Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau to honor members, hold fundraiser

The Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau's annual Women of Achievement Luncheon Friday will honor several of its members and raise money for local and international service projects, as well as local scholarships.

One third of the proceeds from the event, which will be held at Plaza by Ray's, 3257 William St., will go to Zonta International with two-thirds staying locally to help women in need in the Cape Girardeau area, according the group's website, www.capezonta.org.

Zonta International is dedicated to advancing the status of women locally and worldwide. According to the Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau's website, since being chartered in May 1976, the organization has raised more than $270,000 for community and international projects and has invested over 40,000 hours of service to help women in Southeast Missouri.

Several members will be honored and recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to the community during the luncheon.

Betty Hearnes, wife of former Missouri governor Warren Hearnes, will receive the 2011 Celebration Award, which the group's website says recognizes women whose achievements have helped them serve as a role models for other women and is typically given to a woman who has given something back to the community.

Hearnes served in the Missouri House of Representatives for the 160th District from 1979 to 1988. During that time, she served as vice chairwoman of the Agribusiness Committee and as chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Correctional Institutions and Problems. Hearnes was involved in sponsoring bills relating to testing for genetic diseases, the Child Restraint Law and research of Alzheimer's disease. She also raised three daughters and worked alongside her husband.

"You can do anything you want to do," Hearnes said. "If it is something you are passionate about, you will make the time to do it."

Hearnes serves as vice chairwoman of the Southeast Missouri Autism Center and is on the Bootheel Counseling Center board.

"I want my community to be better. I want my state to be better," she said. "I am going to stay at it."

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Marcia Southard-Ritter. Ritter has worked as a nurse, hospital administrator and community volunteer. She has served on the Cape Girardeau City Council, is active in her church and is a former board member for the Family Resource Center. Ritter also has served as a missionary in the West Indies, Mozambique, Mexico, Liberia and Honduras.

"Things happen because good people get involved," Ritter said. "There is such a need."

Ritter was originally involved with Zonta in the 1980s but left the organization due to family and career obligations. After returning home from a 2 1/2-year mission trip to Africa in 2000, Ritter immediately sought out the club, she said.

"Africa made me a humble person," she said. "It made me realize how blessed we are. I had to continue to give back."

The recipient of the 2011 Zonta Women of Achievement Award will be announced at the luncheon. Nominees are Reno Anderson, Mary Burton-Hitt, Ellen Dillon, Sara Edgerton, Barbara Kohlfeld, Deborah Oliver and Rhonda Weller-Stilson.

Pertinent address:

3257 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.