Stories

Today the 8th of March is International Women's Day, a day we celebrate women's achievements and raise awareness about gender inequality. This date was purposely chosen for the chartering of our new cause-based Rotary e-club in District 9560 (Queensland, Australia) - the Rotary Club of Empowering Women and Girls. Our club members are from all different backgrounds, locations, ages and a mixture of some being current or past Rotarians, but the majority being new to Rotary International. They live in Timor-Leste, Cairns, Mackay, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Newcastle. We have one male member but I’m sure we’ll attract more. Thank-you to all charter members for your faith in me and Rotary, and for giving this ago. I absolutely know we are going to achieve amazing outcomes and the rewarding journey ahead of me will be life fulfilling.

Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.” 

 

Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary.  “My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world,” said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01. 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, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.