What is Zonta?

Zonta International is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions, working together to advance the status of women. Since its founding in 1919 in Buffalo, New York, Zonta International has been dedicated to improving the legal, political, economic, professional, health, and educational status of women. It has supported international service projects to assist women in underdeveloped countries, and provided millions of dollars in graduate-level scholarships, including the Amelia Earhart Fellowship in aerospace engineering, to deserving young women around the globe. Today, Zonta International comprises more than 1200 clubs in 64 countries.
Zonta International, through its Foundation, supports international service projects and education fellowships to improve the quality of life for women. Zonta International Strategies to Eradicate Violence Against Women and Children (ZISVAW) focuses on prevention, awareness, and education, and develops innovative solutions to eliminate abuse against women and children.

The History of Zonta and the Grand Rapids Area Club

The Zonta Club of Grand Rapids, was sponsored by the Zonta Club of Detroit, a Charter Club, was organized by Mary J. Mulheron in 1921, and received its Charter from Zonta International on December 14, 1921.

To date, the Zonta Club of the Grand Rapids Area has organized three clubs and co-sponsored one. Their respective Charter dates are:

Flint	October 12, 1923
Muskegon	December 9, 1949
Big Rapids	October 15, 1958
Kalamazoo	April 2, 1960 (Co-sponsored)

In September, 2010, the Grand Rapids Zonta Foundation was granted 501c(3) non-profit organization status by the IRS. Contributions to the Foundation are tax exempt. Foundation funds will be used to further the mission of Zonta which is to advance the status of women and girls through service and advocacy.

In 2011, The Zonta Club of Grand Rapids will celebrate its 90th anniversary by establishing an Endowment Fund to ensure its continued support to the community.  The goal is to raise $90,000  for the initial investment.  The fund will be managed by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

The Zonta Emblem

The origin of the word “Zonta” is from the language of the Sioux Indian, and it was adopted as the Zonta International name in 1919. The Zonta emblem is just as familiar to members as is the word “Zonta,” and there is an equally interesting story about its evolution.

The emblem is not simply a decorative design. It is an adaptation and composite of several Sioux Indian symbols which when superimposed take on a special significance for Zontians.

What appears to be the letter “Z” is actually the Sioux symbol for “ray of light,” “sunshine” or “flash of radiance”–and so by extension, “inspiration

 

This Sioux symbol means “to band together for a purpose” or “to stand together”–in a word, “loyalty”. With loyalty, individual members band together into clubs, clubs into districts, and districts into Zonta International. So loyalty surrounds the radiance and the inspiration as a familiar pattern begins to emerge.

This is the Sioux way of saying “to carry together”. Carrying together is a most important ingredient for the accomplishment of Zonta’s purpose: to work for the advancement of understanding, good will and peace through a world fellowship of business executives and professionals. This symbol has been conventionalized to lend itself to the total pattern and slips over the inspiration and the loyalty to draw members closer together.

This is the Sioux symbol for “shelter”. Zonta’s many service projects are in a real and broad sense shelter for someone or something. And service is synonymous with Zonta. This symbol therefore lends itself importantly in significance and design, embodying Zonta’s aims and aspirations.

 

The symbolism of the square is not exclusively Sioux, nor indeed is it exclusively Native American. It perhaps dates back even further than all of these other symbols in its representation of “honesty” and “trust”–strong and vital qualities with which to bind together the parts of the whole.

 

This symbol–composed of many symbols–became Zonta’s emblem signifying a radiant group of successful business executives and professionals who are loyal to the same inspired goals of service and world understanding with none but the most honest and trustworthy motives.

 

Zonta’s Colors:  Mahogany and gold

Zonta’s Symbol:  Yellow Zonta Rose and Yellow Zonta+ Rose

 

The Zonta Member Code

1. To pledge myself to uphold the ideals of Zonta.
2. To honor my work and consider it an opportunity for service.
3. To increase the measure of that service by consistent self-important.
4. To contribute by study and action to the improvement of the legal, political, economic and professional status of women.
5. To work for the advancement of understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of women in business and the professions united in the Zonta ideal of service.

Zonta Objectives

• To improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women at the global and local level through service and advocacy.
• To work for the advancement of understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of executives in business and the professions.
• To promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• To be united internationally to foster high ethical standards, to implement service programs, and to provide mutual support and fellowship for members who serve their communities, their nations, and the world.

Zonta International, its districts and its clubs are nonsectarian and nonpartisan.

Zonta Club of Grand Rapids is proud to be a member of Local First.