AREA 4 MEETING REPORT– 25/03-26/03/17 Stanthorpe
- Wine Women and Song - Robyn Finlayson AD
Objectives
1)To improve Area 4 Zontians’ knowledge of changes at International level, ZI projects and the Centennial Anniversary Endowment Campaign ( CAEC)
2)To discuss the 5 ZI Biennial Goals and how these can be incorporated at a club level to empower women.
3)To promote discussion around club activities and what Zontians want in Area 4, as a feedback to District
4)To provide an opportunity for fellowship for Zontians in Area 4.
Content of the weekend
SATURDAY - - Session 1
DG Ans presented a power point presentation about What is happening in the Zonta World at international level. This included information on our 4 ZI projects as well as our current educational programmes. She also spoke about UN days, UN SDG number 5 – Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls; and that for the past 10 days, President Sonja represented ZI at the 61st session of Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Ans discussed areas where we have made progress and where more work is needed to achieve true equality.
Judith Anderson – OAM, ZI Board Member and Past District 22 Governor, presented information on the CAEC and explained Zonta’s different funds. A survey was sent to members for feedback to ZI
Session 2
Chaired by myself, explored ways to Empower Women through Service and Advocacy. After a general outline of the meaning of Service and Advocacy – the ladies broke up into smaller groups consisting of different clubs to answer questions around – What Service projects does your club participate in? How do you decide which projects to support? Do any not align 100% with Zonta’s mission? What advocacy issues does your club support? How do you decide on these? and lastly what are the most important advocacy issues for women in our area .
Most clubs have a planning day and choose their projects and advocacy issues to align with ZI goals. There is sometimes a “grey area “where some of the local community requests do not meet ZI criteria. Some of the Service projects supported included – Birthing kits, breast cushions, Love Bites, Days for Girls, DV shelter support with care packs, Shoeboxes of love, baby jumpers, donations of magazines, hug-eaz (hats) as well as scholarships and bursaries and YWPA. Some of the Advocacy issues included Zonta says No , letters of support to Government, IWD, Rose Garden, Orange ladies, YWPA, Anzac Day participation, Banners and Zonta signs at town entry.
To advertise events and fundraising to support their projects – clubs use a mix of social media, local paper and community radio.
Included in this session was guest speaker Emily Hunt – 2014 YWPA winner and now secretary and charter member of the new Greater Springfield club. Emily discussed her journey, as well as what she sees as social and cultural inequalities in our society – the increase burden of poverty; gender inequality as well as the inequality experienced by women with physical and intellectual disabilities. Emily looked at potential directions for Zonta – using media platforms, inclusive events,support for those from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and she encouraged us to think outside the box.
Some updated and background information was given to the ladies around YWPA, JMK and AE.
Heather Hall presented an idea around an air cadet scholarship – which she will put in a motion to District 22 Conference.
The session concluded with 2 resolutions from the Toowoomba Club presented by Club president Helen Miller
Firstly that a joint project be considered for all clubs in Area 4 in recognition of the 2019 Zonta celebrations
and secondly that District 22 adopts “Days for Girls “as a service project for 2018-2019 Biennium.
-Area 4 agreed with resolution 1 in principle
-Resolution 2 involved spirited small group discussion – with no real consensus.
Again it is expected that these will be put into a motion for District 22 Conference
Session 3 - concurrent session –
a)Treasurer Jill met with the club treasurers.
b)Discussion around a Combined District 16, 22, 23 and 24 – service and/or advocacy issue.
Again thediscussion was free flowing and several members had definite opinions. The final consensus centred on the different government legislation that could affect Australia combining with NZ at an advocacy level.
Session 4
LG Sandy spoke about Membership Matters which included details about the upcoming GMD (Global membership Drive). She led discussion about recruiting new members – but spent the majority of the session on the process of retaining members.
An Exit Survey has now been developed with members leaving a club to be sent this survey by Sandy.
An E-club was discussed as well as the new Youth membership category.
Session 5
The final session of the day involved Women on Boards and in Leadership Roles. This session was chaired by myself.The 2017 UN IWD theme : “”Women in the changing world of work : Planet 50-50 by 2030 formed the basis for my background information on women’s role in paid and unpaid work in Australia in 2017.
Kathryn Finlayson – Special Counsel at Minter Ellison was guest speaker and discussed Women on Boards and spoke to us about her reason for applying for the Progamme of “Women on Boards 2017 - the next generation of corporate female Leaders Programme” She explored the issues of why there are low numbers of women on boards and the unique skill set that “women bring to the table”.
This session then concluded with how we as Zontians need to have leadership programmes in place at every level of involvement. A video from the nominating committee was shown by Heather Hall, nominating committee member and past Area 4 Director.
SUNDAY -- Session 1
This was a joint session aimed at Keeping Zontians Healthy.
Guest speakers Dietitian Charlotte Bush – Stanthorpe club member and Dr Robyn Keighran– Dalby Club member – This was a very interactive session as such topics as exercise, the need to be comfortable with our body image and how we can achieve this was discussed. Charlotte distributed some of her own recipes and gave a practical demonstration on how to enjoy the whole food experience – without thinking of “dieting”. Robyn spoke about womens health.
Session 2
I gave a power point presentation on Communication – the how, the who, and the why, we communicate and the barriers to communication. This session also discussed how to ensure that we are reaching the right target audience and that our communications are being read. It concluded with an update from ZI about improving its own website and sheets were handed out on the ZI guidelines for email writing.
Session 3
Updated information on the Centenary celebrations was given by LG Sandy, District Conference by DG Ans and ZI convention by myself.
Next Area Meeting club confirmed as Warwick.
Fellowship
The Zonta Club Stanthorpe Area Inc was a wonderful host club. Fellowship commenced with dinner at the local RSL on the Friday night as a” meet and greet” , continued through Saturday at meal breaks, included a wine tasting at the conclusion of the day and finished with dinner at Happy Valley Retreat. The highlight of the social events of the weekend was on the Sunday. It was a privilege to be invited into the McMahon’s family home for the Sunday sessions and then to experience a tour of their organic farm from the fruit carts. We were encouraged to pick strawberries, pears and apples, before returning to a wonderful champagne lunch by the pool.
Results
There were 53 registrants for Saturday and 41 for Sunday. 61 attended the dinner at Happy Valley Retreat.
I received 23 evaluation forms - 3 from 1st timers. All bar 1 had held club positions – and that Zontian had only been a member for 5 months.
Time in Zonta Numbers
< 1 year 1
< 5 years 5
<10 years 9
<15 years 2
<20 years 3
<30 years 3
All feedback was positive – with further requests for the same format but with different subjects; to continue the mix of discussion and facts; several requests were for another Nutrition and Health Issues in women session as well as another session for treasurers.
A tongue in cheek comment was made about – “no singing” at social nights!
A Financial Statement has been sent through to Treasurer Jill and is attached. The profit was
$ 877.10 to be split between the district and the Stanthorpe Club.
Conclusion
From the feedback sheets the original objectives were met in all areas.
The points raised in discussion for consideration at board were :-
Clubs in Area 4 decided the most pressing advocacy issues in this area included D.V – the need for support shelters; homelessness; sexual exploitation of children and young women; vulnerable teenage girls; Indigenous issues; health of women in rural areas and education – bursaries / scholarships to encourage girls, particularly in STEM.
Heather Hall - proposed an Air Cadet scholarship
Zonta Club of Toowoomba - Resolutions
1)that District 22 adopts “Days for Girls “as a service project for 2018-2019 Biennium
2)that there is a combined area project for 2019 centenary celebrations
Guest speaker Emily suggested looking at broadening our criteria for YWPA award and adding awards such as a Cultural change award, a Sporting excellence award or a Perseverance and Resilience Award. She also suggested we look at an Annual leadership and relationship camp for young women.
Combined Districts 22,23,24 – Service projects Days for girls ; Birthing kits and breast cushions would be continued. To support the HeForShe campaign; Love Bites ; Advocacy - Security – as with Safe Cities campaign ; Advocate for Pay equality; For victims of DV – when in court to give evidence via a video link so as not to be in the same room as the defendant. Continue DV – 16 days of Activism
I would like to thank the President Deb and the Zonta Club of Stanthorpe for all their hard work in preparing for the weekend and to acknowledge the staff of the wonderful venue at the QCWT – Qld College of Wine Tourism. A particular thank you to Rosemary McMahon and family for opening their home to us on the Sunday.
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