Mayor Tom Stiehm proclaimed Sunday, Dec. 26, Zonta International Day Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.

December 26 marks the local Zonta Club’s 60th birthday, and members are hoping the mayor’s proclamation will alert people of their existence.

“We’ve been here for 60 years and not many people know about us,” said Zonta Club member Debi Irish. “It’s another way for us to get into the public.”

Zonta’s mission is to “advance the status of women worldwide by improving the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women at the global and local levels through service and advocacy,” according to the Zonta International website.

The local club has 20 members — all women, although men are welcome — and they are always looking for new members.

“We like to understand what’s going on in other countries, as far as how women and children are being treated,” Irish said.

Cheryl Retterath, TITLE of Zonta Club, said the club previously dedicated a peace statue to Austin at Mill Pond, and sometime in the spring the statue will be moved to the Mower County Justice Center area.

Other future endeavors for the club include finishing its annual nut sales and helping the Red Cross with its February blood drive.