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Quota International, one of the world’s oldest international service organizations, celebrates its 90th anniversary in February, 2009. Quota International was founded by Wanda Frey Joiner in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1919, and became the first international service organization for women. Joiner, inspired by the camaraderie and personal growth she noted among members of her local Kiwanis Club, created a similar service group open to businesswomen like herself. Quota International includes men and women in its network of nearly 6,500 members in 300 clubs in 14 countries.
Quota of Winchester celebrates our 66th anniversary this year. Winchester/Frederick business women formed the club in the winter of 1943 to serve the local community. During WW II, they sold over $15,000 War Bonds in one night. While hearing impaired services has always been a priority, the club volunteered and supported “The March of Dimes” the Red Cross, Salvation Army to name just a few.. In the fifties and sixties, they supported the renovation of the Winchester Memorial Hospital, Salvation Army, Fremont Nursery, and sponsored the first “Antique Show” in the area. Since the year 2000, Quota has contributed to the Shenandoah Theater infrared hearing assistance device; Adult Day Care, Shelter for Abused Women, Faith in Action, C-CAP, Home Health, and the Salvation Army. Several new service and growth initiatives are planned for the anniversary year.
The service mission of Quota International focuses on deaf and hard-of-hearing persons and disadvantage women and children. Many clubs, including the Winchester Club, provide scholarships for deaf person or students planning a career related to speech and hearing. Quota’s award winning Club-to-Club World Service program channels aid directly to service efforts run by Quota clubs in developing nations, including the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Suriname, and Fiji. Quota’s Sound Beginnings project in partnership with Siemans Hearing Instruments, Inc., provides hearing aids to children from low-income families, while the Shatter Silence campaign, established by Quota, raised awareness about deafness. Since the year 2000, the local club has donated over $20,000 to local charities with their Annual Kitchen Kapers Tours; and presented over $10,000 in college scholarships to area hearing impaired students and/or students whose majors are hearing and speech. In the Valley, you will find additional Quota Clubs in Woodstock and Harrisonburg. The current District Governor is Kristi Zirkle from Woodstock. Winchester can boost of three Governors in the past twenty years. Our motto is “We Share”, yet we firmly believe in this quotation from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Area Quotarians are proud of the service we give to the community. For more information on the work of Quota International visit, http://www.quota.org/. Call 540 662 7147 or go to www.quotaofwinchester.org. for more information on our local club. |