Outdated Dress Codes Are Holding Rotary Back – It’s Time to Show Up as Our Authentic Selves

Over the last few weeks, a graphic has been circulating on social media that depicted “appropriate” attire for Rotary functions - a tidy chart reminiscent of decades past, depicting blue blazers, theme ties, cocktail length skirts, and black shoes as the only acceptable uniform for membership. For many long-time Rotarians, it might feel harmless, maybe even nostalgic. But in today’s Rotary, this type of messaging is not only outdated - it is outright destructive to our mission to “Grow Rotary.”

For decades, Rotary has struggled with a stubborn stereotype: that it’s an organization for old, wealthy, white men. We all know the image - the aging businessman in a blazer and tie at a luncheon, discussing community service from behind a podium. And for far too many years, this was the dominant reality. That perception has turned countless prospective members away, especially younger people looking for a space that reflects today’s values. And whether we like it or not, reinforcing rigid dress expectations only cements the belief that Rotary is an exclusive space - not an inclusive one.

Times have changed. Our world has changed. And Rotary has changed.

Let’s gets real for a second: young people are not lining up to join organizations where they feel pressured to dress like it’s 1952. They want to be part of something that reflects who they are, not someone else’s idea of professionalism. When a graphic suggests that a person can’t show up in sneakers, or with tattoos, or without a blazer, it tells entire generations: “You don’t belong here.” And for younger generations that values authenticity and equity above appearances, this is a dealbreaker.

Worse still, this type of messaging reinforces the misconception that access to Rotary is tied to privilege - both financial and cultural. A member shouldn’t be made to feel they don’t “look the part.” That’s not inclusion. That’s gatekeeping. And it has no place in the Rotary of this century.

I say this not as an outsider, but as someone who has thrived in Rotary. I’ve built lasting connections, contributed to meaningful projects, and grown as a leader. And yet, I would never be caught dead in so-called “appropriate attire”.. My voice and my value aren’t diminished because I don’t wear a tie. I mean... there are many times I am not even wearing a shirt. In my opinion, I believe that my authenticity enhances what I bring to the table - and I know I’m not alone in that.

If we’re serious about growing Rotary - about attracting future leaders, thinkers, builders, and doers - then we need to tear down barriers, not reinforce them. That starts with the most visible parts of our culture: how we welcome others, how we communicate our expectations, and yes, even how we dress.

The next generation doesn’t want to fit a mold. They want to shape something new. Let’s make Rotary a place where people don’t need to own a suit or skirt to make a difference. Let’s make Rotary a place where voices matter more than wardrobes. Let’s choose evolution over tradition, inclusion over image, and authenticity over attire.

Rotary’s strength is in its people. And people thrive when they are embraced for who they are, not for how well they fit a dress code. Let’s be the Rotary that embraces that truth. The Rotary that evolves. The Rotary that grows.