In Buffalo, New York, USA in January 1919, five women attending as guests at a social meeting of Kiwanis, an established all-male service club, conceived the formation of a new service club.
This new club would be composed of women who were recognized leaders in their businesses and professions. The primary purposes of the club would be to standardize and disseminate business principles and practices and to provide service to humanity through cooperative efforts.
During the spring and summer of 1919, clubs were organized in Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Elmira, and Syracuse, New York, USA. Under the leadership of its Charter President, Marian de Forest, a playwright and newspaper critic, the Buffalo club established specific guidelines for membership and classification.
The Confederation of Zonta Clubs was founded on November 8, 1919 in Buffalo. Mary E. Jenkins, newspaper publisher and civic leader, was elected the first president of the Confederation. Bylaws and a constitution were drafted and adopted, and all that was left was to choose a name.
Zonta takes its name from the Lakota Sioux Indian word meaning "honest and trustworthy." Zontians volunteer their time, talents and energy to local and international service projects that are designed to advance the status of women.
One of Zonta's favorite members, Amelia Earhart accepted an invitation to become a member of the Zonta Club of Boston in 1928, then later transferred her membership to the Zonta Club of New York. She remained active in Zonta until her disappearance in 1937.
A year after Amelia's disappearance, in 1938, Zonta International established the Amelia Earhart Fellowship Awards for women pursuing graduate degrees in aerospace-related sciences and engineering. More than US $4 million has been invested in this program to date, awarding 808 Fellowships to 522 women from 51 countries!
