As I'm sure others have reported, a Zonta convention is an overwhelming experience. It is, of course, impossible to boil down a week's worth of speeches, ceremonies, and voting into a short article, but I'll try to touch on a few highlights, including those I found most interesting and important.

The opening ceremonies included welcome letters from New York State Governor George Pataki, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in addition to a congratulatory letter from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. We did not go to New York unnoticed!

We were also honored with an eloquent and poignant keynote speech from Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Heyzer pointed out the appalling effect of the world's conflicts on women. "Women's bodies," she said, "have become the battleground of war." However, she also discussed the status of women in such places as Barundi, Rwanda, and Afghanistan where the UN is helping women "stitch...communities back together." "Women" she declared, "are not just your victims, they are your solution." (When some of us inquired about obtaining a copy of Ms. Heyzer's speech, we found out that she had not prepared a speech — those elegant metaphors came off the top of her head!)

Another speaker, Barbara Fiorito, Chair of Oxfam America, outlined how globalization has "gone awry" for women. She explained Oxfam's support of "micro-credit" programs, in which poor women receive small loans to start businesses that support themselves, their families, and their communities. She discussed other ways in which international trade policies and practices could be more advantageous to women.

I was inspired to learn the specific ways in which the $1,800,000 the Zonta International Foundation gave away during the biennium has made a difference in the lives of women in India, Afghanistan, and Bosnia Herzegovina. Kirsten Theisen, Chair of the Status of Women Committee, detailed conditions for women in these areas, and how Zonta supported programs helped to increase education and training, improve health care, and end domestic violence.

The convention luncheon featured three exceptional speakers who celebrated the partnership between Zonta International and UNICEF: Jan Goodwin, an award-winning journalist and human rights activist who has documented conditions for women in the Islamic world; Karin Sham Poo, a former banking executive serving as Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF; and Frangois Gasse, UNICEF Senior Project Officer who detailed his work in eliminating neonatal tetanus.

Zonta's finances are healthy — our expenses came in under budget — but will not remain so unless membership increases. Zonta has not raised dues in ten years, but an increase may be requested in Melbourne if our membership does not increase. Brigit Baker, International Public Relations Chair, talked about how all members must do PR for Zonta. In that effort, she announced the PR Toolkit, which is available on the Web site, and winners of the PR contest. Various other speakers addressed goals for the biennium in the areas of PR, membership, leadership, and international projects. The convention also adopted the resolution to "promote the awareness, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS."

At the Pikes Peak club's July meeting, we talked briefly about the convention elections. For full election results, including by-laws changes, go to the Zonta Web site (www.zonta.org) and click View Complete Election Results or Convention 2004 coverage. A few highlights:

• Our President-elect is Olivia Ferry, a pharmaceutical industry executive from the Philippines. The Vice President-elect is Beryl Sten, a corporate information manager from Sweden.
• The International Nominating Committee has been restructured to include one member from each territory and four members at large. This change reflects the change in membership demographics: during the biennium, membership increased in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, but decreased in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
• The qualification requirement for club officers, district officers, and International Board members was changed from "actively engaged" to "experience in a decision-making capacity." However, membership candidates must still be "actively engaged in a recognized business or profession."
• After a fair amount of discussion on the convention floor, English was not adopted as the official language of Zonta.
• Our beloved former Governor Mary Benoit was not elected as an International Director, even after her impressive speech.

Member Profile - Kate Brewster When Sharon Roggy first started telling me about Zonta over a dozen years ago, I had the normal questions everyone seems to have. What does Zonta stand for? Do you really follow the mission of advancing the status of women? Why international? At that point, I wasn't qualified for membership, but in 1993 (when I was promoted to a management position at Penrose Hospital) I attended a meeting...and found out for myself that this was the focus I had been looking for. I haven't looked back since! I was born the oldest of seven children (six girls and one boy), and we lived on 40 acres of land outside a small town in northern Wisconsin. My mother was the "soul" of our family, teaching us the importance of family, sharing, helping others, etc., which has continued to influence my life. Perhaps that's why I was looking for an organization through which I could make a difference (especially in women's lives).

Growing up in the country taught me a lot about living off the land and giving back to it. My mother canned over 300 jars of vegetables, fruit, and jams each fall, which usually carried us through most of the winter months. Through Mom and 4-H Club activities, I learned to cook, can, sew my own clothing, knit, and embroider. Once I reached high school I discovered there were other things out there to do, including speech and drama, which culminated in my securing the female lead in our senior class play — a real blast and quite an experience for a "shy kid!!"

I was married young (age 20) to a man who entered the Air Force as a 1st Lt. After living on a farm all of my life, it was quite an adventure to move from place to place as a military wife. We started out at Lowery Air Force Base in Denver and then went to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska for our first long tour of duty (just over 3 years). This was probably my favorite place because there were so many new things to discover....a first look at the Northern Lights, growing vegetables that were 3-4 times larger than I'd ever seen, tasting fresh salmon from the local streams, seeing 24 hours of light during the summer and what seemed to be the same amount of darkness in the winter. Because we were far away from the lower 48 (I didn't see my family the entire time we were there), we grew close to our neighbors and developed lasting friendships.

My (then) husband had two overseas solo tours of duty during our marriage — Viet Nam and South Korea — and I chose to live Wisconsin to be near family and old friends for both of those years. Together we also lived in Austin, Texas; Montgomery, Alabama; and Bozeman, Montana. It was in Bozeman that we divorced and I moved to Colorado Springs in 1975 to "start a new life." Within five days of our move, I was hired at Penrose Hospital and, much to my surprise, continued working there for 27 years in various positions within the Cancer Hospital, public relations department and human resources. The hospital system offered me an opportunity to grow tremendously with continued education and advancement — I couldn't have asked for a better work life!

I met my husband Bob 11 years ago and we will celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary in September. I feel truly blessed to have met the "love of my life" and enjoy sharing both quiet times and new adventures with him. We love to golf and travel, and hope to do much more of both as time goes on.

One of my biggest joys in life has been raising my three sons. My oldest Scott is 37 years old and works for Juniper (based outside of Boston) as Vice President of Systems Engineering for the Americas. He is responsible for 150 engineers throughout North and South America, but he also travels worldwide to present information at conferences and meetings. He is married to Deb, who is a retired Air Force Captain and a software engineer/website designer. My second son Jeff is 35 and is just completing work on his PhD in Animal Science at Washington State University in Pullman. He has completed his written and oral exams and defends on September 20th — my son the DOCTOR!! He was just notified that he has been awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the same university in something that has to do with "molecular" and "animal reproduction" — don't ask me any more than that because he speaks a whole different language (as does my oldest son). Jeff has one daughter named Katelyn (guess who she's named after!!!) who is now eight years old, going on 25. As my only grandchild, she is the recipient of as many hand-knitted items as I can make each year. Last, but certainly not least, my third son Martin lives in Colorado Springs and works at Micro Metals Manufacturing Co. Because he prefers to work with his hands much more than he likes to go to school, he has discovered his own niche in life, and is perfectly happy in his chosen profession. I have to admit it's a real pleasure to have at least one of my sons within arm's reach — we make a point of scheduling a lunch every other week to stay in touch with each other outside of phone calls and quick visits.

Kate at Pikes Peak's 50th Celebration in 1999

Outside of my home and Zonta, I'm also a Stephen Leader at Bethel Lutheran Church, where I teach congregation members to be Stephen Ministers. Stephen Ministry is a Christian caregiving program to help people going through any type of crisis in their lives. I've been in the program for eight years and find the training has helped me in all areas of my life. Additionally, I teach knitting classes at Knitter's Kove and thoroughly enjoy helping people learn to do what I consider one of life's greatest pleasures.

My 11 years in Zonta has offered me much more than I could have imagined — good friends, projects that make a difference, educational opportunities, and growth. My deepest thanks go out to both Sharon Roggy for introducing me to Zonta and to Betty Edwards for "pushing" me along within the organization. Serving as Gov. Betty's District Secretary and then as Area 4 Director have helped me to build a greater knowledge and understanding of Zonta International and its mission, which, in turn, has reinforced my decision to join Zonta in the first place.

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 Link of the Month allAfrica.com African women and gender headlines.

Dates to Remember . . .

Refreshment Schedule for Upcoming Meetings MONTH FOOD DRINK September Helen Smithwick & Shannon Rowan Kris Wells October International Pot Luck Dinner November open & open Susie Nulty December Holiday Dinner January '05 Teri Hermans & Liz Groothof-Croddy Helen Smithwick February Phyllis Zell and Betty Edwards Betty Hudson March open & open Susie Nulty April Sharon Roggy & Kate Brewster Rita Jones May Installation Dinner Thank you ladies!