Page 6 - 2016 September Voices!
P. 6
survived makes for an inspirational speech she Along her Toastmasters journey she has
often gives at kickoff meetings to help start picked up words to live by. Let’s call them
new clubs. With her job on the line, she gained Harmonisms:
listening and speaking skills in Toastmasters
that resulted in a $500,000-a- year boost to the “Be passionate about any path you take.”
company’s bottom line, due to her improved “Be authentic. Speak from the heart. Tell the
communications with the company’s managers. truth.”
“We are always growing and stretching.”
“When people have a need, I’m there. Not
for me, but for them.”
“People need to know what their life’s mission
is. If they don’t know, they can come to me and
I can help get them there.”
As an example of someone with a mission,
she cites Judy, a member of Toastmasters for
Speaking Professionals, who helped a weavers
guild in Africa get its products out to the world
Audo Engineer at TV Toastmasters 2015. In studio with Rose Schmoozing with Janet Cerasin, Newberg Toastmasters, at 2016 Celebration
of Communication and Leadership
Wellman, video engineer
market. “What you share is so important to the
Go ahead, call her a perfectionist. Call her world,” she says. “If you don’t take what you learn
obsessed. She’s heard it before and owns up to and share it, what is the point?”
it. “I have to work very hard because I want to
give people what they expect—which is the bane At this stage in life she still considers herself
of my existence, since I never please myself. I a “work in progress.”
always know I could have done better. And what
I expect of myself, I expect of others.” “I want to be part of something bigger in
the wide world,” she says about what might
She adds, “I learned at a very young age to come next, whether with Toastmasters or in
live up to your commitments to the best of your some other role. “I want people to feel good
ability. If I make a commitment, I put my whole about themselves and become who they want
body into it, my whole mind. Even if you are not to be. What legacy do they want? What do they
successful, people will recognize you are doing want to be known for? Now’s the time to start
it with the best intentions.” building it.”
Since her first leadership role as an Area Erik Bergman, DTM, joined Toastmasters
Governor, her commitment to develop herself in 2007. He is a member of three clubs: Molalla,
and others has grown stronger, as has her under- Storymasters, and WE Toasted. He is currently
standing of leadership. “I made a lot of mistakes serving as Sergeant at Arms for WE Toasted
in District leadership that I will spend years Toastmasters in Lake Oswego, and is the immediate
trying to live down,” she admits. “Leadership is a past District 7 Club Growth Director.
game of trying something and, if it doesn’t work,
trying something else. I have a thick skin, which
comes in handy because you’ll never convince
everyone you are doing the right thing.”
She is passionate, too, about inspiring others
to step up to leadership roles so they can make
a difference.
Her life in retirement is hardly the leisurely
pace many people dream of. Harmon says her
husband, Van, approaches her Toastmasters
obsession “with a gruffness that I don’t take to
heart. He wants me to be successful. I have no
work-life balance as he sees it, but to me it is
perfect.”
6 Volume 3 Issue 3 - SEPTEMBER 2016
