Please use the links below to view information about the following: Mission Statement
Zonta International is a Worldwide Service Organization of Executives in Business and the Professions working together to Advance the Status of Women.
The Zonta Club of Guelph Area actively supports organizations and individuals that assist women and children locally and abroad. Our club makes a difference by addressing various women's issues including health, education, poverty, employment, security and much more.
International Service Programs
The Zonta Club of Guelph sends a portion of our service funds to Zonta International to support programs at the global level that help improve living conditions for women. Click here for more information.
Committees
The Zonta Club of Guelph is comprised of a number of committees to ensure activities run smoothly and that members actively participate in the success of the club.
Golf Tournament Committee - The extremely popular annual Betty Thompson Golf Classic is the Zonta Club of Guelph Area's main fundraising event. In 2009 the club along with the generous support of our sponsors, raised over $22,000.00 and over the past 12 years has raised over $308,000.00. The tournament is an all-women's event and is held each spring at Springfield Golf and Country Club. Money raised at this year's tournament helped fund causes that support the fight against breast cancer and helped support other local Zonta initiatives (see the service committee section for more info). For more information on the tournament visit the golf tournament page on this site or contact Jannette at 519-823-8058.
Service Committee - The Service Committee focuses on both local and international projects and is responsible for dispensing funds to groups and individuals in the Guelph community and surrounding area. The committee is accountable to the Zonta membership and has a three-step approval process governing how Zonta dollars are spent -- (1) Service Committee, (2) executive and then (3) general membership. Service co-ordinates hands-on activities for club members to participate such as the annual Christmas wrap and the Guelph Enabling Garden (www.enablinggarden.org). Service is also responsible for the administration of the club's Catherine Collins Bursary.
Public Relations & Marketing - The PR&M committee's goal is to increase our club's profile within the Guelph community by providing press releases on local Zonta events, educational materials such as our brochure, display board & scrapbook, creating member business cards and the maintenance of our club website.
Membership and Attendance - This committee is responsible for organizing the club's monthly general meetings and the attraction and retention of members. The committee hosts a "meet and greet" a couple of times a year to help new members and potential members become better acquainted with the club and to learn more about Zonta. For more information please contact Eva Ferus at 519-824-1719.
Program - This committee provides speakers, activities and/or events for the Guelph club's monthly general meetings.
Status of Women - This committee is responsible for our annual Young Women in Public Affairs scholarship & breakfast.
Z-Club- Z-Clubs help high school, college and university students develop leadership skills, promote career exploration and encourage members to participate in community, school and international service projects. The local Z-Clubs and Golden Z Club are organized and sponsored by the Zonta Club of Guelph Area. Local clubs include The University of Guelph, which boasts Canada's first Golden Z chapter for university/college level members, the John F. Ross Z-Club ( http://homer.ugdsb.on.ca/jfr/zclub.htm ) and the Centennial C.V.I. Z-Club.
Club activities range from raising money for UNICEF at Halloween through the sale of candy-ka-bobs to raising money for Wyndham House, a local cooperative providing living residences for youth ( www.wyndhamhouse.org ). Information on the activities of the local Z-Clubs can be found in the Zonta Club of Guelph Area Annual Report found under "About Us". For more information on Z-Clubs and/or Golden Z Clubs please visit the "Frequently Asked Questions" section of the Zonta International website www.zonta.org . If interested on becoming more involved with either Z-Club or Golden Z Club, please see your high school/college/university staff advisor.
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Past Events
Young Women in Public Affairs Annual Breakfast
March 6, 2008 - The Honourable Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion was keynote speaker at this year's event. Benita Van Miltenburg was awarded with the annual young women in public affairs scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a Wellington County female high school student who has made an outstanding contribution to her school and community through her leadership skills and service. Young women from across Wellington County are eligible for the award and must be nominated. Applicant Talia Ricci was also honoured at this year's breakfast.
Wellington Cancer Society Quiet Room - In the fall of 2004, the club donated $5,000.00 towards the much anticipated creation of a "Quiet Room" at the Wellington County Cancer Society Office in Guelph. Wendy Lewis of The Lewis House Interiors Ltd. volunteered her time and talents towards the creation of the room. The Quiet Room acts as a resource centre for cancer patients, their families and friends. The room provides a relaxed, private setting to speak to staff and volunteers, to access information on cancer related topics and to try out resources such as wigs and turbans.
Zonta Club of Guelph Area 25th Anniversary Celebration (1979-2004) - On October 24, 2004 at the Springfield Golf and Country Club, Zonta members, including 17 past presidents of the Guelph club, came from all over Ontario to renew friendships and help celebrate a milestone in the history of the Zonta Club of Guelph Area. Special guests included: Brenda Chamberlain (MP), Liz Sandals (MPP), Kate Quarrie -- Mayor City of Guelph, Norm Jary -- Mayor City of Guelph (1979) and Sandra Cronk -- Zonta District 4 Governor.;)
One of the charter members, Catherine Collins, gave a slideshow presentation highlighting the achievements of the Zonta Club of Guelph Area during the past 25 years. Some of the highlights included the past and present fundraising activities, club social events, and recipients of Zonta awards and donations. The main fundraisers of the Zonta Club of Guelph Area have been the Zonta House Tour, which ran successfully for 20 years, and the annual Betty Thompson Golf Classic.
It has been a quarter century since the first meeting in the Guelph Library. Our club looks forward to the next 25 years and anticipates reaching even greater levels of service for both our local and global communities.