PRINCEVILLE — Some 55 years ago, the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i was chartered. Hawai‘i was not even a state yet. The year was 1952. Monday, the Zonta Club of Hanalei saw the light of the world for the first time
PRINCEVILLE — Some 55 years ago, the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i was chartered. Hawai‘i was not even a state yet. The year was 1952.
Monday, the Zonta Club of Hanalei saw the light of the world for the first time — 55 years and 23 days following the charter for the first Zonta Club on the island.
“This marks the first club to be chartered in the biennial,” said Zonta Club International District 9 Governor Barbara White of Utah, in her remarks during the chartering ceremony.
White was on O‘ahu for some meetings there and extended her trip to issue personally the charter and receive the 23 new members of the Zonta Club of Hanalei.
White officiated over the presentation of the charter, following which, Robin Savage-Thompson, the president of the newly chartered service club, threw up her arms in glee, and waving the charter in one hand, said, “It’s happening!”
Joining Savage-Thompson in heading the new club, Mary Clendeninn is the president-elect, Sally Motta is the vice president, Mindy Jergins fills the treasurer’s position, Diane Maxwell is the recording secretary, Maria Hickling is the corresponding secretary and directors are Sheila White, Kay Jaskolski and Luan Kimmerle, who was represented at the induction ceremony by a Zontian who held a picture of the missing Zontian.
“It has been said that an organization is but the lengthened shadow of the invidual member,” White said in her induction remarks. “Zonta will therefore be what we make of it with our combined abilities, loyalties, understanding and effort, as we work together in the spirit of cooperation and the joy of attainment.”
“We have, in Zonta, an organization of business executives and professionals who are banded together for service and fellowship, carrying on a program of high ideals with honest and trustworthy motives,” White said.
Pat Griffin, a former Zontian of 25 years, represented State Senator Gary Hooser in the formal presentation of a Senate certificate, but following the chartering, joined Zonta Club of Kaua‘i president Melinda Uohara in presenting the newest Zonta Club with a personal check to help the fledgling club off to a good start.
Similarly, the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i offered its newest sister club a contribution to start its treasury.
Founded in 1919, the Zonta International is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy, states the Zonta International Web site.
Zonta members volunteer their time, talents and money to local and international service projects as well as scholarship and award programs aimed at furthering women’s education, leadership and youth development.
As the new group settled into a routine of finishing lunch, getting photographs, one Zontian said to councilman Mel Rapozo, “Yes, there are men in Zonta, too. When I was on O‘ahu, there was at least one man in the group.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
