Zonta Names Zontian of the Year – New officers were installed at annual dinner

Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley installed Jorja Harris as its new president for 2016-17, honored outgoing President Karen Maleck-Whiteley and named longtime club member Sue Hayward as Zontian of the Year at the group’s annual installation dinner Wednesday evening at the Tournament Players Club in Valencia.
Hayward has served the club as Membership Committee chair for the past year and has brought in a record number of new members.
“She welcomes new prospective members with such warmth that she’s irresistible,” says one of many who nominated her.  “Even us old members are recharged by her energy and willingness to put herself out there.”
Harris was installed as Zonta president by the Zonta International director and Zonta International Foundation director, a member of the local club as well as an international dignitary.  Other officers and board members installed Wednesday evening include Judy Penman, president-elect; Cheryl Wasserman, first vice president/programs; Sue Hayward, second vice president/membership; Debra Blakely, treasurer; and Phyllis Walker, secretary.  Incoming directors include Patrice Rifkind, Ronnie Erickson, Barbara Meyer and Susan Gibson-Berson. Newly installed Nominating Committee members are Karla Edwards and Nancy Tucker.
The evening also served as installation for SCV Zonta Foundation trustees, who include Cheryl Wasserman, Barbara Meyer, Adele Macpherson, Terry Kanowsky, Christine Sexton, Susan Hayward, Suzie Alziebler, Jorja Harris and Judy Penman.
Outgoing President Karen Maleck-Whiteley was saluted for the club’s outstanding accomplishments under her leadership in the 2014-16 biennium.  She noted that the SCV club is one of only two Zonta clubs in the world that has donated $50,000 or more to Zonta International during the current biennium.  Maleck-Whiteley was the club’s first president elected for a biennial term, and the local club will revert to one-year terms for officers in the 2016-17 club year.