Page 14 - 2016 July voices
P. 14
BURIED TREASURE
EUGENE TOASTMASTERS CLUB # 145
by Harvey Schowe DTM-District 7 Historian
During the spring Eugene Toastmaster members helped organize
of 1930, the Eugene a junior Toastmasters club (Toastmasters Youth
YMCA had a speech club named Toastmasters, Leadership program) for high school age boys.
It was not affiliated with Toastmasters They met at the YMCA House on Thursdays.
International. Club members voted during In 1947, club members experimented recording
a June 1930 meeting to become a closed club speeches on records with background music.
and limit membership to 25 people. The club R. G. Crates was Lieutenant Governor for Area
remained active through 1931. Another speech 2 from 1946-1947. He was elected District 7
club called Toastmasters was established in Governor for 1947-1948. He served as a speech
early 1936 and was associated with a University contest judge at the Spokane Zone conference
of Oregon campus YMCA chapter. Eugene on May 31, 1947. Herbert W. Moore, District 7
Toastmasters club #145 was organized August 22, Secretary, was a Eugene Toastmasters member.
1939. Elected club officers were club president: In 1962 he ran for Eugene city council office.
Ira Woodie, vice president Clifton Culp, secre- Eugene Toastmasters members helped organize
tary/treasurer Carrol Groshong and Sergeant two clubs, Cascade #566 and Springfield #567.
At Arms: Fred Brenne. Both chartered on March 24, 1948.
At Seymour’s Café on Tuesday December 5,
1939 meeting, Frederick Ely (past Toastmasters Club member, Blair T. Alderman, was
International Director and Treasurer, elected District 7 Governor. On August 26,
Lieutenant Governor for Area 5 District 2 and 1949 while driving home from the Toastmasters
Salem Toastmasters Club #138 member) spoke International Conference in St. Louis, Missouri,
about the history of Toastmasters International. he died following a head-on collision. The club
Robert Nish, a faculty member from the was awarded Honorable Mention as Toastmasters
University of Oregon Speech Department, gave Club of the Year. Another member, V. Edwin
a short talk. Ray Brodon was the Toastmaster, Johnson, became mayor of Eugene in 1953.
and the speakers were Howard Ragan, Claire During early 1960s’, the Eugene Toastmasters
Kneeland and Ira Woodies. Ernest Davis, Club held an annual liar’s contest. Unfortuantely,
District Two Governor, presented the club the club has since dissolved.
charter to club president, Ira Woodie, on
Monday January 8, 1940 during an evening yilbIdtnfeooeosyuadcpoorrmaiuernmreareomeamraoelcmemttoahaiooodrenrrenereedrss,,.,
banquet held at the Osburn Hotel. Caroll John Quincy Adams
Groshong, first place winner and Fred Brenne,
placed second in the club speech contest.
They were the first Eugene Toastmasters club
members who participated in the first District 7
Spring Conference. The speech was held May
15, 1941 in Medford, Oregon. Carl Broderson,
club president, attended this conference along
with other club members.
Two speakers and a general critic, along
with 12 members from the club, participated
in chartering Coos Bay club #249 on March
16, 1944. In 1944, Dick (R. G.) Crates and other
14 Volume 3 Issue 1 - JULY 2016
