What is an e-Club?
Defining an e-Club
A Zonta e- Club has all rights and duties of a regular club. In most ways, the chartering of an
e-Club is no different than that of a traditional in-person meeting club. The steps would be the same; however, the meeting format may change.
The only difference between a traditional club and an e-Club is that e-Clubs hold their meetings electronically. An e-Club has all of the rights and responsibilities of a traditional Zonta club. It is a Zonta club that simply holds their club meetings, business and projects mainly electronically.
A Zonta e-Club uses modern technology to hold its meetings, organize events, projects and club business. Every e-club is encouraged to take part in events at area, district and international levels.
Membership
As with any Zonta club, the membership of the e-Club shall be limited to classified members, past international presidents and honorary members. Zonta e-Club members can be located in the same community, geographic area, state, district, region, country or may be scattered across the globe. Members can be connected by friendship, fellowship, professional relations, or mission focus.
You may find individuals interested in joining an e-Club as it allows for time flexibility, ability to participate in a meeting wherever they may be, and for building friendships and networks easily throughout the Zonta world.
Meetings
Holding online meetings is a huge benefit for many busy members. It allows them time flexibility, while they can still participate in meetings in the comfort of their own chosen location. Zoom.us or Skype.com are some of the tools used where members can see each other, share documents and screens, participate with Q&A with a speaker and learn new ideas. Meetings can be recorded which allows those not able to attend to watch at a later time so they do not miss out on club activities. Members can learn about new technology that may help in their chosen professions.
Activities &
Communication
Club activities may include the promotion of women's rights and the promotion of other civil rights and freedoms.
Communication in between can be held with tools like SLACK.com, Facebook, Whatsapp, Facetime, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and also via Mail, phone or letters.
Charter Ceremony
While a traditional charter ceremony may not be possible with a Zonta e-Club, a celebration can be held at a virtual meeting, an area meeting, inter-district meeting, or district conference and convention. In addition to celebrating the formation of the new club, hosting the event at this time can encourage attendance at these events.
Face - to - Face Meetings
Another difference is that e-Clubs are encouraged to have at least one face-to-face meeting a year, this is usually held at a District meeting. E-Club members are entitled and encouraged to participate in all events and activities of the district and/or area as well as international conventions.
Mission
Like all Zonta clubs, e-Clubs promote Zonta’s goals and work to empower women through service and advocacy. e-Club members may meet in-person as a group or independently for service or fundraising projects upon each member’s proximity to one another. Such programs or activities should be in alignment with Zonta’s mission, such as "ZONTA Says NO against Violence against Women" among others.
Fellowship events like book clubs or movie night allows members to build friendships and networks while meeting through electronic means. Like traditional clubs, e-Club members accept leadership roles that promote service and advocacy.
Service and Advocacy projects for e-Clubs can be similar to traditional club projects other than e-Clubs work electronically on their projects while impacting a community’s needs.
Any Zonta e-Club is as committed and effective as a traditional club
that meets in-person in their mission of empowering women.
Other e-clubs in the world
Of course, there are many other e-clubs in the Zonta world.15 to be exact.
ZONTA e-clubs offer successful networking for Zontians – across borders.
e-club of USA 1
(Iowa)
e-club of USA 2
(Texas)
e-club of USA 3
e-club of Silicon
Valley (California)
e-club of Orlando
(Florida)
e-club of Canada 1
e-club of Queensland Inc.
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e-club of Bavaria
e-club of Germany
e-club of Italy 1
e-club of Finland 1
e-club of Switzerland 1
e-club of Philippines 1
e-club of Thailand 1
e-club of West Africa
Does every e-club operate the same? No! There are a variety of internet-based but also local projects in action.
Zonta e-Club Thailand 1 published a viral facebook and Instagram campaign during the 16 Days of Activism in 2017. Based on the theme "Once Upon a Time" the club promoted photos and infographics of facts and figures relaying important information on violence against women around the world.
Moreover, e-clubs can engage locally, for instance Zonta e-Club of Italy 1, which held its award ceremony for Zonta-fellowship winners at Sapienza University in Rome. We also had a very thought-provoking and informative inter-e-club meeting with the president of e-club of Italy and the Zonta Club Roma Capitolium about the current situation in Italy, which was hit especially hard in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic
Furthermore, the Zonta e-Club of Silicon Valley organizes local projects to support their community during the pandemic by partnering with international collaborators, like the Zonta Mask Project with Mercado Global in October 2020.
The Zonta e-Club of Germany strongly advocates and advertises the nation-wide attention-campaign to help and demand action against domestic violence against women, which drastically increased due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.
If you want to find more information on any of the e-clubs, please visit: http://www.zonta.org/Web/Get_Involved/Locate_a_Club/Web/Get_Involved/Locate_a_Club
- and type e-club in the search bar tap "club"