Page 28 - June-2021-Voices

FIELD NOTES

Pathways Proponent Committee

Dr. Gwendolyn Avington, DL1

On July 1, 2020, the door closed on the traditional educational program, and Pathways became the only
available option. District 7 leaders understood there would be challenges and chose to be proactive. The
Pathways Proponents Committee was formed, and Dr. Gwendolyn Avington appointed as Committee Chair.
Gwen, being the true leader that she is, formed a committee of eager volunteers. Together they worked

tirelessly to ease District 7 members into Pathways. At the end of the committee work, they acknowledged the
work must continue in some form. Starting in July, 2021, Dave Bones, DTM will provide ongoing webinars
and assistance for District 7. Look for Pathways webinars beginning in September. The dates/times will be
posted on the District 7 calendar. What follows are comments each Committee member shared as the end of

their work together. [Editor}

Eldred- Program Quality Director opportunity to help District membership

Working with Dr. Gwendolyn Avington learn and adopt Pathways. Also, I saw it as an
and the Pathways Proponents Committee has opportunity to stretch my own leadership skills.
been a joy. When Gwendolyn and I started the The Traditional Manual program had been

Pathways Committee, our mission was to make the learning method for over sixty years in
Pathways more accessible to all members of Toastmasters and now the educational program
clubs in District 7. Gwendolyn and her Pathways would be replaced by a digital education
Committee embraced my vision and worked program called Pathways. The challenge for

tirelessly to become a team of Pathways gurus so Eldred, myself, and the committee was to
our one guru James Wantz could move on to other determine how to help all District 7 members
roles. Our Pathways committee empowered have access to Pathways’ training, particularly
clubs to embrace Pathways, to get more people the fundamentals of navigating this new

active in Pathways, and to earn educational educational program online. We used several
awards in Pathways. Thanks to Dr. Gwendolyn strategies to achieve this goal (i.e., monthly
and her team, our key Pathways metrics of Pathways’ webinars, Pathways’ presentations
Pathways adoption and achievement improved, in various clubs, One-on-Ones with members,

so I consider our mission accomplished. TLI Pathways presentations). Additionally, the
creation of the Trio-pardy game with emphasis
Dr. Gwendolyn Avington- Pathways on Pathways for the conference, was a way to
Proponents Chair grow and learn while having fun. We grew as

Working with Eldred Brown and all the a team, as Toastmasters, and most importantly
division Pathways Proponents has been my we gave it our all to serve as Pathways’ liaisons
privilege. When I was asked to fill the position throughout the District.
of District 7’s Pathways Chair, I saw it as an

28 ONE COMMUNITY