Women in Rotary

Monday, 10 March 2025 10:55

As events continue to mark International Women's Day locally, with a breakfast in Uppingham this morning, a speaker at Stamford's event on Saturday says women have helped change rotary clubs for the better.

Reverend Debbie Hodge is a former head of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland and says the charity has a very varied offer which was driven by a move away from men only clubs.

"Women in Rotary have changed the face of Rotary. Rotary was very traditional, male-oriented, male businessmen meeting for lunch. Now Rotary is so diverse and has opportunities for anybody to find their place, whether that's at a traditional lunch club or a dinner club. I am a member of an e-club so we meet online. My club happens to be a cause-based club, anti slavery. But there are passport clubs which meet online but then go and do their service in the community where they live.

So Rotary gets spread around and that means the values of Rotary, of integrity and trust and fellowship, go with it. And that in today's society is really important."

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