By women for women

BY RAFFY BOUDJIKANIAN

raffy.boudjikanian@transcontinental.ca

When Dollard des Ormeaux resident Margaret Mitchell joined Zonta International, a women's group dedicated to helping other women across the world, in 1989, she had no idea she would one day end up representing the only women's organization with Category One status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) on an international level.

As governor of Zonta District 2, which covers Ontario, Quebec and New York State, Mitchell will have to cover a lot of ground as she visits some of the 21 different clubs in the three territories. "Oh, I'm sure people will help out," said Mitchell with a laugh.

Founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York, Zonta has since spread out across 69 countries. The organization provides shelters for women in need, helps educate women in sub-Saharan Africa about HIV/AIDS, and provides a network for women in various professions to meet and exchange ideas. It also encourages young women to pursue their professional or volunteer efforts by recognizing their endeavours.

"We have three distinct areas that we offer young women awards in," Mitchell explained. The first is the Young Women in Public Affairs award, which distinguishes women who show initiative and leadership in public affairs careers; the Jean M. Coon humanitarian award, recognizing extraordinary volunteering and commitment to the community; and the Marjorie Smith Nursing award. "It's a special award that's given in the nursing field," said Mitchell, explaining that it was even given to a young man once.

In honour of International Womens' Day, the Montreal club honoured two women’s shelters this year. "These are women that need places of protection and support," Mitchell said, although she could not go into detail about the confidential nature of some of the work carried out by the shelters.

Mitchell said she draws her own inspiration from two particular women that she called her mentors. Val Sarah, a past president of Zonta International, met Mitchell when they were both at an international congress of the organization, and the two have been fast friends since then. The other, Bernie Napp, is a remarkable woman who lives with Alzheimer's disease but Mitchell said one can just "feel her passion and her intensity" in terms of her commitment to women.

The Montreal club currently has 13 members, who pay a $100 annual fee. Look up www.zonta.org if you are interested.