violence against women.

​Special opportunity for 2019 to celebrate 100 years of Zonta service and Zonta International’s centennial anniversary

In honor of 100 years of Zonta service and Zonta International’s centennial anniversary in 2019, Zonta International has launched its Centennial Anniversary Grants program. These one-time grants of up to $5,000 each will recognize charitable organizations working to improve the lives of women and girls in their local communities.  More information, including eligibility, is at https://www.zonta.org/centennialgrants. 

 Zonta Club of Midland would like to partner with a local organization to support a project in our local community that meets at least one of the objectives of Zonta International - legal, political, economic, health, education, or violence against women.  If your organization has a project that you think meets the objectives of the Centennial Grants, please submit a paragraph describing the project to kasoto@dow.com by December 20, 2018.  The submitted projects will then be evaluated to progress further in the application and partnership process. 

Area organizations are invited to apply for a grant from the Zonta Club of Midland for up to $1,000. The Club requires that the grant funds be used in programs or for the support of programs that assist women with economic empowerment, in the development of women in leadership or to assist women who are in circumstances of financial need.

Applications will be accepted until February 1, 2019. Grants will be awarded by April 15, 2019.

Please click here for the grant application. The application can be returned to me via email or mailed to Kristan Soto, Zonta Club of Midland, PO Box 196, Midland, MI 48640.

The Fellowship Committee asks for your assistance on gathering item of need for the Mustard Seed Shelter.  The Mustard Seed Shelter is located in the City of Saginaw and has been serving homeless single women and women with children from throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region for over 23 years. Their mission is to water the seed of inner strength in homeless women so they can make a better life for themselves and their children. Women and their families are welcomed into a warm, home environment from living on the streets, in their cars, and going from shelter to shelter or couch to couch.
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"Our shelter community of staff, volunteers and other guests model compassion, respect, dignity, forgiveness and mercy to these often “broken“ individuals. Through the support of our communities, we will grow and continue to serve with LOVE! Thank You for choosing us for your donations. We are truly blessed and grateful!"   Amy Bartels-Roe, Executive Director. 

List of donations needed..."full size" personal hygiene items and "new" women's bras & panties...don't forget cleaning supplies & diapers.  We will gather these at the meeting.

Sign up now to work Homewalk! Over the two days of the event 100 hosts are needed to staff the homes - that takes all club members plus many friends!

All club members are required to work at least one day of the Homewalk (and can work two!) or must provide a replacement. 

Volunteer signups are being managed through Sign Up Genius - click the link below to select the date and home you would like to work.

If you have friends/family/significant others that would be willing to host/hostess, we could use them!  Even after all remaining Zontians have signed-up, we are in need of 29 friends. They are welcome to attend the After Glow Party.  Please forward this email to them.  They can follow the link and sign-up.

Date: Sunday, November 25 Time: 10:00a.m. or start a batch any time before Noon

Location: 3582 N. Eastman Rd (First driveway on right past Kutchey’s Greenhouses. It is a large white pole barn with a sign that says “Leo A. Myers daughters & sons”)….

Dress in layers with warm clothes/boots. We have a wood stove in the shop to keep warm but will be in the cold to stir the pots of soap. Refreshments like wine, pop, coffee and water will be served along with crackers, cheese and some goodies.

A full batch of soap costs $45.00 to the soap master and produces about 32 bars of soap. You can split a batch with someone if you would like to do that. Each batch requires 48 oz of Crisco or 100% vegetable shortening, so you’ll need to grab a can of shortening for this activity. It will take about two hours for the batch process to finish and be set in a mold. All other regular oils, colors, scents, molds, etc will be provided by the soap master. If you want to add an essential oil to your batch, there is a $5.00 fee. Oils are based on availability the day of soap making.

Each batch of soap will be kept to cure for approximately 10-12 days, then it will be ready for distribution or pickup.

RSVP to Trish Steele at trishsteele22@gmail.com or by calling 989-615-3933 and indicate if you’ll be doing a full or half batch. We will limit the Zing to the first 20 batches signed up. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!!! Zonta Zing Committee

Members are required to work at least one day of the Homewalk on December 1st and 2nd and are encouraged to invite friends to volunteer. Each volunteer get's a free ticket, invite your friends and enjoy the walk together!

Click Here to Sign Up!

For nearly 100 years, the members of Zonta International have been champions on behalf of the world’s women and girls. At the Zonta International Convention in Yokahama, Japan in July more than 2,000 members from around the world prepared to usher Zonta into a new century of positive impact as Zonta gets ready to celebrate its centennial in 2019.

Zonta Club of Midland members Trish Steele, 2nd Vice President, and Rachelle Ferman, Advocacy Chair, represented the local club at the convention and accepted an award recognizing the club for its generous support of the Zonta International Foundation (ZIF) during the 2016-18 Biennium. The Midland club hosts several fundraisers each year, including the annual Homewalk in December, with overall funds raised divided between local scholarships, local service grants and ZIF.

In the 2018–2020 Biennium, with the generous support of Zonta clubs and individual club members around the world, Zonta International will contribute more than 5 million US Dollars to projects and programs to empower women and girls. Zonta’s international service projects, including a major international project to eliminate child marriage, will focus on young women as both beneficiaries of the projects Zonta supports and as change makers themselves. Zonta will also expand its existing educational programs with the launch of the Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarship to encourage more women leaders in technology fields across the globe.

Trish and Rachelle participated in business meetings, workshops and cultural events during the convention and brought back new ideas for implementing Zonta’s goals locally. The goals for 2018-20 are to maximize Zonta’s impact through service and advocacy initiatives and educational programs that empower women and girls; strengthen resources to support the mission; and enhance Zonta’s profile around the world through centennial anniversary activities. The club is expanding local activities for the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women, Equal Pay Day, and Ending Human Trafficking campaigns along with local membership drives to support these goals.
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The Zonta Club of Midland invites all area women to explore what Zonta has to offer members in support of women and girls in the community and around the world at a membership event on Thursday October 25th. For more information please go to ZontaCubofMidland.org or email membership@ZontaClubofMidland.org.

​Advocacy is encouraging all Zontians, family, and friends to walk with us during the Santa Parade in Saturday, November 17th to raise awareness in Zonta’s 16 Days of activism Zonta Days No to Violence Against Women. We would love to see you all there! Many other events are in the making to raise awareness throughout our community.

Club members are encouraged to attend the Governors Summit to learn more about Zonta, the mission and meet other Zontian's from around the district. Carpool will be available!
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To register online, please click here.For a downloadable registration form: Summit Registration Form

Please join us at the Grace Dow Library, 1710 W. St. Andrews, Midland, 7/26, from 7-9pm for a Candidate Forum on Women's Issues.  All candidates for State House of Representatives 98th District, for State Senate 36th District and for 4th District US House Of Representatives have been invited.  Carl Hamann, Sarah Schulz, Joe Weir, Jerry Hilliard, and Zigmond Kozicki have replied yes to our invitation.

AAUW Midland Public Policy Committee will ask candidates prepared questions on Equal Pay, Gender Equality, Living Wage, and Title IX.  Women's Issues questions on cards from the audience will also be put to the candidates.

Judy Donahue
AAUW Midland Public Policy Co-chair
Judydonahue57@gmail.com