(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Rotary Club of Ketchikan, First City, will mark two major milestones on August 17th.  Not only will the club celebrate 25 years since its establishment, but also the 26th anniversary of the landmark United States Supreme Court decision that mandated women be allowed to join service clubs. First City Rotary was the first Rotary Club in the State of Alaska to admit women as members.

Until 1987, service club membership was traditionally male. Motivated by its Board of Directors, Rotary International v. Rotary Club of Duarte resulted in the Supreme Court decision allowed women to join service clubs. First City Rotary formed its organization in 1988 under the sponsorship of Rotary 2000, with an emphasis on encouraging female membership and participation, as well as holding its meeting in the early morning hours to allow more members from various trades who could not attend a lunch meeting.  In 1991, Leslie Bartholomew became the first female President of First City Rotary.  Today, the club has had eight female Presidents and 54% of the club’s 41 members are female.

In 2013, First City Rotary was awarded the Presidential Citation for Excellence and the club’s annual Fourth of July Duck Race raised a record amount. Funds from the Duck Race are utilized locally in such projects as building new fishing platforms at Carlanna Lake, distributing dictionaries to every third grader, and many other endeavors. In addition, Rotarian Jim Dahl undertook a motorcycle journey around the state to promote Rotary Foundation awareness and to raise funds for the global efforts of Rotary to eradicate polio. As a result of his efforts and the personal donations of First City Rotarians, the club was recognized as the highest per capita giving towards Rotary Foundation in the state of Alaska and the Yukon Territory.

"We are thrilled to celebrate 25 years of serving our community, our youth, and the world abroad. Rotary is in the business of doing good, and through our work we hope to instill the values of philanthropy and leadership in not only our members, but in the youth we work with as well, “  said Rosie Roppel, President of the club.

Source of News: 

First City Rotary

 

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