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“social distancing” or “vector points” and the have two tickets for T2 opening day game).
like. This will be week four of “stay in place” for We learned to adapt, educated ourselve, and
me as our building is locked down—the new alternative and innovative methods for meeting
“Hotel California” where we have checked in occurred. Some tried parking lot meetings or
and nobody can leave. Masks and gloves to be gathering in parks until even that was prohibited.
worn outside the complex. No guests, family The online meeting was my second lesson
members or friends allowed inside. We can meet learned. Online meetings are not new. I
in the parking lot briefly, or sit in the solarium remember how my one club did a phone-in
leading into the building, but all the rest is slowly meeting four or five years ago when the roads
becoming a fading memory. were closed after a storm. It worked. I’ve
And now for our new education as attended meetings with participants from all
Toastmasters! New lessons are being learned over the world. Now with online meetings being
in how to deliver the program, to continue encouraged by Toastmasters International
meeting, and still have fun and fellowship from during this time of crisis, it appears that Zoom
the comfort of our own home. We aren’t dead- meetings, where you can see everyone from the
we’re still alive is my mantra for now. Take for confines of your living room, are the way to go.
example “social distancing”. If you had asked District 7 responded by providing temporary
what that meant six month ago, I would have meeting “spots” on Zoom. By the way, some
said no bathing for a month, brushing your choose to show their avatar instead of being
teeth, using deodorant or perhaps not even “live” while they sit there in their pjs. We have the
changing your clothes-all would force social new “norm” for club meetings, speech contests,
distancing! Instead, we responded quickly to and socialization.
the call for keeping our distance in our live club This now brings me the third lesson I
meetings. We ceased shaking hands. Instead, we learned. I call it the take-time-to-smell-the- roses
instituted fist, elbow, and work boot heel bumps. initiative. Always in a hurry was I—catching
Cities, counties, and states put a halt to physical the bus or the train to go to a meeting, scarfing
meetings, school events, and sports venues (still down a quick meal between meetings, and . . .
VOICES! | APRIL 2020 21
