History

One hundred years ago, a small group of pioneering women came together in Buffalo, New York, with a vision to help all women realize greater equality while using their individual and collective expertise in service to their community; their vision became The Federation of Zonta Clubs, today known as Zonta International, an organization that has grown to more than 29,000 members in 63 countries, working together to make gender equality a reality for women and girls worldwide. Here’s some background on the history of our club, the Zonta Club of Watkins Glen-Montour Falls.

In October of 1924, the Zonta Club of Elmira invited 10 business women from Watkins Glen and 10 from Montour Falls as guests at the Jefferson House; from the 20 women, 17 of them went on to organize the Zonta Club of Watkins Glen-Montour Falls, and Mary Dunham was elected as the first President. For the first time ever, a Zonta Club of two adjoining towns was received into membership.

In mid May of 1925, the Zonta Club of Watkins Glen-Montour Falls received its charter at the Toledo Convention, which was presided over by Marion DeForest. Mary Dunham accepted the charter on behalf of the club.

In 1928 the Zonta Club of Watkins Glen-Montour Falls organized a new club in Penn Yan. Mary Dunham awarded a gong to our club; it is still used today.

In 1929 our club met regularly, twice a month, at the Jefferson House. The price of dinner was raised this year to $1.10, so members voted to omit the soup and hold the meal price to $1.00.

1930 saw Zonta become International with the addition of the first European Club in Vienna. The name of The Federation of Zonta Clubs changed to Zonta International.

During 1935, in celebration of Zonta’s birthday, our club held an inter-city meeting with 3 other clubs invited: Elmira, Ithaca and Penn Yan.

A Regional Fall Conference was held at the Glen Springs hotel in 1940. The Glen Springs Sanitarium (also known as The Glen Springs) was a hotel and sanatorium located high above Seneca Lake on the western hillsides of Watkins Glen. Known in the early 1900s as the “Nauheim of America”, it remained a noted landmark of the area until 1996. Two healthy Watkins Glen-Montour Falls Club conference attendees stayed overnight at the hotel for the experience.

In the 1950’s, our club held a dinner event for 50 Schuyler County High School senior girls called “Career Night.” The after dinner speaker was the 2nd VP of Zonta International, and her talk was entitled, “Opportunities Unlimited.”

Today, the members of Zonta Club of Watkins Glen-Montour Falls continue to volunteer their time in a variety of ways locally to serve their community and support the advancement of women and girls. They raise funds for local donations and contribute to the programs of Zonta International, in collaboration with the United Nations in areas of safety, healthcare and education of women and girls around the world. (For more info see https://foundation.zonta.org.)

Our club celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Zonta International on International Woman’s Day, March 8, 2019. Many activities were planned to observe this milestone, including a tour of the 100-years of Zonta exhibit at the Schuyler County Historical Society, The lighting of the District 2 ceremonial Centennial Torch, a Tea Luncheon at The Red Kettle Inn Bed and Breakfast, an awards program, new member induction and a Lakewood Vineyards Tasting.

The success of our club correlates to an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence by its members.