Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a groundbreaking selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history.
Prior to 1987, women were not allowed in Rotary. That all changed on May 4, 1987, when the US Supreme Court ruled that Rotary Clubs could no longer exclude women from membership on the basis of gender. At the first gathering of the Rotary Council of Legislation following the decision, Rotary moved to admit women into Rotary Clubs worldwide. This remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary.
The response to the decision was overwhelming: By June 1990, the number had skyrocketed to over 20,000. By July 2016, the number of women worldwide had surpassed 250,000. Women immediately embraced the leadership opportunities provided by their clubs and have been making an impact in communities around the world. After Hours proudly has an equal mix of both females (30) and males (31).
We look forward to the continued growth of female representation within our clubs, our district leadership, and the leadership of Rotary International.