by Elizabeth Darling
Jean Kazezski doesn't see herself as a pioneer, but she is. By just one vote, the Palo Alto Elks Club, Chapter No. 1471, voted Dec. 12 to admit the first two women in the fraternal order's history--Kazezski and Sunnyvale real estate agent Barbara Bonar.
Like many other historically male service organizations like the Rotary Club, the Elks had been threatened with lawsuits if it didn't admit women.
Kazezski, who says she is quiet and prefers to be in a corner reading a book, said she joined the order "because I care about it.
"They could have been sued if they hadn't (included) any women," she said. "I believe in what they do."
A year ago, the Grand Lodge, the Elks' national organization, voted to admit women. Every club in the nation voted at that time, including the Palo Alto club, which voted against the idea.
But after the national vote, all chapters were required to admit women. "Members of the Palo Alto lodge are allowed to sponsor anyone that they wish to," said Elks Club secretary Don Sirena in Palo Alto. "We've never had anyone sponsor a lady until a month ago. It's a change, since it's been historically a men's organization. It's a sign of the times."
About 100 members were present for last week's vote at the Elks Lodge located at 4249 El Camino Real, said Elks member Bill Fishback.
The women needed a two-thirds majority to be accepted. The vote passed by one vote. Potential members have to be nominated by three members, then reviewed by an investigative committee, before they're voted on by the club.
Several members, Fishback said, opted to resign right after the vote.
Fishback, a Cupertino resident who has been an Elk for 45 years, is completely supportive of admitting women. "This is an absolutely fantastic thing. It's 1996 and the lights are on," said the retired businessman.
Admitting women, he said, will help the club survive. According to club literature, he said, there are 2,195 members in the region that includes Palo Alto. Of those, only 318 members are under age 50. The average age, he said, is 76.5.
"They're a great club. They raise a lot of money for children's program and veterans," Fishback said. Women members, he said, "are going to save this club. This club will be big again." He added that he would spend more time at the club if there were younger members there.
The Palo Alto Elks Lodge has long had one of the largest and most attractive sites among Peninsula service clubs. The building, located next to Hyatt Rickeys, includes a large banquet hall, a full gym, indoor pool, three handball courts and a picnic area.
The group meets on Thursday nights and sponsors many charitable groups and organizations, including the Sea Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Little League, and the Urban Ministry.
Among the 11 lodges in the Peninsula district, about half have admitted women.
Kazezski and Bonar will be inducted on Dec. 19, and two more women are expected to be voted on in January.
Kazezski was nominated by her father. Her husband Stanley is also a member of the order. She said most of the male members gave her "all kinds of encouragement" and she only received one negative letter--unsigned.
Like many other spouses of Elk members, Kazezski has been involved behind the scenes for years. "I do things for the Elks anyway. I thought I might as well be a member. I just felt it's good. It's time.
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