3. Women Can Also Serve: The Lawsuit That Changed Everything

Sylvia Whitlock, was born in New York City but educated in Kingston, Jamaica. Sylvia worked for the United Nations, before moving to California to start a career in education. Along the way, she earned her Ph.D., cum laude, from Claremont Graduate School. Subsequently, she earned another masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University, and began a second career as a therapist. She is licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California. In 1982, joined the "Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte" in California. Why was "Ex" part of the name? The admission of Mary Lou Elliott, an elementary school principal, had caused the ouster of the Rotary Club of Duarte from Rotary International. At the time, women were not allowed in Rotary, though the 1987 US Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Duarte club forced Rotary to open its doors to women, and to reinstate the Duarte club.Sylvia became president of that club the same year, making her the first woman in the Rotary world to head a club as president. She has held a wide variety of roles at the club and district levels, and has been a district assistant governor. Her history and speaking skills have allowed her to present at conventions and meetings all over the world. She is the author of Women Also Serve, and has been called "one of the most groundbreaking women I know" by Rotary International President Jennifer Jones. Today, Sylvia will tell us some of the stories of her history with Rotary, as well as her work to help Rotary open its arms to more and more people around the world. ⁠⁠More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley⁠⁠    Website: ⁠⁠Rotary.cool⁠ Meetings’ ⁠⁠Video Archive⁠⁠ YouTubeChannel⁠⁠  How to become a member in ⁠⁠this online Rotary eClub⁠⁠ ⁠⁠More about Rotary International:⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.Rotary.org⁠⁠ Find a ⁠⁠local Rotary club⁠⁠  Find an ⁠⁠online Rotary Club⁠⁠   Podcast and Zoom Host: ⁠⁠Rushton Hurley⁠⁠ Podcast Producer: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠ Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠  #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary