Zonta Club of Billings
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Our Mission
The Zonta Club of Billings is comprised of executives and professionals dedicated to the advancement of women through education, economic stability, legal and legislative equality, health and wellness, both locally and worldwide.
The Zonta Club of Billings provides service to the community through domestic violence awareness, grants for community agencies, scholarships for students and volunteer labor for local non-profit organizations.
Our History
Since our inception, ZCB has grown steadily in membership and service programs. From an originating membership of 14, the club grew to 59 members in the late 80’s early 90’s, and currently has a membership of 48. Service Programs have reflected that growth and the changing needs of our community.
The earlier years reflected the educational needs of
women and a changing demographic through the following programs:
- Zontians taught “Self Improvement” classes for working women; night classes for Spanish-speaking immigrants to help them become citizens; and taught driver training classes and administered written exams. (1950’s)
- Conducted a “Career Conference” held on the Montana State University campus for high school girls. (1960’s)
- Responded to specific educational financial needs of non-traditional women students to complete the final year of study. This evolved into creating a yearly scholarship for a women students in a new Aeronautics degree program at one local college and creation of a book scholarship for women students at another. (late 1980’s, early 1990’s)
- Initiated the Women’s Studies Program at Montana State University; a $30,000, 2 year program that continues today, now funded by the University. (1980’s)
- Sponsored three Z Clubs at Billings’ high schools. (1980’s)
- “Growth Through Art” program. We funded the Executive Director’s position and all expenses associated with running the program, which provided art classes for developmentally disabled adults. This program also introduced the first Billings St. Patrick’s Day Parade as an awareness fundraiser for other non-profits. Funding is now provided by the State of Montana. (1980’s)
- Donating professional experiential teaching in the YWCA Job Club for women which focuses on career exploration, job readiness and targeting training and job opportunities (2013 ongoing)
Awarding local scholarships for Young Women in Public Affairs and the Jane Klausman Women in Business Zonta International Scholarship has been a consistent commitment by our club over the years, to which we have added; book scholarships to Montana State University; scholarships for girls to attend the Audubon Conservation Education Center program; scholarship to a woman in the aviation program at Rocky Mountain College; and funding the “Best Woman Writer” award for the High Plains Book Fest.
In 2004, ZCB started on their journey into learning about
and acting toward ending violence against women in our community, which also
became a major program of international,
known as “Zonta Says No to Violence”. We committed to a three year program to
educate our club about domestic violence, create a community promotion and
presentation for other community service organizations, and conduct a year of
community presentations. Out of this effort we developed: the Blanket Program,
which provides comfort blankets for all police cars, to be given to women
involved in domestic violence calls;
funding the SANE Program at a local hospital for women rape exams; an Art
Project at Angela’s Piazza to give women of domestic violence a creative outlet
to alleviate anxiety and stress.
Just to name a few…..
The club has
responded in many other ways that address the needs of women and girls as they
reach for safety, knowledge, and growth.
ZCB has hosted Area1 meetings and District meetings as
scheduled.. We have had many members who have served at higher levels of Zonta
International: Agnes Havig was District “Status of Women”, Chair in 1988 and
also served on the International “Status of Women” committee for 2 years in the
late 80’s. More recently in 2004 Lynn Eggebrecht served as District Public
Relations Chair and Stephanie Seymanski served as District Scholarships and
Awards Chair. In 2012 Renee Coppock served as Lt. Governor for District 12 and
Ann Hefenieder served on District Advocacy Committee.
Zonta International
Zonta International asks to advance the status of women worldwide by improving the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women at the global and local levels through service and advocacy. With the generosity and collective action of Zontians and friends around the world, Zonta International has supported projects in 46 countries, provided scholarships and awards to women around the globe, and been a powerful advocate for change in our local and international communities, thereby transforming the world and women's place in it.
The founding of Zonta International occupies a unique moment in women's history. Established in Buffalo, New York, USA in 1919, early members were among the first generation of college-educated women, the first generation of North American women to vote, and a part of the growing, though still comparatively small, legion of women entering the workforce.
Inspiration and Founder
While working in a prominent role at the Buffalo Express at a time when women rarely held leadership positions, playwright and journalist Marian de Forest conceived the idea of an organization that would bring together women in executive positions. She envisioned a strong network that would help women reach their rightful places in the professions.
Zonta's first club was chartered in Buffalo, New York on November 8, 1919. Membership grew rapidly. By 1920, a confederation of nine Zonta clubs had formed with 600 members.