Zonta International History
Learn more about Zonta International History by watching a video here.
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Inspiration and Founder
While working in a prominent role at the Buffalo Express at a time when women rarely held leadership positions, playwright and journalist Marian de Forest conceived the idea of an organization that would bring together women in executive positions. She envisioned a strong network that would help women reach their rightful places in the professions. Zonta's first club was chartered in Buffalo, New York on November 8,1919. Membership grew rapidly. By 1920, a confederation of nine Zonta clubs had formed with 600 members. |
The founding of Zonta International occupies a unique moment in women's history. Established in Buffalo, New York, USA in 1919, early members were among the first generation of college-educated women, the first generation of North American women to vote, and a part of the growing, though still comparatively small, legion of women entering the workforce. Over the decades, Zonta International has grown into a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women. There are more than 30,000 members in more than 1,200 clubs in 65 countries all over the world.
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Amelia Earhart may be one of the best known Zontians. She was a aviation pioneer and a woman of many firsts. First woman to fly the Atlantic as a passenger, first woman to fly the Atlantic alone, first woman to receive the US Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1937 she attempted to be the first person to circle the world by air. On the final leg of the flight, she and her navigator disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Amelia was an active member of the Zonta Club of Boston and New York until her disappearance. Closer to home she was a faculty member of Purdue University's Aviation Department counseling women on careers, especially in aviation.
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The Zonta Rose is much more than a lovely flower. Since 1999, it has served as the symbol of Zonta Rose Day, which falls on March 8th and coincides with International Women’s Day.
On this special Day, Zontians worldwide are encouraged to publicly distribute yellow roses, or items bearing the image of yellow roses, accompanied by information about Zonta International and issues relating to improving the lives of women. Excerpts taken from http://www.zonta.org/WhoWeAre/ZIHistory.aspx.
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The word "Zonta" is derived from a Lakhota (Teton Dakota), a language of the Native-American Sioux peoples, word meaning honest and trustworthy. It was adopted in 1919 to symbolize the combined qualities of honesty and trust, inspiration and the ability to work together for service and world understanding.
The emblem is not simply a decorative design. It is an adaptation and composite of several Sioux Indian symbols which when superimposed take on a special significance for Zontians. *Excerpt from www.zonta.org. |