Page 15 - 2018 December

FROM THE DESK

Because of Toastmasters . . .

Cate Arnold, DTM - Club Growth Director

As I write this article, I am in flight over In the last year I know of one member
Norway on my way to Lahore, Pakistan where whose salary doubled when he was hired as a
I will give a 45 minute speech on The Power of sales representative for one of Silicon Forest’s
Communication. I was invited because I had high tech companies. Another member, with

served at the Pathways Guide for the newly English as his second language, spent 6 months
chartered Crescent Toastmasters Club at Crescent looking for a new job. He said that the positive
School. The conference is part of the school’s energy he gets from club meetings and helpful
50th anniversary. My audience will be 700 critiques from both evaluations and his mentor,

teachers, alumni, and donors. The school has gave him the reassurance that he could do a
over 7000 students, age 2 ½ through high school. good job answering interview questions in spite
The new club is made up of 20 teachers. I was of his accent. Although he was nervous, he felt
invited to come after serving as their Pathways energized and confident. After going through 3

guide. I am flying halfway around the globe interview levels, he was hired for a great position.
where I will be treated to a stay at an exotic hotel In 2019, I encourage you to look at your
in a place I would never have visited otherwise. I club’s use of evaluations and mentors. Is it
am thankful for the opportunities that my work time to have a review of what makes up a good

with Toastmasters has brought me. evaluation? See the Evaluate to Motivate module
The offer to speak came because the Crescent from the Successful Club Series. Are you using
Toastmasters recognized my speaking skills, mentors? Look at the Pathways Mentor program.
skills that I had developed because of evaluations I hope you will maximize your growth as a

that provided useful critiques on how I could communicator and experience great success in
improve. And from my mentor, an option I the New Year.
continue to use even though I am already a DTM.
Strong clubs help members to become strong It is the ultimate luxury to combine

speakers, evaluators, and mentors. We all know passion and contribution. It’s also a
the power of good evaluations to help speakers very clear path to happiness.
grow, but do we recognize the opportunities —Sheryl Sandberg
they can afford us?

VOICES! |DECEMBER 2018 15