President's Corner
Bits & Pieces
Minutes from May Dinner Meeting
June Dinner Meeting
Newly Installed officers 2004-2006
Meet Our Newest Applicants for Memberships
I cannot think of a better way to begin my Presidency than by welcoming Betty Jane Bourdon, (Zonta International's Vice President), Aubrey Menard, (our 2004 YWPA Scholarship Recipient), and her parents to our June meeting. Honoring this year's Zontian of the Year will be another highlight of the evening. Please cast your vote on the ballot enclosed in this newsletter.
The last meeting before our summer break promises to be quite busy and exciting. We will discuss last minute details for our golf tournament, receive an update on our Iraqi service project, hear the latest from our friendship club in Australia, and learn more about our club's role at the district conference. In addition, I will share my goals for the next biennium and lay the groundwork for committee selection in September.
BJ has graciously agreed to announce our Zontian of the Year and to update us on the latest convention information. Entertainment will be courtesy of the Mahogany Team.
I am very happy to report that every member has rejoined for next year! In addition, Toni Kubiak and Jo Ellen Plato have submitted their membership applications. Get to know Toni and Jo Ellen a little better by reading their "bios" included in this newsletter.
On a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cheryl Dorfman for installing our club's new officers and directors, Lynn Goodhue for clarifying CEDAW, and my parents for sharing in my installation at the May meeting.
I look forward to working with all of you during the next biennium,
Yours in sisterhood,
Mary Ann Rubis
We need items for the prize table at our Golf fundraiser June 19th. Please bring any items you have so far to the June meeting. Have you invited 3-4 friends to play? Have you asked your favorite business owner to be a sponsor? Bring those forms too!
Be sure to complete your entry for Zontian of the Year for the Quaboag Valley Club!
Please review Committee assignments at ( www.zontaqv.org/committees.htm ) and identify which you would like to be involved with this year.
Downtown Shelley Brown's, Palmer, MA
Zontians present: Debra Allen, Julie Bowder, Marge Cavanaugh, Janet DaSilva, Jeanne Dill, Christine Gerl, Mary Hagman, Mary Knight, Andrea LeClair, Mary Ann Rubis, Joanne Turner-Chiacchia, Debra Wood
Zontians absent: Diane Carra, Ann Cormier, Kathy Hood, Elizabeth Reeves
Guests: Mr. & Mrs. Rubis, Joan Dunn, Cheryl Dorfman, Lynn Goodhue
Jeanne Dill, President, greeted members and guests at 6:10. After introductions and Zonta Blessing, we had dinner.
Business Meeting began at 6:45
Minutes: Minutes for the April meeting (published in Zonta Bog) were reviewed. A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Treasurer's Report: Nothing new to report.
Service Committee:
Mary Hagman and her committee recommended two donations:
1. $300 be allocated to purchase items for 'care boxes' to be sent to a designated unit stationed in Iraq. Julie's cousin and her fellow soldiers have provided a wish list. A motion was made; the vote in favor was unanimous.
2. $2000 be designated to be used toward a 'permanent' memento for the newly renovated Palmer Public Library. The committee will tour the facility in early summer to identify how the money could best be used. A motion was made; the vote in favor was unanimous.
Membership Committee: Joanne noted that we are eagerly awaiting decisions from three potential members. Mary K. reported final results of our membership contest, which turned out to be VERY close. The Mahogany Team gets to do the entertaining for our June meeting.
Golf Committee: Andrea has donated a table she reserved at an AmVets event so we can sell raffle tickets. Marge circulated a sign-up sheet for the day of the golf event. We need sponsors and golfers!!
YWPA Scholarship: Aubrey Menard and her parents will join us at our June meeting. Jeanne will attend a ceremony at Belchertown High School on June 3 to award Aubrey her $500 scholarship.
2004 International Convention: Everyone is on her own for giveaways to swap at the Convention. International has been notified that Chris Gerl is our delegate and Deb W. the alternate.
Program - CEDAW - the Western Mass Connection
Lynn Goodhue, Area II Director, did a great job reviewing local and international efforts to reduce Discrimination Against Women. She challenged each of us to:
> learn all we can - research, read, ask questions
> become vocal - be able to speak with conviction
> attend political events - encourage votes in favor of CEDAW
> partner with other organizations - there is strength in numbers.
Many thanks, Lynn, for all you do.
Installation of Officers: June 04 - May 06
Cheryl Dorfman, Area II Governor, joined us on this special night to do the honors of installing our officers for the next biennium:
Dr. Mary Ann Rubis - President; Christine Gerl - Vice President; Debra Allen - Treasurer;
Mary Knight - Secretary;
Janet DaSilva, Jeanne Dill and Andrea LeClair - Board members.
Congratulations to all and many thanks to Cheryl for her support.
Raffle Prizes - won by Janet, Chris, Julie, Andrea, Marge and Deb W.
Adjourned at 8:20.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Knight, Secretary
Our next dinner meeting will be Monday, June 14, 2004 at Downtown Shelley Brown's. The menu includes Veggie Lasagna.
Members are encouraged to invite women who may be interested in our organization
Please notify Mary Ann Rubis of the number of new and/or returning guests we can expect. Member reservations for the dinner meeting are assumed (and payment expected) unless Mary Ann is notified by June 9th. Mary Ann can be reached by
phone at: 413 533-4921
or email: maryannrubis@yahoo.com
PRESIDENT MARY ANN RUBIS
VICE PRESIDENT CHRIS GERL
TREASURER DEB ALLEN
SECRETARY MARY KNIGHT
BOARD MEMBERS:
JEANNIE DILL , Past President
JANET DASILVA , At Large
ANDREA LECLAIR , At Large
Meet two professionals who are interested in joining the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley.
Antoinette "Toni" Kubiak
It is with great pleasure to offer the application for membership in Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley of Antoinette "Toni" Kubiak. Toni is originally from East Longmeadow and currently resides in Belchertown, Massachusetts. Toni is a math teacher at Pathfinder Regional School District. She has been employed at Pathfinder since 1977.
Toni earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Bonaventure University in philosophy/psychology in 1970 and a Masters degree from American International College in 1980. Toni became interested in our club after reading articles, talking to friends and researching our mission. Toni states "I have been searching for a venue to support and expand my commitment to women, peace and the environment. Zonta responds to all of these concerns on a local, national and global level."
Toni has many other interests. They include but are not limited to tennis (currently co-captain of a USTA tennis team), golf (a new love), environmental/sustainable world-development issues and how we teach our middle school children to focus on the environmental awareness, cooking, good friends, good conversation, travel and the "sweet pleasures of life".
Jo Ellen Plato
Jo Ellen was born in Stafford, CT, but raised in Monson, the youngest of five children.
In high school, Jo Ellen volunteered at the Monson Development Center (formerly the Monson State Hospital) and returned there upon graduation from college. She began full-time employment with the Holyoke/ Chicopee Department of Mental Retardation in 1976 and by 1985 she started in her current position as a community based Service Coordinator.
Since 1979, she has enjoyed a relationship with partner, David. Jo Ellen returned to Monson to help in the care of her parents. Her mother recently passed away.
Jo Ellen has been interested in the women's movement and issues affecting women since her college years, when she volunteered as a rape counselor at a crisis center and helped in the relocation of women affected by violence. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, fishing, the beach and gardening.
|
