Page 33 - 2016 MARCH issue
P. 33
Talking Up Toastmasters
by Loretta J. Schwarz, DTM
Since 2003, Bob and I have been host Power Building. Bob’s
parents to students from Japan, Korea, toastmasters’ experience
Taiwan and France. The Pacific International began with the Blue Ox Toastmasters Club
Academy of Marylhurst University offers an in about 1965.
English Study Program to students from Asia
and other countries such as France and Saudi While living on our 4.5 acre Christmas
Arabia an opportunity to study English. Tree Farm in Cornelius, Oregon in 1975,
we became very active in the Hillsboro
In 2015, I considered introducing our Asian Toastmasters Club. Bob was the President
college students to Toastmasters. Nozomi and worked to meet all requirements for his
Yoshida was our first student, majoring in DTM. From Cornelius, OR we moved to West
International Studies, with interest in the Linn, Oregon in May 1992. In 1993, we started
United Nations. Nozomi was very interested in the West Linn Toastmasters Club with about
American Culture and volunteered in several 12-15 members. It disbanded in 1995 and we
activities. She volunteered to teach Japanese at joined the Oregon City Toastmasters Club.
Beaverton High School, volunteered to help Bob retired from Oregon City Toastmasters
with Portland Historical Society, volunteered Club in about 2008. I retired as a DTM
to help in the only non-profit restaurant in from Oregon City Toastmasters Club in about
NE Portland. When Bob and I talked to her 2010. Since I have retired, I have continued
about Toastmasters, she was very interested to extoll the virtues of Toastmasters Club
in attending a Toastmasters Club. Program and Leadership Training. I returned
to college at age 32 and I contribute good
I called Marylhurst Toastmasters Club to grades to my toastmasters training. After I
learn about the time and meeting place on retired as a Financial Manager with Indian
Marylhurst University Campus. After looking Health Service in 1992, toastmasters training
at her busy English learning and volun- helped me to be elected to the City of West
teering schedule, we attended Marylhurst Linn’s Budget Committee. In 1985 I was
Toastmasters Club twice. Nozomi embraced selected from stiff competition to be selected
the experience and looks forward to joining as Federal Employee of the Year in Technical
the toastmasters club in Hiroshima, Japan. and Managerial Category.
Nozomi returned to Hiroshima, Japan on
February 13, 2016 to complete her last two Also, Bob’s Toastmasters’ experience
years of college. opened many doors for him in his Civil
engineering background. He trained
After Nozomi returned to her home, Federal Employees in Safety Management
Ayane Imamura of Kukuoka, Japan came to Practices and became the President of the
live with us for a month. Bob and I intro- National Safety Management Organization
duced Toastmasters Training to her and she in 1972-1973.
was ready to visit Marylhurst Toastmasters
Club. On Thursday, March 10, 2016, we Therefore, Bob and I will continue to tell
visited Marylhurst Toastmasters Club. On the young people about what the Toastmasters
program were four very good and interesting International Program is all about and
speakers. Ayane expressed how much she what this program will do for them. We will
learned from the speakers, the Toastmasters continue to take our foreign students to visit
program format and will consider joining the Marylhurst Toastmasters Club.
Toastmasters Club in Kukuoka, Japan
Article submitted on behalf of Bob and Loretta
My Toastmasters experience goes back to Schwarz by Leanna Lindquist, DTM. Bob is a
1962 with Oregon Trail Toastmistress Club WWII vereran, and Loretta runs her own business.
that met at lunch time in the Bonneville
Volume 2 Issue 8 - MARCH 2016 33
