Page 16 - Voices-2022-04

FROM THE DESK

Would You Go to Prison for Toastmasters?

Jim Robison, DTM - Club Growth Director

ome of us have
decided, yes, we
would go to prison
Sfor Toastmasters. Of
course, we only stay there for

a couple of hours at a time.
Allan Edinger has been going
to Prison for Toastmasters

in District 7 for almost 19
years. He has been a driving
force behind ensuring that
our Toastmasters members
who are in prison succeed.

Worldwide there are 140 to 150
Toastmasters clubs in prisons.
There are also an unknown

number of Toastmasters Gavel of these studies have shown necessary to make real change.
Clubs. that among a population that There are five Toastmasters
Toastmasters programs in normally had an over 60% rate clubs in prisons in District 7.
prisons have helped thousands of returning to prison, among One of those clubs, Capital
of individuals change their the Toastmasters participants Toastmasters at the Oregon

lives for the better. Studies that rate dropped to ZERO. State Penitentiary in Salem, is
in Oregon, Louisiana, Texas, Part of this result is well on its way to completing
Hawaii, and elsewhere have due to self-selection, those 10 out of 10 Distinguished

demonstrated that incarcerated inmates who participate in Club Program goals for the
individuals who complete Toastmasters tend to be those 15th straight year! Capital
Toastmasters educational who most want to change Toastmasters is the largest club
goals and/or who continue to their lives. Toastmasters gives in District 7 with 42 members.
participate in Toastmasters them the tools to do that. While Capital Toastmasters

after release have precipitously In Toastmasters they learn was able to arrange to continue
reduced recidivism rates. Some the skills and self-confidence meeting during the last two

16 ONE COMMUNITY