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it confining to be known primarily as an actor.  project.
      He aimed to strengthen his connection with the             When not on stage as a trainer or performer,
      audience and “get them involved and turn it into  this self-proclaimed “introverted cat lover”

      a conversation instead of a performance.” He  recharges by spending quiet time with a good
      set a new goal for himself this past year: “Stop  book. Besides one indoor cat at home, he enjoys
      performing and start training.”                         two others at his workplace and feeds a dozen
          When he presented trainings, the question-          or so neutered outdoor cats. Yes, he is a “crazy

      and-answer sessions and interruptions would  cat guy.”
      sometimes throw him off. He says he had to                 As proof that not all accomplished
      undergo a change of mindset to believe that “the  Toastmasters are extroverts, Wantz says his
      audience is more important than me.”                    phobia is networking. Because crowds are not his

          He became a Pathways champion as he  thing, he has served as the District photographer
      explored the depth and breadth of its offerings:  to stay busy and productive with his camera at
      “The more people who get involved in it, the  events.
      more they will like it.”                                   Having already served as Area Governor

          Unlike the traditional program it replaces,  and District Secretary, Wantz will continue his
      Pathways incorporates many activities that can  Pathways work this year as the D7 Pathways
      take place outside a club meeting, he notes. The  Coordinator.
      elective projects in Pathways enable members               His advice to Toastmasters who want to

      to work on them outside the club and bring the  achieve more is “find a mentor who pushes you.
      results back to share at a meeting. Says Wantz, “I  Keep getting pushed, in a good way. That’s how
      love the fact that Toastmasters is reaching into  I have grown.”
      our lives. The projects are broad and relatable            Erik is District 7 Chief Judge for 2018-19, as well

      to my job.”                                             as Vice President of Education at TV Toastmasters
          He has finished a first path in Presentation  in Beaverton and Sergeant at Arms of WE Toasted
      Mastery, which played to his strengths,  Toastmasters in Lake Oswego.
      and launched two more paths, Visionary

      Communications and Strategic Relationships.
      As an analytical introvert who is more a detail
      person than a big-picture thinker, he says those
      paths present bigger challenges for him. Yet

      he is tackling them head-on. He aims to attain
      a second DTM award in Pathways so he can
      compare that process to the traditional program.
      Next on his to-do list is the Pathways blogging




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