Advocating for a cause, whether expressing an opinion or endorsing proposed legislation, requires the ability to act or respond in a timely manner. Zonta is sometimes hampered by the necessity of gaining approval for action, either at the club or district level, when clubs meet monthly and district boards even less frequently. Yet there are some issues that are so fundamental to our beliefs as Zontians that there is no debate about our intention to support these efforts.

The resolution approved at District Conference in September, 2011 identifies three broad categories to which we will direct our attention:

* Pay equity (equal pay for equal work)
Current legislative action: Paycheck Fairness Act

* Gender-based violence (human trafficking, domestic violence, child marriage, rape, etc.)
Current legislative action: Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act

* Equal rights under the law (women's rights as human rights)
Current legislative action: CEDAW, ERA

The District LAA (Advocacy) Committee will produce "issue templates" for each of these priority issues and post them to the District 12 website (www.zontadistrict12.org/advocacy/). These are pre-approved letters, which can be used by District 12 clubs and/or individual Zontians wishing to advocate on behalf of any of these issues.

Appropriate uses for the templates will include communications to:

• - state or national legislators in support of or opposition to a pending bill,
• - state or national legislators to encourage drafting legislation on a particular topic,
• - media outlets as "letters to the editor" or in response to news articles, and
• - express concern, offer information, or support/oppose other public action.

In no way will this resolution preclude District 12 Zonta clubs or individual Zontians from selecting different or additional issues for their advocacy efforts. The intent is simply to make it possible to respond without delay when advocacy is appropriate concerning any of the above concerns.

List of Advocacy Project Ideas
Advocacy Award Criteria