District 6 News

District 6 announces it’s 2016 JMK Scholarship winner Kaitlin Raineri.

JMK Scholarship winner Kaitlin Raineri

Kaitlin, whose application was submitted by the Zonta Club of LaSalle Peru, and is a sophomore at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) and plans to transfer to Loyola University in Chicago to study International Business. She has consistently earned Presidential Honors and has been accepted into IVCC’s Honor’s Program. She has studied abroad in Netherlands via Rotary Youth Exchange Student program and taught English in Romania. She volunteers with the American Red Cross. She currently is an intern for a non-profit, Another Child Foundation and wants to work for an international non-profit after obtaining her Master’s degree

District 6 was well represented by 32 members at the 63rd Zonta International Convention held 2 July – 7 July, 2016 in Nice France. At the pre-convention District meeting on Friday, Governor Donna Conant inducted incoming Governor Tammy Hagen, Treasurer Cheryl Trudeau, Area Directors Michelle Miller & Carol Braford, and Nominating Committee Members Linda Hiltabrand & Donna Conant.

The Convention opened with the impressive Flag Ceremony and closed with a lavish Closing banquet and installation of officers. It was filled with inspirational keynote addresses and presentations by our International award winners. We heard representatives from the United Nations give project reviews and proposals for new projects. Our delegates approved continuing the Delaying Early Marriage in Niger and Liberia Fistula projects for another biennium. They also approved two new projects: Addressing Human Trafficking in Nepal and Let Us Learn Madagascar. After much discussion, a resolution creating a new membership category for Young Professionals was approved for a two year trial.

Lastly, the Big News. The 2020 International Convention will be held in Chicago! That gives us four years to prepare to host our 100 Year Centennial Convention.

Elected by club delegates at the District 6 Conference were the following leaders for 2016-2018: (Pictured from left to right) Dorothy Suther – Area 4 Director (Indianapolis); Carol Braford Area 5 Director (Kankakee); Cheryl Trudeau – Treasurer (Kankakee); Pam Duane – Area 2 Director (Madison); Michelle Miller – Area 3 Director (Mascoutah); Anna Weselak – Area 1 Director (Oak Brook); Elaine Rynders – Lt Governor (Alton-Wood River); Governor – Tamara Hagen (Madison). Terms start July, 2016.

As Zontians, we strongly believe in the power of education. At our conference we recognized 2015 Zonta award winners from District 6.

Sivaranjani Seetharaman (University of Notre Dame) is presented her Amelia Earhart “wings” by Zonta International (ZI) Director Catherine McEwan (on right); Donna Conant (left) and Dorothy Suther (second from right) extended congratulations on behalf of  District. ZI awarded 35 Amelia Earhart fellowships in 2015 for post graduate studies in the aero-sciences.  (read more:  Amelia Earhart Fellowship )

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Ananya Murali (center) is presented with the ZI Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award Certificate by ZI Director Catherine McEwan (right). Donna Conant (left) presented her with the District YWPA Certificate. Ananya spoke on her activities with leadership and anti-bullying. She has held anti-bullying camps in Wisconsin and India. She was one of 12 girl scouts in the country that were chosen to speak on a panel at the United Nations. (read more:  Young Women in Public Affairs Award )
 
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Pictured are Sandra Anderson, 1993 AE Fellow and member of Zonta Club of Madison (left); Leslie Goddard portraying Amelia Earhart (center); Sivaranjani Seetharaman 2015 AE Fellow (right).

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Unable to attend the conference were:

• Natasha Bosanac from Purdue University – awarded her second Amelia Earhart Fellowship.
• Kosovka Spreca from Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI. is the recipient of the District’s Jane M. Klausman award. (Read more: Jane M. Klausman Women In Business Scholarship )

Members in District 6 are stepping out in a big way to Say NO to Violence against Women. Pictured are District 6 Zontians at District Conference on Oct. 10, 2015.  Plans are well underway for  the 16 Days of Activism 16 Days of Activism, November 25-December 10, 2015.