What started out as a normal Friday lunch for the Rotary Club of Claremont turned into high-heeled, fun-filled, free-for-all as men in the club attempted to walk down a red carpet wearing women’s shoes, all for a good cause.

The club’s program focused on celebrating 30 years of women in Rotary. So in comes Camille Lavee, a well-known Rotarian from South Pasadena and creator of the fundraiser “Wheels in Heels.”

This stage event required the ladies to nominate male volunteers to walk down a red carpet with high-heel shoes, just like a fashion model. Well…kinda-sorta like a model.

Of course the women attending where all but ready to pay $30 to watch that special man friend ham it up for charity. And if you were nominated and refused to participate? No problem, just pledge a $60 donation.

The main goal is to raise awareness of contributions made by women in Rotary, while raising money for the thousands of projects Rotary takes on all over the world.

Finding people to walk was easy, as men kept coming up to the stage ready to try on a pair of high-heels.

It also should be noted most people had spotters to make sure no one fell flat on their face. Needless to say, spotters became the most important people in the room.

Claremont Rotary also honored two pioneers who helped create a voice for women in Rotary. Back in 1987, Sylvia Whitlock was the first female club president in the entire Rotary organization.

She has not only served others for decades, she has written a book, Women Also Serve, about life when women were just beginning to make an impact as Rotarians. The other person was Carol Dorsey, Claremont Rotary’s first female President in 1996-97.

Currently, 27 percent of Rotary’s membership is female—a figure that keeps growing each year. But as many Rotarians would tell you, “They have come a long way, but also have a long way to go.”

—Peter Weinberger

pweinberger@claremont-courier.com