Page 26 - April 2021 Voices
P. 26
FIELD NOTES
Because We Went to a Conference!
Jana Barnhill, DTM, PIP
Hello members of District 7! I am looking to do that!” “I could do that!” My husband on
so forward to joining you virtually for your the other hand, was intrigued by someone they
conference. Rise to the Challenge!. . .what an called an “International Director.” He listened
appropriate theme! I hope you are all planning to the person deliver a keynote speech and he
to attend. thought, “I want to do that!” “I could do that!”
However, just in case some of you are The rest, as they say, is history.
questioning the value of attending a Toastmasters I joined a Club the following week. I spoke as
conference, allow me to share this. I will never often as I could, and as soon as I felt comfortable
forget my first District conference. I wasn’t even a enough, I entered the Humorous Speech Contest.
Toastmaster. My husband had just recently joined I won! I went to Area. I lost! Well, the trophy
and came home one night saying, “There’s some that is. But I won a lot more than a trophy. That
kind of Toastmasters conference in town this was my first big eye-opener on the importance
weekend. I’m not really interested but thought of getting out of my Club. That experience made
I might go to the banquet. You want to go with me realize that I had become comfortable with
me?” “I guess,” I said. So, we went. That one event the surroundings, with the members, with the
changed our lives—forever. routine. I thought I was learning everything I
I was fascinated by something they called needed to know right there. Had I ever fooled
the “Speech Contest.” Remember, I wasn’t even myself! I discovered that getting out of my Club,
a Toastmaster, but I sat there listening to those my comfort zone, was almost like starting over.
speakers—watching them, and I thought, “I want There was a whole new arena to learn. And I was
26 ONE COMMUNITY
