Women in Rotary

Posted by William Duke 
on Sep 19, 2011
 

While the 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary, the story began long before that.

Here is a ten-minute video from Rotary Video Magazine on the topic of Women in Rotary.  My!  how times change!

 
Do you know when the first sanction of "Women's auxillaries" was proposed in Rotary?
  • At the very first Rotary Convention in 1910.
You might know that prior to women being allowed into Rotary, spouses were often referred to as "RotaryAnn."  But do you know where that term "RotaryAnn" came from?
  • In June of 1912 1,288 Rotarians make the long journey to Houston, TX, USA.  Rotarian Henry Brunier of San Francisco and his wife "Ann" boarded a special train for the convention. Since Ann was the only woman on the train for most of the trip, the other Rotarians began calling her "Rotary Ann". In Houston the Bruniers met Guy and Ann Gundaker of Philadelphia. Soon the name "Rotary Ann"  belonged to Guy's wife as well. The term "Rotary Ann" lasted until the late 1980's. Gundaker was RIP 1923-24.
Can you name the first club to initiate a woman into Rotary?
  • The Rotary Club of Duarte, CA admitted 3 women on June 1, 1977 on the club's 25th anniversary.  In February of the following year RI revoked their charter.  After a hearing where Duarte was instructed to remove the members, and refused, RI officially revoked the Duarte Charter on March 27, 1978.  Thus began the long legal battle that result in the Mary 4, 1987 US Supreme court decision, ruling that Rotary could not deny membership to women.
Visit the Rotary Global History Fellowship for more details and interesting facts on the history of Women in Rotary.