Women still excluded

Press, 10 June 1977, Page 10

Women still excluded

NZPA San Francisco Women will continue to be excluded from membership in Rotary International, one of the world’s largest and most influential service organisations, the club has reported, according to the Associated Press.

“The time is not ripe for it,” Mr Clem Renouf, of Australia, explained shortly after he was picked unanimously as Rotary International president-elect for 1978-79.

“We have a great crosssection of cultures in this organisation and some people would not feel comfortable at the prospect of having women members in some countries,” he said. “Any Rotarian is welcome in any Rotary Club worldwide,” said Jack Giles, Rotary public information officer. “Many people consider it workable in a lot of the world, but in other places the cultural context is not right yet.”

Areas where that concern had been expressed include the more traditional Latin countries and, perhaps, Japan, he said. About 15,000 people are attending the five-day convention in San Francisco this week.

I Rotary International has 800,000 members in 17,200 clubs in 152 countries. It is composed of business and professional men, and its motto is "Service Above Self.”