Page 18 - 2016 MARCH issue

BURIED TREASURE
KLAMATH FALLS MODOC TOASTMASTERS # 98
by Harvey Schowe DTM-District 7 Historian
During fall 1937, Toastmasters
International staff issued a preliminary
charter number of #98 after receiving
a charter application for Klamath Falls
Toastmasters Club. Toastmasters’ magazine
announced the new club in 1937 December
issue of Toastmasters Magazine. Medford
Toastmasters members assisted in orga-
nizing Klamath Falls Toastmasters club
including George Davis of Lovenze Company
of Klamath Falls who was promoting
Toastmasters. Members held a meeting at
7:00 pm on November 15, 1937 at the Elk
Hotel. Frank Gray was Toastmaster and
speakers were John Gribble; Tuberculosis Seal in district in 1945. Club members then
Campaign, Seth Bullis; Safety, Dr. William
F. Roney Humor, and Frank Hull; Purposes
of Toastmasters. Klamath Falls newspaper
Evening Herald article announced the
meeting of the new club on January 31, 1938
at Elk Hotel on Monday evenings at 6:30 pm.
Club officers were Vern Moore-president and
Carl H. Mason-secretary. On Monday May
23, 1938, members from Klamath Falls and
Medford Toastmasters Clubs held another
joint meeting in Medford, Oregon where Dr.
George S. Jennings, Medford club presided
and Vern Moore Klamath Falls club president
was Toastmaster. Klamath Falls members
delivering speeches were Paul Mathews, Lee
McMullen, George Davis and Ed Davis. Club
members discussed plans for organizing
Toastmasters clubs in Ashland and Grants
Pass. Ernest Davis District Two Governor
presented the club charter May 1940.
During 1940s, club sponsored high
school speech contests, provided speakers
for Red Cross and spoke on radio supporting
war bond sales and scrap metal drives.
Furthermore, club often had joint meet-
ings with Toastmistress club. For instance,
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Club president Frank Eberlein invited
Toastmistress president Mrs. A. J. Voye and
members to Toastmasters meeting October
21, 1940. Mrs. Paul Buck was Toastmistress
for this meeting. Both Medford and Klamath
Falls Toastmasters clubs competed in an area
speech contest with prepared and impromptu
speeches held at Klamath Falls on Monday
April 15, 1941 for new District 7. Wesley Hayes
of Klamath Falls won this contest with Gomer
Caseman of Klamath Falls placing second
and Ray Harrison of Medford placing third
place. Frank Eberlein was Toastmaster for
contest. Membership dropped to lowest
initiated a successful September Speech
Craft program that resulted in the second
highest membership in District Seven.
District Seven Governor Donald T. Nelson
wrote about this successful Speech Craft
program in November Toastmasters maga-
zine. Club members celebrated their tenth
anniversary with Mt. McLaughlin club #656
charter presentation November 5, 1948. Club
members voted on changing the club name
from Klamath Falls to Modoc March 1949.
On May 25, 1957, club hoisted District 7
Conference at the Willard Hotel in Klamath
Falls. Joseph Mercer, Area 3 governor Modoc
member was chairperson for General Session.
Other Modoc club members assisting in
this conference were Dr. Glenn C. Miller,
Chester Clark, Herman F. Smith, Raymond
Walker, Bob Davies and John Heyden. John
Hornback of Tillamook Toastmasters club
won the speech contest with speech Fifth
Amendment. He competed in the Zone
A Speech Contest competition in Tacoma,
Washington. Modoc Club # 98 continues as
an active club.
Harvey Schowe is the Disrict Historian and a
staff writer for Voices!. He joined Toastmasters in
1980 and is a member of Blue Ox Toastmasters.