Who We Are
District 15, which is comprised of 34 clubs located in Michigan, USA and Ontario, Canada, is a charter district, part of all of the history of Zonta. We are one of the original three districts, and were the first interstate and international district.
Our mission is best seen through the service and advocacy efforts of our clubs and members impacting the lives of women and girls in communities across the globe. Zonta International is a global community of more than 28,000 women and men in nearly 1,200 Zonta clubs in 61 countries.
District 15 Board
Area Directors
2022-2024 Biennium Appointees & Committee Chairs/Coordinators
Foundation Ambasador
Cheryl Hall
East Lansing Area
d15zifoundation@zonta15.org
Membership
Gail Johnson
Pontiac-N. Oakland
d15membership@zonta15.org
Jackie McCarroll, Pontiac North Oakland
DeAnna Cambridge, Michigan Capitol Area
d15leadership@zonta15.org
District Historian
Karen Armaly
Detroit I
d15historian@zonta15.org
Bylaws & Resolutions
Marilyn Valeri Colton
Pontiac North Oakland
d15bylaws@zonta15.org
Public Relations
Kathy Bardins
Petoskey Area
d15prchair@zonta15.org
United Nations
Katie Burgess, Detroit 1
DeAndra Larkin, Flint
d15un@zonta15.org
Nominating Committee
DeAnna Cambridge
Michigan Capitol Area
d15nominatingchair@zonta15.org
Advocacy & Legislative Awareness
Denise Sylvester
Roscommon
Hilary Henley
Chatham-Kent
d15laa@zonta15.org
Finance Committee
Jennifer Yontz
Big Rapids
d15finance@zonta15.org
Webmaster
Cindy Vickery
Midland
webmaster@zonta15.org
Young Women in Public Affairs Coordinator
Anna Sylvester
Roscommon
d15ywpa@zonta15.org
Amelia Earhart Coord.
Anja Fitzgerald
Big Rapids Area
d15ameliacoord@zonta15.org
Jane M. Klausman Coord.
Jennny Pelisek, Chatam-Kent
d15jmkcoord@zonta15.org
Women in Stem Scholarship Coordinator
Patty Johnson, Ludington
d15wtsc@zonta15.org
HISTORY OF DISTRICT 15
District 15 is a charter district, part of the history of all Zonta. We are one of the original three, and the only interstate district at the outset. Our initial club was Detroit, whose delegates help to write the by-laws of Zonta. Our district was named the Western District in the first phase, and included the charter clubs of Buffalo and Rochester, NY, Erie, PA and Detroit, Michigan, as well as Lockport, NY. In 1922, Seattle, WA was added and by 1923, the district had 18 clubs, including new clubs in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Toledo and Cleveland, thus becoming the largest district.
In 1926, we became District D with 26 clubs in Michigan, Ohio, Kansas City, Missouri and Indianapolis, IN. Lower Canada was added to our district. In 1929 we became District II with two regions – A. with clubs in Michigan and Ohio and B. with clubs in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. In 1930, Windsor, Ontario was added to Region A and Zonta became international. WE remained the first district to reach beyond the North American continent, with the addition of Sydney, Australia.
In 1947, we became District V at the 26th annual conference held in Mackinac Island. With the redistricting approved, District V was to include Michigan, Ohio, Canada to the north and that part of Kentucky to the south. District V included 18 clubs, 13 of which were from Michigan/Ontario.
With continued growth and redistricting, District V became District 15 in 1962.
District 15 continued to grow to its current size of 35 clubs. Our members have held leadership positions on the International Board and Committees, and we look forward to the next century of service.