Page 2 - Voices 6.2017

EDITORIAL Publisher

What if . . . Phyllis Harmon, DTM

by Phyllis A. Harmon, DTM Associate Publisher
Editor/Publisher
Brenda Parsons, ACS, ALS

In a workshop recently, I learned that you can influence your
audience by focusing your energy and pushing it outwards. The Senior Editor
further out you mentally push it, the wider the net and the greater Phyllis Harmon, DTM
the change that occurs. This notion intrigues me.
Have you ever walked into a room, and “felt” or intuited
what just occurred before you came through the door? Is it just Associate Editors
observation that fed you that information or something more Leanna Lindquist, DTM
arcane? Donna Stark, DTM
Years ago, quantum mechanics researchers discovered that
at the subatomic level there were no absolutes. Whatever you John Rodke, DTM
desired to see, was what you found—that just by looking at Layout/Design
something with intent created the outcome you desired. This
discovery threw the researchers into a quandary. Nothing could Phyllis Harmon, DTM
be pinned down and studied like a bug under glass. Replication, Curtis Low
the standard for proving anything, was impossible. At the same
time, other researchers discovered that we were all connected 2016-17 Officers
at the subatomic level—plants, animals, humans—all creatures District Director
great and small. Leanna Lindquist, DTM
Which is why I’m intrigued by the notion that we can
influence a room, conference hall, auditorium—actually any Program Quality Director
space—through focus and intent. Donna Stark, DTM
I keep thinking that if one person can influence the energy
in a room full of people, what could we accomplish if we joined Club Growth Director
forces? If everyone focused with intent on a desired outcome? John Rodke, DTM
I believe we could change the world. If every member of
every club pushed positive energy into every meeting, we would Finance Manager
attract new members like bees to honey. Retention would no Jill Ward, ACB, ALB
longer be an issue as members would only leave under duress.
For a couple of years, I’ve felt that the energy level in the Administrative Manager
District was depressed, as if something was weighing us down.
But now I know I can change that, one room, conference hall, or Rodger Cook, ACB, ALB
auditorium at a time. Starting today, I am focusing with intent
on pushing positive energy into the world. I invite you to join Public Relations Manager
me in this new adventure. Together we can be the change we Phyllis Harmon, DTM
want to see in the world. Voices! is published monthly by
District 7 Toastmasters. First issue
published August 2014. Submit
articles or contact contributors at
voices@d7toastmasters.org

2 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 12 JUNE, 2017