Page 13 - January 2021 Voices

Begin With the End in Mind

pandemic, and the most bizarre Presidential have already said they will be hybrid or blended
PJ Kleffner, DTM - District Director election I have seen in my lifetime. We may Clubs (combination of online and in person)

not have a choice about the events that happen when the COVID restrictions are lifted and they
around us, but we do get to decide how we react can resume meeting in person. I must confess
to them. that I am liking the 30-second commute to my
For example, the transition to Pathways was computer, instead of facing Portland traffic, but

a major change, and some of our members I do miss seeing my fellow Club members in
struggled with that. However, at the Toastmasters person.
Leadership Institute this month, we announced The third distraction that I mentioned – the
the names of fifty Triple Crown pin winners. Presidential election, and the events of the last

These members completed a minimum of three couple of weeks – are a reminder of just how
levels in Pathways to earn that award, and some fragile our democracy really is. As I watched
of them earned multiple Triple Crown pins. In the assault on our nation’s capital building on
fact, these fifty members completed a total of live television, I had the same sick feeling in my

201 Pathways levels, which tells me that they are stomach that I remember while watching the
clearly not distracted. twin towers burn on 9/11. I struggle to understand
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be how we got to this point. You may think this has
a challenge, and completely changed nearly nothing to do with Toastmasters, but I think it

everything we do in Toastmasters. Rather than has everything to do with Toastmasters. We must
throw in the towel, we learned how to have put an end to the divisive rhetoric and learn to
meetings, speech contests, and training all communicate with each other. We must listen
online. There have been bumps along the way, to each other and find common ground, instead

but we figure it out. Some Clubs have struggled, of differences. If we don’t, I hate to think about
while others are thriving and have members where we will end up in the future.
from around the world. If you are looking for The three examples I cited have had a
a silver lining, the rich cultural exchanges that profound effect on our lives – not just as

result from meeting online is a good place to Toastmasters, but as human beings. These are
start. I know some members who made a goal to not transitory events – all three will have lasting
visit 90 Clubs in 90 days, which often involved effects. There is no putting the genie back in the
getting up in the middle of the night. I’m not bottle. As we adapt to these changes, remember

quite that dedicated, but I’ve heard wonderful that the only thing we can control is how we react
stories about their experiences and how they to them. Think about where you want to be next
were welcomed like old friends when they month, next year, or five years from now. Then,
visited these Club meetings. Many of our Clubs you can figure out what to do to get there. Begin

with the end in mind.

VOICES! | JANUARY 2021 13