If there's one thing that's been made abundantly clear since I joined the Insider staff, it's that there are a lot of nice people in town. There are even organizations created precisely for these nice people, so they can do kind things in a group.
One such group is the Zonta Club, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Zonta is made up of professional woman – members must work at least 50 percent of the week – who are dedicated to causes of both local and international interest.
The Concord Zonta Club is the oldest active club in the state. It got started in 1959 with 30 business and professional women. The women met at the Highway Hotel in August of that year, and elected Lily Cochran as president; Alice Van Dyke, vice-president; Virginia Lovely, secretary; and Dr. Ursula Sanders, treasurer. Serving as directors were Dorothy Breene and Dorothy Stevens. (Anyone recognize their mom or grandmother in there?)
The fledgling club didn't waste any time in fulfilling the Zonta mission of promoting the status of women and children – just two years after its debut, members, with Gov. Wesley Powell, ushered in Amelia Earhart Week in the state, honoring the memory of the former Zontian. In 1974, the club became the first women's group to run the Salvation Army kettles during the holidays. No stranger to firsts, members began volunteering at the Friendly Kitchen in 1982, the first non-church organization to do so. At the time, the Friendly Kitchen was open three nights a week, but with extra help from the Zonta Club, a fourth night was added. Thanks to the pioneering work of these trendsetters, numerous groups have volunteered with the kitchen. Zonta members continue to volunteer there on the second Monday of every month.
Fundraising events over the years have included friendship luncheons, yard sales, wine tastings and the delicious-sounding Easter cookie bee and sale of Katy Beich candies. More recent activities include gift wrapping at Borders, a spa event and a holiday auction.
Internationally, Zonta boasts 33,000 members in more than 1,200 clubs in 67 countries and geographic areas. The Concord club has 30 members.
Being professional women, these are pretty busy ladies – yet they still find time for an impressive number of projects. Scholarships are provided to students at NHTI and the group works with Dress for Success of New Hampshire to help women gain economic independence. You'll also find members putting together baby layettes – tote bags with clothing, a blanket, toiletries, diapers and a baby toy or book – to distribute to new mothers at Family Health Center at Concord Hospital. So far, 374 layettes have been distributed. Members renovated a room at a domestic violence shelter, put together a spa event to raise money for the Friendly Kitchen and Sheila Stanley Counseling Fund and, for the past five years, the club has been involved with the annual multicultural festival held in June.
“It isn't everywhere that you can find sisterhood, an opportunity to contribute to local need and an opportunity to affect global change all at the same time,” writes club president Donna Raycraft. “And when you wrap it up with a mission 'to enhance the status of women', it makes for a perfect package.”
To celebrate 50 years of service, club members will party the night away in '50s attire next month. (If you'd like to attend the party, call Janice at 229-0211. Tickets are limited, and cost $49.) The event includes dinner, dancing, a bubble gum blowing contest (I am not making that up), a hula hoop contest and, of course, cake. What a great way to celebrate 50 years of do-goodery in the city of Concord. Live it up, ladies!
