Page 3 - January 2019 Voices

Integrity

Phyllis A. Harmon, DTM

Editor/Publisher

Pat Johnson, Past International President, talked alot about integrity
during her breakout session at TLI on January 12th. It got me thinking
about commitment and what we say we will do, but in reality we only

sometimes do . . . if it fits our world vision . . . or doesn’t make us work
too hard . . . or . . . don’t bother to do “it” at all.
To my way of thinking, commitment and integrity are two sides
of the same coin. If I’ve committed or promised to do a certain

action or to follow a given set of standards, and then I don’t—whose
integrity is tarnished? If you commit or promise to follow a certain
set of standards and you don’t, and I am privy to your lack of follow
through and don’t speak up—whose integrity is tarnished?

All of us know people, clubs, organizations who commit or promise
to follow a course of action but don’t “walk their talk”. Do we turn a
blind eye because it’s easier? Or do we speak up and call them to task?
If we don’t speak up—whose integrity is tarnished? If we do, can we EDITORIAL

weather the slings and arrows surely coming our way?
I wouldn’t go as far as Pat did suggesting that a club who hasn’t
maintained a 20-member base has lost its club integrity. However,
if a club calls itself a Toastmasters club but doesn’t adhere to the

operating standards commited to at charter, or doesn’t follow or teach
the Toastmasters educational program—whose integrity is tarnished?
To some, silence is golden. But the shine on that golden
silence is beginning to look a bit worn—tarnished if you

will. I need to ponder some more on this topic, but I’m
pretty sure I’ll do what’s right—what I’ve commited and
promised to do. The slings and arrows? Bring them on!

Volume 5 Issue 7 January 2019 Monthly Columnists 2018-19 Officers
Publisher Donna Stark, DTM District Director Administrative Manager
Phyllis Harmon, DTM John Rodke, DTM John Rodke, DTM Bob Pugh, ATMS, CL
Emilie Taylor, DTM
Associate Publisher Leanna Lindquist, DTM Program Quality Director Public Relations Manager
Brenda Parsons, ACS, ALS Terry Beard Emilie Taylor, DTM Lauralee Norris, IP3
Lauralee Norris, IP3
Senior Editor Club Growth Director Voices! is published monthly by District 7
Phyllis Harmon, DTM Harvey Schowe, DTM Cate Arnold, DTM Toastmasters. First issue published August
James Wantz, DTM 2014. Submit articles or contact us at
Associate Editor B. Lee Coyne, ATMS Finance Manager voices@d7toastmasters.org
Leanna Lindquist, DTM Paul Fanning, DTM Karen Semprevivo, DTM

VOICES! | JANUARY 2019 3