Madelia Rotary allows women as members, finally

Three women

join organization

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

MADELIA -- State history was made Tuesday when three women -- Colleen Jacobs, Michelle Van Hee and Tara Mueller -- joined the Madelia Rotary Club.

Until now, the Madelia organization was the only Rotary Club in Minnesota that did not allow women as members.

Last year, District Rotary Governor Mike Mullin of St. Cloud offered the club a meal to be prepared by himself and served to members and their spouses if they could get three women to join the club.

Jacobs, the Branch Manager of Alliance Bank in Madelia; Van Hee, a writer for the Times Messenger newspaper in Madelia; and Mueller, the Chamber Executive Director; joined the club Tuesday along with former Madelia veterinarian Steve Anderson.

Madelia Rotary member and city administrator Joe McCabe, described the situation.

"Until recent years, the Rotary has often been known as an old man's club," McCabe said. "We had one older member that was very adamant about it. He said that since his wife belonged to to clubs that he couldn't join, we should keep our club segregated so to speak."

Mueller, formerly of New Ulm, viewed the Rotary as "a great networking opportunity that does great things for the community."

Rotary International is a non-profit corporation of local clubs designed to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build world peace and good will.

Individuals are admitted to local club membership according to a classification system based on business, professional and institutional activity in the community.