Judy Mcleod joined the Louisville Rotary Club to be part of the good they were doing in the world.
Her sponsor John Fair a third generation Rotarian was very familiar with Rotary's history and that Rotary only started in 1989 allowing women to join and that few women had joined the Rotary Club in Louisville. By June 1990, the number of female Rotarians had skyrocketed to over 20,000 worldwide yet very few were still in the Rotary Club of Louisville. By 2018, the number of women worldwide in Rotary was approaching 300,000. Louisville had a high of 10 female members out of 50 members yet women held 4 out the 10 leadership roles in the club.
While other rotary clubs across the country and state had a women serve as club presidents, rotary governors and much more it would take Judy Mcleod, a Louisville Alderwoman, to be chosen the first female president of the Louisville Rotary Club in 2017-2018 service year.
McLeod’s presidency ended June 21, 2018 with the annual rotary banquet yet another female leader took over as Julie Cunninghamm, Winston County Chancery Clerk become the new Louisville Rotary president for 2018-2019 year.
McLeod's tenure while unprecedented in one area continued the club's success and moving the club forwarded in all areas of its service.
The club gained awards for its financial support of Rotary International's fight against polio. Rotary International has been instrumental in the retreat of polio from the global stage and the eradication of the disease from all but 3 countries in the world. Like Rotary International and Rotary Clubs across the world, the Louisville Rotary Club continued its support of education.
The Rotary Club of Louisville under McLeod's leadership awarded annual scholarships, awarded funds to the local library for literacy work in the county and worked on the process of creating Interact clubs in the schools. Rotary's goal locally and internationally in education is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase literacy.
During McLeod's service as president, she presided over 40 informative meetings from business, education and other leaders. The informative luncheons with members and guests is an opportunity to spur though and discussions among the community leaders which can lead to economic growth in the community. Through the meetings members and guests gain networking activities, advice on business development, and ideas on leadership.
"It was a great joy to serve," said McLeod at the banquet.
Julie Cunningham noted she was looking for to serving and plans to emphasis education with the hopes of creating a Rotary Student of the Month program and to also emphasis the Rotary Four Way Test during her tenure:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?.
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe.
If you would like to learn more about Rotary, the Louisville Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon at Lake Tiak O'Khata the Eupora Club meets each Tuesday at noon in the Hospital.
