President's Message…
Zonta Club of Marietta and Environs
It’s not easy to commit to an organization that relies on volunteering to make a difference in the lives of others and in the community. Sometimes, life seems more demanding than a good cause. We have jobs, homes to manage, children to raise, classes to take, elderly parents to watch over, and businesses to run. Sometimes all we want is a good night’s rest or a few hours just to do whatever it is that makes us happiest before the whirlwind starts all over again.
Zontians, however, tend to be a special breed of women with endless energy and a sense of purpose. We share our time and talents as a group to accomplish far more than we could individually. We know we can rely on each other to do what we agree to do so that every other member of the group can concentrate on what she needs to do to get the job done. We raise money so worthy students can take college courses. We help other organizations in town meet their goals so they, in turn, can provide services and support to women and children in need. We help to feed the hungry, provide clothing at a reasonable cost, encourage support for those with health concerns, and much more.
Zonta is just one of seventy-one clubs and organizations, not including church groups, in the Marietta area that rely on volunteers to enhance the quality of life of the community. Last year, Zontians alone volunteered 740.25 hours. Add to that the 252.75 hours that friends and family volunteered with us and there is a whopping total of 993 volunteer hours freely given to make our community a better place in which to live.
The 2008 estimated value of a volunteer hour was $20.24, which means we provided $20,108.25 in services for which our tax dollars did not pay. If we assume all the clubs and organizations in the area shared as much time as we, then collectively we gave $1,427,685.70 back to the community. That’s a lot of commitment.
We have a lot to be proud of in the work we do and we have a lot to be proud of in each other. Together, we can and do accomplish great things.
Sincerely,
Gail Reynolds
Current President for the Zonta Club of Marietta and Environs 2009-2010
