Our Greatest Resource
An organization can only accomplish its mission with adequate resources; the biggest of which is its membership and their commitment to pursue the mission.  Zontians have the privilege of membership in a great organization; an organization of which we can be proud because it accomplishes a very valuable mission – improving the lives of women worldwide.  We can certainly be proud of our collective impact.  With membership growth we can significantly increase the depth of that impact.  While all members are aware of the need for each of us to do our part for membership recruitment, we should occasionally evaluate our individual efforts to ensure the health of our organization through membership recruitment.   Is your elevator speech ready to give to prospective members?  If questioned about the value of our organization, are you prepared to share information about the benefits of membership, the outstanding service projects at the international, district and local levels and funding opportunities to assist young women in their educational pursuits? 

 Each District 15 member recently received a district email asking for your help with the District initiative to diligently pursue new club development.  I was pleased that several individuals very quickly submitted ideas and offers of assistance to the District Organization, Membership and Classification Committee.   I encourage those of you who have yet to respond to the survey to do so quickly.  Your ideas and assistance will be invaluable as organizational efforts are currently pursued in Ann Arbor.  There has already been some interest expressed in Zonta by potential members in that city.  I’m sure that with your help new club development can be realized there and in many other cities in our district.

Being of Service
We can already be proud of the service involving approximately half of our clubs for the district initiated mastectomy comfort pillow project.  Over 600 women who have had breast cancer surgery will benefit from the handmade mastectomy comfort pillows donated to the American Cancer Society, hospitals and other organizations during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Additionally, subsequent to the approval given at the district conference for the district to have a cooperative affiliation with the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, the District Board has embarked on an initiative to increase the public awareness of the national human trafficking hotline phone number.  The importance of this phone number for trafficking victims and the public in general was discussed at the conference by the Task Force Executive Director Jane White.  In the near future the details of this district project will be unveiled.  Action will also be taken to continue to keep members informed about trafficking.  Included in this newsletter edition is an article by the District Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Committee Chair with important current information about the extent of human trafficking in the United States.  Also, you can view on the district website, U.S. President Barack Obama’s proclamation of January 2012 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Governor's Archive
Fall 2011 Message
Summer 2011 Message
Spring 2011 Message
Winter 2011 Message
Fall 2010 Message
Summer 2010 Message


 Governor's Biennium Goals and Areas of Focus