Zonta Club celebrating community
PUBLICATION: Jefferson City News-Tribune (MO)
SECTION: Zonta Women of Achievement
DATE: April 21, 2013
Page: 52
On Tuesday, May 7, the Zonta Club of Jefferson City Foundation will host its 14th annual Women of Achievement Yellow Rose Luncheon, themed “Celebrating Community,” at 11:30 a.m. in Capitol Plaza Hotel.
Each year, the Yellow Rose Luncheon honors area women for their work and achievements in the community, and raises funds to help other local women advance their education.
Proceeds from the luncheon fund Zonta’s Second Chance Scholarships. To date, more than $186,000 in scholarship funds have been awarded to women in the Jefferson City area.
The luncheon will honor this year’s Second Chance Scholarship recipients-Rebecca Gillard, Carolyn Lewis, Diana Otto, and Naomi Tucker. Fifteen Women of Achievement nominees will also be honored-two of whom will be selected by another Zonta Club to receive the 2013 Women of Achievement Award. This decision is based on the evaluation of the women’s accomplishments, community and civic involvement, awards, and other recognitions.
The 2013 Women of Achievement nominees come from all walks of life and serve our community in a wide variety of areas. All exemplify the theme of “Celebrating Community”.
This year’s nominees are: Ann Bax, Cynthia Blosser, Deb Brown, Anne Carmichael, Guinevere Gevecker, Claudia Goodin, Dr. Cassandra Gould, Dr. Connie Hamacher, Brenda Hatfield, Dr. Lois Heldenbrand, Lt. Col. Sandra Karsten, Christie Kincannon, Marlene Medin, Sister Evelyn Marie Peterman, FSM, and Anita Randolph.
Zonta will also honor Marylyn DeFeo, Executive Director of the Samaritan Center, with its Mrs. William H. Weldon Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes a woman who has achieved success in the community over her lifetime. It is named in honor of Mrs. William H. Weldon, former publisher of the Jefferson City News Tribune.
The “Celebrating Community” speaker for this year’s luncheon is Jefferson City native Rebecca Neuenswander Welsh, Founder and President of the HALO Foundation, Helping Art Liberate Orphans. The Zonta Club is pleased to present Rebecca with its annual Celebration Award.
The Yellow Rose Luncheon features a Women’s Expo trade show geared toward women’s interests. The Expo will be open from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Capitol Plaza Hotel. Attendees can learn about resources available for retail, education, services, and volunteerism in the community.
Major sponsors for this year’s Yellow Rose Luncheon are: Bryan Cave LLP; Central Bank; JCMG Laser & Vein Center; Lincoln University; Linda’s Studio; Modern Litho-Print; and News Tribune/HER Magazine.
Additional sponsors are: Armstrong Teasdale LLP; Columbia College; the David Danforth family; Hawthorn Bank; Heisinger Bluffs & St. Joseph’s Bluffs; Jefferson Bank of Missouri; Jefferson City Medical Group; St. Mary’s Health Center; Williams-Keepers LLC; CenturyLink; Fechtel Beverage and Sales; Firehouse Design; Metal Culverts, Inc.; Scholastic Inc.; Seaver & Forck, CPAs; Studio 1 Salon; The Trolley Company; C & S Business Services; First Financial Credit Union; Patterson and Forck PC CPAs; UMB Bank; Brydon, Swearengen & England, PC; Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home; Graves and Associates, CPAs, LLC; Howard’s ATA Martial Arts; Huber & Associates, Inc.; Riley Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, Inc.; Riley Toyota Scion; Roy A. Scheperle Construction Co., Inc.; Tennyson’s Furniture; and Wallstreet Group.
The Zonta Club of Jefferson City is celebrating its 66th anniversary this year and is among the largest Zonta Clubs in the world.
Zonta is a worldwide organization of professional women working to improve the legal, political, economic, educational, and professional status of women.
A Word about Community and the Yellow Rose Luncheon
This year’s Zonta Yellow Rose Luncheon theme is “Celebrating Community.” Every luncheon honoree touches their community in various ways:
• Our Second Chance Scholarship recipients use proceeds from this event to continue their education and ultimately give back to their community.
• Our Women of Achievement nominees positively impact their community through their professions and non-profit work.
• Our Lifetime Achievement recipient and Celebration Award honoree work to grow and improve their community both locally and internationally.
One goal of the Yellow Rose Luncheon is to inspire attendees about how individuals and organizations make a difference in our community. By attending the luncheon, you will be helping fund the Second Chance Scholarships, but you might also find yourself compelled to do more than that. You are certain to hear a story similar to your own, or that of someone you know. You will likely leave the luncheon looking for an opportunity to thank someone for what they do on behalf of our community, or perhaps get more involved yourself.