In 1978, Rotary International revoked the charter of the Rotary Club of Duarte for admitting women into membership. The club continued to operate as the Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte with two women in membership.

 

The Case of Board of Directors of Rotary International et al v. Rotary Club of Duarte et al was argued March 30, 1987 at the Supreme Court of the United States. On May 4, 1987 the Supreme Court of U.S.A. ordered the Duarte Club’s reinstatement and enjoined the enforcement of the gender requirements against it. J. Powell delivered the opinion of the court in which Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justices Brennan, White, Marshall, and Stevens joined Justice Scalia in filing a statement concurring with the judgment. Justices Blackman and O’Connor took no part. The court ruled Rotary International Clubs are considered “business establishments” and held that The Unruh Act does not violate the First Amendment by requiring California Rotary Clubs to admit women and application of the act to local Rotary Clubs does not interfere unduly with club members’ freedom of private association.

 

Rotary International President M.A.T. Caparas on May 4, 1987 remarked that its “constitution provides for operating within the laws of all the countries in which there are clubs. Rotary International is the first and most international of the world’s service club associations with more than 22,800 clubs and over one million members in 161 countries. Members must be of good character and reputation, and must hold some professional, proprietary, executive or managerial position in their business or profession. Membership will be by invitation with the intention of continuing to have within each club a cross section of the business, organizational and professional leadership of the community. Rotary’s programs and services have benefited both men and women since Rotary was founded in 1905.”

 

On June 23, 1987, District Governor Elect Dr. Tim K. Siu installed the first woman President of the Rotary Club of Duarte, Dr. Sylvia Whitlock. She received her B.A. Hunter College of the City University of New York, Masters of Arts from Cal Poly Pomona, Ph.D. in Education at Claremont Graduate School. She was qualified to serve as President by attending the Presidents Elect Training Seminar and District Assembly after being elected by the Rotary Club of Duarte.

A report by Governor Tim submitted to the R.I. General Secretary Philip Lindsey in Evanston, Illinois reported 46 attendees to the 19 member club. Attorneys from the ACLU) American Civil Liberties Union and Women Lawyers Association were also in attendance. Single press coverage was the Pasadena Star news. It was a very enthusiastic installation. Major projects for the year were The Polio Plus Program and Say No to Drugs.

 

Since June 20, 1987 many women Rotarians have served as presidents and governors. The Rotary Club of Alhambra had its first woman president in 1993-94, Christine Montan. Since then, Phyllis Murphy in 1998-99, Dr. Tina Siu 1999-2000 and Frances Moore in 2001-2002.

 

District 5300 has been blessed with 70 exceptional District Governors since it’s inception. William F. Walk of Ontario, California has gone on to become the highest ranking officer as president of Rotary International. Jim Speer and Carl Miller served as Past R.I. Directors.

 

The first woman District Governor of 5300 was Margaret Cooker of Victorville, California. Governor Margaret received her B.A. Degree in Australia and her Masters of Arts in Business Administration in the U.S.A. She is the owner of Health Ventures providing access to alternative health and wellness technologies, medical legal nursing consulting services and case management services.

 

The addition of women into R.I. has been positive in District 5300. By September 2002, Rotary had net membership of 1,243,431, 31,256 clubs in 163 countries worldwide. President Bhichai Rattakul said: “We can best serve the new generation of young men and women Rotarians, considerate of their financial and scheduling pressures as they actively dedicate their lives to the ideals of service by the motto, Sow the Seeds of Love”.

 

Tim K. Siu, M.D.

District Governor 1987-88

 

Doug Rudman