Page 9 - 2016 April Voices

FROM THE DESK

Toastmasters 1st VP ready to promote District 7

by Erik Bergman, DTM, Club Growth Director

In our weekly club meetings, it’s easy to among others. He will
forget the “International” part of Toastmasters a l s o give Corporate Recognition Awards
International. What does the rest of the wide to US Bank and Nike for their ongoing support
world have to do with our personal growth or of Toastmasters.
our club activities?
Several clubs are also hosting him either so
Plenty. And District 7 is he can give a presentation or so he can watch
getting the chance to watch, them in action. He’ll
learn and grow when we visit the Oregon State
host the First Vice President Prison to see Capitol
of TI, Balraj Arunasalam, Toastmasters, year
DTM, in May. after year a President’s
Distinguished club.
Balraj is a business He will also appear
owner and engineer from Sunday, May 8, 4 p.m., at
the island nation of Sri Babble-On Toastmasters
Lanka near India. He’s been a Toastmaster for (another perennial President’s Distinguished
decades and an avid builder of the TI program
in his home country. As First Vice president, he is club), 935 NE 33rd
next in line to be elected President of our global Ave Portland, Oregon
organization in 2017. 97232-2516. You are all
Part of the role invited!
of Club Growth
Director is to show In addition he will
a visiting executive meet with District 7
from Toastmasters leaders to learn how we
International around are doing and where we
the district. Preparing for Balraj’s visit has kept a are headed.
team of us busy, and the pace is picking up even as I’m looking forward to taking him around
you read this. International officers such as Balraj to see the companies and clubs, as well as the
visit districts worldwide to help spread the message many sights our District offers.
about the TI program. They act as ambassadors We may still have
for our brand. A key goal is to visit companies that corporate visit slots
are interested in starting Toastmasters clubs for available due to
schedules changes. If
their employees. you know of a company
The visits we’re of 200-plus employees
he could visit, and can
setting up for Balraj put me in touch with
will take place May 2-9. You all have a chance to a key contact there,
see Balraj May 6-7 at the Spring Conference in contact me ASAP at
Eugene, so go online and buy your tickets. His cgd@d7toastmasters.
presentations at the Spring Conference serve org. I’ll do my best to fit you in.
as the centerpiece of his visit. We have secured
corporate meet-and greet sessions for him at
Dave’s Killer Bread, Wells Fargo, Legacy Health,
WE Communications and the City of Beaverton,

Volume 2 Issue 10 - APRIL 2016 9