Zonta Paul January 2007 Newsletter

Zonta Paul Volume 80 Issue 6 January 2007

Visit Zonta St. Paul at our Web site:
http://www.zontastpaul.org

PEGGY'S MESSAGE
Happy Birthday
Web Sites to Remember
Calendar of Meetings
for the up coming year:
Dinner Attendance:
Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association:
Zonta International!!!
NOTE!
SEE YOU!:

PEGGY'S MESSAGE

Greetings!
We ended 2006 with a very enjoyable Christmas get-together at Dorothy's home, complete with a beautifully decorated tree, candles, caroling and delicious Christmas cookies. A special thank you to Lois for leading us in the caroling, playing the piano, and a thank you to Dorothy for coordinating the meal and opening her lovely home to us. The dinner was true comfort food at its best! I think it is safe to say that everyone enjoyed the evening.
I would also like to thank the Twin City Gay Men's Chorus and Executive Director Joann Usher for their continued support of Zonta St. Paul. They ordered over 60 poinsettias! Thanks a bunch!
And, speaking of poinsettias, Shirley compiled the total number of poinsettias sold which are: 61 Pixies, 203 Singles, 22 Doubles, 6 Candy Canes, 32 Triples, 1 - 8" Hanging Basket, and 1 cyclamen, for a total plant count of 326. I will have the total dollar amounts and profit at our next meeting.
We are busy planning the spring area meeting, and have confirmation from Kay Andrews, Executive Director at Northwest Youth and Family Services and Sandy Martin, Mayor of Shoreview, to be guest speakers. We made contact with an individual who works for the U.S. Attorney's Office and are waiting for her to get the necessary clearance from Washington to speak on human trafficking. The scheduled dates are Friday, April 13th for the hospitality/social time and Saturday, April 14th for the meeting. At the time of this writing, our location is yet to be confirmed.
Last month's newsletter had an article about the 12 days of Christmas and how it began, oh, so many years ago. Lou researched the legend and is happy to report that it is one of the hoaxes of history.
Here is the true meaning:
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is what most people take it to be: a secular song that celebrates the Christmas season with imagery of gifts and dancing and music. Some misinterpretations have crept into the English version over the years, though. For example, the fourth day's gift is four "colly birds" (or "collie birds"), not four "calling birds." (The word "colly" literally means "black as coal," thus "colly birds" would be blackbirds.) The "five golden rings" refers not to five pieces of jewelry, but to five ring-necked birds (such as pheasants). When these errors are corrected, the pattern of the first seven gifts' all being types of birds is re-established.
Actually, the real interpretation is rather interesting too! So, my thanks to Lou. I guess you just can't believe everything you read!

See you all Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at Joseph's!
Peggy

Ha pp y B ir th da y

NO BIRTHDAYS IN DECEMBER

"Web Sites to Remember"

Zonta International
http://www.zonta.org

Zonta District 7
http://www.zontadistrict7.org

Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency Club 100
http://www.mvna.org/club_100.htm

Women's Advocates, Inc.
http://www.wadvocates.org
Minnesota Women's Consortium
http://www.mnwomen.org/
Neighborhood House
"http://www.neighb.org/default.asp"

American Association of University Women
http://www.aauwstpaul.org/

Women's Prison Book Project
http://prisonactivist.org/wpbp/index.html

Calendar of Meetings for the Upcoming Year:
January 23 2007 - Business Meeting
February 27, 2007 - Joint Meeting with Minneapolis
March 27, 2007 - Program Meeting
April 24, 2007 - Business Meeting
May 22, 2007 - Business Meeting

DINNER ATTENDANCE Rules:
Members are to call Dorothy if they are unable to attend the December meeting, which will be at Dorothy's home. She will need an exact count since the meal will be catered in. She will need to know by Tuesday, December 5^th for the December 12^th meeting date.
If you do not call, it will be assumed that you are attending and you will be billed for that meeting. If you are unable to attend due to last minute circumstances, you will be billed for that meeting.

Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association
MVNA Club 100 News
The following was in the January 2007 Club 100 Newsletter - this was written by a nurse at the Agency, and has been edited in length:
"When cleaning out my inbox I came across all the requests Team 10 received from our nurses this year, and I realized how much we accomplish every year to take care of children in Minneapolis. We take care of them - and often their families - in little ways that enhance their health and well-being. And in ways that aren't always available from other government and private agencies. This past year, in addition to our nurses Sue and Jane, we've also supported Martha, a fluent Spanish speaker who specializes in Hispanic MVNA clients.
Besides the usual provision of diapers, high chairs, and pack 'n plays, we've supplied the monthly beans, rice and masa for clients who know home-made food is so much healthier than fast or packaged food. We provided these staple foods for each of 2 families for seven months while they got back on their feet - health- and finance-wise. We provided clothing for 4 children whose caring father let his ego get in the way of sending his children to school in rags. This summer we bought fans for several families who live in poorly ventilated basement apartments. We bought a relaxation tape for a young woman who lost her baby at 16 weeks gestation and was severely anxious and depressed.
But the story that most inspired me was that of Maria, a young mother who lives with another family. She cooks for the family in exchange for room and board - outdoors on an open fire. She also collects and sells aluminum cans. Maria's nurse requested a stroller for her baby. For the price of an umbrella stroller -$14 - we made Maria's life a little easier. The work we do is good.

Information from Zonta International Website:
Our Issues and Programs
If poverty, HIV/AIDs, illiteracy, violence and trafficking had a face it would be female. The world's plagues are rooted in gender inequality, and the only common solution is the empowerment of women. Zonta International is on the front lines of global and local efforts to help women overcome barriers to equal education, health care, legal rights, credit and employment through education, service and advocacy programs funded by Zonta International Foundation.
Fast Facts:
70 percent of the 1.3 billion poor are women.
Two-thirds of illiterate adults are women and two-thirds of children not in school are girls.
60 million women are "missing" because of gender-based violence.
Today, 7,000 women and girls will contract HIV.

NOTE:
If you have anything that you would like included in the newsletter, please let Peggy know. I know we would all be glad to hear what is going on with you!