District 27 was organized in 1989. The eventual approval to create District 27 was a long and arduous process. Growth was causing leaders to be concerned about their ability to provide proper service to clubs and their members within District 36.
On January 5, 1984, Governor Paul Terry requested the Past District Governor's (PDGs) Council to appoint a committee of PDGs to consider the further subdivision of District 36 into 7 or 8 divisions. Dave Soule, Tosh Hoshide and Bill Miller were appointed members and Bob Blakeley, Chairman. The Committee felt that the scope of the study should be expanded to ensure that all pertinent subjects were considered. Later, Len Lundberg, Paul McCeney, Curtis Barrett and James Segnari were added to the study committee. At the Spring 1985 conference, Past International President Blakeley reported for the committee that certain management practices in the District must be addressed to ensure that eventual split of the District could be effective, including identifying potential leadership. Governor Wardinski accepted the report and referred the action to the District Steering Committee.
On February 3, 1987, Governor Fath requested the Past District Governors' Advisory Council to study the feasibility of splitting District 36 into two or more separate Districts. Mutual agreement was reached with the Council to propose an operational plan to accomplish the split, rather than do more studies.
Past International President Blakeley worked out the criteria and policy considerations with Executive Director Terrence McCann, receiving formal guidance by letter dated February 9, 1987.
District Governor Fath provided the operational plan by memorandum dated April 4, 1987.
Resolutions were passed at the May Council Meeting to:
a. Restructure the District into 10 Divisions and 51 Areas for the period July 1, 1988, through June 30, 1989.
b. Create the elective position of Associate Administrative Lieutenant Governor for that period.
c. Create the elective position of Associate Educational Lieutenant Governor for that period.
Officers' training was conducted within the District and at the Regional level.
The Board of Directors granted approval for the District to proceed with the transition.
The re-formed District 36 had new boundaries defined as the northeast and northwest quadrants of the District of Columbia, Montgomery County and Prince George's County north of a line extended from the north-south dividing line of the District of Columbia. This north-south dividing line runs eastward along East Capitol Street and Central Avenue to the eastern border of Prince George's County. There were 123 clubs in the re-formed District on the effective date of July 1, 1989.
The new District boundaries were defined as the southwest and southeast quadrants of the District of Columbia; the part of Prince George's County south of the line described for District 36 above; Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties in Maryland; and in Virginia: the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Warren, Rappahannock, Prince William, Fauquier, Culpeper, Page, Shennadoah, Rockingham, Greene, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George and Westmoreland. Independent cities within those county boundaries were also included. There were 111 clubs in the new District on the effective date of July 1, 1989.
Rockingham County was ceded to District 66 as a result of resolutions passed by the District 27 Executive Committee and approved by the Toastmasters International Board of Governors, effective July 1, 1997