Page 12 - Voices! - September 2015

BURIED TREASURE

By Harvey Schowe, DTM – District 7 Historian

CHARLES J. SPENCER, Jr., DTM
ACCOMPLISHED TOASTMASTER

Noontime Nomads members have the good fortune to have Charles
(Chuck) Spencer as a member. Chuck’s Toastmasters career began
in April 1959 as a charter member of ADA Toastmasters Club,
Boise, Idaho which is in District 15. The club continues as an active
club. After holding all club offices, Chuck wanted to serve as Area
Two Governor. He attended the District 15 Conference in Salt Lake
City, where he sought appointment to that position. Several days
before the conference, District Officers invited him to preside over
the Presidents Workshop. Members who attended the workshop,
and International Director, Richard V. Keim, were impressed with
his presentation and leadership skills. The International Director
nominated him for Junior Lieutenant Governor and Chuck was
elected. He served under Robert Walker, District 15 Governor. The
following year, he was elected District 15 Governor for 1963-1964
term. He gained distinction as one of youngest district governors
in Toastmasters International. District 15 gained five new clubs
that year under his leadership. Historically, they chartered one or two new clubs per year. Afterwards, Chuck
was asked to consider becoming an International Director candidate, but his employer did not feel they could
support that kind of time commitment.
In 1965 he moved to Gresham, Oregon because of a job promotion directly attributable to exhibited Toastmasters
skills at a University of Washington Training Seminar. He joined Sundial Toastmasters club # 2587 and remained as
an active member until 2000. In 1968-1969, he achieved District 7 Toastmaster of the year award. Furthermore,
he obtained an Able Toastmaster ABT #614 award. In 1975, he achieved an Outstanding Metro East Division
award. His next goal was achieving the Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) award that turned into a race with
Glenn Meek – Past District 7 Historian to see who would receive their DTM first. Chuck won the race when an
announcement was made in a January 1976 Oregonian article and District 7 newsletter awarding him with DTM
# 329 award by International President George C. Scott. He won District 7 International Speech contests in 1972
and 1981 then competed in Region One speech contests. Members of Sun Dial Toastmasters club nominated
Chuck through the Portland Volunteer Bureau as Volunteer of the Year 1981. He competed in the 1999 District 7
International Speech contest. During years between 1965 and 2000 Chuck won many trophies for Table Topics
Contest, Evaluation Contest, and Humorous speech contests. After a 13-year break, Chuck joined Noon Time
Nomads Toastmasters club #8472 in 2013, after the soon-to-be King City Toastmasters Club failed to charter. He
acted in an advisory role for club members.
In a TV interview in 2012, Chuck shared: “Why would I, after a 13-year break, want to join a new TM club? After
all, I’ve done it all in 41+ years (1959 -2000). Through the years, with support of many members and friends, my
family included, I’ve seen many folks grow; been a part of that growth. I have grown. The investment of time and
energy has paid off. I can still grow.
The developing of and hearing of speeches, table topics participation, and evaluation by your peers (Evaluation
elevates; criticism tears down.) are all positive growth aspects of TM. You gain a broader outlook, become a better
man, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather; a better employer or worker. (The Lord has blessed me with
a wonderful, supportive, care giving, loving wife. We have been blessed with five children, nine grandchildren
and six great grandchildren. We celebrated our 57th anniversary in January.)

12 Volume 2 Issue 3 - SEPT 2015