Sylvia Whitlock, First Female Rotary Club President, Rotary Club of York PA, Meeting, 1/27/2021, Noon
 
To view the VIRTUAL Zoom meeting please visit:  https://youtu.be/4HmC7tQGY-U
 
REGISTRATION is required to attend the VIRTUAL meeting 
11:30am   Log in and fellowship/networking on zoom (UNMUTE yourself upon entering)
12:00pm   Virtual Meeting to begin (everyone will be automatically muted).
Program with Q&A until 1pm - Use the "CHAT" button to type your question for the speaker.
   
In 1982, while a Elementary School Principal in Duarte, California, Dr. Sylvia Whitlock was invited to join the history making Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte, California.  Sylvia became President of the Rotary Club of Duarte in 1987, making her the first woman to hold such a position within Rotary International. 
 
The chapter's charter was revoked in 1978 after they admitted women which was against Rotary International policy. The Duarte club filed suit in the California courts, claiming that Rotary Clubs are business establishments subject to regulation under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on race, gender, religion or ethnic origin. 
 
Rotary International appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court, on 4 May 1987, confirmed the Californian decision supporting women, in the case and Rotary International removed the gender requirements.