Page 40 - 2019 March Voices

FIELD NOTES

Payback is. . . Heavenly!

Paul Fanning, DTM

On Christmas Eve, my parents, little brother, and I rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the
celebrated the season by either reading, listening (or surplus population.” At which point the charity’s
when videos and DVDs became popular), watching representatives see that their appeal has fallen on
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. deaf ears and withdraw in haste fleeing from this

It was part of our family’s heritage. Especially terrible man.
since a shirt-tailed relative, Sir Seymour Hicks, My mind ponders these words as we prepare
played Ebenezer Scrooge on stage and finally on for the 2019-20 Toastlmasters program year. I

film for many years. It was always a much-awaited re-word the passage and insert what to me is the
annual event. Last Christmas Eve, I sat down and situation I see today. Are there no club officers? No
carefully opened a small, red leather volume— area directors, no District roles to fill? Sadly, as in
albeit a facsimile copy—of the 1843 first edition of A Christmas Carol, I hear the answer that “many
the tale. It is such a powerful message about giving would rather die than go there.”

of oneself, the spirit of human kindness, and the Pray help me to understand why serving as an
restorative power of choices made—especially ones officer of the Toastmasters program would be so
not made by the “counting house ledgers,” but of ominous and horrific that we would rather, well not

how one lives their life for the benefit of others. physically of course, but mentally and spiritually,
In reading it this past season, I felt as if I had die than serve? Here is the stark reality of our
never read or heard it before. The words were so Toastmasters program. There are a plethora of
familiar, yet they “rang a bell” differently as I read positions and roles that are asking, almost begging
my favorite scene, that of the counting house of for qualified, experienced Toastmasters to fill them.

Scrooge and Marley (we’d ruin it all today by calling Let’s start with your home club. What positions
it an accountant’s office) where two gentlemen will be vacant in just three short months? Is it the
approach Scrooge with a proposal to donate to Sergeant-at-Arms? The key position who sets “the

charity “at this festive season of the year.” Scrooge, stage” for your club, serves as greeter and “keeper
with all the human compassion and kindness that of the door?” Or perhaps you are a whiz at Pathways
he could muster (or lack thereof), interrupts the and really understand how it works—can’t you
gentlemen with a series of questions regarding fill the role of Vice President of Education? Base
his idea of “charitable institutions,” prisons, Camp Manager?

workhouses and the treadmill. Assured that they But let’s not stop there! What about joining the
still were in operation, one gentleman retorts to cadre of volunteers who are “program specialists”.
Ebenezer, “many can’t go there; and many would This group helps other clubs achieve success

rather die.” Scrooge responds with “if they would and distinguished status by delivering the best

40 ONE COMMUNITY