March is Women's History Month and honors and celebrates the achievements and struggles American women have endured in the United States. Throughout history, American women have faced obstacles in gaining rights not only for themselves but for a variety of other under-represented and disenfranchised groups in America.
I felt it was most appropriate to celebrate the women in Beverly Rotary Club’s history, since it was a long time before women were allowed to be members of the Club and not just “Rotary Anns.”
The 1989 Council on Legislation of Rotary International 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. Not all of the members in the Beverly Rotary Club were happy with this RI decision, but the majority prevailed.
Our first female President, Kim Mannetta, was in office for the 2000-2001 year. Since then, we have had three more women as our Leaders and one more to take the leadership role next year: Jo Broderick, Sarah Macburnie-Liporto, Maureen Trefry and Diane Howard.
The Beverly Rotary Club is a growing club, with 113 members and 40 of them are women. What an accomplishment! So during this month of Women in History, we salute the 40 women who are a part of an outstanding, enthusiastic Beverly Rotary Club! Congratulations on being an amazing part of history!!!