DG Nicole Brien
Kathryn and Rose attended the first Women in Rotary event of District 7950 yesterday, 8 March, at the Squantum Club in Riverside, RI.
Some key historical facts and milestones:
In 1987 the US Supreme Court ruled that Rotary Clubs could not exclude women based on gender, specifically regarding the Rotary Club of Duarte, CA, which had admitted women beginning in 1977. They registered the women using only the first initial of first name. When this was discovered, the Club's charter was revoked.
In 1987 Dr. Sylvia Whitlock became the first female Rotary Club President of Rotary Club of Duarte.
In 1989 the Council on Legislation voted to eliminate the "men only" clause from the Rotary Constitution.
In 1989 First women to become members of Westerly Rotary were Mary Krupinski and Joan McCormick.
In 1995 Mimi Altman became the first female District Governor.
In 2004 Rona Mann became the first female President of the Rotary Club of Westerly.
In 2019 Brenda Marie Cressey became the first female Rotary Foundation Chair.
In 2022 Jennifer Jones became the first female Rotary International President.
Between 1989 and 2020 female membership grew from 20,000 to exceeding 277,000 globally - and those numbers continue to grow.
103 of 539 District Governors are Women.
