Page 29 - july 2022

GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE

Your Adventure Begins Now!

Paul C. Fanning, DTM

Imagine that you are about to play an online members at the college. I sat and listened, but At the lectern, he proceeded to lambast my and months. At the end of three months, I found

role-playing game—an RPG. There would be was that a bead of sweat forming on my brow? speech, pointing out that the examples I used myself in a wheelchair due to a massive foot
flashing lights, great graphics, and of course Were my 3x5 cards with my notes written in were people unpopular with native peoples, and infection attributed to where I worked and being
the ever-present, modulated voice-over found large letters actually readable on the lectern? how insensitive I was to the native local culture in wet boots and socks most of the time. The
in many of these types of games. That voice— Was that butterflies in my stomach or a greasy on the reservation. You could have knocked doctor gave me an ultimatum—change jobs or

dramatic, somewhat menacing (but not too Darth lunch rebelling? And then I heard my name, my me over with a (prayer) feather! Not only was I plan to remain in the chair without my foot and
Vader-like) but oh so "Hollywood” intones, “Your speech title, and the evaluator’s name as I was disappointed in his evaluation of me, but I felt possibly even more missing parts as they were
Adventure Begins Now.” invited to address the club. “Your adventure is betrayed and embarrassed to be called a racist, unable to halt the infection. I was lucky (due to
That was how I felt almost two decades ago now in progress.” per se, by someone who I considered a friend. my Toastmasters connections) to get a position

in Eastern Oregon as I waited for my name Now in a perfect world, or the perfect After all, I had spent over five years collaborating with BMCC soon afterwards with the English as
to be introduced by the Toastmaster in the Hollywood movie, I would have dazzled my with various native peoples in Alaska and had left a Second Language, Adult Basic Education and
Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) fellow Toastmasters with my witty repartee, there with many friends and elders I respected GED programs which lasted until 2013 when
classroom. My adventure was to begin. It indeed my eloquent use of the English language, and among the three major tribal groups. I returned to the green trees and non-desert

was my first “public” Toastmasters speech, out obviously have it well received, and my topic The room remained silent after he strode lands of Western Washington County. That soon
of the small green workbooks of the era. Time fully understood by the admiring audience. Yet off at his conclusion. They sat just as stunned freed me up to attend Toastmasters often, be
seemed to stand still. In my opinion, it was the reality was somewhat different and a difficult as I was by what had been said. Sadly, for me, shown what an evaluation should be like by the
like watching an old Sci-Fi or war movie with teacher, and upon conclusion, a polite response that was Chief’s last Toastmasters meeting, and Washington club. The main lesson I learned was

the beeping green radar screen showing the from the Toastmaster until the evaluator was we drifted apart. He had said that my speech to “know thy audience before thou opened thy
blips—me the speaker, the evaluator, and the called forward to ply his craft. Drum roll, please! confirmed the gulf, the “Grand Canyon” chasm mouth and inserted thy foot” mode of speaking
Toastmaster-friends and foes —converging upon Up strode the evaluator to the lectern. He was between the white culture and his native culture. and preparing a speech.
each other in that sense of impending doom. a neighbor of mine, and I was always mindful I was hurt inside, and we never reconciled, nor This adventure was to bring me to the

No, it was not my first Toastmasters speech as that he resembled Graham Greene of the movie did he allow me to discuss it further with him. point of becoming a club officer many times
I had already given my Icebreaker and perhaps Dances with Wolves fame. We all called him What was my speech about, you ask? Hopi over, multiple Triple Crown and Distinguished
another one or two, but this was a combined “Chief'” He stood well over six feet, large frame Kachina Dolls, and those who collected them, Toastmaster Awards, Area and Division Director
meeting of three Toastmasters clubs—one from with hair braids and was a Lakota-Sioux from i.e., Senator Barry Goldwater and John Wayne. positions and culminating with my term as

across the river in Washington’s Tri-Cities, the Dakotas. He might as well have worn deer (See my Voices! “Reflections” column from the District 7’s Administration Manager. It truly has
not even in our area or district, the original skin clothing and carried a pipe bag. He was September 2019 issue.) been a great adventure, a journey, a sojourn, and
sponsoring club from whom the BMCC instructor serious, business-like, and stern faced. I do not I discovered a lot about myself and service to others through Toastmasters—which
was a member, and us, the “new” club of fledgling know where he kept his horse! Toastmasters that day and the following weeks I have never regretted beginning nor wished to

28 ONE COMMUNITY VOICES! | JULY 2022 29