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Zonta Club of the Pikes Peak Area |
In the spirit of the election / inaugural times .... "My fellow
Zontians", I hope you know that your volunteerism is having an impact in
our community. Your hard work in the 'fundraising arena' continues to pay
off. Please see the report from the Service Committee in the December
newsletter. Our "small club" will be distributing significant dollars to
International, our club YWPA winner, and several local agencies this year.
When I say "small club", this is reflective of our membership numbers when
comparing to the club size in Denver. You more than make up our numbers
with your big hearts and your enthusiasm. The coming months are our most
active time for fundraising. We will be more than busy collecting for ARC
in February, the fun times in Cripple Creek in March and, too close out our
year, the annual luncheon and fashion show in May. I want you to know
that I appreciate your efforts not only with the fundraising but also in
our other activities and events. You are the Zip-piest!!
Fran Souchek
This is the story of Francisca, a single mom with a young son to provide for, who had a brand new job and no transportation. Therefore, she had no way to accept the job. Here's how funding from the Pikes Peak Area Zonta Club helped to solve her problem. This was related in the Women's Resource Agency's recent newsletter.
Her story begins with an abusive, controlling estranged husband who refused to help in any way. So, Francisca set about helping herself! She enrolled in a course at the Community Action Agency, a partner of WRA, and began taking steps toward independence. She also completed a 12-week English as a Second Language course in 6-weeks. She secured adequate housing and began working toward taking her GED test. She found a full-time job but there was still one problem. Transportation.
WRA had a car, donated by a family whose adult son moved away and who believed that someone in need could really use this car. WRA had funding, generously donated by Zonta Club of the Pikes Peak Area, an internationally affiliated service organization whose mission is to advance the status of women, locally and globally. They wanted their funding to help a woman that was helping herself. So, the car was checked, repaired, and the great guys at Acacia Park Texaco declared it roadworthy. It was decided that Francisca would make a perfect recipient of the car.
The family who donated the car would know it was really needed - and Zonta's members would know that they helped a woman whose life would get better as a result of their gift.
Francisca says, "your gift allowed me to fulfill promises to my
employer, and take Javier to day care. I am able to do simple things
required in everyday living --grocery, doctor, Goodwill for clothes.
Thank you so very much."
Love, Francisca
Zontians, this is what helping a woman change her status is all about. Good job, Pikes Peak Area Club!
Rita is the PPA member who has been in the club for the longest period of time; she joined in October 1984. Rita was recruited by a reference librarian at the Air Force Academy and member at that time, Florence Klemm. Rita's long time membership is due to her seeing the good the overall group does and to her being cognizant of the fact that not everyone has to think alike to get things done. Also, she likes meeting the interesting women in not only our club, but in our area, district and internationally.
The local service project she enjoys the most is giving scholarships to women who are rejoining the work force. The International service project that has meant the most to her was the Sri Lanka well project where Zonta worked with the UN to save women hours a day. With the wells close at hand they needn't walk miles to the river for water.
Rita has attended three international conventions - Toronto, St. Louis and Paris. She can't remember how many area and district meetings she has attended - but there have been quite a few.
The message she has for a prospective member is that anyone can give money to favorite charities, but Zonta pays attention to not only local but also international causes. The world is small and anytime you can help one woman, get an education, get some recognition, a little protection, value as a person, then you've helped all the people in the world not just women. It seems a shame that women, who are more than half the population of the world, are not more valued. Also, Zonta doesn't so much give money as they - teach a woman to fish. This enables her to become self-sufficient and more self-confident.
Thanks, Rita, for your memories and thoughts - Betty
by Phyllis Zell
The Amelia Earhart Banquet hosed by Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County, January 17th, at the Doubletree in Westminister, was a truly gala event. Betty Edwards, Kate Brewster and Phyllis Zell missed the silent auction because of stop-and-go traffic but arrived in time to dine with 158 other Zontians and friends and to hear the speaker, Michele Brekke, NASA Flight Manager. The food was elegant and the speech (plus video) outstanding. Ms. Brekke received one of our Zonta $6,000 Scholarships while in graduate school and still in hopes of becoming an astronaut. Eye problems ended those hopes, but her persistence in getting a summer job at NASA-Houston helped open the door to her long term civilian career there. Her engineering ability, innovative problem-solving, and sense of humor have helped her professionally and in raising a family. Michele Brekke typifies the best of Zonta traditions and was a pleasure to hear.
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 15:34:56 -0500
From: ald00@netscape.net
Subject: Update- Adrian L. Davis
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Currently I am
working on the Colorado Springs First Annual Season For Nonviolence- an
international nonviolence initiative created by Gandhi's grandson. College
is going very well and I am excited to be involved with the admirable
mission of the Season For Nonviolence. I hope you will be able to
participate in the Nonviolence kickoff event on Feb. 3rd, Gandhi's grandson
will be speaking at the UCCS Lodge.
See you there,
Adrian L. Davis
| February 19 | General Meeting
"Healthy Hearts for Women" Jill Jensen and Lisa Miller Penrose St. Francis |
| March 19 | General Meeting
International Emphasis |
| March 31 | Area Meeting
Colorado Springs |
| April 16 | General Meeting
Elderhostel (?) Election of Officers |
| May 21 | General Meeting
Installation Dinner |
| September 21-23 | District Conference
Denver |
**Please send comments and suggested information for the newsletter to Sufak1@aol.com or nulty@money.org or betlow@aol.com.