Its been just over 40 years ago, the Rotary Club of Duarte, Calif., admitted three women members, in violation of the Rotary International constitution. As a result, the club's charter was terminated by Rotary International.
Undeterred, the club's members continued to meet. They put a X over their Rotary insignia, made themselves new pins, and dubbed themselves the Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte as they continued to fight for the right of women to serve as Rotarians. Ten years later, a restored Rotary Club of Duarte sent Sylvia Whitlock, Rotary's first female club president, to a president's elect training seminar. Not long after that, in 1989, Rotary's Council on Legislation permanently ended Rotary's status as a mens-only organization.
When I joined Rotary in Trenton, Michigan in 1992, there were no women in our club. Within the next two years, a woman was nominated for membership. Upon her nomination, over 1/3 of the club threatened to withdraw from the club. The club's board of directors met and unanimously decided to admit the woman regardless of the threats from the membership. The woman was inducted and the club lost only 5-6 members over the next two months. From that day forward, the club has never looked back. It became stronger and became a better reflection of the community which it represented. Today, there are more than 240,000 women in more than 35,000 clubs internationally.
It is unimaginable now to not have women in Rotary clubs. They are as passionate and dedicated as any member of the club. They bring additional friendships and connections that wouldn't be possible in an all male organization. So, let's take our hats off to all the lady Rotarians who serve Rotary and our communities. It is my honor to be in Rotary with them.