NEWS AND VIEWS
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2013
www.zontaofcolumbia.com
Zonta Club of Columbia
Club # 513
Chartered September 10, 1963
NEWLY INSTALLED OFFICERS
President – Marion D. Watson
Vice President – Ellie Dagle
Treasurer – Dottie Munsch
Secretary – M.J. Hassell
BOARD MEMBER
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Fundraising – Dottie Munsch
Membership – Ellie Dagle
Public Relations – Martha Williams
Service – Judy Barnes
DISTRICT #11 REPRESENTATIVES
District #11 Governor
Tami Page (Dothan, AL)
Area 02 Director
Melodie Hunnicut (Columbia, SC)
Farewell President M.J. Hassell
When President MJ wrote her President’s Page last month, the public relations committee promised her it would be the last one. So in keeping with that promise, we are not asking President MJ to do write anything.
Instead, we are using this space to say a very special Thank You to MJ Hassell for serving as President of the Zonta Club of Columbia. She has led us through many changes and challenging times. Under her leadership we have revamped Zonta to better function in the 21st century. For a woman who says she hates to be president of anything, she has risen to the occasion and ensured the Zonta Club of Columbia continues to play a major role in advancing the status of women.
Thank you MJ – Now on to more time with your granddaughter and more time for service.
Incoming President Marion Watson
I am honored and excited to be the new president of the Zonta Club of Columbia. This coming Zonta year promises to be challenging, but also fun and rewarding. Zonta is more relevant than ever and continues to make a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide, and we are Zonta. This year we celebrate our 50th birthday with high energy and enthusiasm for the Club and the Women of our community.
Human Trafficking*
Nearly 150 years ago, the United States abolished slavery. Most Americans would find it hard to believe that slavery still exists, and may occur in their own communities. Today’s version of slavery, human trafficking, deprives people of their freedom and violates our nation’s promise that every person in the United States is guaranteed basic human rights.
The following issues are among the most critical in efforts of combating this human rights abuse:
• Societal attitudes that perpetuate human trafficking should be examined and consciousness-raising measures should affirm that everyone in the United States is entitled to basic human rights, no matter where they came from or what their circumstances.
• To help human trafficking victims escape, victims must trust that they will not be deported; and that their immediate health, safety and housing needs will be met.
• NGOs need sufficient funds to provide services to human trafficking victims, including caseworker, shelter, legal support, health care, interpreter and other services, as well as for community outreach and measures to help victims become self-sufficient.
• The perception that most human trafficking is sex trafficking must be dispelled, and other forms of forced labor recognized
• Law enforcement, health and social services providers, labor agencies and other first responders need training on how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and assist victims, and the public should become aware of what human trafficking is and how to report it.
• Anti-trafficking law needs stiffer penalties for traffickers and stronger tools to prosecute those who prey on minors.
• Prosecution of traffickers is strengthened when law enforcement works with NGOs to build trust with victims – encouraging victims to come forward, report the abuse and cooperate with the investigation.
• There should be more emergency shelters and transitional housing specifically designed to meet the unique needs of human trafficking victims.
• Victims of human trafficking should be informed of their rights under state and federal laws, in culturally appropriate messages.
• Better mechanisms should be developed for collecting data on the nature and extent of human trafficking.
• A critical strategy to end human trafficking is to address the poverty, gender discrimination and poor labor conditions in “source” countries that lead vulnerable people to undertake a risky migration into developed countries.
• There should be a moral responsibility to exert leadership, through government and business purchasing practices, to implement and monitor codes of conduct assuring fair and humane labor practices throughout their supply chain.
* Taken from the Final Report of the California Alliance to Combat Trafficking and Slavery Task Force.
District 11 Conference in Naples, FL
District 11 is truly an international district composed of the Southeastern United States, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. The states included are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The District is further divided into 6 Areas under which the individual Clubs operate. Area 1 includes the States of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Area 2 includes the States of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Area 3 includes the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands and South East Florida. Area 4 includes Central and Northern Florida. Area 5 includes Puerto Rico. Area 6 includes South West Florida. The first club in District 11 was the Zonta Club of Memphis, TN chartered on October 1, 1927!
The District 11 Conference will be held September 26-29, 2013 in Naples, Fl. This conference is educational, informative and a lot of fun. Members attending learn about Zonta’s worldwide projects, what other clubs in District 11 are doing and spend time with an amazing, diverse group of women. Most members do not have the opportunity to attend an International Meeting but attending a District Conference is usually feasible. Please consider going to Naples and see for yourself!
Columbia Star Interviews Zonta
Dottie Munsch contacted Jan Collins who is now writing a woman’s section for the Columbia Star. She came to interview Coretta Bedsole and Martha Williams, Zonta’s outgoing and incoming Director of Public Relations. The article appeared in the June 21st issue of the Columbia Star; we thank Jan for such an insightful article about Zonta!
Scholarship Winners
The Zonta Club of Columbia would like to congratulate the following women on their hard work and tenacity. We appreciate Doris Cheek on all of her hard work in finding these young leaders in our community.
The Young Woman in Public Affairs scholarship honors young women of age 16 to 19, who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations. The Jane M. Klausman Scholarship is awarded annually to women pursuing undergraduate or master’s degrees in business management.
Young Women in Public Service Scholarship Winner
Zonta presented Antwanette Scriven with a $1000 scholarship
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship Winner
Kelsie Stanley sent a “Thank You!” from lovely Istanbul, Turkey
Service Opportunities in 2013
We are changing the way we do service for 2013 – the success of our service projects depends on all of us. We have several opportunities to assist The Women’s Shelter and Killingsworth thereby having a bigger impact on the women of the two facilities. Though we will set times convenient for us, it is the goal to be of assistance and must fit into their time frames. Be sure to have a couple of days when you volunteer (ex. I can volunteer Thursday of this week or Tuesday of next week. They will in turn let you know which day is best for them). We can volunteer individually, in pairs or as a club (6 or more members). Members were given recommendations from the Service Committee and will provide information to Judy Barnes once the member has volunteered and completed the activity. Each member is encouraged to work at least once a month especially the months we do not have Membership Meetings. A monthly calendar will be provided to members with noted activities and can be used to report a member’s time.
Board Training
…was held May 14th and facilitated by Ina Edens with great success.
Moving In & Moving Out Party
Columbia Zontians enjoyed an end of the year moving party at Ellie's home. The club thanked several members who had been officers and board members (Coretta and Myriam) for their service, but had decided to "move out" of the Zonta world for now.
The club welcomed three new members, Martha Ann, Marilyn, and Kathy, who are "moving in” to join Zonta in its mission "Advancing the Status of Women”. Those members "moving on" into the New Year with a great new planning strategy for service, membership recruitment and energized PR enjoyed this time of fellowship. The Club's new Theme is BE OPEN TO NEW POSSIBILITIES!
A nice surprise was that Madison Matheus, 2012’s Young Women in Public Service Scholarship winner joined us for this celebration.
Members Spotlight
Welcome to Kathy Williams, our newest member as of June 1st. Kathy was born in South Bend, Indiana and lived there until age 11 when her father was transferred to Orangeburg, South Carolina.
She came to Columbia to attend USC, and has lived here ever since. She has a BA in Theatre and Speech and a Master’s in Public Administration. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Institute for Organization Management & SC Executive Institute for Organization Management. Kathy is a Certified Association Executive by the American Society of Association Executives.
Before retiring last June, Kathy worked with city and county government in South Carolina for 38 years. During this time she served as Director of Research & Policy Analysis, was the assistant to the County Administrator for Richland County and Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.
Kathy has served as board director and officer for the following: South Carolina Society of Association Executives (named Executive of the Year in 2006), South Carolina Retirement Systems Advisory Board, and the South Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration (state President in 1993). Upon retirement she was honored as a Life Member by the SC City-Council Management Association, the South Carolina Society of Association Executives & the American Society of Association Executives.
Kathy is active in the Windsor United Methodist Church located in northwest Columbia, where she currently serves as the chairman of the Finance Committee.
Kathy’s husband David, an attorney, recently retired from the SC Legislative Council. They have two children; Matthew, a mechanical engineer in Charleston and Molly, who has just completed her Master’s Degree in Language and Literacy at USC. They have a 14 year old cat, Socks Alice and live in Wilde Wood. Travel for Kathy and David is in their future plans.
With thanks to Ina for sponsoring Kathy!
Come join us in serving our community on a state, national, and international level. Monthly membership meetings are held at the Palmetto Club from Noon to 1 PM.
For more information, contact Ellie Dagle
(803) 917-4596