Page 15 - aprl 2017 Voices

CONNECTIVITY: THE HUMAN WAY

by Susan Ellsworth, DTM wth Brian Dodd, DTM

On 2 April 2017, we saw a fascinating that is getting to know the
FaceBook post about a lecture at Iowa State members in your club as
University by Distinguished Toastmaster Jim individual people. Not
Kokocki, our Immediate Past International as titles appended to our
President. According to Emily Hammer, at the names because we paid dues to participate in a
Iowa State Daily, his lecture focused on the Toastmasters club. Seeing and hearing someone
contrast between the digital world and face-to-
face communication. on a one-on-one basis goes a long way towards
I dropped Jim a note. “Hello, Jim Kokocki! developing a trusting relationship.
Saw your post above. In an interesting way, I “So what?” you might ask.
have discovered that belonging to two online When is the last time you visited (or were
Toastmasters clubs has increased
my usage of FaceBook video phone
calls. In those video phone calls, my
friends and I see each other face
to face. We learn about each other
directly because we appear to be up
close and personal with each other.”
Really?
Yes, really!
Jim’s post had reminded me of
my longtime Toastmasters friend
and Distinguished Toastmaster
Brian Dodd. Separated by more
than 2,300 miles and three time
zones, Brian and I had exchanged
Toastmasters posts with each other through in) a club in which the elected leaders had no
social media for many years. We have built a trust in each other? Did you see any teamwork
long-distance trusting relationship. As founding among them? Probably not. And yet teamwork
members of the Firebirds Collective, a 100% is a critical part of every club’s success.
online club chartered in March 2016, both of You want a successful Toastmasters club
us are advocates for the online experience. We
share organizational leadership opportunities experience? Connect so you can see and hear
and experiences. your fellow Toastmasters.
In the spring of 2016, Facebook Live changed Susan Ellsworth and Bran Dodd are pioneers in
how we connect with each other. Facebook Live creatng and supporting online Toastmasters clubs. To
had been born. Now we see and hear each other date there are 11 chartered, online-only Toastmasters
in person at least once a week. Sometimes our clubs with over 600 members. Several more are
Toastmasters chats turn to family or friends. working towards charter strength. Toastmasters
Or even to the latest word on the Toastmasters also allows brick and mortar club members to attend
grapevine.
“So what?” you might ask. meetings via the web. To learn more about this option,
It’s all about building trust—and then building take a look at the January 2017 issue of Voices!, where
a team. this topic is fully explored, or contact phyllis.harmon@
Success in any club depends upon trust that d7toastmasters.org for more information about how
members have with each other. A big part of to attend club meetings over the web.

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