Page 9 - December 2020 Voices

What it takes to keep a community together is determination, a willingness to make mistakes and a lot of humility

smoke free, HRT-free and plaque free. Pathways, holding elections and welcoming
The answer to question three: what gave you guests from every corner of the world. Cedar

joy in 2020? – begins, for Hills Toastmasters has welcomed guests from
me, with a good health Minnesota, California and Washington State.
In 2020 report. The greater joy I know of one Toastmaster who visited a club
of 2020 comes from somewhere in the world every day for a month.
staying connected to We have learned new tricks for timing speeches.
What made you sad? the people we care We are becoming more adept at writing

about thanks to the evaluations for one another.
marvels of technology. District 7 hosted a professional quality
What did you learn? Thanksgiving Day was Toastmaster Leadership Institute on Zoom.

a day of celebration. We look forward to more opportunities like
What gave you joy? Eight households in these. Toastmasters International has proven
four states connected its flexibility and mastery of technology. We got
for varying amounts to “go to” the 2020 Toastmasters International
What gives you hope of time throughout the Convention in spite of this global pandemic.

day. We were able to What fun to “see” friends, “participate” in
visit with friends and educational sessions and “attend” the World
for 2021? family in Minnesota, Championship of Public Speaking. The business

Arizona, Oregon and meeting was capably handled by Immediate Past
Washington State. We President Deepak Menon, DTM. Speaking and
cooked together, played voting during the annual meeting were a little
games, baked cookies, watched football, napped tricky, but thanks to the army of support, the

and generally had a wonderful day. It was almost meeting looked effortless.
as if we really were together. We are looking The fourth and final question I invite you to
forward to being together again for Christmas. ponder is this: What gives you hope for 2021?

It’s a little like the elementary school children’s My gut response is that I “hope” 2020 just
geography lesson that included “Flat Stanley” goes away quietly, without a struggle. Can it
(google it). just slip away into the night of December 31st?
Toastmasters clubs all over the world are Can we pretend it didn’t happen? Was this all
making the most of the electronic connectivity. a nightmare and on Friday morning, January

Clubs are adding members, progressing through 1, 2021 we wake up, shake it off and get back to

VOICES! | DECEMBER 2020 9