PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your interest in Quota International of Indiana, PA., Incorporated.

Quota International Inc. is a 92-year-old international service organization that links members of all ages, occupations and nationalities in a worldwide network of service and friendship.  With a motto of "we share," Quotarians are known especially for their service to deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech impaired individuals, as well as disadvantaged women and children. (Our international website is www.quota.org). Quota of Indiana is 56 years old.

Quota International of Indiana, PA., Inc., with 45 active members, meets monthly at the Elks for a dinner meeting (generally on fourth Wednesday of the month). Committees also meet throughout the year. We have a wide range of members of all ages - from 25 to 75- in a variety of occupations and professions, and membership is open to anyone who sincerely enjoys making an impact in our community and building lasting friendships.

Quota of Indiana is known for its annual “St. Patty’s Day Open,” an indoor miniature golf event, which has raised almost $58,000 during the past six years for community programs and projects, including Downtown Indiana’s Revitalization project.
Since 2003, Quota of Indiana and The Coney Island have partnered annually to raise funds for the Alice Paul House, a shelter for battered women and their children.  This special benefit reception has raised more than $35,000 for The Alice Paul House over the years.

In 2009, the Quota club of Indiana became a major sponsor of the Back to School Bash which supplies disadvantaged children with school supplies, donated clothing and new haircuts before the start of the school year. In addition to being a financial sponsor, Quota members volunteer their time to assist with any and all needed tasks on the day of the bash. Quota has continued to donate to and support this event on an annual basis.  Support was also given for the local ATHENA student clubs, the Salvation Army’s Treasures for Children, the local YMCA and the Pathways Homeless Shelter.   In 2010, a donation of 8 amplification devices was given to the Indiana Regional Medical Center to improve communication between caregivers and hearing impaired patients.  Our club is recognized annually as an outstanding donor to Quota International’s We Share Club to Club charitable foundation.

To celebrate our local club’s charter members, the late Mrs. Fran Supinka and the late Mrs. Rose Reschini, and our 50th anniversary in August 2005, Quota of Indiana established a new scholarship program, the “Gold Scholarship,” for a disadvantaged woman wishing to continue her education. This scholarship is granted on an annual basis by the club.
Other projects have included:

  • Providing financial support for Indiana County’s Deaf Awareness Day;
  • Offering a sign language interpreter for community events like the Leader’s Circle program;
  • Providing funding for an sign language interpreter for services at Grace United Methodist Church;
  • Purchasing and distributing 350 better speech and hearing books for senior citizen centers and physician offices;
  • Continuing our well-developed mentoring program which serves young men and women from Big Hearts, Little Hands (formerly Big Brothers, Big Sisters), the Indiana Guidance Center, and Community Living and Learning. Since 2001, Quotarians have hosted almost 15 mentoring projects with youth in the community over the past seven years, including tours of area businesses to introduce job and career opportunities; a career exploration evening with presentations from business leaders in the community; several dinners and social events; a business etiquette dinner and attendance at an IUP theater presentation; four business exploration events hosted by businesses in the Indiana community; and outings at the Talus Rock Girl Scout camp;
  • Providing donations of needed items to the Alice Paul House, a shelter for battered women and their children, including a $500 donation for renovations at the shelter and specialized children’s books about issues related to problems children of domestic abuse face. In 2005, Quota donated $800 to help outfit the playground with a special shock absorbing surface, on top of more than $35,000  raised during the eight annual events held Upstairs@theConey;
  • Donating more than 350 children’s books collected at our 2002 International Convention, which we co-hosted, to the Indiana Regional Medical Center pediatric floor, Salvation Army Ark of Learning program and Indiana Headstart;
  • Presenting our three-part “Success Series” seminars for members of the community, done in conjunction with the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, in 1999-2000;
  • Producing the Twentieth Century Edition: Indiana County Women of Distinction hardcover book to spotlight women who have made significant contributions to Indiana County.

We also participate in many established community charities and programs, including Treasures for Children (Christmas gifts for needy families), the Salvation Army kettle drive and spend an evening as “gatekeepers” for the Blue Spruce Festival of Lights.

A more recent project was a district-wide program (Quota has seven clubs in western Pennsylvania that comprise our district) to meet a need for children in the area public school systems. Although clothing donations is normally not a problem for schools, obtaining underwear to provide to those children in need is often difficult. Quota clubs in District III collected underwear for this need under the title “Gutchies for Kids”. More than 1,000 pairs of underwear were donated through the efforts of the Indiana club alone.           

In addition to the community impact projects performed by the club, Quota International of Indiana has also been honored with several awards at the International level.  One such award is the 5K award, for any club that raised more than $5,000 from a single fundraising effort. Quota of Indiana has also received the distinction of being recognized for a Shining Star Award for membership and growth and participating in the award winning Club-to-Club world service projects by which Quota International raised approximately $131K for 16 different world service projects.

Quota International of Indiana also provides professional development opportunities to members as well as community members. In September 2011 Quota is planning a professional development seminar with Kelly McDonald, New York Times bestselling author. Kelly will be speaking on connecting with people not like you. Attendees will not only receive a copy of Kelly’s book with admission but will also have the opportunity to be an event sponsor and receive a limited seat at a private luncheon to follow the event. Quotarians are very excited to bring this wonderful opportunity to our community.

Quota of Indiana, to me, is a very special group of women – we sincerely enjoy each others’ company, support one another, and have a great deal of fun!  There has never been a better time to be a Quotarian. If would like to discuss anything regarding Quota of Indiana, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 724-349-9533.

Sincerely,
Brenda DiCicco, President
Quota International of Indiana, PA, Inc.