Windsor Italian club votes to change its membership policy to finally include women

Southwestern Ontario's largest and oldest Italian Club is shedding an outdated, controversial and musty rule.

After almost a century of allowing only men to be members, Windsor's Giovanni Caboto Club is opening up its membership.

On Sunday, Caboto Club members voted more than 80 per cent in favour of expanding the club's membership eligibility criteria to include all persons born in Italy or of Italian descent regardless of gender.

It's a radical change for the club one it refused to make in 2018.

At the time, the policy was getting blasted by the public.

The club wouldn't be interviewed for the story, referring only to its media release.

But in 2018,Ron Moro, the club's general manager, dug in on not allowing women.

WATCH | 2018 video Caboto Club refuses to change men-only policy

Caboto Club refuses to change men-only policy

7 years ago

Duration 0:57

Boycotting the Caboto Club? GM says that will only hurt the community

"I don't think we need somebody to tell us, 'Well, you need to be politically correct.' I said, 'No, we don't ... We need to be who we are," Moro told CBC News in a 2018 interview.

"So when you say to me, 'We're not coming to your place because you don't have enough women on your membership,' All you've done is hurt the charities in our community because that's who gets our net dollars. That's just very shortsighted."

Jessica Sartori is also celebratingthe change.

In 2018, she was a trustee at the Greater Essex County District School Board and pushed for the board not to hold events there out of principle.

"I felt that those kinds of celebrations, any kind of celebration really, for the school board should be held in a place that would recognize women, that could be members and as equal people in society," said Sartori.

She called the club's decision to open up its membership to all genders as "incredible" news.

"I was very thrilled to see that women can now become full members and such a decisive decision as well."

According to Sartori, it's an important step because society should always be looking at ways to create equal opportunities for everyone.

"The Caboto Club has been such an institution in this community. It means a heck of a lot to a lot of people."

Bill Marra says the changewas long overdue.

The president and CEO of Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare pulled his membership back in 2018 out of protest.

Today, Marra says he's impressed and proud of the organization as it approaches its 100-year anniversary.

"I think what's going to happen as many individuals like myself who perhaps had second thoughts about membership I rescinded my membership five years ago will reconsider it," said Marra.

From a philanthropic perspective, Marra says the Caboto Club has been generous, donating money and sponsoring sports teams over the years.

"Whether you're a female or a male, it really is not relevant at all. It's really celebrating the heritage of our culture and advancing goodwill and really investing in the community."

LISTEN | Windsor Morning has reaction to the Caboto Club's 2023 membership decision

He says expanding the membership criteria will inevitably also increase the membership base.

"In my case, my spouse is Italian. I have a daughter who's Italian. Of course, I have two sisters. This opens up the door to strengthen the membership and the core of the organization and really, in my opinion, solidify a very strong future for the organization."

Marra says he plans to submit an application in hopes of once again becoming a member.

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