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30 years ago, South Wairarapa Rotary was one of the first New Zealand clubs to respond to the call to include women in their ranks and remains keen to hear from any South Wairarapa business leaders and entrepreneurs who want to have the opportunities offered by this dynamic and evolving organisation.
Saturday the 6th April has been designated the Aotearoa/New Zealand Rotary National Day of Celebration of 30 years for Women in Rotary. Rotary was established in 1905 by a group of Chicago businessmen who established a model for club membership aimed at attracting business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities.Although Club membership was drawn from across many sectors, in those days, women were not well represented in the organisation's target demographic. Most women worked in the service and caring sectors and were often unpaid. Their skills were undervalued and often underutilised in society. Rotary reflected the values of society at the time and women did not fit into the Rotary ethos. Societal norms and values have been challenged over the last 30-40 years and women now work across most sectors. They bring diversity to the workforce and their work is utilised and valued. Rotary has adapted to societal changes and welcomes the skills and diversity women bring to the organization. Meanwhile, women have recognised the value of networking, developing friendships and contributing to their community through Rotary.Find out more at: swrotary.org.nz