Zonta North Puget Sound Zontagram - July Happenings, Zonta in the Community in MayScholarships, Grants
July Zontagram
Upcoming Events
Club:
July 3, 8:00 am - Business Meeting
July 17, Program Meeting
August 4, 8:00 am- Board Meeting
August 12, 4:00 pm Zocial Cindy's home
December 18 11:30 am - Annual Holiday Auction
District 8:
July 3, 7:00 pm - Zonta Says Now
Sept. 19-21 2025 District 8 Conference 2025 - Everett WA, Hosted by Zonta Club of North Puget Sound
July 11-14, 2026- International Convention, Vancouver BC, Canada
9-20 March 2026 - CSW 70- New York City or Virtual
Our 2024-2025 Officers
Peggy Wiltz, President
Victoria Trabosh, President Elect
Mary Lamb, Treasurer
Kelsey Taylor, Secretary
Zonta Club of North Puget Sound
Formerly, Zonta Club of Everett
President's Message - Peggy Wiltz
Hello Everyone.
This month I’ve been dealing with some interesting personal challenges. For one, my husband has been incapacitated by a knee surgery. So I’ve been taking care of him. I love my sweetie but he is a very high-maintenance patient. The pillows must be fluffed just so, the door must be left open exactly the right amount, etc. And did you know that having the right size spoon for different types of food is a thing? I had no idea. I spent a lot of time going back and forth between the bedroom and the kitchen switching out spoons.
For my part, I’ve started a round of medication for my anxiety and depression. Some of you may think that this is too much information. But I believe it’s important to normalize mental health issues so that we can talk about them the same way we talk about – for example – knee surgery. I’ve just started this medication today so it’s too early to know if it will help but I am encouraged by what I’ve heard about it so far. So if you see me around, feel free to ask me how my husband is healing, or how the Wellbutrin is treating me!
Meanwhile summer is upon us. I hope to enjoy a couple months of sunny Pacific Northwest summer weather. I am getting the gardens in shape for parties and barbecues. Upcoming for the club: we will see some of you at the Everett Farmer’s Market in August, and committees are already busily getting ready for the big District 8 Conference in September. But for the most part this is the quiet season for our club.
It feels like time to take it easy before the busy Fall season begins, so my husband and I can get healed and rested. The rest of you - enjoy your vacations, outdoor adventures, and family get-togethers. It’s summer!
See you soon,
Peg
TBA - Save July 17th for our Program Meeting - watch for email
Meet our newest member Deborah Peterson
Hello…my name is Deborah Peterson (nee Phelps). I live in the south Everett/Mill Creek area with my husband, Michael, who I have been married to for 37 years.
I have been active in women’s issues since the early 1970’s ERA fight as a young woman entering the business world. Over the years, of course, there have been and continue to be many other issues impacting women that continue to need our attention. When Yvonne Richter invited me to join Zonta, it seemed like a natural fit for me.
Originally from western Massachusetts, my family moved to the west coast when I was a teenager (the first generation of our family to leave Massachusetts since the Mayflower).
Most of my worklife has been spent as an entrepreneur. I’m known in my circles as someone who reinvents herself when the winds change. After a 20 year career in insurance sales, I worked with a life coach to determine a new direction for my life. My coach asked me a very important question. “ What are you doing when you feel most alive”? For me, since I was a teenager, that has been in the kitchen cooking and entertaining my friends and family. That led me to launching a Catering and Personal Chef business . When COVID shut this business down, I said to myself “What’s Next?”. I decided at that point to go back to where I started, and launch a real estate business. Most of my clients today are downsizing or selling their parents’ home.
2 ½ years ago, after losing my best friend of 25 years to cancer, and looking for female friends to do things with, I launched an in person social group on Facebook called 50+ Ladies of Snohomish County. We have grown to over 800 members and enjoy a myriad of activities together, such as Bunco, Music Performances, Field Trips and Travel (some of us recently returned from Greece and Rome). Socialization is a very important piece to aging well and this is what we provide.
In my spare time, I enjoy working in my garden, playing in the kitchen and spending time with my granddaughters, Mackenzie and Bailey, who are 12 and 6.
“The Kitchen is My Playground”
Deborah
Zonta Club of North Puget Sound is excited to be hosting the District 8 Conference
Join us on September 19-20 in Everett, Washington
Keynote session with Amanda Lea Kaiser, a leading member engagement strategist and author of Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating a Thriving Member Community. Are you struggling to retain members or engage younger audiences? You're not alone! Amanda will share innovative strategies to transform your club's member experience, helping you become the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) your organization needs.
Discover how to create memorable, positive experiences that boost renewals and registrations, no matter the size of your club. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with the mindset and tools to elevate engagement like never before!
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a true expert in the field! Watch your email for registration and hotel link next week!
Plan to attend our Summer Zocial
August 12th 4-7
WHAT: Potluck, Social, Fun & drinks
WHO: You & your ‘potential member’ friends
WHERE: Cindy's home in Marysville
A Zonta Club of North Puget Sound Fellowship Event!
Highlights from the North American
Inter-District Meeting June 19-21
by Katherine Cleland (Club Advocacy, Zonta USA Caucus)
I had the privilege of attending to represent Zonta USA Caucus on the Equal Rights Amendment, and Ending Child Marriage in the USA, and to give a workshop on Social Media best practices for clubs in a rapidly changing environment. The theme was summer camp, and the light and fun from that offset some of the deep discussions. Here are some of my thoughts, and a day by day summary that is excellent from past Zonta International Board Member and Zonta Club of Billings member, Renee Coppock.
I was inspired by the Panelists and Keynote speakers that spoke so eloquently on the topics of human trafficking and taking charge of your passion and purpose. Zonta members from across the world shared their insights and expertise on everything from the UN, to membership, to Climate and Gender. Notes will be published shortly.
1. We Zonta members are going to need all our resilience and motivation, because around the world, and in the USA, we are fighting hard just to maintain women’s rights at current levels. At the same time, the climate is changing more rapidly than expected, while progress towards the Paris accords, and participation of women in decision making positions around climate action is moving slowly.
2. We need to retain and motive existing members, and we have an opportunity to recruit members in the USA and Canada at the current moment, as many women, and some men, who are paying attention to women’s rights, are alarmed at the trends, and want to get involved to “hold the line”.
3. There is no group I’d rather be in this struggle with. Zonta members tackle difficult and complex problems, work together, explore solutions, support each other, adjust strategies, work tirelessly, and build community. Although the many topics and between session regrouping were often discussing how the USA is currently moving backwards on women’s rights, I was buoyed by our community, the passion, the focus and commitment to bipartisanship/non partisan approaches.
Congratulations to the 2025 Zonta Young Women in Leadership Awardees: These 37 extraordinary young women have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes. Let’s celebrate together the future leaders! Click here to meet the awardees.
Congratulations to the 2025 Amelia Earhart Fellows: Join us in celebrating these exceptional women pursuing Ph.D. degrees in aerospace-related sciences and engineering. Their achievements honor Amelia’s legacy and inspire the next generation of trailblazers. Another opportunity for celebrations! Click here to meet the Fellows.
Explore Zonta’s Global Reach:
Webinars on our International Service Projects Meet UNFPA: A Special Webinar for Zonta Members Discover how Zonta International’s support of ClimateEmpower is making a difference in Madagascar, Mozambique and South Sudan. Learn about UNFPA’s global work, funding structure and how this project is reducing violence against women and girls, addressing harmful practices and empowering women and girls as leaders in climate resilience. Click here to watch the recording.
UNICEF USA + Zonta International: Laaha 101 Get an inside look at the Laaha project and hear directly from the UNICEF team managing the initiative. Discover how Zonta’s support is providing a virtual safe space for girls and women with information about women's health, rights and gender-based violence services. Click the button below to watch the recording. Use the password Zonta2025! to access the video at this link. *UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, organization or service.
Zontians out and about
Last week, Membership Chair Cynthia Weaver and President Peggy Wiltz joined Zonta Club of Stockholm, Sweden member Agneta Ekman for dinner at Terra Plata on Capitol Hill. Agneta is here visiting her son and grandchildren and reached out to Cynthia in hopes of making some new friends with fellow Zontians.
We met for cocktails and appetizers, which we shared while Agneta told us about two Seattle organizations which are active in both Seattle and Sweden. Agneta is hoping to create a partnership between these organizations and others with a similar mission.
The World Childhood Foundation was started in 1999 by Queen Silvia of Sweden. It is currently active in several countries including Brazil, Germany and the U.S., and supports 100 projects in 15 countries dedicated to insuring the right of children to a safe childhood and protection from sexual abuse. They are currently working on a project to use AI to protect children.
The Swedish Women’s Education Foundation (SWEA) is a network of 6000 Swedish-speaking women across 33 countries, providing fellowship, career development, and mentorship.
During dinner and dessert we had an interesting conversation about the mission of Zonta, shared pictures of our grandchildren, and made tentative plans to meet up in Copenhagen in 2028 at the Zonta International Convention!
Zonta members helping member Kim celebrate her retirement earlier this month 90's style!!!
Leticia representing the club at the Everett Farmer's Market
Check us out on LinkedIn
Showing up in all the places Women look for community and action for Equality!
WSCADV Mariners - Choose Respect: Refuse To Abuse® Game Day
JOIN IN! SUNDAY JULY 20, 2025
On Sunday July 20, join WSCADV for Refuse to Abuse® Day at T-Mobile Park as we take action for domestic violence prevention, promote healthy, respectful relationships, and enjoy a Mariners game together!
Each Game Day ticket includes:
View Level ticket to the Sunday, July 20 Mariners vs. Houston Astros game
$8 donation to the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Mariners-themed Refuse to Abuse® T-shirt
Deadline to purchase: Friday, July 18th at 5:00pm.
We continue to advocate for Affirmation of the ERA :
The Bills to reaffirm the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th amendment have been reintroduced in the US House and Senate last week. HJRes 80 and SJ Res 38 are active, and there will be a Fast Action Friday soon to request our representatives to co-sponsor or sign on. In WA state, all but two of our house representatives are co-sponsors.
Check out our updated web page at www.zontausa.org/ERA
Zonta USA: Take Action with Fast Action Fridays:
Many members are finding that they've been dropped from Fast Action Fridays. If you didn't see one in the last two weeks, please take a minute to re-sign up! Anyone can sign up, invite friends who are not (yet) Zonta members!
Fast Action Fridays can be forwarded, and anyone can take action, not just Zonta Members. The Fast Action "Voter Voice" tool does ask for your address, so they can match you to your representative and district, so you email the correct person. Zonta will not share or sell this information.
Support Zonta Club of Everett Foundation
Help Fund Scholarships for Women
+ Grants for local organizations
Zonta Club of Everett foundation supports local scholarships and Zonta International Scholarships. Learn more.
Learn about Zonta's Regional, National and International Work on Gender Equal Climate Action
Join Zonta District 8 Climate Team
Great discussions at the all area workshops on climate action, and personal options to make a difference. Check out our web page at www.zontadistrict8.org/climate to learn some tips and ideas. Join us to get in on the ground floor of District 8's Zonta Says NOW to Gender Equality and Climate Action! This will be District 8's Advocacy focus for the 2024-2026 biennium, and we need your ideas and support. Our meetings will have an educational piece and discussion along with brainstorming ideas for each club's Advocacy team to take Climate Action! We meet via Zoom on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. Please contact Connie Campbell of Zonta Club of South Puget Sound at for more information!
Topic: D8 Zonta Says NOW First Thursdays via Zoom!
Please join us monthly for D8 Zonta Says NOW! We learn more about the climate crisis, it's impact on women and girls and encourage climate action in our Clubs. Some months we have Guest speakers to broaden our awareness. Typically we meet the 1st Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM, PST via Zoom. Hope to see you there! Here is the Zoom information:
Topic: D8 Zonta Says NOW - "
We will be welcoming Hannah Sanger, our presenter from Pocatello Idaho. Hannah will present on the Portneuf River Vision, covering a brief history of the Portneuf River in Pocatello, Idaho before diving into the City’s restoration goals and plans for the river.
Meeting ID: 810 3227 5418
Passcode: 099595
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Meeting ID: 810 3227 5418
Zonta International's Statement on Climate Change: a Gender Equality Issue highlights the importance of educating girls, having more women in parliament, and achieving gender equality, especially in economic participation and responses to climate change.
A HUGE Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!!!!
Your Logo can be here.
Contact us to become a Sponsor for women and girls in Everett, Snohomish County, and around the world.
JOIN Zonta, Build a Better World for Women and Girls
Zonta members helping member Kim celebrate her retirement earlier this month 90's style!!!
