In the news: Zonta Club of Ludington Area marks 70 years with renewed focus on service

The Zonta Club of Ludington Area is marking its 70th anniversary this year, with a series of events and ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting women and girls locally and beyond.

The milestone was recognized in an April 2026 letter from Salla Tuominen, president of Zonta International, who praised the Ludington club’s decades of impact.

“Congratulations to you and the members of the Zonta Club of Ludington Area on your 70th anniversary,” Tuominen wrote, noting the club’s contributions within its community and across the organization’s global network.

Chartered April 2, 1956, the Ludington-area club is part of a worldwide network of more than 1,100 Zonta clubs dedicated to advancing gender equity through service, education and advocacy.

Today, the club has 11 members and is actively seeking additional participants, according to club president Patty Johnson.

“Both women and men are encouraged to join if they would like to help improve the lives of women and girls locally and globally,” Johnson said in an email.

Current officers for the 2025-26 year include Johnson as president; Sue Ann Hanson as vice president; Michele Krauchenko as treasurer; Julee Sarto as secretary; and directors Jayne Budzynski, Kathy Brown and Kate Sanford. Elections for several positions are scheduled this month.

As part of its anniversary year, the club is planning a range of activities and community outreach efforts.

Upcoming initiatives include sponsoring the Girls Rock program on April 18, participating in Love Ludington on June 5, entering a float in the Fourth of July parade and hosting the District 15 Governor’s Summit in October. The club is also working to send two students to the Inland Seas lake sciences program and plans to expand its distribution of drug-detection drink coasters.

The coaster initiative, as previously reported by the Ludington Daily News, is aimed at preventing drug-facilitated sexual assault and raising awareness about drink tampering at local events.

“These coasters are a simple but powerful tool,” Johnson said in that report. “They can help someone recognize a dangerous situation before it becomes a traumatic one.”

The coasters are designed to detect substances commonly associated with drug-facilitated assaults and have been distributed at events including West Shore Community College’s Denim Day and the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

In addition to safety initiatives, the club supports scholarships and community programs. According to its website, those efforts include assisting local organizations and funding opportunities that benefit women, students and families.

In her anniversary letter, Tuominen emphasized that Zonta’s mission remains critical as global challenges persist, including gender-based violence and threats to women’s rights.

“Zonta International is needed now more than ever,” she wrote.

As the Ludington club marks seven decades of service, Tuominen encouraged members to continue building on that legacy.

“Each member is the heart, soul and hands of our organization,” she wrote.

Those interested in joining the club can contact members through its Facebook page or by email at [email protected], according to Johnson.

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