Page 19 - 2016 february issue
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BURIEDTREASURE
MEDFORD TOASTMASTERS CLUB # 67
by Harvey Schowe DTM-District 7 Historian
In December 1936, the Medford Speakers The December
Club, a local public speaking club in Medford, 1940 issue of
Oregon became the 67th club in what would To a s t m a s t e r s
eventually become Toastmasters International. Magazine announced the first spring District
Toastmasters’ magazine announced “Medford, 7 Convention in Medford, Oregon on May
Oregon with Charter Number 67 barely made 19, 1941 with Orville Kingman as conference
the grade in time to get into the December committee chairman. Chalmer Blair was
issue. They came through with their charter elected as second District 7 Governor.
presentation on January
14, 1937 with Mayor and After World War II broke
other dignitaries of the out, Toastmasters conferences
city on hand to give were suspended until 1945.
tone to the occasion- During the War, members
and perhaps to learn participated in Red Cross
something about how a speakers’ bureau and one
Toastmasters Club adds member Frank Gray became
to the glory of the home a field director for Red Cross.
town.” Medford club Donald T. Nelson District 7
received considerable Governor visited the club on
support from the community based on the February 21, 1944. On April 10,
number of guest speakers such as the mayor of 1944 meeting invited guest speaker Corporal
Medford, service club leaders, and the Medford Malcome C. Douglass for a speech about his
High School principal. experiences as a dog team driver and meteo-
rologist for Admiral R. E. Byrd’s 1939 and 1942
Medford Toastmasters members assisted Antarctic expeditions. During this meeting club
in organizing Klamath Falls Toastmasters club members recorded speeches for monitoring
that George Davis of Lovenze Company of speech craft program progress.
Klamath Falls was promoting. Members held During 1944, Ray Harrison club member
a meeting at 7:00 pm on November 15, 1937 became lieutenant-governor for Southern
at the Elk Hotel. Frank Gray was Toastmaster Oregon Division that included Medford and
and speakers were John Gribble presenting Klamath Falls. Milo Ross won Southern Oregon
Tuberculosis Seal Campaign, Seth Bullis on Safety, Division speech contest held in Klamath Falls
Dr. William F. Roney on Humor, and Frank Hull with speech titled “America”. He competed
presented Purposes of Toastmasters. in the District 7 Contest held on June 2, 1945
in Portland at the Chamber of Commerce.
On May 23, 1938, Klamath Falls and Medford District 7 Governor, Donald T Nelson, chaired
Toastmasters clubs held a joint meeting in the contest. Past District Governor, Charles
Medford, Oregon where Dr. George S. Jennings, McEihinny, was toastmaster. Milo Ross won
Medford club, presided and Vern Moore second place in this contest. At 1946 District 7
Klamath Falls club president was Toastmaster. Spring Conference, Carlos Morris, a Medford
Club members discussed plans for organizing Toastmasters club member placed second
Toastmasters clubs in Ashland and Grants Pass. with speech “Our Greatest Blessing”. Medford
Ernest Davis, District Two Governor, addressed Toastmasters club # 67 remained active for
the joint meeting of Medford Toastmasters and many years but now disbanded.
Toastmistress clubs on May 29, 1940 before
traveling to Klamath Falls to present the charter
to Klamath Falls Toastmasters Club #97.
Volume 2 Issue 7 - FEBRUARY 2016 19
