Page 10 - Voices! - october 2015

BURIED TREASURE

Looking Back at 1941

By Harvey Schowe, DTM – District 7 Historian

Sixty delegates attended the first District 7 Toastmasters On April 6, 1941, Toastmasters International President
spring conference. It was held at the Medford Hotel on Sheldon M. Hayden visited Portland, Oregon where he
Saturday May 19, 1941 in the town of Medford. During addressed members of Portland, Eugene and Salem
the business meeting Chalmer Blair was elected as the Toastmasters clubs during an evening banquet. As the
second District 7 Governor. Robert N. Nixon acted as the guest of honor he presented the Portland Toastmistress
District Secretary. Chalmer joined Portland Toastmasters Club #46 their charter at the Woodcraft Building on April
club #31 before joining Timberline Toastmasters club 7, 1941. It was the first Toastmistress club established
#94 where he served as club secretary in 1938. During in Portland, Oregon. Portland Toastmasters Club #31
1940-1941, Chalmer was appointed Lieutenant Governor members attended the ceremony. Toastmistress club
for Area One. According to Glen Meek, past district officers were Mrs. Catherine Beazley, Club President; Miss
historian, he participated in organizing District 7. During Marjorie Seivert, Vice-President; Miss Helen Rudberg,
the July 1941 Toastmasters International Conference in Secretary; and Miss Reona Flynn, Treasurer.
Santa Cruz, California Chalmer delivered the nominating
speech for Ernest C. Davis who was running for President
of Toastmasters International. Ernest Davis won the
election and became the first International President
from District 7. After completing his term as District
Governor, Chalmer remained active in Toastmasters as an
Area Governor and participated in the 1945-1946 speech
contests. Professionally he was a credit manager and
comptroller for a Portland automobile company.

Robert N. Nixon was the first District 7 member to
participate in Toastmasters International Speech Contest.
Nixon represented Timberline Toastmasters club #94 in
the District Two International Speech Contest at Olympia,
Washington May, 1938. During the 1941 District 7 Spring
Conference, Robert Nixon was announced as first place
winner with his speech “And the Pursuit of Happiness”.
Second place was awarded to Carroll Groshong, a
charter member of Eugene Toastmasters club and Area
Two Governor, who spoke on “Education in the Rough.”
Placing third was Wesley Hayes of Klamath Falls, on the
topic“Parenthood in a Democracy.”MedfordToastmasters
Club #67 charter member Dr. William F. Roney, served as
toastmaster for the contest. Robert Nixon delivered his
speech at the Toastmasters International Speech Contest
and an impromptu contest where he spoke on the topic
“Every Day Is Wonderful”. He did not place. A promotion
led him and his family to Salem, Oregon in January
1942. He joined Salem Toastmasters club #138. He was a
member until January 1943.

10 Volume 2 Issue 4 - OCT 2015