"We must send a message across the world that there is no disgrace in being a survivor of sexual violence—the shame is on the aggressor."
- Angelina Jolie
Table of Contents
SPECIAL MEETING INFORMATION
President’s Letter
Zonta Events Coming Up
Committee News
October Membership Meeting, Thursday, October 9
Light dinner from 5:30 to 5:55 and then…
At 5:55 we will take a new Club picture by the lake. Please be there in time. We want everyone to SMILE!!!
October is a Time to Try New Things
During our September meeting, we introduced a new meeting strategy for 2025-26 that integrate three distinct types of monthly club meetings for the upcoming year: business, social, and speaker meetings. We kicked off the year with a business meeting at the YWCA, which was a great way to catch up and kick off the year.
We are excited to announce that this month will mark our inaugural speaker meeting for 2025-26. A huge thank you to the Service Committee for hosting all of us this month.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we are honored to welcome speakers from the Domestic Violence Task Force at the District Attorney's Office. Their insights and expertise will be invaluable as we engage in meaningful discussions surrounding this critical issue in our community. We will also get to meet our recently named Beth Haynes Award winner, Detective Brad Steinike from Longmont PD.
In other news, the Zonta Foothills Club was recognized at the recent District 12 Conference in Golden in mid-September.
Our club shared The Zonta Says NOW the Climate Justice Award with the Laramie Club for our work in Climate Justice. Julie Trone, the Zonta USA Caucus Zonta Says Now coordinator, awarded the certificate.
Our Club was honored as the “Outstanding Club of Area 3.”
Colleen Farrell and Pam Malzbender were also awarded the Zonta “Star” award for their coordination of the 2024 Governor’s Seminar at Chautauqua.
Sheila King and Claudia Ibarrara were recognized as our club’s Zontians of the Year.
And, I am pleased to announce that our August Happy Hour was a BIG success. We are excited to welcome three new members into The Zonta Foothills Club; we will formally induct them at our upcoming October meeting.
We encourage all members to attend, as this meeting promises to be both informative and impactful.
— Nancy
Zonta Events Coming Up
Boulder High School Pantherz Z Club Inductions - Tuesday, October 7, 4:30-6 pm, Boulder High School Library. 1640 Arapahoe Ave.
Flatirons Golden Z Club Zappy Hour - Wednesday, October 8, 5:30-7:00 pm, Hosted by Sheila King. Come meet perspective Golden Z Club members and tell them what Zonta is all about.
October Member Meeting - Thursday, October 9, 5:30-7:30 pm. Hosted by the Service Committee. Our speakers are members of the Boulder District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Rapid Response Team and the winner of our 2025 Beth Haynes Award, Brad Steinike. See details below. Valmont Community Presbyterian Church, 3262 61st St, Boulder, CO 80301. (Note that 61st Street is Closed from the North. Use the Diagonal to Valmont instead.)
Two-Day Domestic Violence Training - Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14 & 15, 8 am-5 pm, LifeBridge Christian Church 10345 Ute Highway, Longmont, CO. Zonta Foothills Club is the event sponsor, and we will provide lunch. Please let the Advocacy Committee know if you can help or would like to attend the session. Spaces are available.
Beth Haynes Award Ceremony - Thursday, October 16. Boulder County Justice Center, 1777 6th St, Boulder, CO 80302, 2:00 pm.
Pantherz Z Club Zonta Says No Silhouette Display - October 21-November 14. Boulder High School library.
November Member Meeting - Thursday, November 13, 5:30-7:30 pm. Hosted by the Advocacy Committee. Valmont Community Presbyterian Church, 3262 61st St, Boulder, CO 80301.
Pantherz Z Club Diaper Drive - Saturday, November 15. Time and location TBD.
Share-a-Gift - Saturday, December 20th. Time and Location TBD.
Foothills Committee News
Advocacy Committee
Meet our Beth Hayes Award Winner, Brad Steinike
As everyone knows, October is Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, and to commemorate this, our club endows the Beth Haynes Memorial Award. We are proud to announce that our 2025 winner is Brad Steinike. Brad is currently a Detective for the Longmont Police Department, specializing in Domestic Violence investigations. He became a detective in September of 2022, after working in the patrol division of the Longmont Police Department since 2018.
Before his work in Law Enforcement, Brad went to Colorado State University, where he obtained his BA with a double major in Sociology and Political Science. While attending CSU, Brad studied abroad in Prague, where he fell in love with traveling. Before attending CSU, Brad served in the United States Army Reserves, where he met his wife. While serving in the Army Reserves, he completed two overseas training missions in El Salvador and Belize, assisting in the construction operations of a school and hospital. Brad completed his military contract in 2021, allowing him to focus on his career in law enforcement and becoming a detective.
The Beth Haynes Memorial Award goes to law enforcement and victim advocates in Boulder County, that is voted on and awarded by peers to recognize those who work on behalf of victims. Our DA’s DV Task Force solicits nominations, and a selection committee convenes to select the award recipient.
The Beth Haynes Memorial Award will be presented to Brad on October 16th at the Boulder County Justice Center, and we will have the honor of meeting him at our October meeting.
Two-Day Domestic Violence Training Sponsorship
To support victims in our community, the Zonta Foothills Foundation is partnering with our Domestic Violence Rapid Response Team to sponsor a two-day domestic violence training for anyone in Boulder County working to address domestic violence. This training will include patrol supervisors and officers, as well as social workers, shelter staff, victim advocates, and anyone else who interacts with children and victims of domestic violence.
Participants will take an advanced look at investigation tactics, interview techniques, and evidence collection from multiple law enforcement trainers, including a number of our Beth Haynes Award recipients.
The event is free and will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14 and 15, from 8-5. If you would like to help serve the catered lunch we are providing or attend the workshops, please let Sheila King or Jan Cheney know. Workshop space is limited.
The Advocacy Committee - Co-Chairs Sheila King and Jan Cheney, Elizabeth Freedman, Sara Gillespie, Sharon Goodman, Lisa Lesniak, Pam Malzbender, Ranelle Randles, Dana Rae Vaughn
Service Committee
Book Sorting is Team Work!
On September 20th, Kathy Israelson, Carol Smoot, Joan Siebenaler, Gaby Lopez, and 13 Pantherz Z Club members spent two hours sorting and organizing books at our storage lockers. We made some great strides and cleared out the small locker so Marta can move many large Zonta club items out of her house into the locker. Thank you, Z Club, for bringing your enthusiasm, energy, and muscle.
Other News
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a time to raise awareness, support survivors, and educate the public about the prevalence and impacts of domestic violence. Our committee will host the October 9th Club meeting and provide dinner, a selection of Snarf’s sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies, & sparkling water for everyone. In addition to the induction of three new club members and the presentation of a check to the Beth Haynes Award winner, a speaker from the DA’s office will update us on domestic violence in our area.
To learn more about the important work being done in our county in support of victims, Carol Smoot, Nancy Rowe, and Pam Malzbender recently toured Safe Shelter of St Vrain Valley. (You may remember that last year we compiled pajama and personal item bags for shelter residents.) We met in their offices, learned about their services, and then toured the shelter. It was an inspirational few hours with the Executive Director, Nancy Herbert, and we hope we can partner with them in the future.
At our November meeting, the committee will decide whether we will hold December book gift wrapping events similar to those we did last year or try something new. We will keep you posted.
Mark your calendars for December! We will be recruiting members to help out at the annual Share-A-Gift event on Saturday, Dec 20th.
The Service Committee - Co-Chairs Kathy Israelson and Carol Smoot, Sheila Cohen, Ann Hodgson, Marta Lindrose and Joan Siebenaler
Fundraising Committee
Creating Our Development Plan
Together with the Fundraising and Development Committee, we are beginning to explore our next steps in building a development plan for the Foundation. This will be a critical part of our financial growth in the future. More information on this in the coming months.
And remember, we are no longer using PayPal on our Foundation’s donation page. Be sure to check it out..
Colorado Gives is Almost Here
Finally, a critical part of our fundraising success is Colorado Gives. We have been actively working to grow our donations each year, and we are benefiting from the effort. You will be hearing a lot more about how you can promote our Foundation on this important Colorado-wide day of philanthropy.
The Fundraising Committee - Co-Chairs Colleen Farrell and Pam Malzbender, Ann Herrmann, Debbie Nasta, Kathy Israelson
Finance Committee
Establishing Our Presence on Charity Navigator
Our Fundraising Committee has set up a page for our foundation on Charity Navigator. As we move into our fundraising activities for the year, this rating will be a valuable tool to help donors find us and feel confident that we are a fiscally strong and reliable 501c3.
Charity Navigator is a nonprofit organization and the nation's largest charity evaluator that provides objective data and ratings on the financial health, accountability, and transparency of over 1.7 million U.S. charities. Donors rely on it to find organizations that align with their values and passions by using the organization's free platform.
When our page is active and approved, we will let everyone know.
The Finance Committee- Chair Nancy Rowe, Pam Malzbender, Michelle Médal, Ranelle Randles, Sheila King, Kim Prosser-Noonan
Educatez Scholarship Committee
Introducing Our Newest Scholarship - Women in STEM
The newest Zonta International Scholarship is Women in STEM.
This will be the first time that Zonta International, as well as our Club, will offer this Scholarship. Our Club will make a $5,000 award, and as with other programs, they can win additional funding at other levels of Zonta International. Zonta International explains that:
The Zonta Women in STEM Award uplifts innovation and celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of women between 18-35 years of age in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and acknowledges their groundbreaking research, pioneering discoveries, and/or exemplary contributions to advancing knowledge and innovation in a STEM field. By recognizing and supporting these exceptional women, Zonta aims to inspire future generations and foster inclusivity and diversity in the world of STEM.
The application and associated information are available HERE, and we are starting outreach now. These are the STEM Scholarship deadlines:
ZFC application due November 17th
ZFC announcement of winner – Dec 8th
D12 applications due December 15th
We would love your help reading applications and picking our first Women in STEM winner! Thank you in advance for your help!
The EducateZ Scholarship Committee - Co-Chairs Nancy Rowe and Michelle Médal, Kristi Celico, Ann Herrmann, Kay Meyer, Amanda Eisnes
Zonta Educatez Committee
Congratulations to the Panther Z Club!
On October 1st, the Club hosted a Voter Registration Drive in partnership with New Era Colorado, and it was a huge success. During both high school lunch periods, Panther Z members helped register 62 students to vote. Not only did they double the number of registrations from last year’s drive, but they also shattered New Era’s 20-year record for the most registrations at a single tabling event! And yes, they even beat their long-time rival, Fairview High School, by 12 registrations.
Panther Z members were actively engaging students, proudly representing their club, and reminding everyone that in Colorado, anyone 15 years or older is eligible to register to vote. They emphasized the importance of civic participation and made sure their peers knew their voices mattered. Thanks to their efforts, dozens of Boulder High students will now receive their ballots and have the opportunity to make their voices heard.
Way to go, Panther Z Club, you’re making history and empowering your community!
At a recent meeting, the Pantherz Z Club heard from a panel of local professionals who inspired them with their career stories and recommendations for exploring careers in law, nursing, landscape architecture, and business.
A BIG thank you to Foothills Club member Lisa Lesniak, who spoke about the legal profession. We would also like to thank Dean Beacom, an intensive care nurse, Ryan Bain, an operations officer for Kodo Kids Operations, a local toy company, and Emily Urquhart, a City of Boulder Parks and Open Space Planner.
The broad spectrum of careers made for an impactful and informative afternoon for our Z Club members.
Voter Registration Event Registers More Future Voters Than Fairview!
Career Panelist Inspire Z Club Members
Join us for Our Annual Z Club Induction
Each year, we look forward to our annual tradition of inducting our newest Pantherz Z Club members and installing our Z Club’s officers.
Our Foothills Club members play a critical role in this event. We hope you will join us on Tuesday, October 7, at 4:30 pm in the Boulder High School library to meet our students and hear them speak about their Club’s mission and what inspires them to take an active role in their school, their community, and the world.
Our event is a potluck, so please bring an appetizer or sweet item to share.
Zonta Educatez Committee - Co-Chairs Gaby Lopez & Claudia Ibarra, Tommie Atanasoff, Michelle Carpenter, Kay James, Marta Lindrose, Pam Malzbender
Governance and Engagement Committee
Welcome to Our New Members
At our October meeting, we will induct three new members into our Club. They all attended our Zappy Hour, and each one has been engaged in our Club directly or indirectly in recent years. We are thrilled to welcome Sandy Weeks, Kathryn Hundman, and Stephanie Herrera Ramirez.
Sandy is the owner of Blue Spruce Construction Company in Boulder. She has been a Zing sponsor for a number of years. Kathryn is a public relations and marketing consultant in the education and construction fields. She joined us for our social last spring as well as our Climate Justice Forum. Stephanie is an alum of our Pantherz Z Club, our Flatirons Golden Z Club, and our Platinum Z Club. She is currently a probation officer from the Boulder District Attorney’s Office.
Absorbing Fees for our Young Professional Members
Our Club’s future depends upon a vibrant and younger membership. Passing the torch to future generations will ensure that we can sustain our programs. For this reason, at our October Board meeting, the Governance Committee proposed that our Club reduce the dues for young professional members, those 35 years of age and under. We want to ensure that for younger women who are starting their careers, raising families, or addressing the rising costs of supporting a family, dues are not an obstacle to joining us.
After a very supportive discussion, our Club Board unanimously approved this motion posed by the Governance and Engagement Committee. “The Zonta Club budget will absorb the $25.50 Zonta Club dues and the $15.00 New Member Fee for those under age 35, thus reducing the cost for a new Young Professional member from $111.50 to $71.00 annually.”
This motion was approved unanimously and will take effect retroactively for our young members and apply to all young professionals joining in the future.
Zonta District 12 Conference
The Zonta District 12 Conference was an inspiring opportunity to meet our Zonta International Vice President Fernanda Gallo Freschi, who spoke about all of the strategic analyses that Zonta International is undertaking to grow and thrive now and in the future. We also heard our own District 12 and Zonta International Board member, Renee Coppock, speak about Lahaa, one of our Zonta International Biennium Projects that provides online resources and information for girls around the world.
Our 2025 YWLA winner, Natalie Cappelletti, and Women in Business winner, Dareen Khairi were keynote speakers at the formal Saturday night dinner. They wowed the crowd, and our Club received a number of awards over the weekend. Finally, our own Michelle Medal was elected as the newly formed Area 2 Vice Area Director, and Kim Prosser Noonan was elected District 12 Treasurer.
Here are some photos of the fun.
Congratulations to Claudia and Gaby for recently completing the Boulder County Leadership Fellows Program.
Leadership Fellows Boulder County is a collaborative program between Community Foundation Boulder County and the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. It is designed to foster an inclusive, equitable, and engaging environment where fellows commit to transforming themselves and their cohort as leaders. Targeted at mid-level professionals who live and/or work in Boulder County, the selective program seeks applicants eager to learn about local issues, connect with peers, and step into leadership roles within private, public, and nonprofit organizations. The program provides guidance and tools to build professional networks and prepare participants for leadership roles within Boulder County and beyond. Fellows explore topics that include inclusive leadership, board governance, arts & culture, K-12 education, economic vitality, environment & transportation, and local government.
We are so proud of our leaders!!
Claudia Ibarra and Gaby Lopez are Leadership Fellows
The Governance and Engagement Committee - Co-Chairs Colleen Farrell and Pam Malzbender, Claudia Ibarra, Nancy Rowe