Page 13 - 2018 August Voices

FIELD NOTES

Whoda

Thunk It?

Susan Ellsworth, DTM

A friend of mine once said “Whoda thunk it?” • ZOOM, a highly popular video conference
Two years ago, who would have thought that application, now not only being used by
the online community would include: the online clubs but by other Toastmasters
• Twenty (20) chartered online clubs, International organizational units.

including one specifically organized for • Lively discussions about possible online
DJs and Masters of Ceremonies. Clubs with club officer training, and what our
names such as “The First Arabic Online Toastmasters organization would have to
Club In the World,” “ABLAZE,” “Buddies” do to permit Districts to present it without

and “Bowh Alkalima For Ladies.” asking World Headquarters for permission
• Ten (10) registered prospective clubs. to do so.
• Several online clubs presenting standalone • Lively discussions about Districts allowing
sessions about the online experience. undistricted club officers to attend their

• A collaborative of online clubs with more club officer trainings.
than 200 members.
• Members helping members learn how to Whoda thunkit in July 2015 that Pathways and
build more online clubs. the online clubs community would have had such

• Six members of online clubs—some a dynamic impact on each other?
members with extensive Pathways
experience—helping to present an Not me. Not by a long shot.
experimental symposium on various

topics such as conflict resolution and other Susan Ellsworth is one of the pioneers of the online
Pathways topics. club movement that began with the Board of Directors
• Group membership in the Online decision to admit online clubs to the Toastmasters
Toastmasters Resources FaceBook group community. She is a charter member of two online

founded in April 2014 with 3,100 members clubs, Firebirds Collective and Great White North
• A Pathways Discussion Forum with nearly Online Toastmasters which she founded. She has served
6500 members, including most members in various club officer positions in her clubs. She is a
of the online community. frequent contributor to Voices!

14 ONE COMMUNITY