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HUNTER'S GREEN — In the early 1980s, Sherida Ferguson was working as a broker at Merrill Lynch in Lakeland when a branch manager announced a new Rotary Club was looking for members.
She eagerly volunteered.
"I raised my hand and the whole room laughed," Ferguson recalled. "They thought it was really funny. I didn't know why it was so funny. I hadn't heard."
Ferguson quickly learned that Rotary Clubs all over the world did not accept women — that wouldn't happen until 1989.
This week, almost 20 years after she was turned away for membership, Ferguson was sworn in as president of the New Tampa Evening Rotary, which formed a year ago.
She will lead more than 50 members — both men and women — as they meet weekly to consider volunteer opportunities and perform community service.
"I remember thinking, they're missing out on a good leader, a loyal club member," Ferguson said of that day decades ago. "I'm excited about the opportunity."
Ferguson, who has been in the financial planning business for more than 30 years, graduated from Lakeland High School and then the University of South Florida with degrees in mass communications and political science.
She served as president of various clubs, including the Business and Professional Women's group in Lakeland after she was denied membership to the local Rotary.
Ferguson said she wants the club to focus on helping veterans groups.
She has an old snapshot of her grandfather, who served in World War I, standing next to her father, who served in World War II. Both men are in their dress uniforms.
"My grandfather was exposed to mustard gas and institutionalized due to breathing difficulties, and my father had post traumatic stress disorder," Ferguson said. "It makes me feel for these soldiers today. They serve with such valor."
There are three Rotary clubs in New Tampa. Ferguson's chapter meets on Thursday evenings at the Hunter's Green Golf and Country Club.
Linda Pearson, a member, said she was immediately impressed upon meeting Ferguson.
"Sherri is devoted to the community and dedicated to whatever cause we take," Pearson said. "She is so happy and so positive. She's going to do a dynamite job and we're really excited. It's going to be a great year."
Dong-Phuong Nguyen can be reached at (813) 909-4613 or nguyen@sptimes.com.
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