Page 14 - Voices 6.2017

JOURNEYS

Meet the Talented David Freedman

by Brinn Hemmingson, ACG, CL

I watched David
Freedman compete in the International Speech
Contest this year, and realized, here was a very
unusual speaker! Why? No facial expression.
“I have a very rare congenital neurological
disorder called Moebius syndrome. Simply put,
the cranial nerves that control facial and eye
movement didn’t develop properly, which left
me with a bilateral facial paralysis.”
“I still have a wide variety of interests and
talents which include being a trained singer,
actor, writer, and of course public speaker via
Toastmasters. Oddly enough, I sing quite well
with at times even clearer diction than my regular
speaking voice. I am a trained countertenor with
a 2.5 octave range.”
“A good friend recommended Toastmasters. If you want to help conquer your fear of
I thought it might help with improving some of public speaking and gain additional skills,
my acting skills. Indeed, Toastmasters is the only Toastmasters is the place for you. You will also
group I’ve ever joined that allows me to make absorb a lot of information about leadership
use of all of my skills in a wide variety of ways, and different speech styles. Documentation Changes People
not the least of which is preparing my speeches “I’m still feeling the impact, but right now,
and keeping up my acting skills. Toastmasters to my great surprise, I’ve been asked to take on
has helped my speaking skills by forcing me to more leadership responsibilities both in and
slow down and consider more carefully how outside of my club. We’ll see where that leads.
I convey the message in my speeches, among Now if only I could figure out how to use my
other things.” Toastmasters experience to get more television
David has been a member of Babble-On and film roles. Maybe someone could contact
Toastmasters since November 2013. He was George Clooney for me? He used to be a member
recently elected to be the Sergeant-at-Arms of of Toastmasters. Just a thought… ;)
the club.
Davis says, “I believe that Toastmasters has
given me greater confidence to be a leader on One who gains strength by
a personal and professional level. It’s also been overcoming obstacles possesses
invaluable in helping me to develop skills in
giving speeches that I can use in acting and other the only strength which can
vocations.” One reason he joined was because,
he didn’t initially feel comfortable leading other overcome adversity.
people. Now, he could take the initiative more Albert Schweitzer
readily when the situation arose.

14 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 12 JUNE, 2017