Rotary Club Admits a Woman Despite Tie Vote : Sex issue: A female bank vice president was accepted in Garden Grove despite one member’s lobbying efforts against her and a divided membership.

Despite objections by nearly half of its membership, the Garden Grove Rotary Club on Wednesday admitted its first female member.

Woo England, 50, a bank vice president, was approved for membership by the club’s board of directors last week, but her acceptance was challenged by Rotarian Robert Rubenstein, who sent a letter to the club’s 65 members urging them to overturn the board’s decision.

But Rubenstein, who said Wednesday that a woman “has no right” to join the Rotary Club, was unable to garner the two-thirds vote needed to reverse the board’s approval and block England’s membership. In a vote taken by 55 Rotarians during the club’s weekly meeting Wednesday afternoon, members split 26 to 26 on whether to allow England to join. Three members abstained.

“I don’t think they want to stay in the dark ages,” England said after attending a portion of the meeting. “I think the time has come. This is not only for me but for all future women Rotarians. I don’t think they have anything against me personally, they are just not used to having women.”

In his letter, Rubenstein said his opposition was based on the abundance of bank employees already in the club. But in an interview Wednesday, he conceded that his biggest problem with England joining the club is the fact that she is a woman.

“When it comes down to Girl Scouts being Boy Scouts, I am opposed,” Rubenstein said. “She shouldn’t be there and has no right to be there. Regardless of Supreme Court decisions, Rotary is a men’s club.”

Other members, including Garden Grove Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan, echoed Rubenstein’s views and said they simply do not want women in the club.

“I’ll welcome her and I’m not going to quit the club because of her, but I’m not happy,” said Donovan, a club member for 37 years. “I go to a meeting to have the camaraderie of male companions. I’m sure if I went to join the Assistance League, they wouldn’t welcome me.”

England was recommended for membership by Harry Broglia, executive director of the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce. Broglia said England’s membership probably would have been overturned had the situation not generated publicity.

“There was a very strong debate over this,” Broglia said. “I’m just surprised they would object so strongly. The woman is qualified. I guess sometimes change is hard to accept. To me, her being a woman is a non-issue.”

George Grossman, district governor of 55 Rotary clubs from Long Beach to San Juan Capistrano, blasted members opposed to admitting England and noted that a 1988 Supreme Court ruling prohibits organizations such as the Rotary Club from turning away women.

“There should not have even been a vote,” Grossman said. “The idea of Rotary is to attract the best in your profession in the city. She’s the best in her classification and is entitled to join the club.”

Club President Michael B. Sheldon, who voted in favor of England’s membership, said he doesn’t think the split vote will cause lasting dissension among members.

“I really think the controversy will blow over very quickly,” Sheldon said. “Everyone will forget about it in a very short time and get on with business.”