Zonta Club of the Grand Rapids Area

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The Confederation of Zonta Clubs was organized at Buffalo, New York, November 8, 1919, with the nine Charter Clubs being Binghamton, Buffalo, Elmira, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse and Utica, New York; Detroit, Michigan; and Erie, Pennsylvania. Articles of Incorporation were filed in New York state on February 8, 1922, an earlier set having been destroyed by fire before filing. The first directors of the new organization were Frances E. Brixius, Binghamton; Marian deForest, Buffalo; Mary J. Mulheron, Detriot; Helen E. Mallory, Elmira; Helen M. Schluraff, Erie; Ester E. Parker, Ithaca; Grace C. Moody, Lockport; Laura M. Laurance, (Truesdell), Rochester; Mary E. Jenkins, Syracuse; Harriet A. Ackroyd, Utica; and Mary W. Baldwin, Watertown.		Zonta International Founders
Permanent Headquarters were established in Chicago, Illinois in January, 1928 and Zonta International was incorporated in that state on September 4, 1930. The present Articles of Association, representing the amendments to the original Articles filed in Illinois, were adopted by the St. Louis Convention and filed on the 20th day of July, 1932. The Articles of Association were further amended at the Riverside Convention and filed on the 14th day of August, 1935. The Articles of Association were further amended at the Cincinnati Convention and filed on the 20th day of September 1954.
At the time Grand Rapids was chartered (1921), Zonta International's geographic lines were made up of Regions. We were in Region II and remained in Region II until 1948 when Zonta International changed their geographic boundaries and Regions were changed to Districts. We were District V, and it included some clubs in Canada and all the clubs in Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. Grace Beck of Toledo was the first Governor of District V. As more clubs were organized, it became exceedingly difficult for a Governor to serve over 50 clubs. District V asked permission of Zonta International to divide their territory and permission was granted on a trial basis.		In 1970, District V was divided into District V.a and V.b. V.a included Michigan and the three clubs in Canada - Windsor, Chatham and Sarnia. Sarnia was disbanded in 1978. District V.b included clubs in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Louise Meyer of Ann Arbor was the first Governor of V.a. The experiment was a success and in 1972 District V.a became District XV.
The Zonta Club of Grand Rapids, was sponsored by the Zonta Club of Detriot, a Charter Club, and was organized by Mary J. Mulheron in 1921, and received its Charter from Zonta International on December 14, 1921. However, in 1974 the Grand Rapids club applied for a change of title, which was approved by Zonta International. It is now the Zonta Club of the Grand Rapids Area.
To date, the Zonta Club of the Grand Rapids Area has organized three clubs and co-sponsored one. Their respective Charter dates are: Flint October 12, 1923 Muskegon December 9, 1949 Big Rapids October 15, 1958 Kalamazoo April 2, 1960 (Co-sponsored) In 2006 the Zonta Club of the Grand Rapids Area Celebrated its 85th Anniversary.