Quota has been an important community organisation since its inception in 1919. The idea for an international women’s service organisation was born shortly after the conclusion of WWI.
Scores of women played an important role in the war effort and were unwilling to accept relegation to traditional domestic chores.
These women, buoyed by universal suffrage in 1920, sought to continue down the road of female employment and empowerment. Thus it was that Russian-born firebrand Wanda Frey Joiner (1882-1968) and other pioneering women founded Quota in Buffalo, New York.
Throughout her life she continued to build upon her business ventures while also devoting time to Quota International. In 1968 Joiner died at her home in California. In accordance with her will, a memorial fund was established in her name to help in the establishment of new Quota clubs and to strengthen existing clubs.
The international focus of the organisation, over time, proved too costly which is why Quota clubs operate as separate entities in their charitable work.
The Beenleigh Quota Club, formed in 1973, is led by its president Margaret George, and has a current membership of 35 ladies ranging in age from 35 to 80.
Monthly meetings are held in the Beenleigh Senior Citizens Centre. Regular social events occur throughout the year. Recruitment is low key ‘word-of-mouth.’ Their great work across diverse areas suffices as advertising for the organisation.
Examples of charitable work in Logan City undertaken by Quota is multifaceted. However, paramount among Quota’s engagement is an annual eisteddfod held in the Logan Entertainment Centre, Crete Street and Theatre Beenleigh.
EISTEDDFODS
The event stretches over 28 days to accommodate many thousands of entrants. Emerging local talent vie for recognition in a most competitive field featuring chamber music, piano, dance, speech and drama, to mention but a few.
Entrants come from local primary and high schools, dance studios and theatre groups, all judged by professional adjudicators engaged by Quota. These eisteddfods have been running since 1986, only temporarily postponed on account of Covid-19 in recent times.
JUNIOR QUOTA
Junior Quota, as the name suggests, is a junior division of the same organisation. It is active in several Logan high schools and appeals to Year 7-12 students who are mentored into the Quota model of successful business careers while anchored in community charity.
Junior Quota members can retain membership through tertiary studies. Many, as they embark on careers in business, public service and a myriad of professions later join the adult Quota clubs.
An example of Junior Quota’s novel fundraising was a recent event called “Spooky Fair” at the Beenleigh Historical Village to coincide with Halloween.
Heather Christensen, as lead mentor of the JQs, oversaw the family friendly, yet most spooky event where hundreds of visitors entered a slightly different village.
The successful event raised funds for charity.
QuoCKa PROGRAM
Quota’s support for education in general and local schools in particular is well documented. QuoCKa stands for Quota Cops and Kids Reading All Together.
The program involves many people from the local community, including Quotarians, police, local politicians, local sporting heroes and high school students who volunteer their time to read and sign the books for the school children.
For a class of Grade 2/3 children with 25 students in the class: Quota provides 50 books. The children will be given their own book, and the other 25 will go to their school library.
The book they are given has a sticker inside, and their name is written on the sticker, as the owner of the book. Quotarians organise “readers” to come along, and read one book at a time, to a group of about six children, and then they sign the book for the child.
What started over a century ago by a Russian-born visionary in the US has spread its message to women around the world whose aim is individual success without losing sight of community and its core essence – helping those in need.
Contact info@quotabeenleigh.org.au or message their Facebook page.
