Page 3 - 2018 June Voices

Year-end Musings

Phyllis A. Harmon, DTM - Editor/Publisher

And another Toastmasters year rolls to a close . . .
Looking back over our proverbial shoulders, we ask ourselves year after year
if we’ve accomplished all we set out to do. Did we meet our goals—the ones we
were brave enough to shout to the world, as well as those we quietly promised

ourselves in the dead of night? If you did, good for you! You are among the 8%
who actually achieve their goals. I’ll give you a well deserved pat on the head
and sing your praises the next time we meet.
I didn’t reach all my goals this year, but I’m okay with that. I set out to finish a
DTM under Pathways. Didn’t happen. I also told myself that I would start writing
a book about my years living on the road. That didn’t happen either. Those are
goals I’m still pursuing, but time moved faster than I did.
What was accomplished? Most were intangible goals, but very important
nonetheless. As Division H Director, I gave my team the freedom and opportunities

to step into leadership—to make their own mistakes and learn from them. I
supported their visions and kept them focused on the job at hand. They did
well. What they learned will serve them in the years to come. EDITORIAL
As a club officer in four of my five clubs, I fulfilled my roles and worked with
my fellow officers to support the members and their goals. The clubs had a
comfortable constancy that attracted new members. There were no political
upheavals which gave the members a solid and safe environment where growth

was possble. I think we did well.
As this year rolls to a close, I’m already planning for the next. Goals will be
set, and I’ll whittle away at them one step at a time. But if at the end of another
year, I didn’t accomplish everything on my list, I’ll be okay with that too.
In the long run, when I meet my maker, I expect he will ask me
if I had a full and meaningful life. I’m pretty sure he won’t
ask me if I accomplished my planned goals every year.

Volume 4 Issue 8 February 2018 Monthly Columnists 2017-18 Officers Administrative Manager
Publisher Donna Stark, DTM District Director Crystal Pugh, ACB, ALB
Phyllis Harmon, DTM John Rodke, DTM Donna Stark, DTM
Emilie Taylor, DTM Public Relations Manager
Associate Publisher Leanna Lindquist, DTM Program Quality Director James Wantz, DTM
Brenda Parsons, ACS, ALS Terry Beard John Rodke, DTM
Brinn Hemmingson, ACG, CL Voices! is published monthly by District 7
Senior Editor Harvey Schowe, DTM Club Growth Director Toastmasters. First issue published August
Phyllis Harmon, DTM Emilie Taylor, DTM 2014. Submit articles or contact us at
James Wantz, DTM voices@d7toastmasters.org
Associate Editor Future Stars Gavel Club Finance Manager
Leanna Lindquist, DTM Lee Coyne, ATMS Karen Sempervivo, DTM

VOICES! | MARCH, 2018 3