Page 47 - March 2021 Voices
P. 47
BURIED TREASURE
Frank Paulding & First Canadian
Toastmasters Club #38 (Part Five)
Harvey Schowe, DTM - District 7 Historian
Ralph Smedley began discussions for a THE NORTHWEST SPEAKS
Toastmasters federation in July 1930 at the THE SPOKES CLUB
YMCA Summer School at Whittier College
in California. Clark Chamberland was the Our good friend Frank Paulding, General
temporary chairman. Committees were assigned Secretary of the “Y” at New Westminster, B.C.
to study the federation plans. Frank Paulding sent in the following interesting account of
expressed interest in having the Spokes Club the Spokes Club, which corresponds to our
become part of Toastmasters. In his book, Ralph Toastmaster Clubs here in the States.
Smedley wrote, “It occurred to me that with a In speaking of the club program, he says:
club in British Columbia seeking to join us, we “You will notice that we have four Toast
might consider us international too; and so, I nights, five Debate nights, and one continued
suggested that we call ourselves Toastmasters study subject, namely recreation, together
International, frankly acknowledging that the with some miscellaneous topics. So far, we
source of my idea was Rotary International.” are having the best attendance that we
In late summer 1930, temporary officers have had in years, which speaks volumes
were appointed. Clark Chamberlain requested for the popularity of the program. We have
all known clubs to send representatives to an approximately forty members.
organizing meeting in Los Angeles, California The Spokes Club is not a regular dinner
on October 4, 1930. The first permanent officers club; it holds dinner meetings occasionally.
elected during this meeting were: J. Clark At the beginning of the season, they send
Chamberlain, President; Arthur H. Johnson and out a printed program, which schedules
C. George Hedstrom, Vice-Presidents; Robert coming topics and events, from October to
H. Orr, Secretary; George M. Grant, Treasurer. April first when an Annual Toast Night is held
During this meeting, the idea for a newsletter to wind up the season. This program idea
or bulletin named The Gavel was proposed as is a splendid one and no doubt some of us
a means for clubs to communicate with each could profit from our meetings by following
other. The first issue of The Gavel was published this idea.
December 6, 1930. Two years later it became
Toastmaster.
Frank Paulding wrote the following article
for the December 6, 1930 issue of The Gavel:
VOICES! | MARCH 2021 47
