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Every two years, each of the Zonta Districts organizes an important conference for its members, filled with networking opportunities and educational programs.  The theme this year is “Stronger Together: Leading with Strength, Positivity and Resilience.”  Guest speaker Mary Knight, District 1 Secretary and Webmaster, enthusiastically gave us many good reasons to attend this year’s event, just a short distance away in Boston, October 24-26, 2025. Registration is now open at  Fall Conference 2025 – Zonta District 1

At our June meeting, we were fortunate to have guest speaker Mary Ann Rubis, the District 1 Foundation Ambassador, speak to us about the goals and impressive work of the Foundation. Funded by donations from clubs and individual members, the Zonta Foundation supports projects implemented by United Nations agencies and recognized non-governmental agencies. Climate empowerment, ending child marriage, and creating a safe virtual place for women and girls are some of the priorities. Much more information can be found on the Zonta Foundation website, along with instructions on how to make a donation.

During April and early May, our club collected cash and feminine hygiene products to donate to local organizations and schools. We assembled 98 kits and a number of boxes of various products. For women and girls living with homelessness or poverty, having a period is a financial burden that often causes shame and embarrassment. Basic menstrual hygiene products are costly, but pads and tampons are considered “non-essential” by the federal government, so they are not covered by SNAP and WIC programs. What’s more, women and teens who are homeless or financially strapped often lack consistent access to hygiene products. Our Zonta Club was pleased to make a difference in the lives of these women and girls.    

At our May 2025 Annual Meeting, we officially welcomed five new members. Donna Raycraft, Zonta District 1 Governor and member of the Zonta Club of Concord NH, joined us for our formal induction ceremony. She also gave an informative presentation on District 1 and the upcoming Fall Conference.

Our Club President, Nadine Salley, was the guest speaker at the January 22, 2025 Zonta Lieutenant Governor’s Membership Committee Meeting. Nadine was asked to address the attendees about processes and procedures required to start a new club. She provided the rationale for establishing a club in an Over 55 Community. As the founder of our club, chartered in the Fall of 2023, she was able to provide practical advice regarding recruitment of members, managing meetings, logistics of filing for not-for-profit status, effective ways of coordinating with the District and International leaders, and much more.

Guest Speaker,  Kierra Wilk, Amelia Earhart Fellow At our January 14, 2025 meeting, we were fortunate to have Rhode Island native Kierra Wilk join us. Kierra Wilk was awarded one of the coveted 2024 Zonta Amelia Earhart fellowships.  She is a Ph.D. candidate at Brown University studying planetary science.  In addition to studying the moon, she has published work on Mars and is interested in the geologic mapping of planetary bodies such as Europa. Ms. Wilk is actively involved with two upcoming NASA missions, Lunar Trailblazer and Europa Clipper. After completing her Ph.D., Ms. Wilk will join the Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a research scientist. Beyond her research, Ms. Wilk is passionate about science education and outreach. She is involved in outreach programs aimed at encouraging young students, in particular young women and people of color, to pursue a career in STEM. Additionally, she is president of a graduate student organization Graduate Students of Color in STEM (GSOCnSTEM) at Brown University, which aims to build community for graduate students of color, increase interactions between faculty and graduate students and increase representation in STEM.

Members of the Zonta Club volunteered to wrap gifts at our local mall on Saturday, December 14th. In just a few hours, we collected $240 in donations toward our charitable funds. While working hard to earn money and expand awareness of Zonta’s mission, a good time was had by all.