30 years of women in optimism

In 1987, women petitioned to join service clubs. Rotary International took on the fight all the way to the Supreme Court and lost. A decision was made that women could not be excluded from these austere groups.

Several weeks ahead of the decision, at its 1987 convention, Optimist International voted to allow women to join. I've heard stories about how the motion failed, and failed, and failed, only to be brought up again and passed at the business session that, by some accounts, ran as late as 2:00  in the morning.

On International Women's Day 2017, I salute those who fought to do what was right and thank you for the opportunity to serve as an Optimist Volunteer.