Report on 2016 Area 1 and 3 meeting Hosted by Zonta Club of Maroochy

Areas 1 and 3 joined forces on Saturday 16th April at the Nambour RSL for a full day’s workshop centred on Courage, as we move into the 50th year of Zonta in Australia. (The Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra was Chartered on 24 May 1966 and is the oldest Australian club).

85 participants from around the regions attended the day, which led to lively discussion and highly animated work groups.

Guest speaker Adele Rice AM, spoke on the topic of refugees, people seeking asylum and social cohesion. She gave a fascinating insight into the topic of Courage and Social Cohesion arising from her long career in multicultural education including as Principal of Milpera SHS. She spoke of the refugee and migrant experience over the decades and the change in government attitudes, reflected in the departmental name from Department of Immigration and Settlement (“Good settlement leads to good citizens”) to Border Protection and Border Force. It is sobering to remember that of the 200 000 refugees and migrants coming to Australia every year (China, India, UK and NZ are the major 4), the humanitarian intake is only 13 500. People seeking asylum are included in the 13 500. In addition there are 400 000 student and other visa holders. This puts into context the numbers of refugees and people seeking asylum.

Adele ended by encouraging Zontians to continue to embrace diversity, to engage with the Muslim community and to foster understanding in the current climate of fear that appears to dominate Australia.

Two ideas that flowed from the presentation and ensuing discussion were (1) ‘advancement grants’ in the form of a bursary every year to a woman refugee to get started in their new life. As little as $1000 can make a really huge difference; and (2) ‘transition grants’, a bursary to help migrant students transition from Year 10 to Year 11, where as little as $500 can be the difference between having the uniform, the books or whatever and may empower the young women to complete their High School studies.

“Forum be Confident” gave a presentation on basic meeting procedures. The two speakers, Gussie Morgan and Margaret Dawson from Forum Gympie gave a summary of how to hold a successful meeting and the qualities of a good Chair. They reinforced that the skills can be learnt by practice in a safe environment (Forum or Zonta as examples).

District Governor, Judith Trevan-Hawke, gave a presentation on the Council of Europe and the Istanbul Convention. Zonta International has participatory status with the Council of Europe. Council of Europe has 45 member states and is a civil society organisation involving these governments and over 400 International NGO’s, of which Zonta is one. It advocates through these committees to achieve its goals. The Istanbul Convention is an international agreement of the Council of Europe on preventing and combatting violence against women. It aims to coordinate government policies and change societal attitudes by NGO’s and governments working together. Australia is not a signatory but there are many parallels to policy developments in Australia.Both presentation PowerPoints are available on the ZI web site: http://membership.zonta.org/Tools/Council-of-Europe-Tools

Ans van Erp (District Governor-elect) gave a fantastic workshop on leadership and having the courage to step up. The aim of the workshop was to develop some ideas as to what Zonta could do to enhance women stepping up into community and Zonta leadership. 70% of a job is learnt from experience on the job, 20% informal and 10% formal learning. The qualities of a good leader were workshopped and attendees asked to consider which qualities they held and what stopped them stepping up.The workshop then continued to examine the five biggest issues and ask what needed to be done to fix them and what could Zonta do to help. These issues were identified as: 1. Lack of self belief/confidence 2. Family and competing demands 3. Lack of support 4. Lack of flexibility in the work environment . 5. Organisational culture. (A summary of the responses to this workshop is attached)

Elaine Harrington, District 22 Treasurer, gave an overview on the processes, procedures and policies that all Club board members need to know. Elaine summarised club budgets, record keeping requirements and fees to District and ZI and answered questions on insurance. A copy of her presentation is provided on the District 22 website as part of this report.

Ros Kinder from the Zonta Club of Brisbane East spoke of two programs in train in their Club. (1) Love Bites, a domestic violence prevention program run in schools: they have trained 15 facilitators, with a roll-out to 7 schools. A successful grant from EPIC will allow committees to be set up locally to oversee program and school selection. These will include Department of Education, NAPCAN, who does the training, and Zonta representatives. Five clubs are collaborating with them in providing funding and they are happy to partner with any club in Areas 1 or 3. Just contact Ros Kinder or Jo Deissel.(2) Mentoring - they have obtained a grant from Brisbane Airport which allows for QUT training of mentors and mentees. They are initially training 6 pairs.

The Zonta Club of Brisbane South is keen to host an Amelia Earhart Brunch in January 2017, as part of Amelia Earhart month – 2017 is the 80th Anniversary of her flight. Ms Earhart landed in Darwin on June 28 1937.

The outcomes of the Area Meeting Evaluations are in the attached evaluation report. This evaluation report will be used to inform the next Area Meeting.

2016 AREA MEETING EVALUATION REPORT

Responses to the meeting evaluation were as follows:

How long have you been a Zontian? < 1 year - 21-3 years - 94-7 years - 8>7 years - 30

First time to an Area Meeting: 8

85 Zontians attended the meeting, including 8 presenters and organisers. 49 of the 79 participants completed an evaluation – 61%.

What did you find most worthwhile about the meeting?

Program

Adele Rice on Courage and Social Cohesion: Adele was truly inspiring; wonderful to hear an informed opinion about the situation of refugees and people seeking asylum from an alternative view not just media propaganda; Would like a longer session for a speaker of this calibre. √√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√

Ans Van Erp’s Leadership workshops: active participation in workshops rather than just listening/very professional/ Good ideas for promoting new and existing members to roles/reiterating the need to mentor new members to instil confidence so they step up to leadership roles √√√V√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√ √

All sessions were valuable and informative in their own right/Good mix of speakers and workshops/ good presentations to take back to clubs/program was balanced and interesting/ Interesting, engaging, challenging and informative talks/inspired by speakers/All of it/hard to beat this one/a great Area Meeting √√√√√√ √√√√√ √√

Ros Kinder, Zonta Club of Brisbane East, on their implementation of Love Bites: √√√√√

Review/refresher of meeting procedures √√√√√

Organisation and venue

Set tables – great to be put out of comfort zone and meeting other Zontians – promotes great brainstorming. √√√√√

This venue had an excellent large room with good facilities, pleasant staff and copious refreshments/lovely, healthy food, including fruit/great venue √√√

Liked the pace of the day and appreciated all segments running to time √

What do you feel you gained by attending the meeting?

Fellowship/feeling of belonging/networking/meeting old friends/Meeting other Zontians and working with them/learning what they are doing /Contact with and inspiration from other Zontians √√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√V√√√√√√√√√√

Renewed enthusiasm, commitment and connection to Zonta /re-energised when I was questioning my commitment to Zonta/inspired by Zontians at the meeting √ √ √√√√√√

More insight into Zonta Club practices and requirements/reassurance our club is doing much the same as other clubs/ information updates/greater understanding of Zonta as an organisation/ Information on ZI international projects √ √√√√√√√√√√√√√√

Confidence to try something new/ now have courage to step up with confidence to take on a new role/support from other Zontians √ √√

Picked up many clues/strategies to take back to the Club/new ideas/ideas to encourage ‘tired’ members / How my club can be more proactive in the community √√ √√

How can next year’s meeting be improved?

Program

Area meetings should be interactive. Zontians to be put into teams with tasks to be performed. Organisers/participants to bring items for reference eg Bylaws, policies re advocacy, project scorecard, manuals. Form teams by interest groups eg finance, membership, advocacy, service, writing resolutions, public relations, UN, By-laws, credentials. Tasks should take the form of problems, issues, fundraising, challenges, disputes.

More top level external speakers

More time to network, find out what other clubs are doing and build relationships with other clubs so we collaborate more.

Less time on workshops – more on topical speakers/presentations.

Less on leadership (many women have held leadership positions), or use a Professor from QUT Business school , for example

No session meeting procedure - just make handouts available

No session from Treasurer - just make handouts available.

Organisation and venue

Acknowledge traditional owners – maybe invite a local elder to do a welcome to country. (This was an important oversight. Thank you for the reminder for future events. Anne.)

Have a two day meeting, starting at 10am on Saturday to allow for travel and finish 3pm Sunday. Have informal gathering on Saturday night eg BBQ, table tennis competition, party games)

Start at 9 30 and finish by 3

Have a network list of attendees

Publish a one page diagram on all areas, clubs and District to show hierarchy, with names, emails and phone numbers for key people

Say the Zonta Grace

More stalls selling items.

Water on tables.

Better coffee

Improve noise control/room acoustics

Better/more efficient catering process at lunch – have 2 service lines

Do you have suggestions for topics/activities for the next meeting?

Sharing of advocacy topics and activities/effecting change at Federal, State and local levels

Government speaker on how to lobby to change legislation

Workshop activity for clubs to nominate the one activity/idea they are most proud of /share special awards received by clubs for their actions within their communities

More about club projects including costs involved/focus on themes such as sponsorship, awards, fundraising eg like Love Bites presentation

Where to/how to access grants

Addressing issues such as:

o ageing membership and recruiting younger members/membership initiatives

o increasing Zonta’s public profile

o mentoring schemes, including mentoring new Zontians

o dealing with conflict within a meeting

o dealing with critical long term members and past leaders who do not first go through the Chair

Continue to link topics to ZI Biennial Goals

Advice on approved projects Zonta can support/partner with

Explanation on the organisational structure of Zonta for new members

How to do risk assessments for club events using tool developed by Elaine Harrington – perhaps workshop events for practice

Choose a random few delegates to do 5 minute bio.

More information in international projects

More on ZI history for newer members – no-one has time to go through the website

Staying safe on social media.

OUTCOMES OF LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP ON 5 BIGGEST ISSUES PREVENTING WOMEN FROM ‘STEPPING UP’

Topic: Lack of Confidence

Aspects What can be done to fix it? How can Zontians help? Women’s sport

undervalued – lack of coverage on TV

Equal TV time Education →

training (practical – to prove competency)

Cultural shift Confidence –

start small – get bigger – better

More opportunities

Recognition

Education Encouragement & support Set good examples Mentoring (including workplace) Input into broader level – policy re DV Early Ed teaching equality Strength in women’s affairs Look at stereotyping Look at supermums trying to be super

organized Look at unobtainable goals Raise awareness within our club Teach mothers to teach daughters

from an early age:o That eating healthy foods

gives you confidenceo Reading gives you confidenceo Doing Sudoku gives you

confidenceo Learning new skills gives you

confidenceo Encouragement from

husband/partner/boyfriend/friends gives you confidence

Practise leadership Encourage self-belief Raise awareness of issue Staff development Join Zonta Change social conditioning of girls

Teach girls healthy relationships at early age

Be a mentor to those who lack confidence

Zonta has judges, lawyers etc – senior positions

Sponsor courses to encourage confidence

Be a resource Bursaries Training for students

o Financial Lobby Ed Qld re curriculum

development programme to be used (Fun programmes e.g. “Living Your Best Life”)

Zonta event aimed at Year 10-12’s

Zontians mentoring directly in the workplace

Z clubs Public speaking training

e.g. in-house toastmaster programmes

Influence family/girlfriends Utilise leadership

programmes available in workforce

Topic: Organisational Culture

What can be done to fix it? How can Zontians help? Building awareness of the inequities –

statistical data Strategic planning to address the issues

o Set time lines for changeo Have measurable outcomes

“Top down” strategy Education employers & employees Consultation at all levels Recruitment methods need to be aware

of the hidden biases Support for those who speak up Structural change, e.g.:

o Flexible working arrangementso Child-care provisiono Family-friendly hourso Ability to work from home

Generational change Affirmative action policy/practice Education & training Mentoring programme (male & female) Recruitment strategy balance (i.e. don’t

use recruitment consultants!) Advocacy for older workers Teach your children well – AKA the next

generation

Advocacyo Governmento Businesseso Legislation

Mentoring Modelling behaviour in the workplace Provide personal examples Raise the issues at meetings Raise the Zonta profile→ increase street

credibility Boycott/expose recalcitrant/non-

participative companies Build on existing initiatives Keep the pressure up

Topic: Flexibility in Working Environments

What can be done to fix it? How can Zontians help? Having a back-up plan Family leave → private sector Job sharing Jobs at home – computer – “virtual work” Flexible hours/attitude Flexible child-care

o At homeo At work

Remove guilt Identify the problem & what is needed to

fix it Consultation – management talking to

the work force Working conditions

o Hourso Crècheso Working from home

Enterprise bargaining agreement “Top down” support from management Support work/life balance

Advocating via employer groups Discussions within clubs→ awareness Discussions in general community Publicity of “Successful implementation”

– good stories Guest speakers Good practice in clubs Rewarding companies implementing

initiatives Recognition awards PR committees within clubs Raising the issues in the workplace Advocacy – talk to others Moral support eg for those who do not

have flexible hours

Topic: Lack of Support

What can be done to fix it? How can Zontians help? Workplace flexibility Education in workplace & society Expose lack of support within

organisation Expose poor work practices Management training Mentoring from an early age Awareness of support services Stop knocking tall poppies – our

language for women’s achievements needs to change

Workplaces need to support women who lead

Join a professional association – help women do this

Nominate, highlight and contact the women who achieve in the communities where our clubs exist

Empowering women to ask for it in the workforce

Influence perception of “norm” Inform women of bad employers –

particularly in public organisations & big corporations – “Employer of Choice”

Talk to AIM & QUT business school & Engineers Australia

Vocational education advice in schools – be mentors for secondary students

Extra support for existing programmes Advocacy aimed at businesses in general,

to support leadership Strengthen networks for women – add a

social network Broker links across industries/Zonta clubs

for mentor opportunities More mentoring – board appointments,

new members, make it a bit more formal Buddy system – define roles so all

understand Enthusiasm/praise when women achieve

in Zonta group In Airlie Beach, a ceramic ‘ Z’ pin helps

members know who is new so more support goes their way

Individual meeting with new members outside of Zonta meeting – to engage more

Formal part of membership committee is to ensure Buddy system works

Topic: Family Responsibilities / Competing Demands

What can be done to fix it? How can Zontians help? Flexible work hours & location More affordable/flexible/type of child-

care/aged care Equal pay for equal work Education to change attitudes, from early

age, re gender roles for both boys and girls

Volunteer work to gain/maintain work skills e.g. president of committees etc

Time out for self Change attitude in society More structural support – community

services Raise awareness Legislated leave Flexible workplaces – family friendly Flexible child-care Equal division of labour in the home Male role models Load share / act as a village (previously

family – now friends) Gender inequity of child-care

Advocate for paid family carers e.g. grandparents

Sponsorship & education Teach women to say “No” –

assertiveness training for home & workplace

Acknowledge changes already made & continue to change

Empower women to accept their life decisions and then move on

Teach prospective employers to acknowledge skills learnt in volunteer positions

Advocacy – Lobby – careers (male & female), child-care

Visibly promote to Minister for Women Promote to Gov’t for corporate

transparency Paid/subsidized child-care Be visible with other women’s

organisations – power in numbers