Sharon Jacobs is set to become Hamilton Rotary Club's first woman president in its 79-year history.

Mrs. Jacobs, who is executive director of the St. George's Foundation, said she hoped to add to the ten or so women members of the 50-plus member service club in her one-year term at the helm.

But she denied Rotary was a male-dominated organisation.

The international organisation first allowed women to join in 1989 and she said the Pembroke branch was headed by a woman - Gilda Furbert.

She said: "Women are running corporations and heading households. Women are a major force in the community. We welcome women members and will be looking to recruit more."

However she said Bermuda already had a lot of volunteer organisations vying for people's time.

Mrs. Jacobs takes over from W.A. (Toppy) Cowen next week and will be in charge during the organisation's 80th anniversary.