Page 22 - voices.10.2018
P. 22
TERRY TALKS
The Greatest Gift: Helping
Others to Find Their Voice
How to Become an Evangelist for Toastmasters While Building a Community
Terry Beard
Three years ago, when Portland Rotary Rotarians encouragement and support, I knew that I was
formed the Portland Rotary Toastmaster Club, in embarking on a journey of personal growth
Portland Oregon, USA, I suggested to my fellow and development that would eventually pay me
charter Rotarian Toastmasters that we embrace unbelieveable dividends at work, at home, and
the vision to become “The Greatest Toastmaster at play. With the benefits of becoming a public
Club in The Universe.” At the time, when I first speaker through Toastmasters, I owed some rent
broached the idea of becoming “The Greatest of gratitude not only to my fellow Toastmasters
Toastmaster Club in The Universe,” the idea but to share with everyone who suffers from
met with grins and chuckles. Today, our vision glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, the
is becoming our reality. opportunity to overcome the dreadful disease
When I first joined Arlington Club plaguing America.
Toastmasters, someone took me by the hand. At Like everyone, I meet people in the
the first meeting, I was so timid and shy, that I community at meetings, at lunches, at business,
was afraid to stand up at Table Topics to take my and social events, at Toastmaster meetings, at
turn to speak. However, my sponsor talked to me Rotary meetings, wherever, when asked what I
after the first meeting. He didn’t point out that I am up to, I tell them. I am in Toastmasters, and
passed during Table Topics. He invited me back I have a ball. I share my story, about overcoming
to the next Toastmaster meeting. My sponsor my fear of public speaking laden with humor.
suggested that I get back up on the saddle, and the They see that I am so excited that I have found
next time at Toastmasters I did get up to speak at my voice when I ask them to come to visit a
Table Topics. My sponsor cared so much to help Toastmaster meeting with me, they usually say
me to overcome my not feeling good enough yes.
about myself which kept me in Toastmasters. I recognized years ago that I have an
Seven months later, I finally worked up the obligation and a responsibility to share what
courage to give my Icebreaker Speech. After someone did for me, to pay it forward. That is
wrapping up my first speech, I choked up to take a sincere interest in me as a person and
with emotion. With my fellow Toastmasters’ guide me. The rent for taking up space at the
22 ONE COMMUNITY
