Roots by Cholly Capps

A Little History of Your Rotary Club

On August 6, 1987, the first woman was inducted into the Rotary Club of Coral Gables. Judy Greene, wife of District Governor Mel Greene, was accepted into membership as an Honorary Member in June, 1987. Judy was very much involved in the life of our Rotary Club. She was part of our new member orientation meetings for several years before her own induction. She was the first woman principal of a Dade County Senior High School and pioneered many "firsts" as a top administrator in the Public School System. It would have been very tough for the all-male Board to deny her this honor.

The Board resolution allowing the admission of women was promulgated by the Membership Committee and approved in May, 1987, under the leadership of then-President Chip Withers. At the June meeting, Chip's last, the Board approved Judy's membership. At the July Board meeting, under President Bob Strawser, we aproved three community leaders as new Active Members. They were all women: Charlotte Lorber (inducted August 13), Roberta Hulce (September 3) and Betty Metcalf (September 24). From this small beginning there are now 24 women Rotarians in our Club. They make up 18% if our membership. Certainly room for more good female Rotarians in the Rotary Club of Coral Gables!