To ensure that club members are a diverse group of executives and professionals, the Zonta International Bylaws require clubs to meet the following criteria with respect to membership.

1. Persons eligible for membership are executives and professionals in decision-making positions who are willing to support and to implement the Objectives of Zonta International;

2, In order to be invited to become a member, a candidate must be actively engaged - working at least 50 percent of a normal work w..ek - in a recognized business or profession in a decision - making capacity: and

3, Each club must have members actively engaged in at least one- fourth as many classifications as the club has members, but no club shall be required to have members actively engaged in more than 25 classifications.

Executives are persons in decision-making positions who formulate, determine or influence the administrative policies of a business, Professionals are persons engaged in a worthy and recognized profession,

A classified organization draws its members from a variety of businesses and professions in the community. Part of what gives Zonta its unique profile is that our members work in a wide variety of occupations, Through their clubs, Zontians have an opportUnity to meet with and know executives and professionals whose work is very different from their own.

A member's classification is based on occupation with the classification system consisting of the following categories: Managers and Administrators; Professionals; Associate Professionals; Trades persons and Related Workers; Advanced (Senior) Clerical and Service Workers; (Select) Intermediate Service Workers. The classification system is intended to be flexible while enabling Zontians all over the world to effectively provide services to those in need.

Members must be women (or men at the club's option) who are executives or professionals in decision making positions in a recognized business or profession and working at least fifty percent (50%) of a normal work week.

Each club must have members actively engaged in a variety of the occupational classifications as listed in the Marian deforest Membership and Classification Manual.  This ensures that the Club will have members with different backgrounds and skills. The minimum number of classifications shall equal ¼ of the total number of members in the Club.

Members must be willing to support and implement the objectives of Zonta International. Proposed member must attend at least two regular Zonta membership meetings. Proposed member must attend a Zonta Orientation as a prerequisite to Zonta Membership. Proposed member’s business must have been in operation on the Island or in Bluffton for at least six (6) months.

• Attend club and relevant committee meetings.
• Pay all dues, fees and assessments promptly.
• Be familiar with club bylaws and parliamentary procedure.
• Participate actively in meetings and deliberations and accept majority decisions. Accept leadership roles and give time, talent and enthusiasm to the organization.
• Identify and suggest prospective new members.
• Attend area/meetings/workshops, and District Conferences and, if possible International Convention.
• Support the programs of the Zonta International Foundation.
• Members must notify the Attendance Chair of intended absence no later than Monday before the regular Thursday business meeting.

• Member missing two consecutive meetings with an unexcused status will receive a letter from the Secretary explaining the rules and consequences of Zonta International with regard to attendance.
• Member with three consecutive excused or unexcused absences will receive a call from the Attendance Chair to consider taking a leave of absence.
• Acceptable reasons for an excused absence are illness (self of Family), death/funeral, out of town on business, birth of a baby up to sixty (60) days from the date of the baby’s birth, and others deemed acceptable to the Board.
• MEMBERS MUST CALL THE ATTENDANCE CHAIR TO BE EXCUSED