The Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, Texas, USA kicked off the “16 Days of Activism” at 7:30 PM, Monday, 25 November, by hosting a seminar on “Women’s Self-Defense, featuring Vickie Arnold.

The public was invited to attend at no charge. The seminar was held at the Golden Hub Community Centerin Fredericksburg, TX.

The Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, a weekly Hill Country newspaper, published an article 13 November about “Zonta Says No” and the Zonta International campaign to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls, and the “16 Days of Activism.” The article contained an invitation to the public to attend the free “Women’s Self-Defense” seminar. Then, it ran an ad 20 November using the “Join the Campaign to End Violence Against Women” graphics, again inviting the public to attend the free seminar.

Club Chairman, Ginger Mitchell, designed a flyer on orange card stock using the “Zonta Says No” graphics and an invitation to the free seminar which she distributed to various businesses and organizations inviting the public to the free seminar.

Z CLUB INVOLVEMENT

Additionally, the members of the Z Club of Fredericksburg High School are collecting women’s and girls’ shoes which they will paint orange and display on the high school campus to make high school students aware of the campaign to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls. It has also embraced the “Voices Against Violence” program and will be making announcements over the school PA system citing statistics about violence against women and girls worldwide as well as in our local area. One of their projects in that regard is researching information from local authorities and organizations about the frequency and severity of incidents of violence involving women and girls.

The Zonta Says NO campaign may have only begun one year ago, but Zonta has been funding projects that seek to end violence against women since 2000 through the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) fund. Learn more about the ZISVAW fund – click the image below to enlarge it.

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, members of the Zonta Club of Auburn, NY, USA are wearing the Zonta Says NO orange ribbon, along with a badge that asks everyone who sees it to “ASK” about the orange ribbon. Each member is eager to provide a brief explanation of the campaign in an effort to raise awareness of local efforts to reduce violence against women and girls in their community.

On Saturday 23 November, the Zonta Club of Oberhausen-Rheinland and seven other clubs in the “Ruhr Area“ stood in different places in their city (the theater, the main museum and our special event place “Gasometer”) with orange shoes and bags and gave away a flyer for the “Zonta says NO” campaign.

Deborah Wallace with students and a teacher from Abbotsleigh

Throughout 2013, the members of the Zonta Club of Hornsby Ku-ring- gai Inc. have focused on the Zonta Says No campaign.

In February, members organized a very successful film afternoon that attracted more than 60 guests.

In May, the group, Vocal Infusions, consisting of singing students of members, Elizabeth Dracakis, performed a medley of songs to another packed room.

In August the manager of Delvena, a Women’s Refuge, spoke about the work she does with women who suffer domestic violence.

In September, they awarded Woman of Achievement to Nasiba Akram for her work in helping refugees from war torn Afghanistan find a haven in Australia.

On Friday, 22 November, the club held the most significant of their fundraisers with a “Zonta Says No” breakfast. Over 80 guests were inspired and deeply moved by the speaker, Detective Superintendent, Deborah Wallace APM, NSW Police. Everyone present listened intently to Deborah’s early history in the Police force, her work with men, her incredible achievements and her amazing and heartfelt support of the family of Anita Coby. The 30 students from Abbotsleigh (where there is a Z club) , Roseville College, and Mt St Benedict lingered after her talk to speak to Deborah as did the Mayor of Ku-ring-gai council and her fellow councilors as everyone wanted to speak further to such an awesome achiever in the world of men. The club was also pleased to welcome Melanie Anne Holland, a representative from Samaritan House to whom all funds raised will go.

The breakfast was a fabulous climax to a year of achievement for the club. Congratulations to all members for contributing time and energy to make this a reality.

Melanie-Anne Holland from Samaritan House, Deborah Wallace and President Anne Richardson

The Zonta Auckland North Shore Club from District 16 used the images on Zonta Says NO website but made them into one jpeg. They then posted this image (above) on Facebook, which was then boosted to a wider audience. The club also posted a booklet they developed (D16 booklet).

The club also visited two locations (2 Shopping Centers) on the 24th and encouraged people to write their name on paper dolls that they attached to a mannequin to pledge their support for the campaign.

Zonta Club of Kauai, Hawaii supports Zonta Says NO by passing out orange ribbons and brochures at a Zonta Says NO booth at Pink Sunday- YWCA Kaua’i Women’s Expo. 

Area 4 Clubs in District 17 gathered 16,000 signatures  for their “A Thousand and More Signatures” campaign to raise awareness and increase activism to end violence against women.