Zonta Zephyr

Zonta Club of the Pikes Peak Area
March 2005 Newsletter
Volume V, Issue 3

      



In This Issue:
Peak View
Betty's Bits
Member Information
Member Profile
Kudos Kolumn
Information: Links
Dates to Remember


PEAK VIEW!

from Teri Hermans

CELEBRATE ZONTA ROSE DAY and International Women's Day on MARCH 8

by sending a note to a woman you admire (and of course a rose if you would like)!
    

International Women's Day is celebrated by women's groups around the world, and commemorated at the United Nations. It is a day when we can look back to a tradition representing at least 9 decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development with women on all continents....a day we can celebrate regardless of national boundaries, ethical, linguistic, cultural, economic or political differences!

The idea of International Women's Day arose at the turn of the century in the industrialized world during a period of expansion, turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies (which probably are not so radical now)! It is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women's rights.

The United Nations was the first international agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right (Charter San Francisco 1945)....and since that time has continued to create a legacy of internationally agreed strategies, standards, programs and goals to advance the status of women worldwide. SO CELEBRATE our victories, and continue to participate in full empowerment of the world's women !!

Our own Zonta Club of Pikes Peak Area is sponsoring the Zonta Area Meeting on 4/1 and 4/2. Sharon Roggy has put together a tremendous program...send in your responses and hope to see you all at this meeting!

And last but not least....committee chairs....committee reports due to Teri on 4/1!

-Teri

Quotation of the Month

"It doesn't pay well to fight for what we believe in."
- writer Lillian Hellman


Click here for list of past quotes!


Betty's Bits

by Betty Edwards

One night while on a 2 am 'tv clicking exercise,' I ran across a documentary about Liberia. Due to our service project for the Liberian refugees I watched some of the history of this country and the despair of those who have been subjected to atrocities and starvation. It is no surprise that many Liberians have left Liberia in an effort to find a life where they are free to raise their families in peace. One has to admire their courage to move out into the world searching for a better life.

There was this nagging thought in my head that America had been instrumental in founding the country of Liberia and this is what I learned. In the late 1700's and early 1800's, many white people became concerned over the existence of freed black slaves in the US. In 1816, a group of whites set up the American Colonization Society (ACS) to return freed slaves to Africa. The ACS bought land along the coast and started a settlement that was named Monrovia, after President James Monroe. In 1822 the first group of freed slaves arrived at the settlement by ship. There were many hardships for the settlers - finding food and many died from disease. Also the native Africans feared the newcomers and attacked them.

As is usually the result, there have been continual wars and rebellions. In 1996, there was an agreement to end the seven-year civil war. More than 200,000 Liberians had died and about 1 million others had fled the country. There have been efforts by a UN peacekeeping mission with a resulting power-sharing government which took control in October 2003. Conflicts continue.

According to The Perspective, Atlanta, Georgia, in July 2003 - Women: Liberia's Final Answer for Peace. We wish them well.

The Women's Lobby of Colorado, Inc. in their recent Status Sheet, lists the following bill as one of their highest priorities.

HB 1232 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
This makes the State EITC a permanent rather than a tax credit conditional on a TABOR surplus. Gradually increases it from 10% of Federal EITC to 20 % of the Federal EITC. Without this bill, low wage working families could forever lose a state EITC if TABOR reform eliminates future surpluses.

To track this bill, and others, see: www.leg.state.co.us/

Member news:

Spoke with Pavel, Gail Kozhevnikov's husband, in order to check on Gail's activities. Pavel said that Gail was in Canada right now on a recruitment mission. He also reported that Gail is the Assistant Principal at Pinecreek School and is keeping very busy. That's our Gail! Hope to see her soon.

-Betty

From Mary Ellen Bittner, President, Zonta International
Please complete the Online Member Survey!
Deadline extended to March 4, 2005



Trivia!

Ides of March

March was the start of the Roman year, named for Mars, god of war.
Find out where the month names came from at: http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/roman/months.htm





Women in History
Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

    
Quotations:
"Women are responsible for their children, they cannot sit back, waste time and see them starve."
"African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are -- to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence."
"The privilege of a higher education, especially outside Africa, broadened my original horizon and encouraged me to focus on the environment, women and development in order to improve the quality of life of people in my country in particular and in the African region in general."
"All through the ages the African people have made efforts to deliver themselves from oppressive forces. It is important that a critical mass of Africans do not accept the verdict that the world tries to push down their throat so as to give up and succumb. The struggle must continue. It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa."
"All of us have a God in us, and that God is the spirit that unites all life, everything that is on this planet. It must be this voice that is telling me to do something, and I am sure it's the same voice that is speaking to everybody on this planet - at least everybody who seems to be concerned about the fate of the world, the fate of this planet."
"We can work together for a better world with men and women of goodwill, those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind. To do so effectively, the world needs a global ethic with values which give meaning to life experiences and, more than religious institutions and dogmas, sustain the non-material dimension of humanity. Mankind's universal values of love, compassion, solidarity, caring and tolerance should form the basis for this global ethic which should permeate culture, politics, trade, religion and philosophy. It should also permeate the extended family of the United Nations."

"I would like to call on young people, in particular, to take inspiration from this prize. Despite all the constraints that they face, there is hope in the future in serving the common good. What my experiences have taught me is that service to others has its own special rewards." Prof. Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech

Official Web Site

BBC profile: See note on Nobel Peace Prize committee: "She thinks globally and acts locally."

-Thanks to Mary Louise Clay and Gail Piper for bringing Wangari Maathai to our attention



March Birthday

19 - Eva Mattedi







Member Profile - Janet Reedy

Greetings! I first joined Zonta in September 2004, and have felt so welcomed! It has been a truly exciting experience for me and my plan is to get more and more involved! My good friend Kate Brewster has been talking to me about it for a couple of years, and then invited me to the ice cream social in August where I got my first glimpse at what it meant to be part of such a wonderful organization. I met with Betty Edwards shortly after that and have been hooked ever since. Now that my children have almost grown, I've been looking for something to do to give service to others, and I've found it in Zonta!

I was born in Denver, the second of four children and the oldest daughter. I have one brother who is older, and two younger sisters. We moved to Pueblo when I was 6, and my dad became the Director of Goodwill Industries there. As a child and young adult, I was truly very shy and introverted, and found it very difficult to interact with others unless it was on a one to one basis. So anyway - I've been exposed to service to others from a very young age - I remember working with my parents and siblings to help improve the lives of the disabled we came into contact with.

After high school, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. My best friend Kim, and her sister Pam were Army brats. Pam was going to see an Army Reserve recruiter. I didn't want her to join, so I went with her to help balance what the recruiter was saying - and he signed both of us up in one session! Kim couldn't stand the thought of a summer without us, so she joined too. The three of us were off to boot camp at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. My friends chose different jobs than I did - so we separated after basic training - they stayed at Ft. Jackson, and I went on to Indianapolis.

After my training, I traveled to Laramie, Wyoming and started working at the University of Wyoming. While there, I learned to belly dance, which is still a passion in my life. I was there for a couple of years when I met the man I thought I would marry, Ted, who was a foreign student from Greece. I left the University when he graduated with his PhD. My reserve commitment was over and the plan was to join him in Greece 6 months later - after a 6 month detour to visit my brother and his wife in Germany. Their child was a year old and they needed a temporary nanny, and Ted needed to spend some time in the Greek Army. I never got to visit Greece. I joined my fiancé in France for a conference where we ended the relationship. I got my taste of what it felt like to be a woman treated as a "second class citizen". I found it intolerable and returned to the States. As I've thought about it, this is one of the reasons that Zonta appeals to me so much.

A few months after my return, I visited my old reserve unit in Denver where I met Ron Reedy, my husband. It was love at first sight! I rejoined the reserves to be with him. He has been so wonderful and so supportive! We will celebrate 22 years of marriage in April. We have 3 children of our own, and have also helped to raise our nephew (my sister's child). Larry is 21, in the Air Force, and is stationed in Lakenheath, England. He is returning in April to get married to Tracy, a wonderful girl he has been seeing for 4 years. Adam (my nephew) is 19, and is a computer whiz. He is currently working full time in the real estate business, and looking for his calling in life. Caitlin is 18 and is a senior in high school. She plans on attending Pikes Peak Community College for 2 years and then heading to the University of Wyoming to complete a degree in child psychology. Colleen is 17 and is a junior. She plans on graduating next December and then heading off to a 4 year college - where that might be is yet to be determined. Raising our children has been one of my most challenging and fun experiences!

When Ron and I got married, I joined him in Colorado Springs. We both planned to stay in the reserves, but that otherwise, I would stay home and raise our children. Seven months after Larry was born, Ron was seriously injured in a terrible car accident. He was unable to work for about 5 years, while going through many surgeries and treatments. Therefore, I had to go to back to work. I immediately found a job at the Air Force Academy in Civilian Personnel. I was there for 4 years when I found a job at Penrose-St. Francis. During my times visiting Ron in St. Francis Hospital (he was there for 6 weeks), I would walk by the Human Resource department and wonder what it would be like to work for them - Ron had been treated so well as a patient. Needless to say I jumped at the chance to work there! I have been with the Penrose-St. Francis organization for almost 17 years now and love it!

I am a Human Resources Senior Generalist, which means I manage our front office, and in additional to that I am responsible for employee relations for a third of our staff. My work is never dull or boring and I finally found what I wanted to do when I grew up.

Ron had to leave the reserves a couple of years after his accident, but we decided that at least one of us should retire from the military, so it was left to me. I've only belonged to 2 different units and both were at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver. I retired from the active reserves in December of 2000, and entered the retired reserves. My years in the reserves were also in the personnel field, and my last job was as the First Sergeant of a Training Brigade.

Between the belly dancing, the Army Reserve, and Human Resouces, I was able to find the confidence to get beyond my intense shyness. You may still find me somewhat introverted, but I'm still a work in progress! I'm looking forward to spending more time with all of you and getting to know you all better!

Much Zonta love,
Janet


Click here for a listing of Zonta Member profiles!




Update on The Liberian Women Project


Zonta members were out in full force at the first gathering on Friday, February 18. Zontians showed their generosity in bringing large amounts of clothing, household items, children's items, food and more for the ladies to choose from. Kris did an amazing job of organizing these items while she and other Zonta members helped our African women guests and their children make selections to take home for their families. Zonta members and friends (Corrie Johnson, Deborah Steinke, Kathy O'Neil, Tamara Brody) brought food, drinks and dinnerware galore. We were treated to many African dishes that the ladies made with the money we had collected for ingredients. There was so much food left over but because our members brought take home containers, nothing went to waste. For those African women that could not attend the Friday night Pot Luck, the extra clothing and other items, as well the leftover food was packed in those containers, and went to the home of Odette Kasal. Thanks to the use of Alicia's truck and so many individual Zonta members and friends, driving their cars, nothing was unused. Over the following week, Odette greeted African refugees and found homes for all our donations.
-Renee

See our new scrapbook page!





Zonta Founders

General Meeting Program
March 21, 2005


SURPRISE guest speaker! Don't miss it!
Arriving in March, not too dusty from the grave, our mystery guest is a famous artist whose work has become even more famous after her death than her own husband's was while he was alive! Who is she? Come to the March meeting and remember to bring the right half of your brain!


Did you know?
What is the history of Zonta Internationals Headquarters building?

The Zonta International Headquarters building was erected in 1855 by Henry Horner and served as his home and place of business, "Henry Horner & Co., Wholesale Grocers and Flour Dealers." Located at 557 West Randolph in Chicago's downtown West Loop neighborhood, the building is one of only two structures in the area to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Since then, it has served only one other business, the Pentecost Brothers fish purveyors.



Anyone interested in purchasing a pin from Avon which features a heart with a globe (with Asia on its face) to support the tsunami effort, please send an email to Liz Groothof Croddy at groothofcroddy@att.net
The pin costs $4.25, and $3 goes directly to the tsunami aid effort. (Avon also sells products that support breast cancer research as well as other past goodwill efforts.)
A photo of the pin and information is available at http://www.youravon.com/articles/info_library/heartofasia.html


Kudos Kolumn

Great big kudos to Alicia Jones, Helen Smithwick, and Pat Rosas. These three Zonta women stayed with me in the dark parking lot at the Friday night Liberian Pot Luck, and actually jacked up the car, had the spare tire out and would have changed the flat tire if the lug nuts had cooperated. Helen went into the church building looking for a man who might be strong enough to undo the lug nuts and came back victorious. I am very grateful for their help and support!! Hugs to you all. - from Betty

KUDOS to Kris and Renee for all their work in organizing the Potluck for our African Women Refugees-if we think organization is difficult for us...think of how very hard it is for them....!!!! - from Teri

KUDOS to Laura Stamp for organizing the Wine Sampling Party at her home 4/1 for the AREA meeting-remember to bring your appetizers/ hors d'oeurvres! - from Teri

Here you have the opportunity to thank and/or praise your fellow Zontians for something above and beyond. Send all contributions to the newsletter editor - nulty@csdco.com.


Featured Links of the Month!

National Women's History Month


Click here for links from past newsletters!



Dates to Remember . . .

March 8 International Women's Day
March 7 5:30 pm Board Meeting - Montague's on South Tejon
March 21 General Meeting
April 1 Committee Reports due to Teri
April 2 8:30am - 2pm Area 4 Meeting in Colorado Springs
June 24-26 ZI: Interdistrict Membership Seminar of the Americas'


All General Meetings, unless otherwise notified, are at:
Gold Hills Substation
705 S. Nevada
5:30 pm for social and food
6-6:45pm-Speaker
6:45-7:45-Meeting


Refreshment Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
MONTH FOODDRINK
March Rosalie Dorland & Pat Rosas Susie Nulty
April Sharon Roggy & Kate Brewster Rita Jones
May Installation Dinner

Thank you ladies!

Please send comments and suggested information for the newsletter to nulty@csdco.com.


Pikes Peak Area Club Information
www.zontadistrict12.org/pikespeak.html

District 12 Information
www.zontadistrict12.org

Zonta International
www.zonta.org


© 2005 Zonta International