
2023 Zonta Rose Day Nominations
Grant Recipient Nominations
These nominees are individuals the 2022 Grant Recipient agencies have nominated who have gone the extra mile to be of service to their agencies:
Room at the Inn:
The agency nominated the following three women, who they say are the critical forces that “keep the place going”
Nohe Kahalewai
Cydney Dumancas
Tatiana Leon
Old Mill Center:
Old Mill Director Betinna Schempf nominated the following two volunteers:
Jessica Nebeker,
“Jessica is a High School student who has volunteered with us since November 2021. She comes in weekly and has also done additional hours during our auction preparation in 2022.
Her supervisor says:
‘Jessica goes above and beyond to assist our Development Team and always with a can-do attitude. She assists our team with administrative tasks, organization, obituary searches to ensure we are up to date with our donor records, and numerous other tasks. As a Senior in High School, she embodies community over self and is always willing to lend a hand with a smile on her face.’
Jessica has also helped with childcare during parenting classes in a paid capacity.”
Cindy Cole,
“Cindy has volunteered in many capacities since she retired from her role as Program Manager of the Healthy Families program in August 2019.
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Cindy is a volunteer member of the Healthy Families Advisory board that provides community input for program development and accountability.
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Cindy also maintains our resource closet for families. She is on site every Friday to sort through donated clothing and other items, prepares them for display, sorts out items that get donated to the Altrusa Womens’ Wardrobe, Vina Moses or other places instead and maintains a ‘free table’ in our lobby with other surplus items.
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For the last three years Cindy has also managed our ‘Season of Giving’ Holiday giving project that serves 300-400 children each year with giftcards, clothing, toys and books. The project starts in September when staff make referrals, includes purchasing of items and the collation of packages for each child/family with the help of other volunteers and staff in November before the packages got delivered to families or picked up. Cindy would also write a summary report for the project and manage feedback for the next year.
Cindy’s volunteer support is much valued, and we love her presence on site.”
Vina Moses
Vina Moses Director Ilene McClleland has requested that her entire volunteer team be recognized:
“Our volunteer team is amazing - we have 30+ volunteers who are vital to our everyday operations - and I can't single out just 2-3 people who go the extra mile. I even talked it over with our Volunteer Coordinator, Dazie, and she can't narrow it down, either. Would Zonta be willing to send one rose to Vina Moses Center's entire volunteer team on March 8?”
We will be recognizing this team with a bouquet delivered to the Vina Moses Center.
Grace Center
Volunteer Coordinator Briana Hendricks nominated the following two individuals, who she says “go above and beyond at Grace Center and both excel at providing one-on-one companionship to our participants.”
Vicki Wilderman
Margo Lyons
Benton County Girl Scouts
Cynthia Leonard, Service Unit Communications
Sally Robertson, Service Team Member; Girl Experience Manager and Council Trainer
Trish Hendrickson, Service Unit Product Manager
Bobbi Conard, Benton County Day Camp Director
ABC House
Stacy Mellem – Supporter/Volunteer
Stephanie Martinenko-Ray – past ABC House Board President
CARDV
Briana Lark, DEI Coordinator, who is “revamping all of CARDV procedures and employee handbook information to make sure we are inclusive.”
Scholarship Recipient Nominations
These nominees are individuals who have been particularly helpful and instrumental in distributing information to students about the Zonta Scholarships and encouraging students to apply:
Linnea Everts
LBCC Development Officer
Skye Wheeler
LBCC
Outside Scholarships/Accounting Services
Denise Fox
Outside Scholarships/Office of Business Affairs
Oregon State University
Willie Effering
Military and Veterans Resources Advisor
Oregon State University
Nicole Hindes
Director, Basic Needs Center
Veronic Royce
Assistant Director of Advancement, Donor Relations
OSU College of Business
Staci Simonich
Dean, College of Agriculture
Oregon State University
Zonta Rose Day
The first Rose Day of the Zonta Club of Corvallis was on International Women's Day, March 8, 1999, as a way of honoring members in our community who make a difference. Each year, the Corvallis Zonta Club recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution in the efforts to empower women or to provide leadership in addressing community social issues. Those selected are given a rose in celebration of their work.
The Service Committee organizes our Rose Day event. It selects a theme each year, accepts nominations from club members for the yellow roses, orders them, prepares them for delivery, and coordinates the deliveries. Each rose and bouquet includes a card thanking the individual or organization for its achievements : “On this International Women’s Day, the Zonta Club of Corvallis thanks you for …” Members volunteer to hand deliver the roses throughout Benton and Linn Counties.
For Rose Day 2023 the Zonta Club of Corvallis is recognizing Advocates and Leaders in Building a Better World for Women and Girls through Education and Service.

Members of the Zonta Club of Corvallis prepare yellow roses for Rose Day
PAST ROSE DAY HIGHLIGHTS
Previous Zonta Club of Corvallis Rose Day themes listed by year:
2021: Recognizing Individuals and Organizations that Provide Assistance for those Experiencing Hunger and Food Insecurity
2020: Recognizing Advocates and Leaders in Mental Health for Women and Children.
2019: Ending Homelessness: Recognizing Those Individuals and Organizations That Work Toward Reducing and Ultimately Ending Homelessness
2018: Those who address challenges and create opportunities in achieving gender equality and the improvement of women and girls.
2017: Empower and Celebrate Racial and Cultural Diversity
2016: Interaction Therapies Through Music, Art, and Animal-Assisted Recoveries and Care
2015: Youth Mental Health Services
2014: Elder Abuse
2013: Homelessness
2012: Hunger
2011: Human Trafficking
2010: Women’s Health Care
2009: Helping Women Who Are Returning to School
2008: Promoting Women’s Leadership
2007: Volunteers who Work to Improve Housing for Area Residents
2006: Volunteers Against Substance Abuse
2005: Volunteers Working to Reduce Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
2004: Hunger in Benton County
2003: Those Who Volunteer With People with Special Needs and Developmental Disabilities
2002: Volunteers for International Activities in Our Community and Around the World
2001: Recognizing the Difference You Make in the Lives of the Children You Touch
