1.  How long have you been a member of Zonta International (ZI)?

____ Less than 1 year to ____ Over 22 years

Good mix:  Heard from Ann, Carol, Liz, MaryAnn, Chris, BJ, Louise Joanne, Deb W,  Deb A, Janet and Marge

2.  How did you learn about ZI?

Primarily friends, associates – website and Ludlow sign also

3.  Why are you a member of our Zonta Club?

Primarily Opportunity to put something back into the local and global community  and meet other women of similar interests. Good spattering of all other reasons – business, professional and social

4.  Do you feel our Zonta Club Officers, Board and Committee Chairs are responsive to questions/concerns you might have?

Primarily YES

5.  What are you willing to do for our Zonta Club?

We need to learn about and tap into each other’s talents!! 

Lots of enthusiasm and willingness to devote time to fundraising projects and recruit new members and to assist in anyway possible!

Ann, Marge, Kris - Do research on developing new fund-raising projects

Deb W, Deb, A, BJ, Kris, MaryAnn - Public relations, ambassadors – district and international insights

MaryAnn – creativity     Carol – computer skills    Deb W, BJ, - financial    Chris – nursing

6.  Do you find the activities and focus of our Zonta Club?

 Primarily as expected - Believe a good mix of social and business is necessary and we seem to have a fairly good balance . We seem to get a lot of good things done so we must be focused in a number of areas.  Not enough community impact.

7.  What do you think our Zonta Club’s goals should be? 

:  * Fundraise for both and keep abreast of what is happening with our international projects but do local projects

Priority order:  1. A good balance between international and local projects.  *

2.  More effort spent on raising the profile of our Zonta Club in the community, thus obtaining  assistance from corporations and other clubs in support of designated projects

3.  More time/ effort spent on supporting worthwhile local community projects selected by members

Key.

8.  Please comment as to how our Zonta Club meet its goals as you see them:

+ Enthusiasm, Donations to ZF and local  -  Abreast of Int’l  - Local projects

Opened opportunities for local events, service projects.  Need to do goal setting so we can measure.    Great people, enthusiasm.  Donate 1/3 to ZF and donate locally to ZI goals.
International goals are well organized and well met.  We as a club fall short on local service projects.

Although I have to say that our commitment and participation in local Zisvaw projects is greatly improving.

9.  Have you ever proposed a name for membership?

If no, it’s because of time, location of friends

10.  Do you feel that we use the expertise and ideas of our own Zonta Club members to the fullest?

More active involvement – full potential revealed. 

Our members always seem to step up to the plate.  All of us should also be aware of any areas of expertise that a sister Zontian may have, but may be too reticent to share with others.  We need to encourage everyone to utilize their special talents.  This not only helps the club, and community, but the Zontians self-esteem and professional growth.

More active involvement – full potential revealed.  Need to do better at taping into member info and expertise.  LISTEN – haven’t heard from everyone   Brainstorm more.   Enlighten each other.

11.  Do you feel that our Zonta Club meeting time is spent productively?

Yes, however, I feel that the introductions and telling about ourselves is getting very old and unnecessary.  Also, the chatter that goes on at tables when there is a speaker at the podium is very rude.  Use Zonta manual. Keep quality, use time wisely.  Greater productivity during   

12.  How important are the Program Speakers for our Zonta Club meetings?

 

Speakers imp… relate to Z objects

We did not have many speakers this year.  Some of the speakers have been quite informative and true to Zonta’s objects; however, some, although interesting, really had little to do with the objects.  Keep me interested in attending.  Relate to Z’s objects – women’s issues, local and global

I would like to hear speakers who want to share their concerns and ideas with us about women’s issues globally as well as locally.    I believe that most of our program speakers have been great . The membership seems to really enjoy some of the programs where we interact  among the membership .

13.  Please comment on suggestions do you have to improve the Zonta Club meetings:

 

Format meetings for everyone:

5 min report on Int’l initiative – map

Something surprising

Committee reports – standard and ad hoc

Overview of what was accomplished/hrs.
Program focus on theme – calendar

Celebrate

Collect or do something or brainstorm a solution for something at each meeting?

Have a brief period each meeting (5 minutes) to discuss international issues. Each month a member can volunteer to go on Zonta’s website and learn about an international project, district, or club.  Bring more of the international aspect to our meetings.  .  Short business reports form committees and a focus on a program.  Communication is KEY . More fun, less work.  Keep informational, interesting, results oriented.

As ZI advises, during the year of a convention,  proposed amendment changes should be discussed so that new and veteran members know what is going on at an international level.  This discussion should also include membership consensus on how their delegate should vote on the questions.

Club officers should review their manuals and understand their responsibilities and tasks. 

Bring more guests – new perspectives, insights.

Guests should be introduced to all and greeted before meeting and during

14.  Please comment on ways that our Zonta Club could improve our profile in the local community:

Partner with other groups on service initiatives, to make a difference in lives of local women, and get publicity about activity.

Invite targeted guests based on program focus/theme each month… women in government, teachers and administrators, seniors, women in helping fields, minority communities, TopFloor,  TaskForces, and other volunteer groups (learn from them and get exposure to us- win win)

Getting involved in local projects within the community. If we could get involved in a service that has strong impact for women.   Guess we’re waiting to see what pops up.

Tap into schools and seniors – enthusiasm and involved people.

Keep inviting local women to a meeting so they can learn more about Zonta. 

Invite women in town government as speakers or guests – Awareness for them and for us.  Maybe having each meeting focused on ‘targeted guests”– teachers, town women employees, etc.  and be sure the program ties in.

Keep our local projects varied so that together the projects have wide appeal

I feel that we should participate in local events or projects to help women and children.  Top Floor Learning is a dynamic local nonprofit seeking to educate highschool drop outs and is starting a Bridges to College program to empower/prepare people to attend college.  I think we should explore a partnership with them.  I find that we like to think we want to be hands-on in the community but when it comes down to actual time and talent sharing we are as a group too busy!!!

Maybe a service project in the community in which we are physically doing something . An example , a phonathone to raise funds for something in the community .

Supporting local activities, booths at fairs/schools/etc. which attract our target audience.

Use radio, TV, outreach to working women’s groups.

15.  Please describe what you like best about ZI and our Zonta Club.

FOCUS TO KEEP – making a difference, part of a much larger team, life long learning

The connection between all of us as it relates to improving the life of women, service initiatives.  Also, the international aspect is a wonderful way to meet women from all over the world and reaffirm that we share similar goals and values.   Sisterhood.  Our members !!!Each one is dedicated, caring, and friendly  Accomplishments as a group. 

I love the international aspect and being part of the world.  But feel we are ineffective in our own communities.   I like the members and the opportunity to acquire new skills .

The camaraderie, the community projects,  the programs which allow us to learn more about various topics, the international aspect, the ability to learn more skills, the amazing opportunities for personal growth. 

16.  Please describe what you like least about ZI and our Zonta Club.

Make new friends and keep the old.

Nothing about ZI.  Perhaps updates from the ZI website about what’s happening at ZI or from BJ maybe.  Keep the connection apparent between us and international.  Create more of a sense of being part of a wonderful whole.  Lack of effectiveness in local communities.  Committee meetings are key to building strength and goals.. that’s where the work should be done.

Loosing contact with some members. ..sad. Adopt system to maintain contact with all members, particularly new ones and those unable to attend. 

17.  Please share other suggestions to improve the operations of the Zonta Club?

Current/Past Board members are the leaders.  Knowledge of Zonta Manual, ByLaws, District Procedures, Committee Responsibility – recruit, mentor and set goals for the year: 

MaryAnn mentor OMC/ Orientation

BJ mentor Int’l /UN

Deb A mentor Finance / Fundraising / Donation recommendations (form)

Kris mentor Scholarship (3) awards

Adhoc – based on interests and/or assigned by Board – golf, poinsettia, environment, relays, zisvaw, otherservice initiatives.

Many cubs provide new members with the official Zonta Manual and a copy of the ZI Bylaws.  I think these 2 references give a new member lots of information about ZI and the local club that they don’t get elsewhere.  I think we should also give them our District Rules of Procedure.  Do we have orientation?   Decrease dinner meeting fees by having dues paid separately
I feel administrative operations of our club are functioning well.

Encourage all members to participate, especially the newer members.  I do think that this is beginning to occur with greater regularity. 

Interesting, informative speakers. !!! Finance committee  - active, goal oriented.

Team/ mentoring approach to each other

Post reminders of committee responsibilities and membership  - understand the purpose of committee and be more active in committee work even if by email.

18.  Please share comments on how to improve meeting our local and international mission:

Encourage Donations to ZF – we are part of big picture.

I’d like to see our club with a stronger service project.  It seems we do a lot of check writing, which is fine, but wouldn’t it be great to do some hands-on type of things. Increase membership. By increasing our numbers, we will increase our fundraising ability which will increase our local commitments which will get us better name recognition which will make it easier to get  new members.   I don’t believe our membership is really interested in sustained hands-on community projects.

Increase membership so that we have more “hands” to help with projects .  – more ‘hands on’ projects.

Become more aware of Int’ projects. Encourage members to donate to ZF

19.  Additional comments?  Please share:

Z – good value for time and money.

Acknowledge and nurture current members.   LISTEN

I know some clubs are struggling trying to find a really good service project.  I think it is critical to the well- being of a club to have one.  Our members have choices of what to do with their time and money, and I’d like them to feel Zonta gives them a good value for what they contribute.  It needs to be more than dinner with an occasional good speaker.  We have a great club and do great work so we should be proud of all that is positive.

Our club shines and I am happy to be a member !

Recruit minorities

Let communities know what we are about.   Partner with other organizations on mutual projects.

Acknowledge and nurture current members.   LISTEN.

Social aspect is a great fringe benefit of belonging. It’s not our focus, but we all enjoy the friendships that have developed.