In early 1963, the South Atlantic Region Governor, Blanche Rogers, held several organizational meetings with a group of business women in Gaithersburg, MD.  At these meetings she discussed the Soroptimist organization – its purpose, how to organize a new club and classification of members.  The Montgomery County Soroptimist Club agreed to sponsor a new club.

The first formal meeting was held March 25, 1963, with the Montgomery County Club President, June Wiener, presiding.  At this meeting the Club decided to be known as the Soroptimist Club of Upper Montgomery County, MD, and meetings would be held at the Washingtonian Country Club on the third Monday of each month.  Election of officers was held and Beth Lagerson was elected president.  Plans were made for a Charter Party on May 13, 1963.  There were 22 Charter Members.

The May board meeting was spent drawing up a tentative Constitution and Bylaws to be presented at the regular meeting in June.  These were presented and approved.  Beth Lagerson (shown in photo) assumed the President’s office July 1, 1963 and served two years (June 1965).