Celebrating International Women’s Day! March 8th
Yes there may be a test!
Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary around the world. But that wasn’t always the case. It wasn’t until 1989 that women could join Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation voted to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide which remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary. This was 84 years after Rotary started in 1905.
Today women in Rotary membership surpassed 277,000 (July 2020) and are about 23% of membership. In October 2020, Jennifer E. Jones became president-nominee, the first women to be nominated to be Rotary International President. Her term as president will begin 1 July 2022.
The Women who did not wait for Rotary to recognize them
1910 – At the first Rotary Convention in Chicago, some delegates make the first attempt at official sanction of “women’s auxiliaries.” It is rejected overwhelmingly.
1912 –Despite the rejection of women as members and the ratification of women only rotary clubs, the Minneapolis Women's Rotary was incorporated in 1912 as a stand-alone, women-only, rotary club that continues to this date.
May 24, 1921 – Mrs. Alwilda Harvey, wife of Chicago Club President, brings fifty-nine Rotary wives together at a luncheon. She becomes the founder and president of a new organization called Women of Rotary. Said Mrs. Harvey, “Women through the ages have always practiced “Service Above Self;” now we have the opportunity to put the slogan into practice in serving our community.”
July 1, 1987 –Sylvia Whitlock begins her term as the first official woman President of a Rotary Club.
July 1, 1995 – Eight women take office as District Governors.
COMING UP: On March 8 our club hosts speaker Melissa Isaacson who was a longtime sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune, where she was the first woman to be the principal beat writer on the Bulls and Bears, as well as the first woman general columnist.
Please read HERstory below. INVITE PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS to this important celebration day! This is a great meeting to invite women who might be interested in joining.
