ROME KIWANIS CLUB HONORS WOMEN IN KIWANIS

The Kiwanis Club of Rome recently celebrated the 25^th anniversary of women being voted into Kiwanis membership.  According to a media release from the Rome Kiwanis Club, in the summer of 1987, delegates at the 72^nd annual convention voted to allow women to join the organization.  Today, 26 percent of Kiwanis’ total membership is made up of females.

Immediately, women in Rome took on leadership positions.  Beth Bradfield Wright, daughter of current and longtime Kiwanian, Claborn Bradfield, was elected the first female president of the Rome Kiwanis Club in 1991-1992.  Dottie Gregg, current Rome Kiwanis president, will serve as Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor for Rome’s Division in 2012-2013, only the second woman from the Club to hold the position.  The first was Ann Russell in 1990-1991.  Currently, 37 percent of the members of the Rome Kiwanis Club are women.

During a recent meeting, Rome Kiwanis celebrated its women in Kiwanis.  They presented flowers to Dr. Ouida Dickey, who, while not the first woman to join, became a Kiwanis member in 1989 and is the current female member who has served the longest in the Rome club.  The club also presented flowers to Carole Hunter, who most recently joined in 2012.  All women of Kiwanis were honored for their community service through Kiwanis.

Kiwanis projects include service in local high schools; sponsorship of Model, Pepperell and Rome High School Key Clubs, whose members perform numerous service hours each year; and its sponsorship of annual Art and Music showcases where high school students participate for educational scholarships.  Rome Kiwanis also has an on-going reading project at the Rome Boys and Girls Club, among other community service projects.