About the Author:
Lyn Kenney
Lyn Kenny is a historian with Rotary Global History Fellowship and is a member of the Fellowship Board. Her passions include Rotary history and bringing partners together for international projects.
Kenney has been active in Rotary since 1988, having served in multiple club and district roles. She is currently a member of Vero Beach Sunrise Rotary Club. She is also a major donor and Bequest Society member.
Kenney earned a master’s degree in Continuing and Vocational Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Unstoppable Women of Rotary
District 6250 Article by Michael Kloss, DG '25 - '26
During Women’s History Month, I would like to acknowledge the leadership, service, and lasting impact of women in Rotary. Rotary was an all-male fellowship until 1987, when the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision opened membership to women. Trailblazers such as Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, Razia Jan, and Lyn Kenney exemplify the pioneering spirit of women bring to Rotary.
Today, women make up 34% of District 6250, and their leadership continues to strengthen Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self. Read on to learn more about the remarkable women who paved the way for women in Rotary.
Article Excerpt:
Lyn Kenney: The Historian
As women continue to shape Rotary's future, Rotarian Lyn Kenney is ensuring their past is never forgotten. Kenney was one of the first six women to join the then 500-member Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin, in 1988, stepping into the organization during its earliest days of gender integration.
Today, she serves as a vital historian with the Rotary Global History Fellowship. Kenney has dedicated herself to documenting the stories of the many trailblazers who transformed the organization. Through her expansive project and presentation, The Mouse That Roared: The History of Women and Rotary Since 1911, she chronicles the relentless, 76-year struggle women faced to become official members. By interviewing the first female district governors and meticulously preserving this timeline, Kenney ensures that the legacy of these pioneering women is celebrated, reminding modern members that the fight for inclusion was long, hard-fought, and profoundly worth it.