Team Zundzvall at the Area 01 Meeting in Skellefteå

Power Women in black were on the road very early on Saturday, the 26th of March to attend a 2-day Zonta area 1 meeting in Skellefteå. Midway between Sundsvall and Skellefteå, the team of 7 took a break to confer over a real nice breakfast.
District 21 (D21) Governor Ruth Brunner formally opened the area meeting and welcomed everybody for a 2-day session. Governor Ruth took up matters on the district level that are to be taken up in the coming district meeting in Kungälv in May. She presented the candidates up for election on the district and area level who will take office for the next biennium.

D21 Treasurer Sysse Hardenby presented her favorite slides of economic figures - budgets and expenses incurred.
Sundsvall's Annika Bränström runs for Vice Area Director.

Governor Ruth presented the host for the district meeting in 2013 - Sundsvall Zonta Club!

Sundsvall Zonta Club President Christina Rylander Bergqvist talked about what Sundsvall can offer the delegates and welcomed everybody to town in 2013.
Susanne Andersson is shown with flowers presented to her on her birthday! Opera singer Viveka Anderberg Åkerhielm, towering tall than everyone, led us all to sing happy birthday. We took the chance and posed for a few pictures with the celebrant.
Party time! The Zonta Club of Skellefteå celebrated its 30th anniversary in time with the area meeting. Skellefteå Club President Carin Auoja is shown above, top left, welcoming club members and guests. Club members recalled yesteryears and guests expressed well wishes and presented gifts to the 30 year old. We all enjoyed the speeches, entertainment and the food, and each others company!
Viveka Anderberg Åkerhielm, D21 Foundation Ambassador, likewise member of Zonta International Foundation (ZIF) Development Committee, talked about the projects Zonta International have and demonstrated online donations.

Area Director Ann Rydén took up Zonta matters relevant to the area and clubs.
Representatives of the Zonta Club of Sundsvall, TEAM ZundZvall, took turns to present the factors behind the success the club has had with its membership and activities - Annika Bränström (international goal and purpose), Lena Sandersjöö (communication), MaryLou Espiritu-Olsson (will), Gun Andersson (communication), Susanne Andersson (local goal and purpose), Club President Christina Rylander Bergqvist (introduced and summed up the TEAM), Ing-Britt Pousette (leadership). They are all current and/or previous office holders in Zonta's various organizational level.
With a stable foundation of goal and purpose, participation, communication, will and leadership we bring about joy, fellowship, engagement, pride and fun amongst members. In words and gestures, Christina talked about a flock of geese as a metaphor for shared leadership and team work.

The area meeting got to its end. Team Zundzvall is honored to share the foundation and factors in successful recruitment and retention of members.

AD Ann, D21 Governor Ruth and Skellefteå Club President Carin thanked every one who had made this area meeting a happy inspiring one!

We say "UNTIL NEXT"!

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18th Annual Charity Fashion Show

The Zonta Club of Sundsvall's annual charity fashion show took place last March 22, the 18th in a row! Birgitta Krukrök, the committee chair for the 2011 fashion show, is shown above awaiting guests who bought tickets to support our chosen Zonta international project.

Behind the scene! Members of the working committee are seen here doing the last preparations before the show. All lottery prices are properly displayed, a needed check on documents relevant to the show is done. Hosts are ready, photographers are ready! And one much needed short break before we all set to work!

Guests started coming in while Zontians are ready to receive and usher them to their seats. Some locate their tables with the aid of the venue map. In addition to fashion show tickets, funds are usually augmented by lottery sales. Zontians are on the ready to sell tickets to guests.

The hall is fully seated and guests are ready to enjoy the evening knowing that they contribute to a good cause! Club President Christina Rylander Bergqvist welcomes everybody. Together with Vice President Susanne Andersson, Christina tells about Zonta International and announces that the proceeds will be donated to the Fistula Project, a part of Zonta's International Service Program. The project aims to eliminate obstetric fistula in Liberia. For about 300 USD, one woman suffering from fistula can be helped to regain a better life!

Models display clothes, shoes, jewelries, hats, sunglasses on the catwalk.

Local companies supported the club for this event by way of models and items. The make-up was sponsored, too. Lottery prizes were donated by business sponsors in town as well as by Zonta club members.

The 2011 annual benefit fashion show is over. At the time of this writing, the final result of the fund-raising is yet unknown to me.

Sundsvall Zonta Club extends its gratitude to its guests and sponsors for the support given our international project. Together we bring about improvement in the lives of women afflicted with obstetric fistula in Liberia.

Thank you very much.
TACK SÅ MYCKET!

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