Page 16 - Voices.June.2016final
P. 16
Balraj Arunasalam, DTM Visits
Capital Toastmasters
by Andrew Chappell, CC
It was May 3, 2016 late afternoon, and Toastmaster’s executive body members, and
Balraj Arunasalam DTM, First Vice President our VIP guests sat down for a business meeting.
of Toastmasters International, just got out of We spoke about some of the benefits of prison
prison. That is not to say that he was paroling clubs. For example, most members of Capital
from prison. Actually he and eight others from Toastmasters said they joined Toastmasters to
the Area, District, and Division leaders (Phyllis become better speakers. When asked why they
Harmon – Immediate Past District 7 Governor, stayed in Toastmasters, many said, “Because
Michele Alba Lim - District 7 Director, Leanna it’s made me a better person.”
Lindquist - District 7 Program Quality Director,
Erik Bergman - District 7 Club Growth Director, According to the District 7 Prison Liaison
Janet Zeyen-Hall - Division C Director, Ginger Allan Edinger, District 7 has a 0% recidivism rate
Killion - Division H Director, Dipak Poudyal for members who parole and stay involved in
- Area 42 Director, Allan Edinger - District 7 Toastmasters after their release. One way our
Prison Liaison, Past Region 2 Advisor, and Past club contributes to this, and that we recom-
District 7 Governor, along with Janice Hallmark mend other prison clubs follow, is by providing
– Capital Toastmasters member) came to the a variety of learning opportunities. In our
Oregon State Penitentiary to attend a meeting club, those consist of meetings, small group
of the Capital Toastmasters Club. meetings held throughout the month, classes
from the Success Communication and Success
Before the speakers meeting, the Capital Leadership Series, monthly presentations
16 Volume 2 Issue 12 - JUNE 2016
