Zonta of Grants Pass

Event

2010 Zonta Chooses Marie Hill their Community Woman of the Year

Marie has been the Executive Director of Sparc/Stepping Stone for the past two years. Previously she worked for Josephine County as a parole officer, Community Corrections Director, Community Justice Director, and Chief Operating Officer. Marie’s current memberships include: Rogue Gateway Rotary, SOU Presidents Advisory Board, Oregon Rehabilitation Association of Directors, MRIPA Foundation Board, and Josephine County Friends of the Fairgrounds Board. In the past, Marie has also been a part of the Oregon Association of Community Corrections Directors, Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee, Oregon Juvenile Directors Association, Williams Grange, and the Williams PTA. Marie is an outstanding inspirational community leader.

2009 Zonta Chooses Casey Black their Community Woman of the Year

Casey R. Black

Casey Black is employed with Southern Oregon Public Defender, Inc. and has been the Drug Court Coordinator for Josephine County for eleven years. Raised in Southern California, she attended college majoring in business management and accounting. Before moving to Oregon in 1994 she enjoyed a 10 year accounting career and volunteered with the American Red Cross as the Orange County Co-chair for Disaster Services. With her social services volunteer work, management, and accounting background; Ms. Black incorporates those abilities and her interest in public relations to expand the functions of the drug court. In addition to providing support and resources to participants, Ms. Black and the Drug Court have sponsored several Red Ribbon Week drug prevention rallies and essay contests for fifth grade students. Casey is one of the founding board members of Lasting Achievements Mentoring Program (LAMP), a private nonprofit organization 1997-2004; which provided drug-free transitional housing for men, women, and children in Grants Pass. The Lamp men’s house and the Freedom House for women are currently managed by OPTIONS of Southern Oregon. Casey is involved in various community committees including: The Meth Task Force, Substance Abuse Community Action Team and S.N.A.P! (Social Network of Advocates for Prevention). In addition to her Drug Court responsibilities, Ms. Black has been the Continuing Legal Education Coordinator for Southern Oregon Public Defender, Inc. for six years and most recently, coordinated their third regional training in Ashland.

In her spare time she enjoys guitar, cooking, reading, and camping with her husband. She is also a certified yoga instructor.

Her award was presented at the Touch of Class Champagne Brunch Saturday February 28, 2009 at the Grants Pass Country Club.

Zonta chooses Brandi Williamson for Zonta Community Woman of the Year Award

Brandi has been involved in Relay for Life in Josephine County for several years. In the past couple of years she has turned the RFL into one of the largest non-profit fundraising events in Josephine County, second only the Boys and Girls Club Taste of the Rogue. Under Brandi’s leadership, in 2007 the event raised $240,000 and was recognized by the national committee as the second most successful event per capita in the nation! Brandi has dedicated a giant portion of her time to raising money to find a cure for cancer. Proceeds of RFL are also dedicated to community education. Brandi is a Cookie Lee Distributor as well as a candle business owner and the mother of two young children. She has put a lot of her personal home businesses aside in her effort to promote Rela For Life. Her award was presented at the Touch of Class Champagne Brunch Saturday March 8, 2008 at The Brewery. DENISE BROWN IN GRANTS PASSThe Zonta Club of Grants Pass sponsored the appearance of Denise Brown, sister of slain Nicole Simpson Brown in Josephine County, partnering with the Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance. Internationally known Denise Brown kicked off their planned annual community outreach program.


Denise Brown purchasingraffle tickets for theOpportunity Quilt.

$500.00 Gold Level Event Sponsor - Zonta Club of Grants Pass Oregon FoundaitonClub members supported the event with service of time as greeters at the VIP Reception at the Bear Hotel, tickets sellers and takers at the Grants Pass Performing Art Center, selling tickets on the Opportunity Quilt, raffled at the end of the event, and clean up of the spaces. Members dontating time included: Jeanie Martin, Carol Dickson, Karen Doyle, Candy Havercroft, Francie Michelon, Lisa Woodruff, Cindy Moir, Helen Garber, Connie Sloper and Beth Williams who serves a the 2007 and 2008 IVHSA Board Chair. Member sponsores included:Platinum Level - Cherryl Walker w/ Martin P. Hill M.D.Silver Level - Hart Insurance (Dudee Rembert), Logan Design (Lisa Woodruff)Community Partner sponsors:Platinum Level - Ogden Roemer Wilkerson Architecture, Lisa KellerGold Level (along with Zonta) - AAUW, Batzer Inc. Construction Services, Wild River Pizza, The Glass Rail OutfitSilver Level: Picket Fence Fabrics (with member Carol Dickson), Holiday Inn ExpressWe were thrilled that the winner of the beautiful Opportunity Quilt (see photo) created by member Carol Dickson was won by a Domestic Violence survivor Zontian from another District 8 Club. METHAMPHETAMINE SUMMITIn June of 2006 and January of 2008, the Zonta Club of Grants Pass Oregon sponsored community summit meetings to bring representatives of our community together to determine current asseets and efficiencies as well as gaps in services and resources. Over thrity parties with expertise in needs and services attended in 2006 and over fifty in 2008. As a result of the frank discussions, attendees formed a task force and initiated action to fill the gaps. By January of 2008, the Josephine county methamphetamine Task Force was meeting monthly, had designed and posted a web page filled with information and links to services. Several committes formed during the 2008 Summit to design and implemnet an intensive PR campaign, while another plans to encourage participation by area employers. Zonta is proud of the role it played in generating energy and focus for improvement in this critical area of community concern.

GENERAL NOTES/EVENT INFO

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