Season's Greetings!

Wishes

of

A Joyous Christmas

and

A Peaceful New Year!

The Issue about Women's Equality

US State Secretary Hillary Clinton addressed the recent TED Women Conference. She talked about empowering women and girls and raised the issue about women's equality.

Here are parts of her speech copied from an article in this link:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/12/12/clinton.empower.girls/index.html

"Let women work and they drive economic growth across all sectors. Send a girl to school even just for one year and her income dramatically increases for life, and her children are more likely to survive and her family more likely to be healthier for years to come. Give women equal rights and entire nations are more stable and secure. Deny women equal rights and the instability of nations is almost certain."


"Women's equality is not just a moral issue, it's not just a humanitarian issue, it is not just a fairness issue," she said, "It is a security issue, it is a prosperity issue, and it is a peace issue."


Going back 15 years ago in 1995, Hillary Clinton, then First Lady of the United States, declared in her famous speech to the delegates of the Beijing International Conference of Women that women's rights are human rights.

Here's the link to Hillary's speech in September 1995 in Beijing:

http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/speeches/Hillary-Clinton/

2010 Annual Christmas Benefit Auction Sale

Monday, December 6, 2010. Directly after office hours, Sundsvall Zontians with guests are warmly welcomed by Club President Christina Rylander Bergqvist on board a rented bus and the evening's traditional Christmas meeting with auction sale to raise funds for Zonta projects globally and locally.
Christina tells a short story about Lörudden, the seafood restaurant by the coast south of Sundsvall, which is the venue for the evening's meeting. Club Master Gun Andersson and Club Secretary Lena Sandersjöö are shown offering pepparkakor (Swedish gingerbread), fruits and candies to keep sugar level right before dinner. Christina sees to it that we while away our time with a word game on our way by bus to the restaurant.
A cup of glögg, traditional Swedish Christmas mulled and spiced wine, are partaken first and foremost! Shown above are Ing-Britt Pousette, Anja Nyman, Ewa Larsson-Snygg, Edith Andresen, Barbro Hegrelius Jonsson among members with cups and auction donations in hand.
Anna-Lena Huss Nyström and Catarina Bufvers Pargeus are shown ready to take part of the hearty traditional Swedish Christmas smorgasbord!
Christina checks the items on display - homebakes, handmades, baskets full of goodies, paintings, jewelries, books, cards, flower arrangements and many more - and declares the bounty ready for sale!The other highlight of the evening, the auction sale, starts. Auctioneer Carina Martinsson gives instructions on how the bidding should be done. If she is not satisfied with the bid, then the sale will not be closed. Each item is described, and in some cases, variations of its use is demonstrated.
To everyone's delight, biddings are often interrupted by laughter because of Auctioneer Carina's antics and the members outbiddning of each other. With all the fun, the club's auction is seriously taken by members. One would not be without the famous gingerbread dough, so she bids by telephone with the help of Vice President Susanne Andersson.
An important element in auction sales is the auctioneer's gavel. Sundsvall's Zonta Club do this properly. Carina uses kitchen utensils to close bids when she thinks that the amount is okey :-). Bids range from 2- to 4-figure Swedish crowns.
All auction items has been sold and rest on each and every new owner's table. A donated painting is being signed by a guest artist. And finally, accounts are settled with Club Treasurer Carina Andersson. Funds will be channeled to Zonta projects with the aim to improve women's status worldwide.
The bus is back in the city center by 22:31 hours. Club President Christina waves happily goodbye as Zontians with guests depart for home.

The proceed is still unknown to me at the time of writing this blog entry, but it will not be a surprise if we beat 2009's record auction sale!

*

Blog update December 14:

The proceeds from 2010's Christmas auction sale broke last year's record!

*

Click on the respective collage to enlarge it.