Minutes November 7, 2022
Attendees: Diane Lestage, Maida Follini, Jayma Hall, Mary Knight, Lisa Emery, Joan Lanzillo-Hahesy, Sandy Carroll, Seren Derin, Beatrice Schori, Donna Clifford, Jane House, Carol Dobson, Donna Sroka
Membership Chairs Missing: Dana Fraser, Bonnie Haghkerdar, Rosanne Frieri, Nicole LaMattina, Regina Caines
Guest: Lori Robinson ~ lorirobinsonzontabc@gmail.com
Donna Raycraft called the meeting to order at 6:05. A motion was made and seconded to approve minutes for the October 3, 2022, meeting.
Donna explained that this is a special meeting with our liaison from the Zonta Spirit Working Group, so Presidents, Board and Committee Chairs were invited to join us. We are honored to welcome Lori Robinson from Toronto CA, Past Governor for District 4 and an active participant in leadership development and membership under multiple ZI Presidents. With a background in business development recruitment and human resources, Lori is well versed on issues of retention and growth and is here to share insights and to learn from us.
Lori began by explaining that Zonta Spirit is the heart and soul of clubs and supports clubs to create a strong culture of community, fun and friendship in an inclusive approach. The Working Group has been tasked by President Ute with creating some short videos and collecting ideas, activities and tools for clubs to discuss and promote the Zonta Spirit to all members. These will be shared on the ZI site under Member Tools.
Our #1 strategy for membership growth and retention in Zonta should be “building relationships”. Here are a few action items we might want to try:
- Be sure every member is engaged in some Zonta project (esp. in November and March) and having fun!
- Challenge each member to connect for coffee or cocktail (in person or virtually) with someone they currently do not work with and report back at the next meeting on what they learned. Mix things up!
- Reach out to people in the news (promotions, new hires) with a handwritten note of congratulations. Include a Zonta business card or brochure and invite him/her to join our network or attend a specific event.
- Ask guests to invite young people in their lives to attend your next event on climate change – fire up some intergenerational discussions. Invite them to join our movement! Those under 18 can be ‘junior members’ and work on a project in lieu of paying dues.
- Busy, passionate women want to help other women – they just need to be asked. Try it!
- Students at local high school or college showing an interest in service and advocacy for topics on our agenda? Offer to mentor and learn from each other.
- Recognize accomplishments, look for ways to boost each other’s morale.
- Think about why you joined Zonta and why you stay. Cultivate more of that! Others want to be part of a movement that is making a difference and having a good time doing it.
Next Meeting: December 5th at 6pm. We will be joined by Governor Donna and learn about Club Creators.
Assignment: Get on the agenda for your next meeting. Share what you are learning and ask for at least one recruitment idea and one relationship suggestion to try.
We adjourned at about 7:10
Sincerely, Mary Knight, Notetaker
