Finding Solace in Art

The recent presidential election cycle was brutal for many of us in the United States, no matter which political position we each held.

Alicia Parrott turned to art to find solace. She was inspired by the concession speech given by Kamala Harris to create this piece (at right).

A print and digital designer as well as an accomplished artist, Parrott is the daughter of Peconic Bay Zonta President Diane Greenberg. Parrott wholeheartedly supports the Zonta mission of building a better place for women and children, readily volunteering her talents and skills on behalf of Peconic Bay Zonta.

At her first art show earlier this year, in New York City during a celebration of Women's History Month, Parrott said, "My work is meant to inspire dialogue about the importance of gender equality and female empowerment."

See her poster for Peconic Bay, which was voted "Best In Show" at a Zonta district meeting in 2023.

Parrott also designed a bookmark that features the tagline "Zonta says NO to violence against women."

In a few days, Zonta chapters around the world will participate in the "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence" campaign, which runs from November 25 through December 10 every year. Stay tuned!

Happy 105th Birthday to Zonta International!

Today, November 8, 2024, Zonta International celebrates 105 years of service and advocacy to build a better world for women and girls.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Zonta!

Also this year, Peconic Bay Zonta marks our 35th anniversary as the Zonta chapter serving eastern Long Island, NY.

Smiles All Around at Peconic Bay’s Yard Sale

Peconic Bay members (from left) Diane Greenberg, Geri Kazenoff, Betsy Kaplan, Loretta Ogden and Vivian Daddino are all smiles.

Why the smiles? Everyone looks lovely wearing newly acquired scarves from Peconic Bay's yard sale, on October 6, 2024. But most of all, we had all worked hard and the day was a big success, thanks to great teamwork and sisterhood.

Special kudos to member and photographer Kathy Walker, who hosted the event, which brought in over $700.

Geri (second from left) is flanked by three generations of Ogdens, (from left) mom Loretta and, visiting from New York City, granddaughter Linda and daughter Emma. The photo below shows some of the day's shoppers.

 

October 11, International Day of the Girl Child

In 2011, the United Nations declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. This day recognizes girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

With the 2024 U.S. general election on November 5 just weeks away, Peconic Bay Zonta salutes the work of Melina Carnicelli, founder of 1st Amendment-1st Vote.

Ist Amendment-1st Vote offers high school girls opportunities to engage in the democratic process and imagine themselves in elected office or professional government-related jobs.

While many women have mounted campaigns and won elected office in the last few years, the gender gap has remained large. In 2024, women hold 25 percent of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate. In the U.S. House of Representatives, women hold 29 percent of 439 seats (source: Center for American Women and Politics).

This year, a woman is on the presidential ballot. Granddaughters of Peconic Bay member Mona Rowe have been with their mom canvassing for Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to serve as the country’s vice president.

Here, the girls approach a house in Pennsylvania. Both of them students in middle school, they are getting an early civics lesson.

Teatime in Ireland a Big Success!

Days after Teatime in Ireland, hostess Annika Shapiro sent a heartfelt thank you to all participants, writing: "It was a lovely afternoon and the fund raiser was a big success. We raised a record $2,410!"

Cookbook author Margaret Johnson was on hand to talk about the delightful ritual of taking tea in her ancestral home of Ireland. Everyone learned a bit of Irish tea history and sampled an assortment of delicious sweets, sandwiches and breads.

Johnson's cookbook, Teatime in Ireland, is a collection of delightful recipes to explore for your morning or afternoon cuppa.

Peconic Bay Hosts Tea Party, September 18, 2024

 

Peconic Bay Zonta is hosting a tea party on September 18, 2024. Margaret Johnson, author of 14 cookbooks, will present teatime and talk about her ancestral home of Ireland, where tea drinking is a symbol of hospitality, friendship and pleasure.

The event is a fundraiser for Peconic Bay, which awards scholarships to local women and girls.

International Service Projects for the 2024-2026 Zonta Biennium

At the 2024 Zonta International Convention in Brisbane, the Zonta membership approved three international service projects for the 2024-2026 biennium.

Global Program to End Child Marriage: In phase III of Zonta's signature project, we will continue partnering with UNICEF USA and the United Nations Population Fund to fight child marriage globally and push back against gender inequality for adolescent girls. Our focus is 12 countries, which account for almost half of the world's child marriages: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.

Community Empowerment and Innovation for Gender-Transformative Climate Action: Partnering with the United Nations Population Fund, this project is dedicated to preventing climate-induced gender-based violence and other harmful practices in Madagascar, Mozambique and South Sudan, some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

A Safe Space for Women and Girls Online: Laaha is the first-ever platform designed by and for women and girls in humanitarian and development settings to address gender-based violence. Providing information in fun, creative and positive ways, it was designed by and for women and girls with the support of UNICEF and its partners. Laaha is now deployed in Afghanistan, Ecuador, Iraq, Lebanon, Ukraine and Venezuela, with plans for expansion to Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Moldova, Myanmar and Turkey.

In her first communication with the Zonta membership worldwide, Salla Tuominen, 2024-2026 President of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women, wrote, "The challenges that women and girls face globally are extensive and complex. They reflect deeply ingrained societal norms, systemic inequalities and discriminatory practices. But together, we have the power to build a better world in which women's rights are seen as human rights."