|
Women in Rotary..
April, 2009
Since March is Women's History month and this is the 20th anniversary of the change in Rotary's Constitution to admit women, the Rotarians Respond column asked about women's accomplishments. This led some members to ask about the history of women in Rotary and the number of women currently in Rotary.
Actually, the history is a long one. As early as 1910, at the RI Convention in Chicago some delegates attempted to have official sanction for Women's Auxiliaries which was rejected overwhelmingly. Despite attempts over the years, women were not admitted to Rotary.
In 1978, The Duarte Club of California had its charter revoked for inducting three women into their club. The club filed suit that year, but it was not until 1983, that it came to trial. Judge Max Dietz supported RI. The club immediately appealed
In 1986, the California State Appeals Court reversed Judge Dietz's decision. Rotary International appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Seattle-International District admitted fifteen women. In 1987, the Supreme Court upheld the California Appeals Court decision.
The latest available figures about women in Rotary are from June 2008. Out of 1,231, 483 Rotarians, 187,976 or 15.26% are women. Out of 33,270 clubs, 26,085 or 78.40% have women.
Rotary International has not yet had a woman president or a woman member of the Board of Directors which is a requisite for becoming president. Only 11.84% or 63 of the 532 District Governors are women, so there is still work to be done.
"Rotary's strength will always be the individual Rotarian. No other organization has such powerful human resources."
By: Sally Sugarman - Bennington Rotary Club Member
Source: President's Message, The Rotarian, July 1998
|
 |
