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GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE

We Strive to Be Professional

Paul C. Fanning, DTM

What major lesson I have gained from being a become great speakers. But sadly, we now live in
member of Toastmasters is simply delineated the age of the “um and ah” speaker, whether it be

as “being professional in our speech craft; at a non-Toastmaster meeting or a presidential
being professional in our evaluations; and being address. I do not have to name names, for you
professional in our leadership.” For me, it has all have heard them speak, and we cringe when
been a journey of many years and a strive to they break one of the easiest suggestions from

be the best that I could in all three components the Ice Breaker project to not use those fill-ins.
of the Toastmasters International education Take the following case (in fact it was just last
program. And, of course, it does take a lot of week) that the national news primary hosts as
mirror-speaking, club speaking, and application well as the reporter could not string one sentence

of the other areas of that program to get to the together without adding fill-ins to their delivery.
point where I could say, “I have mastered such- Walter Cronkite was a consummate professional,
and-such skill” and move to the next one. and I do not believe I ever caught him using one.
The major reason that I become a member Same for Paul Harvey and Herb Morrison, who

of the Feedbackers Toastmaster Club was the became the most famous radio announcer, as he
self-identification that I needed to work on observed the Zeppelin Hindenburg catch on fire
the fine art of evaluation-and the reason why and crash. While his emotions were aired in the
we evaluate our speakers—no matter what the live broadcast, he did not slip into any of those

level of their status in the TM program. I can bane-of-the-Toastmasters’ “ums and ahs.”
honestly say that I have seen outstanding and Not so today. I once gave an application to an
award-winning speakers on the club level, the upper management executive of a sports team
various speech contests, and just general delivery in Portland because his presentation, which I

of their topic or training module through those was paid to listen to, was awful. You can forgive
years. I have also seen the direct opposite at the player who has just spent 90-105 minutes
times as well—and been disappointed. However, running up and down the pitch (field) and is
it always was a delight at the club level to see exhausted, but not the man who is their voice

the growth and professionalism—as well as the who has been in the air-conditioned private suite
confidence—in many whose Ice Breaker speech sipping his mineral water. Yes, you guessed it. .
I had the privilege of hearing and watching . I did not make a friend that day!
the blossoming through the various projects to Smoothness, appropriate pauses (especially if

26 ONE COMMUNITY