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Thought it might be convenient for members if we found a way to post the RIO content on a site page
This initially has the RIO article posted recently labeled Women in Rotary
Women in Rotary - Part 1
This might be good information for your newer members! What do they know --or think they know-- about women in Rotary?? The history is most interesting!!
By 1911 women began forming their own clubs "to promote sociability among women and to work for business advantages!" And, in spite of opposition from the National Association of Rotary Clubs, these organizations were often based on the Rotary Club idea.
Even though several 'women's Rotary clubs' petitioned the RI Board of Directors for recognition, the results were negative. The Board (1918) agreed that RI did NOT favor any establishment of women's groups similar to Rotary and did not want them to use the name of Rotary or to be called Rotarians.
Yet, on May 24, 1921, "Women of the Rotary Club of Chicago" established themselves as a non-profit organization in the state of Illinois. Membership was restricted to wives, daughters, sisters and mothers of Rotarians and the club quickly grew to 250 women.
The RI Board objected not so much to the idea of women's auxiliaries, but to the use of the word ROTARY which had become a brand name that they wanted to protect and preserve. Yet the wives of club members worked alongside them on projects, were equal partners in their financial support and were often the driving force in urging their spouses to take an active role in Rotary leadership.
Women in Rotary - Part 2
“Meet my Rotary Ann!” How did this come about???
Wives of Rotarians around the world originally (and sometimes still ) were called ‘Rotary Anns.’ But, with the spread of feminism and an increasingly negative attitude against the all-male movement, ‘Rotary Ann’ became a demeaning term.
In some cases it became a divisive term as well; as Rotary Anns formed auxiliary groups that did not include all Rotary wives in a club—those who worked or were otherwise not able to attend---, the wives became ‘My wife’ versus ‘My Rotary Ann!’ Such introductions were most uncomfortable for many of the women.
However, ‘Rotary Ann’ has an interesting beginning, and when first coined was a term of endearment.
In 1914 Californian Rotarians chartered a train to the International Convention in Houston, Texas. It had not yet become customary for wives to accompany their husbands to Rotary conventions—but on that trip there was one woman, the wife of San Francisco Club President Henry Brunner, Ann.
The festive group immediately nicknamed her ‘Our Rotary Ann.’ She became so popular that her husband joked that he never had to buy her a meal because she was always a guest at another groups’ table!
By the time the train arrived in Houston, some passengers had composed a song about ‘Rotary Ann’! The carnival atmosphere was heightened when the group lifted Ann Brunner on their shoulders and marched around the station singing their ditty.
Another wife—from Philadelphia—was also named Ann and she,too, was lifted into the air! The California group proclaimed that from then on all ladies shall be known as ‘Rotary Anns!’
And there you have it!