Page 13 - November 2019

THE District BEAT FROM THE DESK

Why I Like Toastmasters

as often as you can in your club and at least as uplifting and inspiring. We are so blessed with

many times in front of your mirror at home. such opportunities to learn and grow in a safe PJ Kleffner, DTM
When you attend TLI, you meet goals for the place. Many have embraced Pathways. They can
club. When you bring in new members, you mentor you, take you by the hand, and let you Program Quality Director
help them and you meet goals for the club. know that stumbling now and then is how we

When you get together and work on common all grow and become better. What a wonderful
goals for the club, your club eventually becomes place we have and we learn by helping others I spent November 16th with over 200 of my
Distinguished. It is a byproduct of working the giver receives the gift. By being the heart of favorite people—Toastmasters. The occasion was
together. It becomes easier and more fun to be Toastmasters that all of you are, by goal setting the District 7 Winter Toastmasters Leadership

Distinguished as opposed to joining the yawn and goal celebrating, we will be Distinguished Institute at Inza R. Wood Middle School in
fest and having your club become extinguished. despite our selves. Wilsonville. This training completed the
It really comes down to a mind-set. After all, we I am so very proud of all of you embarking second half of the requirements for Goal #9
have so many breaths and heartbeats…. How are on your first step, first speech, or running the in the Distinguished Club Program. Each club

we using them? TLI, or helping out or just showing up. Every must have at least four officers attend training promotion, education coordination and overall
I am not cracking a whip to tell you to do my one of you are important and every place and twice per year to meet the goal. My immediate volunteer coordination. I also noticed a lot of
bidding and become Distinguished or anything stage you are on your pathway and help make task now is to update records at Toastmasters people who just saw something that needed to be
else. I am in this position as a result of being in Toastmasters what it is. International so all of your clubs get credit for done and did it. That is the attitude that makes

my own stagnation, yawn fest so to speak and I am here for you all and thank you for being you being trained. Toastmasters such wonderful people.
finding the gift that Toastmasters provided here for me! It was great to see old friends, including If your club officers were unable to attend,
as something beyond myself, life changing, Back to you fellow Toastmasters! some I have known for my eighteen years in check with your Area and Division Directors to
Toastmasters, and the new friends I have met find out when they will be holding local sessions.

along the way. I had to smile when our keynote Our next District 7 training opportunity will
speaker, Adele O’Neal, mentioned a skit she did be Saturday, December 14, 2019 back at Inza R.
as a Trio member with Gary Schmidt and Beryl Wood Middle School, when our Region Advisor,
Anderson, because I was there! It was probably Cindy Laatsch, will conduct a workshop on

the first District meeting I ever attended, and I “Leading Through Change”. This event is open
thought “These people know how to have fun.” to all members. Check the D7 Events Calendar
I must confess I don’t remember anything else or click here for details. More information is
from that meeting, which is a good lesson when forthcoming, including a link to pre-register.

writing our speeches—humor sticks with us. Please do pre-register when that link becomes
Putting on an event like TLI takes a available, so we’ll know how many are planning
tremendous amount of effort. A huge “Thank to attend.
You” to the many volunteers who helped, To all my friends, and friends I have yet to

especially those who were coordinators for the meet, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving
various activities and the people on their teams. holiday weekend. Safe travels if you’re going
You are the ones who made it all happen— anywhere, and I’ll see you in December.
registration, food, sound, breakout rooms,

12 ONE COMMUNITY VOICES! |NOVEMBER 2019 13