March is Women’s History Month. Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Rotary Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary. The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow the admission of women into Rotary clubs.

 

By June 1990, the number of female Rotarians worldwide had skyrocketed to over 20,000! The number of women members reached 195,000 in July 2010 (about 16% of Rotarians) and surpassed 277,000 in July 2020 (about 23%).

 

The Rotary Club of Asbury Park inducted its first female members in the 1990-1991 Rotary year. It was a decade later that the Club appointed its first female president: Rosalie Murphy. Over the years, the Club has appointed eight (8) female Presidents. Continue reading below to learn about a few of the great women in Rotary.