Tag: Zonta Says Now USA

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Visiting Vancouver

Posted on by Econogal

Escaping the Heat

The heat dome is in place over the High Plains so a five-day trip visiting Vancouver revived my spirit. The occasion, attending the Zonta International biennial convention. The organization with the tagline of “Building a Better World for Women and Girls” boasts clubs in sixty-five countries across the globe.

While much of the time was spent in the convention space at the beautiful Hyatt Regency, time permitted side trips to North Vancouver, the aquarium and several outstanding restaurants in the area.

Visiting Vancouver Previously

My only other sojourn to this gem in Western Canada took place in January of 2011. I found the winter comparable to where I live. The trip centered on CONCACAF matches. I found the food fantastic, if a bit expensive comparatively. And the city leaned toward a younger demographic.

Summer Comparison

But the summer temperature is a welcome and drastic change. Instead of triple digit temperatures, Vancouver was temperate. High temperatures were in the low to mid 70s, cooling off to a low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Only one night threatened rain, and to be honest I would have welcomed the moisture. July is the driest month in Vancouver.

The cool temperature was perfect for the Zonta Says Now walk advocating for gender-equal climate action. The walk was along the harbor and the morning glorious. Hundreds of Zontians drew the attention of residents, soccer fans and other visitors as we wore teal shirts on the 3km trek.

Gathering for the Zonta Says Now walk.

Outstanding Restaurants

The Pacific Coast is synonymous with great seafood. Halibut and salmon were highlights. The best deal of the stay occurred at Riley’s Fish and Steak just a few blocks from my hotel. The first meal was halibut fish and chips for Canadian $32.00 a bargain compared to halibut dishes on the Front Range.

The restaurant offers weekday lunch specials and a Sunday Brunch menu. The food and service are outstanding. I enjoyed two meals there and would probably be a regular if a resident and not just visiting Vancouver.

Other places nearby include De Dutch on Burrards Landing, known for the pancakes. Cactus Club Café sports two locations nearby and draws large lunch crowds. For terrific views try the Top of Vancouver. The restaurant was closed to the public the night the conventioneers took over. Online ratings do not do the place justice. The buffet offered to our group was excellent. From huge shrimp to succulent salmon and for the non=seafood eaters, beef and chicken. A wide range of desserts were also provided. This restaurant was great except for the glass elevator to the top-my fear of heights had me closing my eyes both up and down.

View of Church from Top of Vancouver.
City skyline from Top of Vancouver.

Vancouver Aquarium

Visiting Vancouver included a trip to the aquarium. The Stanley Park location requires transportation from the Hyatt Regency. One could easily spend the better part of a day exploring the exhibits. In addition to the indoor glass cases housing everything from jellyfish to sharks, outdoor habitats showcase the larger sea creatures. The sea lions were my favorites. I would love to take my grandkids back.

If you are looking for a cool spot to visit summer or winter, consider Vancouver.

Zonta International: Near and Dear to My Heart

Posted on by Econogal

What is Zonta International?

I believe many visitors stopping by this blog today and through the weekend are affiliated with Zonta International. Welcome! For regular readers, Zonta International is a world- wide organization of professionals with the common goal of promoting gender equality by empowering women and children in an effort to end violence against women, achieve pay equity and provide equal opportunity for education. These are just a few of our goals. For a greater grasp of the many important service projects please visit the website at www.Zonta.org.

Who are Zontians?

Zontians are very giving, monetarily and with the all-important aspect of our lives, time. Service projects have varied over the decades I have been a member. As an educator my favorites have been associated with literacy. A current project, Let Us Learn Madagascar, served as a tie-in to a local project. Our club worked with the local middle school girls for the first years of the International Project engaging the young teenagers in what occurred half a world away.

Those same girls formed the basis for a brand-new Z club once they reached high school. Club membership at the high school level mirrors that of Zonta International, open to males as well as females. The initial club leader was a young man who spoke at an Area 4 meeting and was so impressive in his support for gender equality one member of the audience posited he might become the first male Zonta International president.

Econogal Posts of Interest to Zontians

This blog is eclectic in nature. Originally started in 2017 as a way to keep creating new pathways in my brain, Econogal is a big part of my life. The content is free from advertisements. And while I welcome the emails and comments, I write of my interests. So, no free books accepted, and I only write what I want, not what is strongly suggested with promise of compensation.

Many of the books reviewed are related to goals of Zonta International. (If you click on the highlighted words that follow you can jump to that particular post.)

Book Reviews Pertinent to Zonta International

The Displacements, which will be briefly discussed during my upcoming Zonta Says NOW USA Think Tank presentation, follows a mom and her children as they flee a natural disaster and land in a FEMA camp far from home. (The emphasis for the February 25th program is one of preparedness for women.)

The Good Daughter focuses on the life-long changes of two sisters after a sexual assault. This novel is highly graphic and may be too intense for victims or family members of victims. However, it is the perfect gift for anyone who asks “What were you wearing?”

Where the Crawdads Sing is more than a murder mystery. It is a story of the struggles of a young girl who becomes a woman with very little guidance. I have not seen the movie so I cannot compare.

The Only Woman in the Room is a biography of Hedy Lamarr. This well known actress had many other talents I was unaware of. There is also a nod to Rose Day in the Post.

Other Entries of Note

Another post featuring Rose Day is World with Women, this will give you a glimpse of the local club. Finally of interest to long time Zonta District 12 members as well as any Past International Governors is a tribute to a Zontian I dearly miss in Century of Life.

To all those following the link provided by Zonta Fast ACTION Friday and Zonta Says Now, thanks for stopping by the Econogal blog. For my regular readers and any new followers, stay tuned for the post on Bargello quilts arriving early next week.