Committees


Finance Committee
First Day Fund Committee
Organization, Membership & Classification (OMC) Committee
Public Relations & Communications Committee
Status of Women Service Committee
United Nations Committee

• Chair:
• Shirley Foley

• Functions:
• In many clubs the treasurer may do the work of this committee.
  
  
• Responsibilities:
  
  
• Prepare and submit the budget(s) to the club board, along with any committee recommendations.
• Present the budget, with the club board's recommendation, for club approval before the fiscal year.
• Monitor the budget(s) versus actual income and expenses during the club year and recommend appropriate budget adjustments for approval by the club board and/or club.
• Devise effective (time/money) fund-raising plans in cooperation with other committees and the club board.
• With the club board, arrange for the club's financial records to be compiled, audited or examined by a qualified person independent of the club board. For purposes of examination, the books shall be closed at the end of the fiscal year.
• Recommend suitable investments for club funds, as required.
• Report at the Annual Meeting.
• Clubs in the United States consult Section 18.


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• The Budget Process:
  
  
• It is recommended that two budgets be prepared: One for operations and one for the service fund. See also Section 2 and notes below.
• Determine cash on hand.
• Ensure that all possible associated expenses have been projected.
• Match budget needs to established goals. Remember that a budget is simply a guide.
• Base expenditures on prior years.
• Project income from membership dues, using separate budget lines for continuing and new members.
• Ask club board and committees to submit estimated expenses.
• Reserve some service funds for contributions to the Zonta International Foundation. It is recommended that 1/3 of club service funds be donated to the Foundation; every club is expected to make a donation to the Foundation each year.
• Consider and reserve funds for club representative support for area meetings, district conferences and conventions, according to your club practices.
• The operations budget should account for expenses incurred with the oversight of the club, e.g., board expenses, finance committee expenses, expenses for club representatives to meetings. The service budget includes expenses associated with programs and services provided by the club.
• While recognizing that the utilization of a small percentage of service funds to subsidize the expense of club delegates to the international convention has been a practice in some parts of the Zonta world, using even a small percentage of service funds for convention travel risks significant negative perception on the part of the public with respect to Zonta’s mission and operations. This practice may also be illegal in some countries. The Zonta International Board therefore recommends that all clubs refrain from using any service funds for this purpose. Club operations funds may be used for this purpose.
  
  
• Clubs are urged to adopt specific written policies with respect to subsidizing the convention expenses of the clubs’ delegates.

• Co-Chairs:
• Barb Hansen
• Terry Lane

• Functions:
• This committee sends out letters requesting donations, purchases school supplies from various sources, picks up the supplies, takes inventory of supplies received, helps organize volunteers to assist with packaging and packages the school supplies so that each child gets their own package.
   
• This is a community wide effort to raise funds for the purchase of school supplies to help school-age children begin the first day of school with a chance to be successful. To this end we work to provide essential school supplies to as many needy children as possible.

• Chair: Ruth Klouda

• Functions:
• This committee is vital for the future of the club and for the growth of Zonta International.
  
  
• Recruitment, rejuvenation, revitalization and retention
  
  
• Define short and long-term goals in keeping with A Course for the Future – 2006 and Beyond (or current ZI strategic plan) and International OMC Committee recommendations.
• Develop a plan for retaining current members and recruiting new members, and design activities that will help identify new members.
• Encourage every member to identify prospective members throughout the year, invite them to club meetings and events and refer them to the OMC committee. Before being formally invited to join the club, it is highly recommended that the prospective member attend an information session about Zonta.
• Identify a mentor for each new member and jointly develop a program for the new member’s involvement in club activities. The mentor helps and supports the member get involved with club activities and learn about Zonta procedures. The mentor encourages participation in committee work as well as participation in meetings at area and district levels.
• Evaluate committee progress at least once a year. Have the goals been achieved? What worked? What needs to be changed?
• Communicate with the District OMC Chairman.
  
  
• Organization of new clubs
  
  The organization of a new club is considered a service project for a Zonta Club and may be undertaken by one or more members and clubs. However, service monies, i.e., monies raised from the public, should not be used for O&E.
  

• The SOM concept was designed to illustrate the steps in successfully organizing a new club:
• Sponsoring - refers to financing the organization of the club. Funds may also be available from the district or Zonta International.
• Organizing - requires two to six committed, knowledgeable Zontians with the ability to organize the work and communicate with prospective members, the club, the area and the district.
• Mentoring - requires attending the new club’s club and board meetings, reading the minutes, keeping in touch for at least a year and serving as a continuous information resource to the new club.
  
  

• Chair: Lynn Ripple

• Functions:
• The work of this committee encompasses:
  
  
• Marketing and brand management (promoting and strengthening organization image and identity)
• Internal communications
• External communications =
• Media relations
• Public relations and communications
• Archives and history

• Responsibilities:
  
  
• Develop a comprehensive plan and relevant material to create awareness of the Zonta Club using appropriate forms of news media.
• Keep informed of projects and achievements of the club, the district, and Zonta International.
• Promote knowledge and understanding within and outside the organization of the objects, goals, accomplishments, projects and events of Zonta.
• Promote pride and participation of members in Zonta achievements.
• Develop marketing strategies to promote Zonta to prospective members, donors, institutional partners and other stakeholders.
• Manage the promotion and use of the Zonta brand.
• Use every opportunity to promote Zonta’s name and work in the community, through appropriate means especially in connection with:
  • United Nations Day – 24 October
  • Zonta International Day – 8 November
  • International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – 25 November
  • 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence – 25 November-10 December
  • Amelia Earhart Day – 11 January
  • International Women's Day/Zonta International Rose Day – 8 March

• Specific Activities:
  
  
• Disseminate news releases on club activities to local news media.
• Encourage the club to publish newsletters with information from Zonta International (including The Zontian for non-English speaking members), district and area news, as well as club and local news.
• Use signboards at entrances to the town and/or meeting place.
• Ensure that information on Zonta is sent to all guest speakers.
• Represent Zonta at meetings where the objects and subjects are important to Zonta.
• Encourage all Zontians to register on the ZI Web site and use it as an up-to-date source of Zonta information.
• Consider feasibility of a club Web site (see Section 6), and if established, ensure that it is continually updated.
• In consultation with the club president, submit club success stories in membership and service projects via “Zonta Action” on the ZI Web site.

• Chair: Mary Knepp

• Functions:
• Recommend action and local service and advocacy projects to support Zonta's objectives, missions, goals (clubs are encouraged to consider local projects related to the Zonta International service projects if appropriate);
  
  
• Coordinate club participation in local Z and Golden Z Clubs, the YWPA Program, and the Klausman Scholarships;
  
  
• Coordinate programs of Zonta International and the club and events and functions which:
  
  • raise the awareness of status of women issues;
  • provide education and development to women
  • publicize and raise funds for local status of women projects, and for ZI award programs and current international projects (it is recommended that one-third (1/3) of total funds raised be sent to Zonta International Foundation-funded service programs)
  
  
• Seek corporate sponsorship, grants, bequests and individual contributions for major projects designed to advance the status of women (or coordinate this function with a club fundraising committee)
  
  
• Consider taking action by:
  
  • offering support, financial or advocacy, in the effort to achieve justice, human rights and fundamental freedoms
  • taking actions in keeping with Legislative Awareness and Advocacy guidelines and forming partnerships with other organizations for specific advocacy issues
• Keep club members informed of the accomplishments of women and of the activities of local women's organizations
  
  
• Provide self development and training programs for club members that enhance their legal, political, economic, educational, health or professional status
• Other potential areas of action:
  
  • Women's rights under the law, women in executive positions in business, equality of education opportunity, women in politics, women's health, portrayal of women in the media, women as caregivers, women and credit.

• Chair: Lavonne Prochaska

• Functions:
• The United Nations committee provides information to club members on Zonta International's work with the United Nations and its agencies. This information will enhance member awareness of Zonta International's efforts in advancing the status of women and providing global service.
  
  
• Responsibilities:
  
  
• Provide up-to-date information on the UN, its affiliates and its initiatives as pertinent to the fulfillment of Zonta International's objects.
• Disseminate information on the important activities of Zonta International and district United Nations committees.
• Create programs and events within the club and community that will engage members in support of Zonta’s association with UN activities relevant to women.
• Publicize within the community (with the PR&C committee) the work of Zonta in UN initiatives.
• Inform your district United Nations chairman and governor of club activities that highlight our UN partnerships.
• Collaborate with District UN Committee on activities that require cooperation and support.
• Pursuant to the Resolution adopted by the 55th International Convention in July 2000, support ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and of the optional Protocol to the Convention.
• Pursuant to the Resolution adopted by the 56th International Convention in July 2002, support ratification of the UN Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children.
• Pursuant to the Resolutions adopted by the 57th International Convention in July 2004, support the efforts of the United Nations to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, and raise awareness about the issue of the use of the umbilical cord blood and stem cells.

or call Ruth @ the office (309) 277-7655 or @ home (309) 764-8813.