For more than 80 years, Rotary’s Bylaws stated that members shall be ‘men’ of good character in professional occupations. This was done because, in the early 1900s, most jobs outside the home were held by men only. In 1989 at the Council on Legislation, delegates realized that women were now having careers beyond the home, and were now in those same professional occupations alongside their male counterparts. The Council voted at that time that membership shall be open to both genders. 
As we look at today’s businesses and professional occupations, we see that in many cultures, men and women hold these positions equally. As it was in the early 1900s, Rotary should reflect the make-up of the community in which it resides. Clubs are strongly encouraged to invite both males and females to membership.
As I’ve visited many clubs around the world, I have seen firsthand that the clubs who have become dual gender are the stronger Rotary clubs. I don’t say this because I think it is the women who have made the club stronger. I say this because clubs that are balanced with diversity of gender (as well as race, religion and classifications), are generally stronger clubs.
Men and women have different strengths, different talents, different management styles and different ways of dealing with situations. It is this mix of differences that gives the club the ability to get things done most effectively. The all male or all female clubs are missing a great opportunity that diversity brings.
Now and then we hear from all male clubs that they are “open” to women, however they “haven’t found any” to invite. To that I say….open your eyes!
R.I.D. Betsy
The speed at which Rotary adopts changes makes glaciation seem fast. It has now been 30 years since women were first admitted to Rotary and people are still asking if it is a good idea. Only 10% of Rotarians are women as many clubs actively and indirectly bar women either by not inviting them to join or by continuing the tradition of never asking anyone to join. Go to any district meeting and it is still 90%+ male. A female friend of mine said that in order for a woman to be considered half as good as a man she needs to be twice as good. Fortunately that is not too difficult. Men have had that same length of time to fix Rotaries recruitment issues and failed spectacularly. The way to fix this problem is to actively recruit and only actively recruit women directly into Rotary and to phase out inner wheel which is a barrier to Rotaries female growth.
I cant believe we are still talking about this sort of thing – but I come from a Club of 110 members – 40% female and the GROWTH is certainly female!
Well said, Betsy, we need to see all around us and make our Clubs represent our communities in total.