ZONTA CLUB OF MILWAUKEE

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION 2008

Technical Specialty Occupations ($1,000).  Support technical and vocational educational efforts of a woman in the area of Health Care or Non-traditional occupations, specifically aimed at low income or otherwise disadvantaged women. Applications must show evidence of dedication to advancing the status of women. Applications due 4/30/2008.

Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship ($1,000). Women pursuing undergraduate business degrees who demonstrate outstanding potential in business, and are entering their third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program at an accredited university/college/institute program at the time the funds are received. Applicants may initially be limited to students at local universities with accredited business programs (Note: The award recipient would be eligible to be advanced to the District and International Level (US$5,000 award). This is limited to students at local universities. Applications are due 4/30//2008.

Women in Science ($1,000).  Women pursuing undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering or math who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field, and are entering their third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program at an accredited university/college/institute program at the time the funds are received. Preference will be given to Wisconsin residents. Applications are due 4/30/2008.

Applications for the 2008 Zonta Scholarships are now available from the Zonta Club of Milwaukee by contacting: Norma Voorhorst at 414-281-3022 or sending an email to Zonta Club at zontamilwaukee@hotmail.com.  

"Summer in the City"

Reservations $50 per person ($400 for table of 8)

Please reserve seats (Max. 8/table - print names on back)

Enclosed is my check for $______________ made payable to the

NEWS RELEASE

For more information contact: Connie Thoma

Phone: 262-628-3505

                                  ZONTA CLUB OF MILWAUKEE’S

                                “SUMMER FASHION IN THE CITY”

                                  FASHION SHOW/FUNDRAISER 

                                         Saturday,  April 12,  2008

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 30, 2007…

 zontamilwaukee@hotmail.com

The Zonta Club of Milwaukee and its Foundation will present its 2008 Fashion Show/Fundraiser on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Italian Community Center. Our theme is “Summer Fashion In The City.”  Mark your calendar now! Join us to enjoy the latest in women’s, children’s and men’s fashions

by Boston Store.

The reception, raffle, and silent auction begin promptly at 10:30 A.M.  There will be many opportunities to win tickets to many of Milwaukee’s great events.  There will also be a wide variety of baskets of wines, beauty products, sports items, and more – something to appeal to the entire family.

A warm, delicious luncheon will be served followed by the Fashion Show, Raffles and special prizes for our guests. 

Tickets for the event are $50.00 per person, and must be purchased in advance.  Tables of eight will be available.  Reservations must be made not later than Sunday, April 1, 2008.  Call us at 262-628-3505

for more information and we will send an invitation to this “Do Not Miss Event.”

Proceeds benefit scholarships and programs that advance the status of women in Milwaukee and worldwide.

For Immediate Release

State's first female mortician brought energy, humor to job

By AMY RABIDEAU SILVERS
asilvers@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Jan. 23, 2007

For someone once mistaken for a dead woman, Ernestine O'Bee was as lively as they came.                             

After her marriage to Emile O'Bee, owner of the O'Bee Funeral Home, she became the first woman licensed as a mortician in Wisconsin. That was in 1952.

She also became a presence in the community. Her name was synonymous with the funeral home, even after the death of her first husband in 1972, and later with a new firm, the Northwest Funeral Chapel. She later married Clifford Wilson, taking the name O'Bee-Wilson, but continued to be known as Mrs. O'Bee in her professional life.

O'Bee accumulated more than a few stories in nearly a century of life. A favorite involved the time she saw two boys studying her portrait at the funeral home.

"See, I told you," one boy said. "She looks just like that dead lady on the wall."

"I am that dead lady on the wall," O'Bee said, explaining that a person did not need to be dead to have a photograph hanging in a funeral home.

"People think that funeral directors don't have a sense of humor," she said, laughter in her voice. "But we do."

O'Bee died of natural causes Monday. She was 99.

Friends and colleagues praised her as a dynamic woman of character.

"There was a consistency of love and wisdom and caring," said Amanda Gray, a bereavement minister and hospice nurse. "She was one of the community. You never had any doubt about that.

"My mom died when I was 18, and she helped me through that," said Gray, now 56. "A lot of what I know, I learned from her."

O'Bee kept working part time at the funeral home until recent weeks.

"I come because one of the most important jobs I do is greet people at the front door," she said. "I like to be in the front when people come in. I want them to feel like they're home."

For O'Bee, attitude was everything. Although she lost much of her sight, people did not always realize that she was legally blind.

O'Bee began life as Ernestine Singleton, the only child of an African-American dentist in Omaha, Neb. Race attitudes in America were a fact of her life, but not one on which she wished to dwell.

In 1931, she graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

"In college, I worked as a domestic for 50 cents an hour because that's the only job I could get because of my color," she said in her quiet way.

"I wanted to be a journalist," O'Bee said. "The dean of women told me, 'If you graduate at the head of your class, I could not get you a job in America.' "

Instead, she earned a degree in social work, first working with the Children's Aid Society in Detroit. She also worked on the radio, as a junior rifle instructor and as a lifeguard.

Her involvement with the YWCA brought her to a conference in Milwaukee. She called the only person she knew in Milwaukee, Emile O'Bee, also from Omaha. When they met, he immediately stood out of respect.

She was taken with the man with good manners. The feeling was apparently mutual because she was soon Mrs. O'Bee. They married in 1948.

Her husband wanted her to become a licensed funeral director, too, so she applied to mortuary school. The school denied her application, saying that she needed to show a high school diploma, not a college one.

"They wouldn't accept my sheepskin from the University of Michigan, and I was so proud of it," she said. "But that wasn't it. They didn't want a woman, and they certainly didn't want a black one.

"Mr. O'Bee went in anger to the school and, when he came back, I was enrolled," she said proudly.

She survived both her husbands, continuing as an owner of the funeral home and its board president. She also served as the first woman appointed to the State Board of Examiners for Funeral Directors and Embalmers. O'Bee also worked with children at Parkway Elementary School every Wednesday.

Survivors include cousins Betty Sullivan and Mary Byrd; and daughter-in-law Lillie O'Bee.

Visitation will be from noon to 7 p.m. Friday at Northwest Funeral Chapel, 6630 W. Hampton Ave. A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Cathedral, 818 E. Juneau Ave.

Zontians Friendship Day Sparks Fund Raising Exchange Ideas

In August 2006, sister Zontians from ZC Heidelberg and ZC Milwaukee celebrated Zontian Friendship by holding a get together as part of their Great Ladies Great Lakes tour!   Keeping advancing the status of women in the highlight, their initial idea was to include a raffle of a few items to honor their connection, and share the ‘raffle’ experience.   Everyone got into the spirit and members from German clubs of, and USA members from Milwaukee Madison, and Janesville, Wisconsin, all joined to enjoy friendship.  It was so wonderful to share “raffle” ideas!  The Wisconsin clubs generally use raffle tickets - if you have the right number, and it’s selected - you can win and maybe even repeated times!  Some may win, some may not.  In the German way donations are made, about every fifth raffle ticket wins!  Learning new ways to raise funds and share friendship was a gain all around and the funds raised were donated to the Jane M. Klausman Scholarship fund!  It’s only a beginning now as we all learn new ways to orchestrate raffles!   

How did all of this begin?  It all started at the Zonta International Convention in New York, when three members connected – Sigrid Duden from ZC Heidelberg and Audrey Schmitz and Donna Conant from ZC Milwaukee.  Their convention connection started a friendship that lead to sisterhood - connecting many members from Wisconsin and southwest Germany!  In 2005 Milwaukee Zontians were hosted to a tour of southwest Germany meeting members from 10 clubs.  A return host evolved this summer when members from Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Konstanz and Tuebingen joined members from Milwaukee, Madison, Janesville, Beloit, Oak Park and St Charles Batavia on a tour through the Great Lakes region!  . 

 ZONTA CLUB OF MILWAUKEE

2007 SCHOLARSHIPS

Young Women in Public Affairs Award ($500).  Pre-university or pre-college women students (ages 16-20); Applicants must show evidence of active commitment to volunteerism and volunteer leadership achievements, as well as dedication to advancing the status of women worldwide. (Note:  Recipient’s application will be forwarded to Zonta District 6 for consideration for the District award.)  Applications due 2/22/2007.

Technical Specialty Occupations ($1,000).  Support technical and vocational educational efforts of a woman in the area of Health Care or Non-traditional occupations, specifically aimed at low income or otherwise disadvantaged women. Applications must show evidence of dedication to advancing the status of women. Applications due 4/30/2007.

Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship ($1,000). Women pursuing undergraduate business degrees who demonstrate outstanding potential in business, and are entering their third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program at an accredited university/college/institute program at the time the funds are received. Applicants may initially be limited to students at local universities with accredited business programs (Note: The award recipient would be eligible to be advanced to the District and International Level (US$5,000 award). This is limited to students at local universities. Applications are due 4/30//2007.

Women in Science ($1,000).  Women pursuing undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering or math who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field, and are entering their third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program at an accredited university/college/institute program at the time the funds are received. Preference will be given to Wisconsin residents. Applications are due 4/30//2007.

 Applications for the 2007 Zonta Scholarships are now available from the Zonta Club of Milwaukee by contacting: Norma Voorhorst at 414-281-3022 or sending an email to Zonta Club at zontamilwaukee@hotmail.com.  

ZONTA CLUB OF MILWAUKEE AWARDS TWO SCHOLARSHIPS

Our club was honored to meet and recognize recipients of two of our 2006 scholarship award winners at our September meeting:

Cynthia Wright Kau was presented the Technical Specialty Award, and Ashley Beckner, the Women in Business Award.

 Cynthia Wright Kau is working towards her Associate degree and a full time position as Interior Designer.  She has always been interested in building and designing.  While other girls usually played with dolls, she built them houses.  She understands the construction and designing side. She loves the challenge and success when the “guys stop and listen” to her, especially when it is “green design”, environmentally friendly.  In the 1990’s Cynthia graduated with an Interior Design Assistant degree, got married and raised five wonderful sons, while working as Design Assistant.   She will use her scholarship funds to attend Waukesha County Technical College, and prepare to take on more leadership & a full design role. 

 Ashley Beckner is attending Marquette University seeking her Bachelor of Science in Finance.  She has been accepted into the highly competitive and academically challenging Applied Investment Management (AIM) program at Marquette.  She secured an internship with a prestigious Wall Street investment firm, Morgan Stanley, spending her summer in New York City.  Ashley shared with us that she was offered and has accepted a full time position with Morgan Stanley after her graduation this December.  She has demonstrated a strong work ethic by working both summers and through the school year, while maintaining a high GPA, plus working as a Research Associate.  During her Senior year at Marquette she is taking on the position of Campus Campaign Manager to recruit graduating seniors to enter the 2007 Teach for America Corps, a non-profit organization that recruits top undergraduates to spend 2 years teaching in low income communities.

Congratulations, Cynthia & Ashley!  We wish you success in your academic & career pursuits!  

                                                                 By Norma Voorhorst, on behalf of the Scholarship Committee

Zonta Clubs of Heidelberg & Milwaukee Join in Sisterhood, Sharing, and Learning

Crossing an ocean, languages, and cultures, two Zonta Clubs joined in International Sisterhood on May 28^th, 2005.  The Zonta Club of Heidelberg, Germany and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee embarked on the first international exchange between the two clubs.  Both are committed to their common mission to improve the status of women worldwide and expand understanding of the needs of women globally.  “We are connecting members internationally, forming warm friendships, and increasing interest in our common service programs and Zonta International events.” remarked Zonta Club of Milwaukee’s President, Donna Conant.

Sigrid Duden, President Zonta Club of Heidelberg believes “This is what Zonta really is about: Not only to advance the Status of Women, but to support each other and grow friendship between Zontians.” Following Zonta’s 2004 international convention in New York, Sigrid enthusiastically invited the Milwaukee club to travel to Germany where members from the Zonta Clubs of Tuebingen, Reutlingen, Konstanz, and Oberschwaben, Germany met and hosted them throughout their stay.  Those who traveled on this journey returned with a greater understanding of how our common mission surpasses cultural boundaries.   The clubs will continue to share experiences and ideas and look forward to meeting again at the next international convention in Melbourne, Australia in June 2005.