Relay for Life— from Friday June 26 6pm to Saturday June 27 at noon at the Belchertown High School—to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Relay teams are made up of members of our club, friends and extended family. Our team will hopefully have a tent and we’ll take turns walking around for the duration of the event. A myriad of fun and educational activities helps keep up the momentum throughout the night while luminarias (candle lanterns) are lit in honor or memory of loved ones who have had cancer.     

ZQV members—please get pledges AND be prepared to sign up to walk I hour intervals. We have 18 hours to cover!  PLEASE JOIN US!!    info@zontaqv.org

We meet at Johnsens Catering 1432A Main St. Palmer, MA 01069
We will take a short break and resume in September! 
Contact info@zontaqv.org for more information.

Zonta International newsletter visiting the following link: ZI
Newsletter / Volume 1, Mar 2009.

March guest speaker was Joanne Rollins, Executive Director of Dress for Success Western Mass. Members and guests brought donations of shoes, jewelry and accessories to the meeting.
Also....we collected ontributions to a golf gift-basket that will be donated to the Palmer Library for use in an upcoming fundraiser!

March 8th was International Women's Day and Zonta Rose Day.  See stories and info below.

February Guest speaker MaryAnn Mohamoud spoke about Cultural Awareness and Clinical Considerations of FGM.  There are hundreds of immigrant women in western Massachusetts who are survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) - a common practice in many African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries in both Muslim and Christian areas.  “To foster a more trusting relationship with these women,” says MaryAnn Mohamoud, Outreach and Education Director for ‘Breaking the Silence’, “heath care providers, counselors, and advocates must have an accurate understanding of the cultural background surrounding this practice, a working knowledge of different types of procedures that may be encountered, and an awareness of acute and long-term complications.”  
Other resources:
Breaking the Silence brochure
Eliminating Female genital mutilation
An interagency statement OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO

January was Amelia Earhart Month
After hearing of Amelia Earhart's disappearance in 1937, the Zonta Club of Bakersfield, California, USA suggested honoring the trailblazing Zontian with a scholarship that would further her deep interest in the science of aeronautics.  In 1938, Zonta established the Amelia Earhart Fellowships. Few women were active in aeronautics, science or engineering at the time - no qualified applicants were even found in the first two years the Fellowship was offered. Yet Zontians did not doubt the success of such a scholarship program and faithfully supported.  To date, Zonta has awarded 1,227 Amelia Earhart fellowships totaling $7 Million to women from 58 countries.  January 11 is designated as Amelia Earhart Day, commemorating the day she became the first woman to fly solo over the Pacific Ocean.    More about Amelia

The goals of Zonta International are [ZI Bylaws, Article II, Objects (www.zonta.org)]

(CEDAW) Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htm)
Articles 1 to 16 of the Convention are embraced under Zonta’s Objects.

Golf Tournament June 13th - Quaboag CC   Monson, MA
Debbie Wood (Belchertown) and Marge Cavanaugh (Three Rivers) are all smiles at the conclusion of the 15th Annual Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Golf Tournament Fundraiser held Sat., June 13th at Quaboag Valley Country Club. The event is one of the club's major annual events to help raise funds to support local and international programs benefitting women and
their families. Click here for pictures.
 Please remember our great supporting sponsors and donors who we really appreciate!!  We hope you patronize their businesses. 

Country Bank for Savings
Monson Savings Bank
Papale Eye Center
Beers and Story Funeral Home
Easthampton Savings Bank
MiMar Tax Consultants, Palmer
Bell and Hudson Insurance, Belchertown
NEPM (New England Promotional Marketing) Wilbraham
Peter J. Kelly, M.D.
Lisa Fallon, CPA, P.C.
Evergreene Golf, Belchertown
Bright Star Health
Diane Kidd       
Mohegan Sun                
Accurate Accounting    
Marge Cavanaugh         
Quaboag Country Club       
Dunroamin’ Golf Club        
SunStruck Tanning             
Dick’s Sporting Goods        
Morgan Stanley                  
Zaxwear Custom Costume & Dress Wear  
Mary Kay – Donna Roberts 
Di’s Flowers, Belchertown    Gift Certificate
Six Flags New England       
Friendly’s Ice Cream           
Mug and Muffin, Monson    

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  Silent "no more!" Auction   May 11, 2009

Because victims of violence need to be heard!   $  was raised and
 donated to the Domestic Violence Task Forces serving Palmer, Ware, Warren and surrounding towns.   

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April 13 Meeting guest
Susan Jaye-Kaplan from
Link to Libraries - a
not for profit organization whose mission is to collect and distribute to public elementary schools and non-profit organizations in Western MA new books that will help children of all cultural backgrounds learn about their world while developing language and literacy skills.  School officials from Palmer, Ware and surrounding towns are encouraged to attend to hear about this remarkable effort.  Members and guests are encouraged to bring their checkbooks.

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Help a Child Today!  Do your part to protect children and strengthen families. Read these parenting tips and pass them on!  April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Be a giver.

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Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

 

 

 

2009 YWPA Award Offered
The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is seeking applications for the 2009 Young Women in Public Affairs Award.  The YWPA award recognizes young women for their commitment to the volunteer sector, volunteer leadership achievements and dedication to the advancement of the status of women. Winners of the $500 local award become eligible for larger awards at the District and International level.

Pre-university or pre-college women students (age 16-20) who reside in the greater Quaboag Valley area are encouraged to open the attached application  or obtain it  from their Guidance Counselor or on-line at www.zontaqv.org.  Questions can be directed to Carol Bardon at cbardon@charter.net.  The deadline for applications is March 25, 2009.   

______________________

An open letter to Zontians:

For almost twenty years I was paid less than my male co-workers. My case went all the way to the Supreme Court — I was shot down. 
But today, President Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and told the Supreme Court that they got it wrong. I always hoped this day would come and this is the best news I have heard in a long time. 
I was there with the President when he signed the bill. Here's the video from the signing. 

I can't say thank you enough to the thousands of you who've worked with us in this fight. Your e-mails to Congress, your phone calls, and your letters of support have meant so much to me and to the movement for pay equity for all women. We knew we could count on you — and we couldn't have done it without you. 
In the months and years to come, the fight for fair pay will go on. We're still fighting to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, and there will be other fronts in battle to close the wage gap once and for all. But we've taken an enormous step forward today. Thanks for taking that step with me.

Sincerely,

Lilly Ledbetter