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January 07, 2016 - 3:30 PM
KELOWNA - Members of one of this city's oldest business groups are voting tonight on what may sound like an odd resolution — whether they want to allow women into the club or not.
Since 1935, the Kelowna Jaycees have brought together business professionals from ages 18 to 40. While it appears at some point women were allowed to join the club, they have been barred for many years. Kelowna women have had their own club through JCI International, but sources say those numbers are dwindling, leading to another call from inside the Jaycees to remove the gender barrier.
The Kelowna Jaycees also appears to stand alone on this principle — the JCI International web page makes no mention of men only, shows plenty of photos of women involvement, boasts about international efforts “to bring down legal barriers to women’s economic empowerment.” Attempts to reach the international organization were unsuccessful before deadline.
President Kevin Lavigne and past president Sean Glendinning of Kelowna Jaycees haven’t returned calls on the subject.
Sources say 75 per cent of the membership must vote to allow women or it fails.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Marshall Jones at mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016