Page 30 - 2019 April

LEANNA LISTENS
Bruce & Gloria Crockett
THE VALUE OF TOASTMASTERS
Leanna Lindquist, DTM
I met Gloria and Bruce Crockett at a High
Desert Division Contest when they were new to
Toastmasters. I have reconnected with them over
the years at contests and conferences. Their story
of a couple enjoying Toastmasters together should
inspire other members to invite their spouses to join.
What brought you to Toastmasters?
We joined the Redmond Toastmasters Club
in February, 2016. We sought out Toastmasters
because we were both representing a multi-
level marketing (MLM) company and wanted
to improve our presentation skills. Both of
us are ordained ministers. When ministers
preach a sermon they have much more time to
develop their story or thought process with the
congregation. In MLM, a representative may
only have a minute or five minutes at the most
to share. Learning how to speak effectively in a
timed scenario was essential for our professional
goals.
What has your Toastmaster journey been
like?
In May of 2017, Bruce was elected President of
the club for the 2017-18 year and Gloria was the
Sergeant of Arms. Together we had a lot to learn.
The members of the club were very supportive
and willing to do their part to help make the
club successful. Club members attended TLI and
District Conferences, the club sponsored Open
30 ONE COMMUNITY
Houses at the Redmond Library, and one of the
club members was always at the Chamber of
Commerce Coffee Clatters on Friday mornings
to share about Toastmasters.
We found not only a new skill set, but also
a community of believers in the purpose of
Toastmasters. Developing leaders and improving
our speaking skills are supported by all club
members because we are all striving for the same
things. Honoring the accomplishments of the
club’s members and the flow of encouragement,
mentoring, and opportunities to grow are
unceasing, especially when you have a great
team on the Executive Committee.
Why do you stay in Toastmasters?
We enjoy belonging to the Toastmasters
of Redmond for what we have learned and
are learning. It is the safe environment, the
supportive club members, the mentoring and
encouragement, the growth in confidence
as leaders and speakers that is the proof of
Toastmasters success. In the mix of all of this,
let us not forget the fun that leads to laughter is
what keeps this club healthy.
Tell us about the challenges your small
town club has and how you address
them.
We live in a community of 28,000+ people.
We have watched members come and go but we
have a stable core group and our club seems to
attract new members when needed. Recruiting
happens at Open Houses, Chamber Coffee
Clatters (our club sponsors one every year), and
in conversations with people in the community.
Our approach with the community is to express
and demonstrate how Toastmasters adds value
to your professional life. We are successful in
recruiting because of our “presence” in the
community.
Valerie Nichols, our VP of Public Relations, is
savvy with social media. She has improved our
presence on Facebook and our Facebook page,
posted videos of our meetings, our awards at
Level recognition, and our club Speech Contest
award presentations. Val wrote an article for a
local publication with pictures and names of
Toastmasters who achieved Levels 1, 2, or 3.
Dee Cort, club president, and Beckie Sibley,
VP of Membership, are running a Toastmasters
class for the Redmond High School ROTC that
is going quite well.
Please share your advice to members
who want to invite their spouse to join
their club?
Not all couples are ready to join Toastmasters
at the same time. It depends on their
circumstances (age of children, schedules,
club meetings time), their professions, or their
demeanor. Some spouses are quiet, and some are
outgoing. If a member wants to invite a spouse to
join, laying a foundation in advance before the
invitation is important. Sharing these positive
components may help the spouse: the club has
a safe environment, there is no pressure to get
up front right away, there are many beginners
in the club currently feeling the same way the
spouse might be feeling, the support for each
member is excellent, the club meetings are fun
and have lots of laughter, and the club is growing
and very successful in the community, are all
good elements to point out. Does this make the
decision to join easier? Do people/couples have
a yearning to belong to a community of people
where they are appreciated? Where they are
challenged in supportive and gentle ways? We
VOICES! | APRIL 2019 31