Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian
The History of Women in Rotary Part Two
June 1949 The Rotary International plenary speaker was actress Madelaine Carroll, impassioned in support of the world’s children. She is one of the first women permitted to speak at the International Convention. Others were Helen Keller in 1957 and Pearl Buck in 1959.
June 1950 The Rotary Club of Almendabad, India presses at the International Rotary Convention in Detroit to delete the word “male” from the standard club constitution. The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected.
June 1964 The agenda for the convention includes a motion to admit women to Rotary. The delegates vote to withdraw the motion.
June 1949 The Rotary International plenary speaker was actress Madelaine Carroll, impassioned in support of the world’s children. She is one of the first women permitted to speak at the International Convention. Others were Helen Keller in 1957 and Pearl Buck in 1959.
June 1950 The Rotary Club of Almendabad, India presses at the International Rotary Convention in Detroit to delete the word “male” from the standard club constitution. The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected.
June 1964 The agenda for the convention includes a motion to admit women to Rotary. The delegates vote to withdraw the motion.
January 1972 the Rotary Club of Upper Manhattan, New York, proposes a debate be held on a Motion to admit women. It was voted down without discussion.
June 1, 1977, the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, admits three women to their club: Mary Lou Elliot, Donna Bogar and Rosemary Freitag.
February 1978 Rotary International revokes the charter of the Duarte Club. The Club requests a hearing. The Rotary International Board tells the Duarte Club that it must remove women members. The Club refuses.
June 1978 The Duarte Club files suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
February 1983 The Duarte Club suit finally goes to trial. The Court refuses to reinstate the Duarte Club. The Duarte Club appeals to the California Appeals Court.
March 17, 1986, The California State Appeals Court reverses the earlier decision.
1986 Rotary International appeals to the United States Supreme Court.
Next week, Part Three of Women in Rotary.
June 1, 1977, the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, admits three women to their club: Mary Lou Elliot, Donna Bogar and Rosemary Freitag.
February 1978 Rotary International revokes the charter of the Duarte Club. The Club requests a hearing. The Rotary International Board tells the Duarte Club that it must remove women members. The Club refuses.
June 1978 The Duarte Club files suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
February 1983 The Duarte Club suit finally goes to trial. The Court refuses to reinstate the Duarte Club. The Duarte Club appeals to the California Appeals Court.
March 17, 1986, The California State Appeals Court reverses the earlier decision.
1986 Rotary International appeals to the United States Supreme Court.
Next week, Part Three of Women in Rotary.