Page 19 - August 2017 Voices

SUCCESSFUL CLUB

Clackamas Stepping Stones

by Linda Smith, ACS, CL

Clackamas Stepping Stones Toastmaster President’s Picnic
Club was chartered on April 1, 1986. We are now when we induct our
in Area 64, Division E, District 7 of Region 2. I new officers; November is harvest festival time,
arrived in April of 2011 from District 12 (Inland followed with December’s Ha Ha Holiday Party.
So. CA.) My husband and I knew we’d find great Clackamas Stepping Stones is a much honored
people in Toastmasters, and joined Clackamas club. We’ve been President’s Distinguished nine
Stepping Stones immediately. times, Select Distinguished three times, and
We were right. Displayed on the wall were Distinguished once. And that’s only since 2003.
two banners and an American Flag. One banner
was unreadable because of all the ribbons sewn We finished the previous Toastmaster year as
to it. And on the second was displayed Gary President’s Distinguished, having accomplished
Schmidt’s name. He was International President all 10 goals.
2008-2009. This club was his home club. Best I am so proud to be a member of Clackamas
of all, we were greeted by people with friendly Stepping Stones Toastmaster Club, and I
faces. That whole package sold us on this club. presently serve as their President. I have a board
I have been looking through the records of competent and congenial officers.
which seem to begin in 2004. I do not know Come visit us any time and keep an eye out
who was president; I do not know how long it for our events on Facebook.
took to charter. I do know the club used to meet Linda has been a Toastmaster since 2007, when
in a Denny’s. After the arrival of Dan North as a she joined as a charter member of The Contrarians
member, the meetings were held at its present
location, Milwaukie Lutheran Church. Toastmaster Club in Irvine, CA—Founders District.
In the first copy of board meeting minutes, I Her career has taken many unexpected turns,
see that Dan North served as VP Education, Linda having been a social worker, a book seller, an office
Thornton as VP Membership, Gary Schmidt as manager for a small family business, and taught junior
Secretary, Susan Lannis as Treasurer, and John high school as a substitute and college level English.
Waters as Sgt-at-Arms. ( John served as SaA Now, she’s retired and working on her first novel.
almost continuously from then on.)
In April of 2016, we celebrated
out 30th year as a Toastmaster
Club. We planned for months, and
invited all District, Division and
Area dignitaries. The social hall was
decorated with streamers, balloons,
and glittering table decorations. The
food was delicious and the company
delightful. Gary Schmidt honored
us with a keynote speech.
Such parties are not unusual for
Clackamas Stepping Stones. Our
club calendar has always been filled
with events. We host at least one
open house per year, and there’s
a special meeting every month.
Examples: In February we auction
off desserts for Valentine’s Day; in
May it’s Cinco de Mayo; July is the

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 AUGUST, 2017 19