Zonta Club of Montgomery County
Zonta Club of Montgomery County
President’s Report
2009-2010
Our past year culminated with the publication of a second volume of children’s poetry authored by Charles Gensheimer, entitled “How Long can I Make a Cookie Last?” This book was showcased at the eighth annual Art and Soul Charity Auction, on June 9, 2010 to benefit the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) in Montgomery County, Maryland. The NCCF mission statement endeavors to “create total, healthy community-based living environments for vulnerable children, youth and families, and the quality of life which empowers their ability to thrive and demonstrate responsibility”; ultimately leading to physical, spiritual, economic and emotional health of the individuals and families who are served..
Our partnership with NCCF has been an on-going effort for almost ten years. Our club sponsored the publication of this second edition of poetry with a contribution of $ 2,500. The book was illustrated by students from the JC Nalle Community School, an NCCF organization, located in Washington, D.C.
Looking to our immediate future, 2010-2011 will also be a time of renewal for our club. Our primary focus will include the following activities:
- Focused, continuing efforts to recruit and retain new members for our club, who are currently employed. This is critically important, since several of our current members have made the transition into retirement. We welcome any and all referrals to our club!
- As a Committee of the Whole, our entire club will support Zonta International’s goal of increased participation of all Zonta clubs to support our legislative awareness and advocacy initiatives, particularly the long overdue passage of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). As citizens, we will strive to contact
our local and national legislators in writing, to ensure that they remain aware of this critical
international effort, ultimately leading to its eventual ratification by Congress. The United
States has yet to ratify this Convention.
- Our partnership with NCCF will continue as we work together to provide financial and hands-on support to their shelter programs for women and families who continue to be victims of domestic violence. Last year, the Betty Ann Krahnke Center for New Beginnings, founded in 2000, served 105 families, 168 adults and 200 children.
-Our members are currently reviewing the overall design and content of our club website. Once it has been updated, we will make it available to our Zonta membership and plan on providing information on our club’s special events for our District 3 website.
Respectfully Submitted by,
M. Kathleen O’Malley
President, Zonta Club of Montgomery County
District 3 Fall Conference
October 1-3, 2010, Atlantic City, New Jersey