Introducing Centennial 2019

Celebrated American novelist Pearl Buck once said: “if you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday”. ‘If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.’ Photograph courtesy Nobel Lectures, Literature 1901-1967, Editor Horst Frenz, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1969

CENTENNIAL 2019 History and Events Recent Current Future It is my privilege, on behalf of the Centennial Anniversary Committee, to present Centennial 2019: reviewing recent activity regarding Zonta’s history, and sharing current and suggested future plans to celebrate Zonta’s 100th Anniversary.  

A once in our lifetime opportunity, externally, to … Celebrate our successes and longevity Increase Zonta’s visibility Influence opinions and attitudes about women’s issues Enhance ZI’s impact as leading advocates for issues affecting women and girls This is a ‘once-in-our-lifetime’ opportunity externally to celebrate our successes and longevity increase Zonta’s visibility influence opinions and attitudes about women’s issues, and enhance ZI’s impact as leading advocates for issues affecting women and girls.   The Centennial Anniversary Committee and Zonta International Board are working together to plan the many activities which will help us to achieve these aims.

2000 80th Anniversary History 2010 Centennial Anniversary Committee Just recapping for a moment, you’ll remember that, following the publication of our 80th Anniversary History in the year 2000, a Centennial Anniversary Committee was appointed in 2010.

Aims of CAC and ZI Board, internally set up active and informed archive and history programs in clubs and districts explore and develop a concept for a Centennial History, and create a program of events to celebrate our 100th Anniversary Working with the International Board, our purpose internally has been to set up active and informed archive and history programs in clubs and districts explore and develop a concept for a Centennial History, to include an overview of the years 1999 to 2019, and create a program of events to celebrate our 100th Anniversary

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY PROJECT Today, we will look first at the Centennial HISTORY project, then at EVENTS celebrating our Centennial Year in 2019.

2010-2012 Focus: archival collections Source Review Sort Place records in secure and accessible storage In 2010-2012, we focussed on archival collections at club and district levels, and at Zonta International Headquarters, to source review sort, and place our records in secure and accessible storage

2012-2014 Focus: Club Histories Club Historians Create club history in brief Forward to District Historian In 2012-2014, we asked club historians to work with their club archives in the creation of a club history-in-brief, and forward that brief history to their district historian

2014-2016 Focus: District Histories District Historians create history in brief as source material for Centennial History author/s may complete a detailed history for a special anniversary In 2014-2016, district historians have been creating a district history-in-brief as source material for the author or authors of the Centennial History, and, in some cases, completing a detailed history to celebrate a significant anniversary in their district.

2014-2016 continued … Seeking researcher at the international level to study Zonta’s history in the context of events worldwide Defining a concept for the history: how presented - in electronic and/or printed form; what presented - the actual content   Also during this biennium, we are seeking a researcher at the international level to study Zonta’s history in the context of historical events worldwide, and defining a concept for the history: how it should be presented … in electronic and/or printed form, and what should be presented … the actual content  

2016-2020 Pending approval from future Boards, proposed plans to 2020 are that:   in 2016-2018, the author/s of our Centennial History will refer to the district histories and websites and archival records at ZI Headquarters … to write the story of our first 100 years in 2018, selected historical material will be edited and uploaded on to the International website as timely reference material for YOU to use in 2019 for PR purposes, or perhaps for exhibitions … Pending approval from future Boards, proposed plans for the remaining period until 2020 are that:   in 2016-2018, the author or authors of our Centennial History will refer to the district histories and websites and the archival records at Zonta International Headquarters .. to write the story of our first 100 years in 2018, selected historical material will be edited and uploaded on to the International website as timely reference material for you to use in 2019 for PR purposes, or perhaps for exhibitions …

2016-2020 continued in late 2019, the author/s will select stories of events celebrating our centennial year globally   in 2020, the Centennial History will be launched at our Zonta International Convention in late 2019, the author or authors will select stories of events celebrating our centennial year globally and in 2020, the Centennial History will be launched at our Zonta International Convention

EVENTS In January 2015 the Centennial Anniversary Committee worked with the International Board and Headquarters Staff to create a list of potential IDEAS for your consideration.

Practicality – human and financial IDEAS Global appeal Cultural acceptance Practicality – human and financial This list is being reviewed for global appeal acceptance culturally throughout the Zonta world, and practicality, with consideration of our human and financial resources Ideas for action, leading to the fulfilment of the aims mentioned earlier, will be defined and planned, with tools for clubs and districts provided.

Events to 2019 Pending approval from future Boards, proposed plans for events to 2019 are: In 2016-2018, we will provide you with an ‘ideas’ toolkit, and a media kit to help you decide what will work for you in your club and district, in time for discussion and budget considerations at your district conference in 2017     Pending approval from future Boards, proposed plans for events to 2019 are: In 2016-2018, we will provide you with an ‘ideas’ toolkit, and a media kit to help you decide what will work for you in your club and district, in time for discussion and budget considerations at your district conference in 2017.

Event Management With potential support from incoming Governors, Zontians with experience of event management may be appointed in every district to share their expertise on a global scale   This group would be similar to District Historians who have helped us so magnificently in preparing for the Centennial History We hope that this shared knowledge will help us all to make wise decisions for our 100th Anniversary. To be really effective we hope that, with potential support from incoming Governors, Zontians with experience of event management may be appointed in every district to share their expertise on a global scale   This group would be similar to the District Historians who have helped us so magnificently in preparing for the Centennial History. We hope that this shared knowledge will help us all to make wise decisions about the events we undertake to celebrate our 100th Anniversary.

Celebrations in 2019 In 2019, we plan to celebrate at ZI Headquarters: not only during the Founders Day weekend Friday 8 to Sunday 10 November, but also earlier during the year, when the weather is better, if you happen to be travelling through Chicago and have an opportunity to visit the Office suite in nearby Oak Brook.   Many activities will also be planned for other places. In 2019, we plan to celebrate at ZI Headquarters: not only during the Founders Day weekend Friday 8 to Sunday 10 November, but also earlier during the year, when the weather is better, if you happen to be travelling through Chicago and have an opportunity to visit the Office suite in nearby Oak Brook.   Many activities will also be planned for other places.

Sponsors and Partners To support our Events Program, we will be seeking Sponsors and Partners with philosophies similar to ours, to: raise awareness of Zonta’s achievements, and help us defray costs   To support our Events Program, we will be seeking Sponsors and Partners with philosophies similar to ours, to: raise awareness of Zonta’s achievements, and help us defray costs

Ideas, plans and experience So, if you have ideas for centennial events, have already planned your centennial celebrations, or have event management experience which you would like to share with us, please contact us on centennial@zonta.org   So, if you have ideas for centennial events, have already planned your centennial celebrations, or have event management experience which you would like to share with us, please contact us on centennial@zonta.org  

Let’s celebrate! With every passing day, we help to create Zonta’s story. Our centennial anniversary is a unique opportunity to celebrate the dedication of Zontians past and present to empower women locally and globally through service and advocacy.

Let’s create a Centennial Anniversary we can be proud of … We here, now, today, are the bridge between the past and the future … let’s create a Centennial Anniversary we can be proud of!