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THOUGHTS FROM THE SIDELINE
Thanks For the Memories
Eldred Brown, DTM, IPDD
Has it really been that long? Little did I know what I had to deal with. I will also remember,
when I volunteered at the last minute—literally— and not with fondness, having to reschedule an
to run from the floor for Division D Director at area speech contest at the last minute because
the 2017 Annual Business Meeting the journey the Department of Corrections had placed a
that would start. Yes, including my two years temporary lockdown on the prison club tasked
as a Division Director and this year as IPDD, I with hosting the event.
have been serving in one elected D7 position or I was about to take another break from D7
another for six consecutive years. Now I’m at the leadership as the 2-year term limit on my service
finish line and more than ready to take a break. as a Division Director approached, but I didn’t
The last six years have been quite the journey. anticipate Leanna Lindquist planting the bug
Those first two years as the Columbia Division in my ear to run for the Trio. I figured that if
Director taught me a lot about how to lead a team a Past District Director said I would be a good
of volunteers. They looked to me for mentorship, Trio executive, I should follow her advice and
for direction, and even some coaching on run for the position. I didn’t know what I was
occasion. And the challenges of communicating getting myself into, but I figured I could learn.
with each of my two different Division teams… My first six months on the Trio, I often felt
With my first Division D team I could schedule overwhelmed. I had no marketing experience,
a monthly meeting most everyone could attend yet I was being asked to sell Toastmasters to
consistently. With my second team, however, I businesses and set up demo meetings to get their
couldn’t schedule a single monthly meeting with people involved. My job was to build new clubs. I
more than one of my Area Directors to save my finally felt I was getting my feet under me when
life! How could two different teams have such COVID-19 threw the whole world into a tailspin.
radically different schedules? Oh well. That’s From building clubs in person to working with
20 ONE COMMUNITY
