District Conference 2011 Energy, Focus, Leadership Workshop Session

District Conference 2011Energy, Focus, Leadership Workshop Session Vicki Varthas Denise Conroy Denise Wilschut

WORKSHOP SESSION ZONTA IS VITAL TO WOMEN WORLDWIDE PROVIDING SERVICE AND ADVOCACY

Setting the Scene ZONTA’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Zonta’s Guiding Principles • Women’s rights are human rights • By advancing the status of women, we improve society as a whole • The key to change is the combination of service and advocacy • Our strength is our worldwide and local presence • International friendship encourages understanding and peace in the world • We are united through purpose, values, and democratic principles

Vitality helps us achieve our goals How do we describe Zonta’s Vitality? Energy

Zonta Energy • What do you believe are the signs of energy in Zonta Clubs? • How do you rate your Club’s current level of energy? • What can you do to increase the energy level in your Club?

Vitality helps us achieve our goals How do we describe Zonta’s Vitality? Energy Strong and informed membership

Strong and Informed Membership • How do you ensure your membership is educated and informed about their organization and what it means to be an active Zontian in the community? • What do you do to promote growth of membership in your Club?

Vitality helps us achieve our goals How do we describe Zonta’s Vitality? Energy Strong and informed membership Shared leadership

Shared Zonta Leadership • Organizations that attract and keep the highest caliber leaders are those that demonstrate Shared Leadership • Implies shared responsibility for problem identification, solutions and action taking • Offers a way of increasing commitment and encouraging other members to step forward for future leadership roles

What Do We Need as Zonta Leaders? Vision Passion Direction Courage Patience Flexibility Joy Knowledge

As Zonta Leaders We Need to Know Zonta’s history Zonta’s Mission and Objects Zonta By Laws and Rules of Procedure Zonta’s process for conducting business at Conference and Convention • Where to access information (Zonta Manuals) and ZI and District websites

As Zonta Leaders we need to keep up to date • Goals and objectives for each biennium (in Governing Documents) • International Service Programs and Projects adopted at Convention • Current District level leadership and who to contact about what • Changes to By-laws and Procedures following Conventions • ZI policies and processes to advocate effectively on issues that affect women (ZI website)

Shared Leadership Goals • To educate and inform others about Zonta’s mission and operations • To promote harmony and growth at the Club level in the process of doing the work of Zonta • To help develop potential in self and other members

Discussion on Shared Leadership • What can we do to develop Shared leadership in our Clubs? • How can our Zonta leaders at District level help us in developing our leadership in our Clubs? What do we want from them?

Vitality helps us achieve our goals How do we describe Zonta’s Vitality? Energy Strong and informed membership Shared leadership Solutions focussed on combining service and advocacy to achieve best outcomes

Be Solutions Focussed On Combining Service and Advocacy “Advocacy is the expression of support for or opposition to a cause, argument or proposal. Advocacy may include influencing laws, legislation or attitudes.” When we combine Service and Advocacy, we have a very powerful tool

Be Solutions Focussed On Combining Service and Advocacy • Service to women is not just raising money for causes which meet our Objects, but also in trying to improve the quality of their life by advocating for better conditions for women. • No action will be taken to address an issue of concern to us unless authorities at the local, state and federal levels are made aware there is a problem which is worrying members of the community.

Advocacy in Action • ZI Advocacy Policy, Scorecard and Protocol for Advocacy and other LA&A documents must be used as the guides • Club LA&A Committee should set up a folder of all these relevant documents and take to Club meetings as part of the ongoing education process of our members

Advocacy Tools

Zonta’s Enduring Mission Full script of Slide Presentation from 2009 Inaugural District 22 Conference can be found at http://zontadistrict22.org/home/memberssection/districtconference2011 - Go to District Conference 2011 and then District Conference 2009

REMEMBER Be solutions focussed in whatever we choose to do when we are combining our Service and Advocacy in our Communities!

Small Group Discussion • Identify areas of concern in your community and why they are of concern. Please outline to your group your special area of concern. • For each issue of concern: • Use the documents on pp 163-172 to check that it is a SOW issue • What level of government would you advocate to? Page 163

Successful Advocacy in Action COMBINING SERVICE AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS TOMORROW WILL HIGHLIGHT SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY CLUBS

Key to Achieving our Zonta Goals ENERGY STRONG & INFORMED MEMBERSHIP SHARED LEADERSHIP SOLUTIONS FOCUSSED ON COMBINING SERVICE AND ADVOCACY

District Conference 2011 Energy, Focus, Leadership Workshop Session