Page 14 - Voices.May.2016
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BURIED TREASURE
Salem Toastmasters Club #138 Part 2
by Harvey Schowe DTM-District 7 Historian
How Frederick Eley became involved Some Salem Toastmasters club members
with Salem Forum club and its organization were prominent in the Salem community.
as a Toastmasters club remains unknown. For instance, the club members included the
Toastmasters Magazine has no articles about Salem mayor, a Oregon hotel chain owner,
this club until after it chartered. Since, Eley Salem postmaster, an optometrist, and the
was a past Toastmasters International Treasurer State Industrial Accident Commissioner, among
and Director, he probably played a key part. others. Four members of Salem Toastmasters
He closed his Santa Ana, California office became District Governors including Frederick
December 1937 and started his Salem architec- Eley 1940-1941, Charles McElhinny 1943-1944,
tural practice. He was involved in several Salem Robert Batdorf, 1955-1956, and H. J. “Harry”
civic groups such as Chamber of Commerce, LaDou.
Lions Club, and YMCA. The Salem YMCA
continued providing public speaking classes LaDou moved to San Diego in mid 1940s’
through 1937 where Forum Club met Tuesday where he joined San Diego Toastmasters Club #
evenings. 7. He served as District 5 Governor in 1948-1949
before becoming a Toastmasters International
Salem Toastmasters Club #138 received Director.
its charter Tuesday evening April 17, 1939 at
thet Marion Hotel, Salem, Oregon. The first Robert Nixon, Salem Toastmasters, was
club officers were president; Dr. Henry E. the first District 7 member to participate in
Morris, Vice President; Barkley Newman and Toastmasters International Speech contest
Secretary-Treasurer; Frederick H. Eley. The in 1941. Dan Hay participated in the District
charter program is summarized below. 2 speech contest finals in 1939 and inter club
contests.
Members helped organize Capital
Toastmasters club # 391 and Albany
Toastmasters club # 307. Albany club members
were responsible for organizing the Corvallis
Toastmasters club #395. These clubs formed
the core of the Capitol Division. In May 3,
1947, the Salem and Capitol Toastmasters
clubs hosted the District 7 Spring Conference
at the Salem Chamber of Commerce. Salem
Toastmaster remains an active club.
14 Volume 2 Issue 11 - MAY 2016
