Service Projects

The Zonta Club of Billings is a professional service organization dedicated to the promotion and support of women. Below is a list of all of Zonta's recent service projects.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grants are awarded to local non-profit organizations and are considered on an annual basis. The grant applications are scored on the basis of: raising the status of women; benefiting a group of women; and the potential for bringing community awareness to Zonta. The Zonta Club of Billings is proud to announce the following grant recipients for 2010.

MWV is requesting support for the Billings Community Coordinator position. The Billings Coordinator will be working to organize volunteers to register, educate and mobilize unlikely women voters (primarily low-income women, but also young women, single women and women with children) in the Billings area. The Zonta Club of Billings is supporting this position with a $1,000 grant.

The Family Tree Center will be receiving a $1,000 grant from the Zonta Club of Billings to support their Parent Education classes. The Family Tree Center offers four different classes utilizing the evidence based best practice Nurturing Parenting Curriculum. The classes offered are for parents of babies, toddlers, gradeschoolers and adolescents. Some of the topics covered in the curriculum covers empathy, brain development, child development, discipline, safety, family morals and values, family rules, drug and alcohol abuse, stress and anger management, routines and problem solving. This program serves hundreds of families each year.

The Zonta Club of Billings will provide a $1,000 grant to cover basic expenses and to reduce barriers to participation in classes. Funding will be used to provide gas cards for clients in need to attend classes. Funding will also support childcare vouchers so that mothers may attend sessions without the worry of finding a babysitter. The funds will also be used to purchases food for the sessions, which serves as an ice-breaker for many of the attendees.

The YWCA Gateway House is a secure shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence in their homes. They provide 24-hour staff support for victims and also monitor the security of the building. While at Gateway House, virtually all needs a victim may have are provided for. The kitchen is stocked with food for them to prepare meals, laundry soap and cleaning supplies are on hand to keep the house tidy. YWCA provides toiletries, towels, bedding and basic over-the-counter medications and first aid supplies. Diapers are available for those who cannot afford them. YWCA offers unlimited MET Transit passes to assist with transportation needs.

Staff facilitates three weekly support groups on-site to assist with recovery from the trauma of abuse. A child advocate is on staff to provide activities to children whose mothers are attending support groups. Advocates develop a weekly goal plan with each adult resident to ensure they are working toward independence and all of her needs are being met. The Zonta Club is honoring these efforts with a $1,000 grant.

The Montana Rescue Mission will purchase a new desktop computer and suitable software for use by the program participants at the Women & Families Shelter located in Downtown Billings. The purpose of the computer is for women to be able to access the Internet to search job listings, complete on-line forms, type up resumes and applications and various other personal correspondence necessary in today's digital age.

The Zonta Club of Billings announces the availability of a $1,000 “Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship ” for eligible women in the Billings area. The Scholarship is available to women who will enter their third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program this fall. The applicants must demonstrate an intent to complete a program in business and show outstanding achievement in business-related subjects. They must also show high achievement in their first two or three years of studies. The club winner is eligible for further consideration at the Zonta District and International levels. The application for the award may be completed on-line at:http://www.zonta.org. In addition to the application, verification of current school enrollment, two confidential recommendations, and an essay of up to 500 words describing the applicant’s personal and academic goals, relevance of their program to the business field, and how the scholarship would assist the applicants in reaching their goals. Completed application are due to the club by June 25, 2010. Applications can be mailed to: Zonta Club of Billings, P.O. Box 1064, Billings, MT 59103.

The Zonta Club of Billings selected Shelby R. Kramer as recipient of its 2010 “Young Women in Public Affairs” award. Ms. Kramer receives a $1,000 award from the Billings club, and is eligible for further consideration at the District and International levels.

The award recognizes young women who demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism and a dedication to the advancement of the status of women. Ms. Kramer is a senior at Laurel High School, where she is a varsity athlete in multiple sports, president of National Honor Society, and participates in Spanish club and the school newspaper.

Shelby Kramer plans to attend Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon next fall and major in biology, with a long-range goal of becoming a doctor. She has volunteered at St. Vincent’s Hospital, and worked with her 4-H club on a number of service projects, including cleaning up at Montana Zoo, and making Christmas gift basket for the Women and Families’ Shelter.

The goal of the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Program is to encourage more young women to participate in public and political life by recognizing a young woman’s (age 16-20) commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements and a dedication to the advancement of the status of women.

Applicants are asked to reflect on their voluntary commitment to their school and to their community and the problems limiting the advancement of the status of women in their own country and worldwide. The Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs program looks to the young women of today for the leaders of tomorrow. Applications are due in March of each year. Applicants must be pre-university or pre-college students (age 16-20), with residence in Yellowstone, Stillwater, Carbon, Big Horn or Musselshell Counties. Contact the service committee for questions about the application.

Zonta will provide fleece blankets to the Billings Police Department to be given to victims of domestic violence at the time of police response.

Background: Reno Charette, Director of American Indian Outreach at MSUB, suggested this general idea when she was presenting recently on the state of health care needs of American Indian women in relation to domestic violence. She said it is an American Indian custom to give blankets to honor and comfort and she thought a woman in a domestic violence situation would be comforted by a blanket. I spoke with her further about this idea, suggesting that perhaps Zonta could provide blankets for the Billings Police Department. Reno spoke with the Billings Police Department, who said they would like this potential to be run through Billings Area Family Violence Task Force (BAFVTF).

Each year Family Service gathers the school supply lists from the local elementary, junior high and high schools. They seek donations of school supplies and backpacks or solicit donations to purchase them. A team of volunteers puts together backpacks filled with school supplies required for that grade level. Families who qualify for assistance from Family Service are able to come by and choose a backpack for each child's grade level. Last year, Family Service provided more than 1200 backpacks to make sure these kids were prepared to start school. Last year, Zonta donated $270. This year Zonta members will donate and participate.

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The Zonta Club of Billings has awarded a $1000 book scholarship for eligible women enrolled Montana State University-Billings. The 2010 recipient is Katharine Wight of Billings. Katharine is a graduate student working towards her master's degree in rehabilitation and mental health counseling. In her thank you letter, she writes, "I work full time...to help with the cost of tuition, but without scholarship opportunities, I would not be able to attend classes full time. As a result of this scholarship, I am looking forward to completing my Master's degree." Congratulations Katharine!

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Chicks in Science

The Zonta Club of Billings is a contributing and volunteer sponsor for the annual Chicks in Science event that is hosted by Montana State University - Billings on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 11 AM - 2 PM. The event purpose is to provide hands-on, minds-on interactive activities to introduce girls in the 4th -8th grades to various careers in science, technology, engineering, and math; to encourage and excite them to pursue educational studies in these areas; and facilitate relationships between the girls and professional women in scientific disciplines. And, just as importantly, to remind girls that you can be a cool chick and bet smart at the same time. The 2009 event drew over 1,200 participants from Montana and Wyoming. For more information about this program, please refer to the MSU-Billings website.

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Passages houses ladies for the Department of Corrections that need mental health assessments, drug/alcohol treatment, and pre-release help for successful integration into the community. They could use any extra women's clothing you might be considering giving away. The ladies range in all sizes. When Passages sends them out of the facility, they like to be able to give them jeans/slacks, a casual top, a winter coat, and tennis shoes! Gloves are a bonus. Unfortunately, many of these ladies do not have any clothing and rely on generous donations to help them on their way.

Please consider dropping any clothing donations off at Passages, or you can contact Maria Martin at (406) 690-8619. Passages is located at 1001 South 27th Street in Billings (the old Howard Johnson hotel).

Thank you so much for any donation you are able to make. Your generosity means so much to each individual.
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The Zonta Club of Billings awards the Best Woman Writer's Award for the High Plains Book Festival in October. Fifteen Zonta members read and evaluate the books that has been submitted and narrow it down to the top three favorite books. These books then move on to 3 judges who make the final selection.

High Plains Book Awards: All of the books are published for the first time in the year prior and written by a regional author or writing team, or are a literary work which examines and reflects life on the High Plains. Nominations are received from publishers and several individuals in the High Plains region including the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Winners are announced at The High Plains Book Awards Banquet which is the kickoff for the annual High Plains BookFest.

The Zonta Club of Billings provides $1000 to Rocky Mountain College for a female student with preference of the student majoring in the aeronautics program. This year's award recipient was Kimberly Cordova, who is majoring in Flight Operations at RMC. Kimberly thanked the club for the assistance in this letter.

At Christmas time, Zonta members gather unwrapped gifts for the Young Families Early Head Start Program. This year's gift request includes diapers, clothing and household items for new parents who may be living on their own for the first time (i.e. towels, kitchen supplies, etc.) Bring the unwrapped gift to the Christmas Party, and Zonta members will deliver it to their facility on December 17 on behalf of Zonta.

This program is a comprehensive child development program serving low-income pregnant women and families with children under age three. Center-based program provides child care and home-based program provides services in the families’ home. The program provides health mentoring and tracking, weekly parent support groups, parent/child enrichment activities, male involvement group, and opportunities for leadership through our governing board and community service projects. The teen program allows high school parents to earn high school credit for attending on-site child development classes taught by a certified instructor funded by the Billings School District.

Zonta sponsors an open house at Global Village, at 2720 3rd Avenue North, and have lots of fun, food & drink to raise money for women artisans and free trade items. Last year, Zontians and friends spent $2,266 at Global Village. This is a great event to begin your Christmas shopping! Friends and family of Zonta members are welcome!

The Zonta Club of Billings has completed the remodeling and redecorating a room at the Women and Families Shelter in Billings. The three-day event includes removal of existing carpet, repainting the walls, updating furnishings and replacing the room with new carpet. In addition to volunteer labor and funding from Zonta, Sherwin-Williams and InterfaceFLOR donated paint and carpet to the project. Images Left to Right: Computer rendering of proposed room, Nancy & Ann scrubbing walls & floors, Bev, Anne Marie, Lori & Maribeth cutting carpet tile and The finished product. Zonta members were told that a family of five was moving in the next morning to this small room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In August, four members of the Zonta Club of Billings pooled their funds to have a Zonta team for the Billings Clinic Classic Golf Fundraiser for the Childbirth Center at Billings Clinic. Although they did not place, they did have fun!

Kathy, Jolene, Lynette and Pat: Team Zonta ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zontians hosted a successful Halloween Party at the Women and Families' Shelter on the Saturday night before Halloween. Crafts, games and delicious party food were enjoyed by the kids and their parents. Thanks to Shelley Hayes and Mary; Bev Ross; Kathie Riggs; Sharol Acheson; Kelly Christy and her niece, Casey; Connie Sanders; and Ann Hefenieder.

	In June, Zonta organizes the children’s activities for the Festival of Cultures. Zonta club member create and distribute the event's “passports” and maintain the passport booth at the festival.
L to R: Kathie Riggs, Becky Wiehe, Nancy Rice, Lynn Eggebrecht and Lynette Kerbel