Previous Talks
The Future is Women
Six Past International Presidents have a conversation with Cornelius Williams, Associate Director & Global Chief of Child Protection, Program Division, UNICEF. Get their unique perspectives on progress on the path to gender equality and what they see for the future of Zonta.
Original date: 1 July 2020
Host:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Dialogue Partner:
Cornelius Williams, Associate Director & Global Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Programme Division
Panelists:
Leneen M. Forde, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Margit Webjörn, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Mary Ellen Bittner, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Olivia Ferry, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Lynn McKenzie, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Sonja Hönig Schough, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Watch and listen here: Zonta Cares: Domestic Violence on the Rise?
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Managing Zonta's Finances
Zonta International Treasurer/Secretary Mari McKenzie will give an overview on the budget, financial activity and reserves of Zonta International and the Zonta International Foundation.
Original date: 30 June 2020
Host:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Moderator:
Allison Summers, Executive Director, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Panelist:
Mari McKenzie, Treasurer/Secretary, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Watch and listen here: Managing Zonta's Finances
Zonta Cares: How to Be Mentally Strong in Challenging Times
Listen to Psychological Health and Safety Advisor, Community Engagement Specialist and storyteller Angele M. Poitras discuss:
What’s keeping you up at night? Why we need to put on our own oxygen mask first. It’s okay not to be okay, and more. Angele also shares some of the new anxieties she is facing and how she is coping (most days) and learnings from other audiences of adapting to our new world.
Original date: 29 June 2020
Host:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Moderator:
Kathleen Douglass, Chairman, Zonta International Leadership Development Committee
Panelist:
Angele M. Poitras, Psychological Health and Safety Advisor, Community Engagement Specialist
Watch and listen here: How to Be Mentally Strong in Challenging Times
Zonta Cares: Domestic Violence on the Rise?
COVID-19 has exacerbated the occurrences of violence against women. Join our members Ingeborg Geyer, Chairman of the UN Committee, and Riitta Särkelä, Secretary General of the Federation of Mother & Children Homes and Shelters in Finland, for a conversation on Zonta's responses and possibilities for advocacy.
Original date: 27 June 2020
Moderators:
Salla Tuominen, International Director, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Panelists:
Dr. Ingeborg Geyer, Chairman, Zonta International United Nations Committee
Dr. Riitta Särkelä, Secretary General, Federation of Mother & Children Homes and Shelters, Finland
Watch and listen here: Zonta Cares: Domestic Violence on the Rise?
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Two Awards for Exceptional Service
Watch the presentation of the Centennial Anniversary Biennium's Zonta International Meritorious Service Awards and a conversation with the recipients: Val Sarah of the Zonta Club of Ballarat Inc. and Eva Nielsen of the Zonta Club of Copenhagen II.
Original date: 24 June 2020
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Panelists:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Val Sarah, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Eva Nielsen, Past District 13 Governor
Watch and listen here: Two Awards for Exceptional Service
Now More Than Ever, Supporting Future Leaders in Technology
Sedinam Worlanyo is one of the six international recipients of Zonta’s first Women in Technology Scholarships. She is a Ghanaian entrepreneur currently pursuing a master’s degree in learning, design and technology at Stanford University in California. Listen to her conversation with Monica de la Cerda, Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarship Chairman.
Original date: 19 June 2020
Moderator:
Monica de la Cerda, Chairman, Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarship
Panelists:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Sedinam Worlanyo, Zonta International and District 9 Women in Technology Scholar
Watch and listen here: Now More Than Ever, Supporting Future Leaders in Technology
Zonta Cares: Education Continues in Madagascar
Listen to a conversation with Caitlin McCurn, Deputy Director, UNICEF USA, on how the Let Us Learn project expands opportunities for girls’ education in Madagascar, and UNICEF’s response to school closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. You will also hear from four Zontians who have visited project sites in Madagascar.
Original date: 12 June 2020
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Panelists:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Sonja Hönig Schough, Past International President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Sally Bean, Past International Director
Caitlin McCurn, Deputy Director, Global Programs, UNICEF USA
Ute Scholz, Vice President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Judy Kautz, Past International Director
Watch and listen here: Zonta Cares: Education Continues in Madagascar
Zonta Cares: How can we accelerate progress in ending child marriage?
Listen to Zonta International President Susanne von Bassewitz, Margaret Greene from GreeneWorks and our partners at UNFPA and UNICEF to learn more about how this unique project has empowered adolescent girls and educated families and communities to prevent child marriage in 12 countries. You will also hear about a new partnership between the Zonta USA Caucus and UNICEF USA to end child marriage in the United States.
Original date: 5 June 2020
Moderator:
Dr. Margaret Greene, President, GreeneWorks
Panelists:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Nankali Maksud, Senior Adviser, Prevention of Harmful Cultural Practices, UNICEF; Coordinator, UNFPA - UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage
Ingrid FitzGerald, Technical Adviser, Gender and Human Rights, UNFPA’s Asia-Pacific Regional Office
Eugenia Lopez Uribe, Head of Latin America & the Caribbean Engagement, Girls Not Brides
Katherine Cleland, Representative, Zonta USA Caucus
Watch and listen here: How can we accelerate progress in ending child marriage?
Zonta Cares: Achievements and Challenges of “Hand in Hand” in Jordan
Listen to Zonta International President Susanne von Bassewitz and our partners at UN Women in Jordan give an update on the Zonta-supported “Hand in Hand” project. Learn about how this project has helped Syrian refugee and Jordanian women over the last two years and how the team in Jordan is now responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Original date: 27 May 2020
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Panelists:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Marta Garbarino, Partnership and Advocacy Analyst, UN Women Jordan
Ana Lukatela, Head of Programmes, UN Women Jordan
Watch and listen here: Zonta Cares: Achievements and Challenges of “Hand in Hand” in Jordan
Zonta Cares: Our Responses to COVID-19
Listen to Zonta International President Susanne von Bassewitz and Zonta members from around the world discuss Zonta’s response to COVID-19 at the international, national and local levels. Learn how clubs and districts are shifting their service, advocacy and member engagement initiatives in response to the needs of members and the community and walk away with new ideas for your own club.
Original date: 15 May 2020
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Panelists:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Shelley Schultz, Zonta Club of Mankato
Catherine McEwan, Zonta Club of London
Holly Anderson, Zonta Club of Toronto
Sandra Burns, Zonta Club of Perth
Fiona Ruff, Zonta Club of Bad Soden-Kronberg
Ingeborg Geyer, Zonta Club of Vienna
Watch and listen here: Zonta Cares: Our Responses to COVID-19
Achieving equality: How Dr. Shirley Randell AO empowers women in Africa
Listen to Lynn McKenzie, Past International President, speak with Dr. Shirley Randell, Zonta International Honorary Member, on how her life and work has empowered women and girls in Africa and beyond.
Original date: 28 March 2020
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Panelists:
Dr. Shirley Randell, International Honorary Member
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Lynn McKenzie, Past International President, Zonta International
Watch and listen here: Achieving equality: How Dr. Shirley Randell AO empowers women in Africa
A Wounded Heart Can Lead: A Conversation with Carmen Valdés
Listen to Zonta International President Susanne von Bassewitz and District 17 Governor Teresa Lin have a conversation with District 17 Centennial Anniversary Awardee, Dr. Carmen Valdés. Dr. Valdés, president of Assumption College in the Philippines, was honored by District 17 for her advocacy for women’s rights and female empowerment, especially for those who have suffered sexual and/or physical violence.
Original Date: 18 February 2020
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Panelists:
Dr. Carmen Valdés, president of Assumption College in the Philippines
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Teresa Lin, Zonta International District 17 Governor
Watch and listen here: A Wounded Heart Can Lead: A Conversation with Carmen Valdés
Zonta Talk: Girls' Empowerment in Madagascar
In this Zonta Talk, learn more about Zonta's successful partnership with UNICEF USA in Madagascar as President Susanne von Bassewitz presents a high-level overview of the Zonta-funded Let Us Learn program. International Vice President Ute Scholz shares her firsthand impressions from the Zonta field visit in April 2019.
Original Date: 28 January 2020
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Panelists:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Ute Scholz, Vice President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Download a PDF of the presentation.
Watch and listen here: Girls' Empowerment in Madagascar
Advocacy: Global to Local
In this Zonta Talk, be inspired and discover new ideas for Zonta advocacy as Zonta clubs around the world present their successful local advocacy activities and lessons learned in two sessions.
Session 1
Original date: 15 November 2019
Moderator:
Janet Prowse, Member, Zonta International Advocacy Committee
Presenter:
Mal Das, Member, Zonta International Advocacy Committee
Panelists:
Marie Stewart, Member, Zonta Club of Redcliffe Inc
Susan Davies, Member, Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc
Helen Bowie, Member, Zonta Club of Wellington
Watch and listen here: Advocacy: Global to Local, Session 1
Session 2
Original date: 16 November 2019
Moderator:
Tuija Kirveskari-Tähtinen, Co-Chair, Zonta International Advocacy Committee
Presenter:
Bobbee Cardillo, Member, Zonta International Advocacy Committee
Panelists:
Ela Pandya, Member, Zonta International Advocacy Committee
Claudia Giessler, Member, Zonta Club of Basel
Elaine Weinert, President, Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hersey
Ulla Ronnmark, President, Zonta Club of Kungälv
Heather Kimball, Member, Zonta Club of Hilo
Watch and listen here: Advocacy: Global to Local, Session 2
Perspectives on Child Marriage
Learn more about the crime of child marriage that takes away human rights from tens of thousands of girls each day.
In this Zonta Talk, you will hear:
- An update on the Global Programme to End Child Marriage from Nankali Maksud, Coordinator, UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage
- Firsthand perspectives from Zambia from Zonta International President Susanne von Bassewitz
- Examples of how Zonta districts and clubs are addressing child marriage beyond funding from the:
- Zonta USA Caucus
- Zonta Club of Beirut, Lebanon
- Zonta Club of Pampanga, Philippines
- Q&A
Original date: 25 October 2019
Moderator:
Fiona Ruff, Co-Chairman, Zonta International Advocacy Committee
Host:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Presenter:
Nankali Maksud, Senior Adviser, Prevention of Harmful Cultural Practices, UNICEF
Panelists:
Bobbee Cardillo, Co-Chair, Zonta USA Caucus
Najwa Ghanam, Second Vice President, Zonta Club of Beirut, Lebanon
Gilda Padua, President, Zonta Club of Pampanga, Philippines
Download a PDF of the presentation.
Watch and listen here: Perspectives on Child Marriage
Zonta Advocacy at the UN and Council of Europe
Did you know that Zonta International holds General Consultative Status with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council and Participatory Status with the Council of Europe?
In this Zonta Talk session, find out:
- What this means
- How it affects Zonta International’s global advocacy efforts
- How our Zonta teams engage in these important forums to further our mission to empower women worldwide.
View the presentation below to learn more about the Zonta International Advocacy, UN and Council of Europe Committees and for a closer look at Zonta’s global advocacy.
Original date: 21 September 2019
Moderator:
Fiona Ruff, Co-Chairman, Zonta International Advocacy Committee
Host:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Panelists:
Ingeborg Geyer, Chairman, Zonta International United Nations Committee
Anita Schnetzer-Spranger, Chairman, Zonta International Council of Europe Committee
Watch and listen here: Zonta Advocacy at UN and Council of Europe
Hand in Hand: Empowerment of Women in Humanitarian Settings
In this Zonta Talk, learn more about the Zonta-funded Eid bi Eid (Hand in Hand) program from our partners at UN Women, and hear about the experiences of four Zonta members who participated in a recent site visit to Jordan.
Original date: 24 August 2019
Moderator:
Megan Radavich, Assistant Executive Director, Programs and Advocacy, Zonta International
Host:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Presenter:
Marta Garbarino, Partnership and Advocacy Analyst, UN Women Jordan
Panelists:
Christine Gerberding, Chairman, Zonta International Public Relations and Communications Committee
Joy Orlich, Chairman, Zonta International Foundation Development Committee
Read responses to attendee questions here.
Watch and listen here: Zonta Talk: Hand in Hand: Empowering Women in a Humanitarian Setting
Retaining Members: What Works?
Engaged members move Zonta International’s mission forward. This is why it is important to think critically about how Zonta can retain members, keep them involved in club activities and dedicated to Zonta’s mission.
Watch and listen below to hear members discuss important topics related to membership, such as balancing ideas from seasoned and new members, attracting young professionals and advertising Zonta in unique ways.
Original date: 1 December 2018
Moderator:
Monica de la Cerda, Chairman, Zonta International Women in Technology Committee
Presenter:
Lynn McKenzie, Past International President; Chairman, Zonta International Membership Commitee
Dr. Janice Green
Maria Larsson, Member, Zonta Club of Sundsvall
Panelist:
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Watch and listen here: Zonta Talk: Retaining Members: What Works
Child Marriage
Zonta International has committed US$2,000,000 to UNICEF USA to support the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage in 12 countries: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.
Watch and listen below to learn more about child marriage and Zonta's initiatives to eliminate this harmful practice.
Original date: 20 October 2018
Moderator:
Monica de la Cerda, Chairman, Zonta International Women in Technology Committee
Presenter:
Rachel Steinberg, Senior Director Global Cause Partnerships, UNICEF USA
Panelists:
Pamela Morgan, Member, Zonta International United Nations Committee
Dr. Susanne von Bassewitz, President, Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation
Watch and listen here: Zonta Talks: Child Marriage
