Zonta Club of Marietta, Ohio

Woman of the Year

Virginia O'Conner — 2008

Zonta is an international organization of women and men professionals who volunteer in their communities and throughout the world to improve the legal, political, economic, and professional status of women; to enhance the quality of life for women and children internationally; and to promote good will and peace around the world.

Tonight, it is my privilege to present the 35th Woman of the Year award to an outstanding Washington County resident whose exceptional and dedicated volunteer service over many years has enhanced the lives of others and improved the quality of life of still many more. This year, for the first time, the Woman of the Year award is an inscribed porcelain bowl with yellow roses, the Zonta emblem, lovingly hand painted by former Zontian Nancy Gribble.

The 2008 winner of this prestigious award is a lifelong resident of Marietta and the mother of four. She holds a bachelor's degree from Marietta College and a master's degree from Ohio State University. She has served in leadership roles in the Girl Scouts and earned the Boy Scouts of America District Award of Merit for her work as a Cub Scout leader and a Cub Scout Day Camp Director. She is an active member of the morning Rotary Club, where she served as chair of the club's International Committee and traveled to Panama in 2006 at the invitation of the Panama Sur Rotary Club to meet the Embera Drua Indians.  She has served on the board of the American Red Cross, chaired the International Committee of the YMCA, and was named National YMCA Outstanding International Leader in 1996. In 1997, she was named Citizen of the Year for Marietta Women's Civitan. More recently, she served on the Betsy Mills Club women's Board and was named Marietta College Outstanding Education Volunteer.

Her compassionate, loving concern for the welfare of children whose lives have been impacted by physical disabilities motivates her to volunteer her services internationally as the Chief Language and Speech Pathologist for Operation Smile, a pediatric oral-facial surgery team, with whom she has traveled to remote areas of Kenya, Russia, India, and the Philippines to assist surgeons with post operative therapy for children who are recovering from cleft lip and cleft palate surgery.  In addition to her volunteer efforts on behalf of those outside the United States, she has also helped thousands of families and children right here in Marietta and southeastern Ohio through her tireless empathy and efforts for those with physical disabilities.

As others have said, "Her positive attitude, enthusiasm, and energy have allowed many children and adults with disabilities to become aware of their strengths rather than draw attention to their weaknesses."

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