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.
See also Past District Governors.