Page 4 - Voices November 2016

EDITORIAL Publisher

Phyllis Harmon, DTM Speech Champions SPEAK
Dr Smedley’s Mea Culpa

by Phyllis A. Harmon, DTM Associate Publisher Interviews with Heather Augello & Daniel Flood
Editor/Publisher Brenda Parsons, ACS, ALS by Linda Bradley, CC, ALB

I love a good apology. They warm my heart and reaffirm that Senior Editor
we are all works in progress. It helps me know that I am not the
only one boomeranging from one life lesson to the next. Phyllis Harmon, DTM
Dr. Ralph Smedley, in Personally Speaking, admits that some
of what we hold as sacred tenants of Toastmasers behaviour were Associate Editors
his personal biases.
Leanna Lindquist, DTM
“In my earlier days as a teacher of public speaking, I was inclined Donna Stark, DTM
to be dogmatic. I emphasized my personal likes and dislikes, and
made rules to fit. . .Then I accepted those dicta as rules of speech, Cathy French, DTM
and taught as though they were. To this day we hear it said of
certain mannerisms, A Toastmaster never does that. . .I forgot that Layout/Design
I was just one member of the audience, and that other people Phyllis Harmon, DTM
might like what distressed me. I took my own ideas too seriously.” Curtis Low

I think it’s important that we “own” our opinions. To stop and
question why we think and act the way we do. I’m reminded of 2016-17 Officers
my days as a newlywed. My husband insisted that there was only District Director
one way to hang shirts in the closet. Shirt faces must be hung to Leanna Lindquist, DTM
the left, never to the right. Why? Because that’s what the military
taught him. When I was growing up, we always ate fish on Fridays Program Quality Director
because our religion taught us so. Years later I read that Fish Donna Stark, DTM
Fridays were introduced in the 1500’s to boost the flagging fish
industry in Italy. Club Growth Director
Whenever I’m the general evaluator, I ask evaluators to follow
up suggestions for improvement with why they think the change Cathy French, DTM
should occur. (One pundit was overheard saying “because I Finance Manager
said so!”). It helps the speaker to understand the context of the Jill Ward, ACB, ALB
evaluator’s comments. It also illustrates that the evaluator listened
carefully, internalized what was heard and seen, and genuinely
offered suggestions from the heart. Administrative Manager
In 1945, Dr. Smedley closed his apology with the following: Rodger Cook, ACB, ALB
“It is always the speaker’s responsibility to make his speech
effective. If he does that, applaud him; commend him; vote for Public Relations Manager
Phyllis Harmon, DTM
him, even if he violates all the rules in the book. If he doesn’t put
it over, even though he follows every rule, his speech is not a Voices! is published monthly by
success. The test of the speech is not in following the textbook, District 7 Toastmasters. First issue
but in making the sale.” published August 2014. Submit
It still holds true today. articles or contact contributors at
voices@d7toastmasters.org

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