International Women's Day
Colorado Springs 2012
The Zonta Club of the Pikes Peak Area
Honors
Betty R. Edwards

Betty R. Edwards

Take a moment to examine your personal goals. Ask yourself what it might look like to truly achieve your personal best, to be a positive leader and role-model, to build enduring relationships, to serve your community effectively, to be a real catalyst for positive change. What does that look like? Do you see a calming grace, a kind and giving attitude, and a self deprecating manner that wins the affection of everyone? Do you see a charming sense of humor that belies an inner strength, fortitude and dogged determination to overcome every obstacle? Finally, do you see the achievement of every goal while remaining true to a high moral standard?

If you are having difficulty with this vision, then take a look at one woman who is all of this and more. Sitting among us is a woman who has quietly served this community and quite literally the world in ways that could never be completely described in one evening. She was born and raised in Miami, FL. She was a military wife who had the opportunity to live for eight years in Europe. Management was her focus for 16 years at Colorado Interstate Gas Company. Following early retirement, she served on the adjunct faculty at both Regis University at Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Community College. Her volunteer activities have included Board President of the Women's Resource Agency as well as membership in both the American Association of University Women and the local organization of United Nations Association. She has also served Zonta, and its mission to advance the status of women, for over 24 years. In addition to holding many leadership positions at the local level, she has been the Zonta District 12 Governor, Foundation Ambassador, and Nominating Chairman. Her most recent and arguably greatest achievement has been to conceptualize, develop and create the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado. This organization is made up of service providers from every sector, dedicated to care and advocate for trafficked victims as well as to educate the public about this issue and ultimately to bring an end to this atrocity. She now serves as the founding Chairman of the Human Trafficking Task Force, and through her hard work and dedication, she has gifted the opportunity for hands-on service to many individuals who have embraced this issue, and she has re-invigorated many more with a new sense of purpose. In the spirit of the International Women's Day truth that "the rising of the women is the rising of us all" the members of the Zonta Club of the Pikes Peak Area would like to acknowledge, thank and honor this incredibly remarkable woman who is a hero and a priceless treasure to this community. She is, of course, Betty Edwards.