Thursday March 8th 2018 is “International Women’s Day”, a day to recognize and celebrate womens’ contributions - including to Rotary.
Women and Rotary, why bring it up? It’s always been this way, hasn’t it? The answer is no. Women have been included as members of Rotary since 1987. Go back in time to 1983 or 84 and there might have been women walking into the House of Friendship, but you would know she wasn’t a Rotarian. She might be a Rotary Ann or a spouse of a Rotarian. In fact it took a Supreme Court ruling in the US to affirm the right of Rotary clubs to allow women to even become members. Today, approximately 27% of Rotarians are women. Past District Governor Mimi Altman District 6440, who served from 1995-1996 in the very district her father had served as District Governor 80 years prior, said “Women have proven their capabilities as Rotarians, as club presidents and district governors. Their leadership qualities have been demonstrated at the club and district levels, the future will see them rise to the greatest heights of Rotary”.