Page 24 - 2017 December Voices

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Reprinted wth permisson from Oc tober 2017 issue of U Magazine --Editor

TOASTMASTER, LECTOR, MENTOR Pat Lynch
ADVERTISING SALES, THE BULLETIN

By Sue Stafford for The Bulletin Special Projectsy Sue Stafford for The Bulletin Special Projects
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Photos by Tess Freeman and submitted
Photos by Tess Freeman and submitted
at Lynch will celebrate her 82nd birthday on a t
a teenager (“as a member of the chorus or in small eenager (“as a member of the chorus or in small
PNovember 2 and she won’t be sitting quietly at parts,” she qualified). After graduating from Chouinard arts,” she qualified). After graduating from Chouinard
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home. Lynch will be busy at work in the advertising A
Art Institute in Los Angeles, she continued in musicals rt Institute in Los Angeles, she continued in musicals
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department of The Bulletin, where she has worked for while she lived for two years in Australia.hile she lived for two years in Australia.
the past 22 years. T Traveling has always been high on her list, and as part raveling has always been high on her list, and as part
Lynch, a Portland native, who admits she was shy as of a group from Marylhurst College, she traveled f a group from Marylhurst College, she traveled
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both a child and an adult, decided in 2004 to face her t through 13 European countries. hrough 13 European countries.
fear of public speaking by joining the Highnooners One Friday night, at a church social, Lynch met Jim, ne Friday night, at a church social, Lynch met Jim,
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Toastmasters Club in Bend. The club empowers a w
a widower; they became engaged 10 days later and idower; they became engaged 10 days later and
members to develop communication and leadership m
married three months after that. She became mother arried three months after that. She became mother
skills for greater self-confidence and personal growth. t to his three children, two sons and a daughter, and o his three children, two sons and a daughter, and
Although it took her a year and a half to make her they were married for 34 years.hey were married for 34 years.
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first speech (most people do it within their first four S She and Jim loved hiking in the High Sierras, starting he and Jim loved hiking in the High Sierras, starting
weeks), she has gone on to serve as a club coach at 10,000 feet and descending to stay in camps at 0,000 feet and descending to stay in camps at
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for two other Central Oregon chapters. As the T Tuolumne Meadow, Merced Lake and Sunrise before uolumne Meadow, Merced Lake and Sunrise before
Toastmasters High Desert Division governor, she reaching the Yosemite Valley. On Christmas Eve eaching the Yosemite Valley. On Christmas Eve
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traveled to other clubs from Madras to Alturas, 2001, she lost Jim to a heart attack, an event she 001, she lost Jim to a heart attack, an event she
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California. During her tenure, the High Desert r reconciled by saying, “I’m so glad he’s not stuck econciled by saying, “I’m so glad he’s not stuck
Division received the President’s Distinguished Division i in bed. God wanted him.”n bed. God wanted him.”
Award, the highest award given to a division by the
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international organization. She has also attended a Lynch enjoys writing as well as painting ynch enjoys writing as well as painting
with acrylics and watercolors. Her beloved ith acrylics and watercolors. Her beloved
number of International Toastmasters conventions. w
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Hasselblad camera, which Jim bought for sselblad camera, which Jim bought for
From her experience with Toastmasters, Lynch gained h her, requires film so she hasn’t recently er, requires film so she hasn’t recently
the confidence to become a lector at her church, as pursued her interest in photography.ursued her interest in photography.
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well as teach religious education classes for adults. W
With no plans to retire, Lynch will continue ith no plans to retire, Lynch will continue
“Of the 100 things feared the most, death is number t to split her time among Toastmasters, o split her time among Toastmasters,
two, and public speaking is number one,” said Lynch. w
work, church, family and the City Club of ork, church, family and the City Club of
Central Oregon, where she is a member entral Oregon, where she is a member
This dynamic woman doesn’t just want to be able to C
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speak in public. What started as a personal challenge of the planning committee.f the planning committee.
has become a passion for helping others gain self- H
Her walker, which she calls Robbie, helps er walker, which she calls Robbie, helps
confidence and the freedom that comes with it. She L Lynch to stand upright as she deals ynch to stand upright as she deals
enjoys nurturing leadership qualities in others as well. w
with curvature of the spine. But even ith curvature of the spine. But even
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Lynch may have been shy in her youth, but that didn’t physical impairments can’t slow down hysical impairments can’t slow down
prevent her from experiencing life to the fullest. this dynamo with the sparkling eyes, his dynamo with the sparkling eyes,
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She performed in musicals as he performed in musicals as b bright smile and undying confidence.right smile and undying confidence.
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Without self-confidence, ithout self-confidence,
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it is difficult to do what
it is difficult to do what
you want with your life. you want with your life.
It’s such a blessing to
be able to do what you
really want to do.
U Magazine | October 2017 | 15

24 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 6 DECEMBER, 2017