Portland, Oregon's Zonta Club is a local chapter of Zonta International.  Founded in Buffalo, New York, USA, in 1919, Zonta International is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women.  "Zonta" derives from the Lakota Indian word meaning honest and trustworthy.

Zonta International is divided into 30 districts worldwide.  The Portland Club is in District 8, Area 4, which includes clubs throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia.  There are two opportunities each year to attend workshops and conferences within the District.  A Zonta International Convention is held bi-annually in varying locations throughout the world.  Members are encouraged, but not required, to attend these events.

The Zonta Club of Portland was chartered in 1929 by Zonta International.  Members work or live in the greater Portland and Vancouver, Washington area.  The Portland Club is a basic unit of Zonta.  This is where the work of Zonta is discussed and advanced, and where local needs are surveyed and supported by fundraising and hands-on projects.  The major business of the Portland Club is carried out by a Board of Directors consisting of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, two Directors and the immediate past President.  Members vote on all issues affecting the club, including the election of the Board, service and fundraising projects, and expenditures related to service and administration.

Service projects have included the continuation of two annual $1000 scholarships, the Young Women in Public Affairs Award for a junior or senior in high school and the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Award for a junior or senior in college.  In line with Zonta International's goal to eradicate violence against women and children, the Portland Club has hands-on service projects with two local domestic violence women's projgrams, the West Women's and Children's Shelter in Portland and the SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program in Vancouver.  Additional hands-on service projects are decided upon each year by the membership.

The Portland Club holds one or two fund-raising events to generate the monies needed to fund service projects and charitable giving.  Two-thirds of funds raised go to local and regional projects, and one-third is given to the Zonta International Foundation earmarked for projects as designated by the Club.  The service fund is administered by the Zonta Foundation of Portland, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Fellowship plays a big part in Zonta activities with great comaraderie at meetings, programs and service projects, as well as at our purely social events such as our holiday party and summer barbecue.

Portland Zontians meet on the second Monday evening of each month from 7 to 9 PM at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital Complex, North/South Conference Room at Devers Eye Clinic which is at the corner of NW 22nd Avenue and Marshall Streets.  (Enter through the front doors of the building, go straight and then turn right, going past the elevators.  The conference room is ahead on the left.  Look for the signs that sayNorth/South Conference.)  There is a short business session followed by a program.  Each member serves on at least one committee; the time committment varies, depending upon the role of the committee(s) and the time of year.

Annual dues are $135 for first-time members and $110 for renewing members.  This amount covers International, District and Club dues.