2009 Float Riders and Outwalkers

The 2009 Float Riders represent and celebrate 20 Years of Women in Rotary. On July 1,1989, the Council on Legislation decision took effect, and women were officially welcomed in Rotary.

Women business and professional leaders who wished to be part of the oldest and most accomplished service organization in the world realized their dream 20 years ago when the Rotary International Council on Legislation officially approved the admission of women to Rotary clubs.

Float riders listed below are Southern California Rotary leaders from Rotary Districts 5240, 5260, 5280, 5300, 5330, 5320, and 5340.

Jane McClenahan of Ojai, California, was a Rotary District Governor in 2007-08 for District 5240 that covers Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern counties. She is the former Executive Director of Ojai Valley Museum.

Jane joined the Rotary Club of Ojai-West in 1988, serving as Club President in 2002-04. Jane was one of the 7 Host District Governors for Rotary’s 2008 Convention in Los Angeles.

Always dedicated to the cause of polio eradication, she participated in a National Immunization Day in India in February 2000 and in 2007-08 her district raised more than $1.3 million for The Rotary Foundation including funds for polio eradication.

Connie Cashin is currently serving as the District Governor 2008-09 of District 5260, which includes 36 Rotary Clubs in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley and the Eastern Sierra. She is a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Sherman Oaks Sunset. Connie has held over 50 District Leadership Positions, including twice each as Assistant Governor and Governor’s Aide, As well as 14 years as District Public Relations Chairman, and nine years as Editor of the District Newsletter. She has been a Rotarian since 1989. She is a Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Paul Harris Society.

Professionally, Connie has owned her own company, Cashin Marketing Consultants, a full service shopping center marketing company, since 1990.

Carol A. Wylie was proud to serve Rotary International District 5280 in 1998-99 as District Governor – the first female for our District. Diversity and the Internationality of Rotary are my passion and through my Rotary journey I have seen many different cultures, customs and beliefs. It has been an honor for me to participate in several humanitarian missions and to serve Rotary as a Presidents Representative on several occasions. Rotary International is an organization that is changing the world and I am proud to be a Rotarian.

Carol has been a member of the Rotary Rose Parade committee since 1995 and served as the Chairman in 2002-03. This hard working dedicated committee and Carol were pleased to see the Float “The Sky’s the Limit” on January 1, 2003 as it traveled Colorado Blvd in the Rose Parade.

Carol has been a member of the Rotary club of Carson Gardena Dominguez since October, 1989 and served as Club President in 1994-95.

A note from Carol about riding in float….

The morning darkness and cold turned into bright warm sunshine as the floats in the parade traveled down Colorado Blvd. Crowds of people were waving and I was proud to be representing our great organization Rotary International. The weariness turned into enthusiasm and pride as people said “Thank you Rotary” for my Ambassadorial Scholarship. “Thank you Rotary” for my Group Study Exchange experience, look there is Rotary. Where are the men?

So many people are familiar with Rotary and what better way to showcase Rotary International to millions of people in this country and abroad than to have a Rotary float traveling down Colorado Blvd. on New Year’s Day!

Thank you again for the opportunity and thanks for the memories.

Carol

Sylvia Whitlock – 1st woman Rotary Club President, District 5300.

Sylvia joined the Ex_rotary Club of Duarte in 1982. In 1987, after a successful suit carried all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, the club was reinstated into Rotary.

Dr. Whitlock is a Psychotherapist and a retired public school principal. She has served Rotary at a district level since the readmission of the Duarte Club, chairing Ambassadorial Scholarship, Four-Way Speech Test, District Simplified Grant and many other committees. Sylvia is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow as is her daughter, Meredith.

Johrita Solari – Rotary District 5320 Governor Nominee 2010-2011 representing 47 clubs and 2300 Rotarians in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. She joined Rotary in 1993 and serve as the first female Club President to complete her term in 1996. She is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Anaheim. She has served Rotary as Assistant Governor, District Assistant Secretary, Member of the District Advisory Board, Member of the District Foundation Committee, Chair of the 2007 District Assembly, Member of the 2006-2007 District Conference Committee, Member of the 2008 Rotary International Convention HOC committee, Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Member of the Paul Harris Society and is currently serving as one of two Executive Assistant Governors. Johrita was recognized as a 2007 Rotarian of The Year in District 5320.

2007 Johrita participated in a National Immunization Day giving polio vaccine to children in Mexico. She is dedicated to “End Polio Now”.

Carrie Dao Allan – Past Rotary District Governor, District 5330
Rotary has been a major part of her life. Her husband Bob has been a member of the Palm Springs Rotary Club since 1964. She was the 1st female member of Palm Springs Sunup Rotary Club in 1987 and served as the 1st female President in 1992. She is a Physical Therapist and her first patients were in the Iron Lungs. Eradication Polio and International Peace are her Rotary passions.

Pam Russell is the District 5340 Governor for 2008-2009 representing 60 clubs and 3500 Rotarians in San Diego and Imperial Counties as well as Blythe. She is a member of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club and has received the Rotary International Four Avenues of Service Citation. Her Rotary dream is to see Rotarians At Work Day take place throughout the world, a day when every club and every Rotarian participates in a hands-on project in their community on the last Saturday in April. She is also passionate about The Rotary Foundation and the good it does around the world.

The Rotary Rose Parade Float is not an official Rotary International program.