The Rotary Club of Ankeny is now 8 months from completing 50 years of service to the Ankeny Community and will be celebrating with a gala on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the FFA Enrichment Center. Here is a moment from the history of Rotary and the Rotary Club of Ankeny:
On May 4, 1987, the US Supreme court upheld a California law which prohibited service clubs, such as Rotary, from excluding women from membership on the basis of their gender. In a letter from RI President, M.A.T. Caparas to all Governors of Districts including clubs within the USA he stated: "The RI Board is under obligation to uphold our constitution and By-Laws. We are, however, an organization that exists under law, and our constitution provides that Rotary clubs shall be bound only by its provisions which are not contrary to law. Because of the Duarte decision, the male only provision of our constitution cannot be enforced in California and in other places where that provision is determined to be contrary to law. Discriminatory practices are indeed so notoriously offensive to current public sentiment in America, and so patently in disfavor with the courts, that we believe our "male only" discriminatory provision will probably be stricken down in case of litigation even in those states which do not now have statutes similar to the California law...... For now, the Board will not withdraw the charter of any Rotary Club in the United States that accepts women members...... In any case, Rotary has changed dramatically, and only time will tell whether the change is for the better or for worse. It may yet prove to be the best thing that happened, if only because we will be able to shed the offensive "Sexist" label."
There are now nearly 300,000 women in Rotary, approximately 25% of total membership. The first women accepted into the Rotary Club of Ankeny was Shirley McClain, Vice President, American Savings & Loan in August 1987. Pat Brewbaker, Owner of Walnut Street Gallery was inducted a couple months later in October, 1987. Today the Rotary Club of Ankeny has 41 women which is 35% of our total membership.
