1 July 1995. The beginning of yet another Rotary year.

Club, district and international officers are poised and prepared to implement the dreams and plans so carefully formulated by them during the previous months. Isn't this the same course of action that has continued year after year to insure Rotary's position as the premier service club in the world?

Of course, the answer to the question is a resounding "YES". Rotary reinvents itself every year. It has a new President, a new President-Elect, a revised Board of Directors, and new District officers. Every one of the 30,000 clubs elects a new President. And, this will happen again next year.

However, this particular July has an aura of Rotary Global History to it. For the first time, as 515 District Governors take the reins to guide their respective districts, eight of these Governors are women! Imagine, for the first time women have become District Governors! Imagine eight United States women in navy blue blazers ready and eager to set out on club visits and listen to the Rotarians in their districts.

They included Mimi Altman, RC of Deerfield, IL, Dist. 6440; Gilda Chirafisi, RC of Riverdale, NY, Dist. 7230; Janet W. Holland, RC of Mineral Wells, TX, Dist 5790; Reba F. Lovrien, RC of Albuquerque Del Norte, NM, Dist. 5520; Virginia B. Nordby, RC of Ann Arbor North, MI, Dist. 6380; Donna J. Rapp, RC of Midland Morning, MI, Dist. 6310; Anne Robertson, RC of Fulton, KY, Dist. 6710; and Olive P. Scott, RC of Cobleskill, NY, Dist. 7190.

These eight women, two from New York, two from Michigan, and one each from Kentucky, Texas, New Mexico and Illinois, had undergone their training the previous February in Anaheim, California, where they had been treated graciously by International President-Elect Herbert Brown, and by their counterparts throughout the world. Yet, this was a different Rotary world! This was a Rotary world where women Rotarians stood as equals with men. These women were blazing a trail for those women to follow as Governors, and took great pride in achieving the title of “District Governor."

With this achievement came responsibility, which was readily accepted by each of the eight. It is impossible to calculate the number of hours or the amount of energy and expertise any Governor gives to his or her district during "the year", but these eight women each gave their districts a banner year, a year to remember.

Each past District Governor has a story to tell, memories to preserve, happy days, busy times and perhaps even a small crisis to solve. Written with the year after their year as Governor, every story is different, every personality is different, and every district is different. Each woman believed that they contributed to Rotary Global History, but did not set out to make Rotary Global History. Let each of them tell you about their districts, their travels, their successes and their frustrations during the 1995-1996 Rotary year.

How the DG Histories were Organized

In an effort to achieve some uniformity, each Governor attempted to address some or all of the following questions.

I. What is the profile of your District - location, number of members, number of clubs? Did you charter any new clubs during 1995-1996?

2. How did you prepare for your year as District Governor, did you have help and support from the past district governors? Was the week of training at Anaheim a help in planning your year?

3. What were some of the unusual things that happened during your club visits? Did you find clubs in your district that had no women members? How were you received by your clubs as a woman Governor?

4. What were some of the highlights/lowlights of your year as District Governor?

5. What do women Rotarian leaders bring to Rotary? How quickly will women rise above the district governor level in Rotary? What is your prediction for women Rotarians in the future?

6. How do Rotarians (male and female) perceive you as a Past District Governor in your club, district, zone and internationally? Are you serving on committees for 1996-97?

7. If you had it to do again, would you be a district governor? If so, would you take a different leadership approach to the job?

8. What goals did you set for your year? Did you reach most of them?

9. How did you balance the district governor job with family, business/job obligations and some social life outside Rotary? How did you prioritize to keep everyone happy and get it all accomplished?

Each Governor was invited to add any additional information that would help tell the story of her "Year.”

Doug Rudman

Also see the Second Class of Women DGs