Women make up 26% of the Waunakee Rotary Club’s membership, but until the board of directors changed its bylaws on Sept. 1, 1987, only men could join the club.
Three Rotarians – Lori Derauf and Linda Olsen, two of the earliest women to join, and Connie Blau, who was the club president then – gave a presentation titled “Women in Rotary” at the March 13 meeting just in time for Women’s History Month.
Lori presented the history from a Rotary International perspective. The club began 120 years ago in Chicago and the constitution from 1906 makes no mention of gender, referring to members as “persons.” Still, it was a men only organization.
The question of whether to allow women was brought to the Rotary Convention in 1910, and the proposal was overwhelmingly rejected. Lori quoted this report from the time: “Because the average man cannot manage the average woman, the members of the Rotary Clubs of America barred women from their organization.”
In 1987, this was challenged in California and went to the Supreme Court which voted in a 7-0 decision that women cannot be discriminated against. That led local clubs, like Waunakee’s, to examine their bylaws.
Connie remembered the Waunakee Rotary Club knew that the Madison club had changed its bylaws. The Waunakee Rotary board members discussed the possibility with local attorney Kevin Laffey, and at a big meeting on Aug. 27, 1987, they talked about the change. Connie noted that the Jaycees had also changed their bylaws a few years earlier to accept women.
But he said when the Rotary Club considered allowing women to join, he heard a lot of buzz for about two weeks, with two men and the wife of one man saying they wouldn’t be comfortable having women in the club.
Connie had tape recorded the Sept. 1, 1987, meeting when the membership voted on lifting the ban against women. Two days earlier, the club had received a letter from the District Governor telling clubs about the Supreme Court ruling, and that the clubs were allowed to accept women.
The club put the question to a vote, and it failed by one vote. Connie said he was thankful that Gordy Meicher diplomatically raised the question that maybe members didn’t know about the District Governor’s letter or maybe they weren’t sure about question.
It had failed by much less than two-thirds majority.
His comments were followed by pure silence until Don Helt, the husband Ann Helt – the first Waunakee Village President, made a motion to either nullify the vote or consider the outcome as advisory only.
Everyone seconded the motion, and the meeting was then adjourned. Since then, women have been accepted as members.
“I never got one negative opinion after that,” Connie said.
The bylaws were then changed Sept. 1, and the next month, five women were approved to join, including Jean Erickson, Donna Desmond Murphy, Linda Olsen, Lori Hadfield and Becky Duffy, Linda said.
Lori outlined the effect internationally. In June of 1990, Rotary International had 20,000 women; those numbers rose to 277,000 in 2020, when women made up 23% of the international membership.
Both Linda and Lori remember feeling accepted in the club. Of the women members, Lori is the longest, continuous member, and was the first woman elected as club president for the 1999-2000 term.
Linda said the acceptance of women was a big deal, but she urged fellow members to be open to others who may seem different and to treat everyone with kindness.
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Other News:
-Leah Abeyta and Paul Knutson are heading up the Drive-thru Easter Bunny visit. Donations or candy, swag and other goodies to give to children are needed, President Phil Willems said. About 600 goodie bags will be stuffed to give to families driving through the park.
-The club made donations to Live from the Park, Movin’ Out, Badgerland Girl Scouts, WNC and Girls on the Run.
-The club approved a marketing budget of $5,000 to reach members and prospective members in new ways.
-The club is looking for others to partner on a $10,000 grant to start a new vegetable garden at the SOAR Kenya school.
-A fellowship bowling outing is planned for March 16.
Guests: Peter Derauf, guest of Lori Derauf
Birthdays: March 17, Ellen Schaaf
Anniversaries: March 19, Sally and Chad Gile
What’s for Lunch: March 13, Swiss steak and mashed potatoes; March 20, chicken tacos; March 27, mac and cheese with grilled ham.
Greeters: March 13, Hilary Pink-Budworth and Sarah Bonk; March 20, Shauna Hughey and Tony Burns; March 27, Max Ujdak and Tom Kennedy.
To sign up to greet or to find out if you are greeting, visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/
