Zonta Club of Hilo

For your convenience, please click on link below to purchase fun...
https://zontaclubofhilo.ticketspice.com/2023-december-10-holiday-party
before 12/3/2023 11:00 am

Buy your tickets before December 1, 2023, 11:00 am!

Wear Orange and march with us at the Hilo Christmas Parade tomorrow Saturday, Nov. 25 6:00 pm. MEET 5:30 PM AT THE KAMEHAMEHA STATUE. You can help hold banner, hand out postcards or bring you own group's banner!

November is a time to be thankful and a time to give...

Hawaiian Airlines celebrates a first with all-female, all-part-Hawaiian pilot crew All three women are graduates of Kamehameha Schools.

Service Chair Erlinda Bourcier and husband Dan at a monthly membership meeting.

President Julie Tulang and member Micki O’Brien at a monthly membership meeting.

Zontian Mele Spencer at our monthly membership meeting.

Army Col. Debra Lewis (ret.) with her mother and mother-in-law at our monthly membership meeting.

Jan Higashi and Chelsea Mack at our monthly membership meeting.

Zontian Charlene Iboshi sharing our club’s “Hands Are Not For Hitting, Hands Are For Helping” book donation project. Details: https://zontahilo.org/hands-are-not-for-hitting-hands-are-for-helping/

Sofia Ferreira Colman of Paraguay attends the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, where she studies Marine Science. Colman was selected to receive the 2023 Zonta Club of Hilo Women in STEM Scholarship of $1,000. After her application was advanced by the local club to compete internationally, Coleman was selected as one of 30 women representing 20 countries who were awarded the 2023 Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship of $5,000.

“The STEM Scholarship will enable me to complete my master's thesis that involves creating three-dimensional models of Hawaiian coral reefs to investigate the intricate connections between the structural complexity of reef habitats and the local fish community using a trait-based approach. Ultimately, the models can help scientists find ways of fighting climate effect change in Hawai‘i,” said Colman.

The Zonta Women in STEM Scholarships are awarded to women pursuing a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree program who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field. Open to women of any age, students must be enrolled at an accredited university/college/institute in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a master’s program at the time the application is submitted. The next application deadline is May 2024.

Scholarships are funded annually through the charitable Zonta Club of Hilo Foundation, donations to which are tax-deductible: https://zontahilo.org/donate/

Zontians can dance! We had fun at our October membership mixer at Na Leo TV.

Deb Lewis and Yuko Kakazu were presenters for Magnificent Me 2023. The half-day conference brought 83 middle school girls from East Hawai’i schools into classrooms at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo for a suite of workshops to inspire a strong sense of self.

Learn more: https://zontamagnificentme.com

Club President Julie Tulang kicked off Magnificent Me 2023. The half-day conference brought 83 middle school girls from East Hawai’i schools into classrooms at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo for a suite of workshops to inspire a strong sense of self.

Learn more: https://zontamagnificentme.com

Mahalo to the presenters at the Magnificent Me girls conference at UH Hilo. We couldn’t have it without you!!! 🥰🥰🥰

For more into, visit: https://zontamagnificentme.com/

Mahalo to Miriam Mobley Smith, who served as Interim Dean at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, for giving an inspiring intro at the Magnificent Me girls conference at UH Hilo. For more into, visit: https://zontamagnificentme.com/

Zontian Jackie Pualani Johnson helped with registration for the Magnificent Me conference for middle school girls, sponsored by our club. Learn more: https://zontamagnificentme.com/

Donate to the Family Resource Center at Neighborhood Place of Puna! Give diapers and other baby related baby items, hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, body soap, toothpaste, deodorant, dish soap, laundry detergent, towels, twin size sheets.

Drop off at their office in Keaau or give via their Amazon Wish at https://neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/donate/ (and scroll down to the Amazon Wish List Info). Make a positive impact today!

Please join our monthly membership meeting! Zonta Club of Hilo Business Meeting at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel - Mala Ikena Room on Monday, November 13, 2023 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

Our Advocacy Committee has planned an informative evening with an electrifying guest speaker: Lisa Lamorte-Williams, Sexual Assault Support Services Director, YWCA of Hawai'i Island.

Get to tickets here:

2023 November 13 Membership Meeting Get Tickets for 2023 November 13 Membership Meeting. Ticket sales close November 6th 2023.

Equal Rights Amendment Petition | Sign4ERA Support the Equal Rights Amendment! Sign the PetitionFirst Name *Last Name *Street AddressApartment, suite, etcCityState/ProvinceZIP / Postal Code *Email *PhoneI strongly support the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution as the 28th Amendment which reads:Equality of Rights under t...

Join us for the 2023 Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Virtual Summit!

From 6-8 November, take part in the three-day virtual summit where with a one-day ticket for US$10, or US$25 for all three days, you will be inspired and equipped with the knowledge to help build a better world where no woman or girl shall live in fear of violence.

We are excited to feature Chanel Miller as this year's keynote speaker. Chanel is a writer and artist who received her BA in Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her critically acclaimed memoir, "KNOW MY NAME," was a New York Times bestseller, a New York Times Book Review Notable Book and a National Book Critics Circle Award winner, as well as a best book of 2019 in Time, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, NPR and People, among others. She was named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and a Time Next 100 honoree and was a Glamour Woman of the Year honoree under her pseudonym Emily Doe.

Those interested in purchasing Chanel’s book in advance of the conversation can do so at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/553663/know-my-name-by-chanel-miller/.

Whether you are a Zonta member or friend, we invite you to secure your tickets today at www.zontasaysNO.com/online-summit.

The Zonta Club of Hilo presented $6,000 in microgrants for its 2023 “Pay It Forward” program. The award program supports women entrepreneurs on Hawai‘i Island who are starting a new business or working to expand an existing business.

The 2023 microgrant recipients were Michelle Reynolds of Hawaii Detection Dogs LLC, Adrean Floro of Ho’onani Harvests LLC, and Jamie Robertson of Hana Lima Cleaning Services LLC.

Based in Volcano, Reynolds’ Hawaii Detection Dogs LLC trains and deploys sniffer dogs to detect both invasive species in order to mitigate their impacts to ecosystems and endangered species for research and conservation purposes. She currently works with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, the Pohakuloa Training Area, and the State of Hawai‘i with detection of endangered seabirds. She will use the grant to develop her website, purchase a new kennel, and to purchase training aids for both nosework classes and training her own detection dogs.

Floro’s Ho’onani Harvests LLC is a family farming business in Hilo that focuses on agroforestry, mamaki and honey production, and beekeeping education. The grant will go towards renting machinery to expand the agroforestry part of the farm, purchasing more mamaki starter plants, and developing a website. She also plans to ‘pay it forward’ by providing a beekeeping mentoring scholarship to a financially disadvantaged woman who has the drive and passion to learn about beekeeping.

Robertson, based in Kailua-Kona, established Hana Lima Cleaning Services LLC in July of 2023. Hana Lima offers office cleaning as well as specialty cleaning services such as deep cleaning, move in/move outs, and post-construction cleaning. The grant money will go towards new equipment that will make her operations more efficient, cleaning supplies, and training.

“We received a record number of applications this year from all around the island. It’s inspiring to see so many female entrepreneurs doing innovative and important work in the community,” said Laurie Higashi, chair of Pay It Forward. “The Zonta Club of Hilo is proud to provide a financial boost to these three well-deserving women-owned businesses.”

“Pay It Forward” microgrants are funded annually through the charitable Zonta Club of Hilo Foundation, donations to which are tax-deductible. For more information, visit zontahilo.org.

Sofia was previously the winner of our Zonta Club of Hilo STEM scholarship. Sofia was then advanced by the Zonta Club of Hilo to Zonta International where she was selected for $5000 Zonta International Women in STEM. One of 30 women from 20 countries receive this honor. We are so proud! Congratulations!

It is a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims. Purple has become the color to promote awareness of domestic violence.

This event is a fundraising event benefitting YWCA of Hawai'i Island Sexual Assault Support Services. YWCA of Hawaii Island maintains the only 24-hour Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline on Hawai'i Island.
For more information go to ywcahawaiiisland.org

October 20 @ 5 PM - FREE WORKSHOP with Ami Kunimura on “Compassion: How to Practice Care for Self & Care for Community” at UH-Hilo Campus Center Room 301.

“Compassion is a tool for healing, patience, resilience, and acceptance. These topics are so important now with the recovery efforts on Maui," says Ami. "Giving yourself compassion does not mean you are taking away from anyone else. You can increase your capacity to give to your loved ones and community if you can turn some of your compassion inward."

In this interactive session, let's explore self-compassion practices that support well-being and mental health plus some mindfulness-based compassion practices for community care.

Register at https://kakou2023.eventbrite.com/, scan QR code, or RSVP to (808) 935-7844 or [email protected].

A reception with pupu begins at 4:30 pm. Campus parking is free after 4 pm.

Are you curious about what domestic violence is? Register for this free event. Free lunch to be served. Maximum 80 participants.

Deadline extended! East Hawai’i middle school girls are invited to the Magnificent Me Girls Conference on Friday, Oct. 20 at UH Hilo. More info: https://zontamagnificentme.com/

Join us in sign waving, marching and at the vigil in support of the 35th Annual Family Violence Peace Walk and Vigil on Thursday, October 5. See flyer for the details!

Getting ready to putting on this Magnificent event! Magnificent Me is a signature service project of the Zonta Club of Hilo to equip adolescent girls with confidence-building strategies and tools. For more information go to
https://zontamagnificentme.com/

Sharing support for YWCA of Hawai'i Island. For more information go to
https://www.ywcahawaiiisland.org/event/walk-a-mile-in-her-shoes/
The Walk will help continue the YWCA of Hawai'i Island's Sexual Assault Support Services.

Zonta Club of Hilo Fall Donation Drive starts October 1-31 for Neighborhood Place of Puna. Can't wait to help out their Family Resource Center? They have an Amazon Wish List which is easy as a click of a button. Go to https://neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/donate/ and scroll down to the Amazon Wish List Info. Make a positive impact today!

PLEASE SIGN!!! Act now to address maternal health disparities and prevent maternal deaths! Visit http://www.votervoice.net/Shares/BKPqlAb-ACfPaAqXTjc7FBA

The United States continues to experience the highest rate of maternity mortality in the developed world. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 1,205 pregnancy-related deaths were reported in 2021, reflecting an increase of nearly 89% in the maternal mortality rate since 2018. However, the CDC estimates that at least 80% of maternal mortalities are preventable.

Additionally, persistent disparities exist across key maternal and infant health indicators. Black and Native American women are 62% more likely to give birth prematurely, and their babies have a mortality rate double that of the white population.

The bipartisan Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023 (S. 2415 and H.R. 3838) would reauthorize federal support for state-based maternal mortality review committees, which review pregnancy-related deaths to identify causes and make recommendations to prevent future mortalities. The legislation would also require the CDC to work with the Health Resources and Services Administration to disseminate best practices to prevent maternal mortality to hospitals and other health care providers.

Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your senators and representative to co-sponsor and support the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023. If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.