Page 38 - Voices 6.2017
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Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad HPL?
by Marvin Walker, ACB, ALB
Once upon a time stuck in the Bronze Age”, he called out as he ran WE CAN
there were three little off to his job as a truffle hunter.
pigs who went out into When I asked some of the long-timed
the big wide world. accomplished Toastmasters which manuals they
It was a scary place enjoyed the most they often mentioned The
to be alone. Then Entertaining Speaker or Specialty Speeches.
they heard a radio When I asked about the most difficult or
commercial about challenging manuals, it is usually the HPL (High
Toastmasters International. Performance Leadership). It must be completed
The first little pig said, “I couldn’t go there. for the ALS or DTM levels.
They’ll make me give speeches and that is scarier Let’s examine why a manual with only 5
than being alone.” He wandered off
into a very large woods never to be Parts and 2 speeches is so feared. The manual
heard of again. There are rumors lets the Toastmaster develop their own project
that he met a hunny-loving bear, either within Toastmasters or in the scary
an owl, and a Tigger, but we outside world. When Dr. Smedley
can’t substantiate that. conceived the idea that became
The second little pig Toastmasters he had in
joined a Toastmasters club mind the equipping of
and found that frankly he individuals with those
could give some speeches. speaking and leadership
He did some tasks at skills that would enhance
meetings as well. all aspects of their lives.
However, when he My home club
got his Competent decided we needed to
Communcation (CC) and produce more DTM’s in
Competent Leader (CL) manuals the next year, so our
done there were those other VP-Education took a show
books out there, the Advanced of hands. She next ordered
Manuals. He was rewarded in a small supply of HPL
The Entertaining Speaker for packets. Soon there will be
being a real ham. Yes, he nibbled around the several members joining me with a LDREXC
edges, but there was this big bad scary manual after their names.
hiding out there. Some of the long-time
members would not even utter its name, HPL. In the future Pathways will offer you HPL
That stood for High Performance Leadership or Speechcraft or Youth Leadership Program
(or Horrible, Hideous Hairy) manual. It is only as alternate paths. The good news is you can
5 Parts and 2 speeches, but don’t be lured in. It take them all!!!
will huff and puff and blow your chinny chin Marvin Walker joined Newberg Toastmasters in
chin hairs off. Be content with the Bronze levels. 2015. He is currently serving as Sergeant-at-Arms
The third little pig joined a Toastmasters for Newberg Toastmasters.
club, too. He learned how to speak without being DO IT!
a boar. He got involved in various meeting roles.
The stopwatch was challenging with a hoof. He If you want to conquer fear, don’t
noticed that there were other members in his sit home and think about it. Go
club that had DTM on their nametags. That
meant that they had faced down the big bad HPL out and get busy.
and survived. He formed a HPL team, picked Dale Carnegie
a great project, and now is a DTM. “Don’t get
38 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 12 JUNE, 2017
