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Nadine Salley, Zonta Club of South County’s Current President Elected to District 1 Area 2 Director For the 2026-2028 term, Nadine will act as a liaison between the clubs in our area and the district board, support and visit clubs, and help them meet their objectives. Key duties include attending district conferences, planning area meetings, and keeping the governor informed of our area’s activities. She will also assist with leadership training and the development of new clubs. Congratulations, Nadine!

At the Zonta District 1 Conference in October, our club staffed the registration desk, giving us the opportunity to meet and greet attendees from clubs in New Hampshire and Massachusetts as well as guests from as far away as Taiwan. As the newest club in attendance, we had the chance to meet many smart, passionate, and inspiring women.

Five members of our club recently attended the Zonta District 1 Conference in Boston. The theme of this biannual meeting — the District’s 73rd Fall Conference — was “Stronger Together.” The weekend was packed with excellent educational sessions and networking opportunities. Presentations, photos and much more about the successful conference can be found on the District 1 Website.  Our club put together and sold raffle tickets for two beautiful baskets with a Rhode Island theme and earned over $350 for our service and advocacy projects.

In lieu of an August business meeting, the Zonta Club of South County RI met for dinner at the Breachway Grill in Charlestown RI. Nearly all members were able to attend, and reviews of the event were universally positive. The food was very good and of course the company was outstanding.

Our club solicited raffle items from over 30 local businesses, enabling us to offer wonderful prizes for each daily raffle drawing in July. We sold tickets for $20 each and raised $3345 after expenses. That money will go a long way toward our service and advocacy programs.

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.