Page 9 - july 2022
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COVER STORY















 Toastmasters from all over the world as I   Distinguished. They held Open Houses,   these were notes to give evaluations, feedback,

 participated in my Leadership training the   delivered speeches, and persevered to   grammarian reports, etc. A few members
 last two years. I found it interesting that I   complete their goals. We are beginning this   of the Club were longtime members who
 had so much in common with people from   new Toastmaster year with the same ambition   would sometimes comment about how much
 other parts of the world. Toastmasters and the   and continued motivation.  Toastmasters had changed since they started
 issues and questions we have here in District   Our District will have great incentives this   allowing women to be members (changed

 7 are the same in Asia, Europe, and Canada.  year for our members and clubs. Watch for   for the better). One story they told was that
 In 2020, I was asked to run for the position   new ones and old favorites which include the   before Toastmasters International allowed
 of Club Growth Director. It was the first   Moments of Truth, Club Success Plans, and   women to join, some Clubs (including

 Covid year and things were uncertain. Yet,   Club Open Houses.  Portland Toastmasters) would admit women
 the members in our District supported my   We will include    as members and just put their initials on the
 similar ci cumstances. I had carefully prepared,   efforts to build new clubs and support all clubs   •  Pursuing viable club leads  membership application—until Toastmasters
 planned for a meeting, knew exactly what I   in achieving excellence. We chartered six   •  Building new clubs  International started rejecting those and
 was going to say,and someone with a stronger   new clubs and coached many. I appreciated   •  Helping clubs plan quality meetings  required full names.

 voice took over the meeting and I never had the   my Team members as we worked together to   •  Welcoming new members.
 chance to speak. Again, I knew I needed to start   achieve district goals. Last year our Teams   It is going to be a great year and I’m glad   What has been your greatest Aha! Moment in
 my Toastmaster journey. After a discussion with   were able to implement two-day Toastmasters   we are in this journey togetherthis journey   your Toastmasters journey so far? Why?

 a manager, I set a new goal to join Toastmasters.   Leadership Institutes, monthly Learning   together, let’s continue to talk.    Perhaps it was when I realized that I could
 I endeavored to take the program to heart. I   Labs, Tech Tuesdays, Pathways trainings,   .,  do a better job of helping other people improve
 embraced the full program. What really made   and we offered a fun Bingo incentive. It was a   their communications skills than what I could
 me stay in Toastmasters was the evaluations.   great year in the making. What I have enjoyed   do myself.  It makes me feel good when I can
 The evaluations shared with me inspired me   the last two years is meeting people from all   Jim Robison, DTM - Program Quality Director  give a speaker recommendations on their

 to continue. I was told what I did well, how I   District 7. Together we have worked hard and
 could improve, and how to take my speeches   had a great team effort. We have been able to   Why did you join Toastmasters?
 to the next level.    take a difficult situation like Covid and turn   I joined Portland Toastmasters in 1991

 it around where we can all learn, grow, and   when a friend invited me.  When I first started
 What has been your greatest Aha! Moment in your   meet new people.  to attend I did not have the funds to pay
 Toastmasters journey so far? Why?  dues, so I attended as a guest for 9 months
 I attended Toastmasters meetings at 6:30   What is your vision for the District as the District   before joining the Club. I guess 9 months as
 on Wednesday mornings about 10 miles from   Director during 2022-2023?   a guest is not much compared to the 31 years

 my house. With the advent of Covid, I have   My vision for 2022-2023 is a continuation   I've been a member. I remember seeing a lot
 been able to join meetings and meet people   of the past two years: “to build new clubs and   of people in the room taking notes during
 who live around Oregon, as well as other states   support all clubs in achieving excellence.”   speeches and wondering "What are all these

 and countries outside the United States. I met   Members worked hard to finish the year   people taking notes about?" Later I realized



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