July 2010 Zonta Club of Greater Sacramento President’s Message

Dear Zontians,
I just returned from the Zonta International Convention in San Antonio Texas. It was the most empowering
experience I have ever had and I wish you all could have joined me and the 1600 + attendees. Of these
attendees almost 1300 were voting delegates from all over the world. I have attended other conferences and
conventions and this is the first time I have ever felt a part of something so powerful and positive. Although
we addressed political issues necessary for the running of the organization it did not have a political “feel”.
What I felt was the power of 1600 Zontians all using their energy to accomplish the common goal of
“advancing the status of women worldwide”
You should all be proud to Zontians not only recognizing what we do at the local level but the impact we have
on the international level. Our work and influence with the United Nations continues to grow. As you will see
in your Zontian magazine the 2010-2012 Foundation Fundraising Goals are listed. I wanted to share them
with you now. The minimum Foundation goal for this biennium is to raise $3,758,000 to support the following
programs we committed to at this convention. These include: International Service Fund $1.5 million,
ZISVAW (Zonta International Strategies to End Violence Against Women) $630,000, Rose Fund $650,000,
Amelia Earhart Fellowship Fund $700,000, Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship Fund
$184,000, and Young Women in Public Affairs Fund $94,000. These are monetary commitments Zonta has
made to ensure the future of women around the world. The next issue of The Zontian goes into great depth
of the projects we are supporting.
I would like to tell you what the International Service Program supports. The amount of $500,000 each is
dedicated to these three projects: Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Gender-Based
violence in Rwanda, a project in cooperation with UNICEF, Elimination of Obstetric
Fistula and the Reduction of Maternal and Newborn Mortality and Morbidity in Liberia,
a project in cooperation with UNFPA, Safe Cities for Women Project in Guatemala
Salvador, El Salvador, a project in cooperation with UNIFEM.
Inside this newsletter and on our Facebook page I will be sharing some pictures of
the convention.
In Sisterhood,
Patti Wilson
ZCGS President

Zonta International Unites to Say No to Violence Against Women!

From the Zonta International Convention, 2010 San Antonio, TX

Preventing and ending violence against women and girls is a top priority for Zonta International and its 31,000
members in more than 1,200 Zonta clubs around the globe. Through the Zonta International Strategies to
End Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) program, Zonta International has assisted victims of violence and
human trafficking around the globe by: raising awareness of, and improving education about, violence against
women; promoting and enforcing local laws and policies that protect women and victims of violence; and providing
medical, legal, rehabilitation and reintegration services for survivors of violence. Locally, Zonta clubs
dedicate time and resources to supporting projects that prevent violence against women and support victims
of violence in their communities.
Zonta International joins UNIFEM in asking members and friends of Zonta around the world to join the global
call to make ending violence against women worldwide a top priority.
Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women is a global call for action.
Say NO records what individuals, organizations and governments worldwide are doing to end violence
against women. The goal is to reach 1 million actions by November 2010. Whether you volunteer at a shelter,
donate, reach out to students or advocate for better policies – every action counts. Let us count you in.
Your voice matters. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top
priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO . Add your name to this powerful call to take
one action now and stay informed.
Please visit and sign up at http://saynotoviolence.org/ or zonta.org

Human Trafficking is Happening in our Backyard!!

Vicki Zito was our guest speaker at the June meeting. She shared her families personal experience as victims
of human trafficking. Our speaker took an issue that I always considered something that happens
“over there” and never in my backyard to something that is very real and can happen to any of us.
Her 17 year-old daughter was picked up at the local grocery store, taken to a motel in the Bay Area,
drugged, pimped out through ads on Craigslist, and repeatedly raped by men looking for sex with underage
girls.
Thankfully, her daughter was rescued. But hundreds of thousands of American children are at risk and
may currently be living under the same conditions her daughter experienced. She has joined forces with
an organization called Courage to Be You. (C2BU). C2BU’s efforts are focused on the rescue and restoration
of these innocent young victims by providing them the home they have been lacking. This home will be
called Courage House.
Courage House will be a safe, secure and nurturing environment where girls can live while they
begin their journey to recovery to realizing a life filled with hope and possibilities. However, in order for
Courage House to become a reality, it takes time and money. We have a core team of dedicated volunteers
as well as experts in the field of Human sex trafficking, working diligently toward the reality of Courage
House. However, we are now at a point where we are in need of financial resources to finish the job.
Therefore, we are asking for your financial assistance in making C2BU’s dream a reality. Your help
will not only make the goal of opening the first very Courage House here in Northern California a reality, it
will also enable C2BU to provide the supportive services these girls so desperately need once they are
rescued. Won’t you join with us to put an end to the abuse and sexual exploitation of minors and provide
them the life saving services they need?
Visit www.c2bu.org for more information on Courage House
Visit www.californiaagainstslavery.org this website has the latest information on Human Trafficking
CSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated
exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. It is the principal global policy-making
body. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York
to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete
policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. Zonta International was
recognized for our work in an advancing the status of women along with Avon, and Johnson and
Johnson, ZI President Dianne Curtis was there to accept this international recognition.

Action Alert:
Sign the Petition to Say NO to Sexual Violence in Conflict

“...sustainable peace is possible only with women’s full participation — their perspectives, their leadership, their daily, equal presence wherever we seek to make and keep the peace.”

-- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Dear Friends,

We are writing to remind you that you can make women count for peace.

Women suffer devastating harm during conflicts, including as targets of systematic sexual violence. Yet, they have little say when peace is negotiated. For two weeks,women peace activists from around the world have been meeting senior United Nations officials to voice their concerns and recommendations for peacebuilding in their countries.

Ten years ago, the United Nations Security Council called for women’s equal participation in peacebuilding in the groundbreaking resolution 1325. But its implementation in countries has been too slow.

Say NO to sexual violence in conflict and make women count for peace. Tell governments to make resolution 1325 a reality for women by taking three steps:

• Sign the petition.
• Update your friends about the initiative on Facebook. Here are some sample status updates.
• Tweet using #1325 to let others know. Here are some sample tweets you can use.

Together we can make a powerful statement to the UN Security Council when it convenes to discuss how to fulfill the commitments in resolution 1325 in October 2010.

Please share this action alert with others and stay tuned for news and updates.

It’s urgent. Please help.

Sincerely,

The Say NO Team, UNIFEM