ROOTS by Cholly Capps

A Little History of Your Rotary Club

Women in our Roots! When Rotary was established in 1905 its rules for membership reflected society at that time. These rules changed significantly in 1987 with the admission of women to Rotary.

Actually changes in membership rules began in 1979 when a California Rotary Club challenged the then male only provision by admitting two women as members. Because the club was in violation of the Rotary International Constitution, its Charter was revoked. The club sued in the California courts. A series of decisions, appeals and reversals, in 1986, brought an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court which ruled in May, 1987 that a California state law requiring service clubs to admit women was not in violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. In response, the Rotary International Board of Directors immediately issued a policy statement allowing Rotary clubs in any U.S. state to invite qualified women into membership.

Our Club's resolution was already written at this point. It was approved by our Board in May, 1987 and the rest is history ... now we're celebrating the year of WOMEN ON TOP!