Page 7 - January 2020

Debra Burger, PM4
Fostering a Culture of Growth

Phyllis Harmon, DTM

January’s cover story features Division C Director, Debra
Burger, PM4. Debra joined Toastmasters in 2006 and is a
member of Transtoasters in Salem, Oregon.

Why did you join Toastmasters?

I had to do a speech in my high school speech
class. It was my first experience with public speaking.
I stepped up to the lectern. All I saw were eyes staring

back at me. I felt shaky. I felt myself getting warm like
a thermometer. I looked down at my arms and saw
red blotches. I don’t even remember what I said but I
started to hear the giggles and snickers from all the

high school kids. Back then that really bothered me.
I bolted out of the room before my speech was done.
Fast forward to my first state job. I realized that I
was going to have to overcome my fear of speaking in

public. I went to a Toastmasters meeting and tried not
to make any eye contact so they wouldn’t call on me
to give a Table Topics speech. I joined Transtoasters
Toastmasters in 2004. We meet in the Department of

Transportation Building in Salem on Tuesdays from
12 pm to 1 pm. I thought that joining Toastmasters was
all I needed to do to become a better speaker.

VOICES! | JANUARY 2020 7