Page 29 - June 2020

BURIED TREASURE

EUGENE TOASTMASTERS:

OREGON’S FIRST CLUB (Part 1)

Harvey Schowe, DTM

Portland Toastmasters Club 31 chartered in Secretary Frank Eberhart it began November 29,
April 1935. It was thought to have been Oregon’s 1921. Course instructor Professor James Pointer of
first club. That changed after Toastmasters the Eugene Bible University told the 14 students

International posted The Gavel for years 1930- that the primary goal was teaching them courage
1931. The 1930 issues listed a Eugene, Oregon to speak in public. The course outline included
Toastmasters club. The December 1931 issue, writing short speeches and debates, along with
listed a Portland, Oregon club. During the second teaching students to think on their feet, and
Toastmasters International Council meeting to persuade an audience to accept a proposal.

in San Diego, California, Toastmasters officials Pointer penned criticisms of student speeches
issued a charter for a Portland, Oregon club on that were given to them individually. During the
December 13, 1931; almost four years before first meeting, University of Oregon President P.

Portland Toastmasters Club 31 chartered. The L. Campbell and A. C. Dixon, manager of the
Eugene Register Guard and The Gavel magazine Booth-Kelly Lumber Company, addressed the
articles provided additional information about students. Campbell said the speaking class was
the Eugene club. founded for a business reason. The University
Eugene Toastmasters charted November 26, of Oregon extension school in Portland had 200

1929, about five years after the first Toastmasters students taking public speaking. Dixon said that
club meeting on October 22, 1924 at the Santa “fallaciousness and superficiality are two enemies
Ana, California YMCA. Often early Toastmasters of public speaking. Speeches are seldom successful

clubs evolved from YMCA public speaking classes if the speaker does not know what he is talking
which was the case for Eugene Toastmasters. about.” During the second class, a debate was
YMCA Eugene Center Educational Committee arranged with the topic Should Oregon be taxed for
members discussed plans for an association school the Portland Exposition. J. Griffin and H. R. McLean
that included salesmanship, bookkeeping, and supported the affirmative and O. J. Holt and L W.

public speaking at their July 6, 1921, meeting. Korn the negative. During the 1920s, the evening
Members who organized the public speaking YMCA public speech classes grew in popularity.
class were E. I. Keeney, R. A. Booth, Judge G. F. Eugene Register Guard newspaper articles

Skipworth, George H. McMorran, Earl O. Immel given credit and provided copyright permissions
and A. A. Rodgers. Immel, an attorney, joined the for information and photographs used in District
Eugene Toastmasters club after it chartered. The 7 Voices magazine articles and District 7 history
16-week Monday evening public speaking class was about the YMCA public speaking courses and Eugene
taught at the YMCA Center. According to YMCA Toastmasters club.

VOICES! | JUNE 2020 29