History of the Mid-Atlantic Section ( Excerpted from the MAS Directory, 2000)
The Mid Atlantic Section became a reality on August 16, 1980 at the 47th National Convention of the ABA held in Dallas, Texas. The Committee on Vice Presidents, Earline Winn, chair, in its report on boundaries, recommended that a "new section, the Southeastern Section, be formed consisting of Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Delaware."(1). George Johnson, then ABA National Treasurer, moved adoption and Geraldine Wilson, Eastern Section Vice President seconded. Of equal importance was a further motion by Dorella Martin Jones (WBU) to rename the new section the Mid Atlantic Section. Both motions were carried, and the Mid Atlantic Section was born.
The raison d'etre for this recommendation, which was spearheaded by Jacqueline Sheppard, National President ( 1976) and Geraldine Wilson, ESVP, was that the Eastern Section that included the Mid Atlantic States, had grown too large for effective and equitable management, and therefore, should be divided. The division, now finalized, became effective on January 1, 1981.
Herman Jones, of the WBU was the last Vice President of the old Eastern Section, which included the Mid Atlantic states, and Calvin Rubens was duly elected the first Vice President of the new Mid-Atlantic Section. Unfortunately, Calvin died during his second term and Herbert Quarles was selected to fill out his term.
The ABA was founded 1932 in Buchroe Beach, VA, within the boundaries of the new Mid Atlantic Section.
