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Member Profiles
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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