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membership experience possible. If that sounds through our volunteer efforts, time, and resources
like you, don’t cross Area Director off your list! what we have learned in the Toastmaster program.
Remember that District 7 has nine divisions each That positive membership experience I talked
requiring 4-6 area directors. about is something we need to cherish dearly and
But wait, there’s more! There are many roles impart the wisdom, skill and gift of others to our
within the District one rarely hears about— fellow club and District members. We can make
sponsors, mentors and club coaches to name a difference! We can make Toastmasters THE
three. The minimum number of club support leadership training, speaking and evaluation
staff is around 80-100. Training? Someone has to program in the Pacific Northwest.
put it on, someone needs to present a module or We can be the beacon of light in today’s
workshop, and someone needs to coordinate it all. impending darkness of poor speaking, tepid
Are you keeping track of the numbers of volunteers leadership, and ho-hum or “feel good” evaluations.
needed yet? Perhaps we do need a ledger or two There is a revolution looming—a revolution of
from Scrooge and Marley! rebirth of the spirit of human kindness, the death
This April 27th at Camp Withycombe will be of “Me-ism” and the overthrow of mediocrity
the District’s annual conference. Your club and in our clubs. Stand up, take a role. Give of your
district officers have the right and privilege of expertise. And most of all, don’t pay it back, but
electing the new District Director, Quality Program pay it forward!
Director, and the Club Growth Director. These You don’t need to be an Ebenezer Scrooge. Can’t
three individuals—the captains and first mates stand being awakened by spirits, eating gruel and
our District “ship”—begin assuming their roles being a skinflint? But then again, the moral of A
for the coming program year commencing on Christmas Carol was just that—Scrooge could
July 1st. They are volunteers like you and I—and change. There was worth in humanity. There was
their “jobs” are almost full-time helping guide, joy in serving others. And as the final paragraph
direct, and support each and every Toastmaster records, “. . . ever afterwards—it was always said of
within the District. These three positions may him, that he knew how to keep” and I insert here
not be your cup of tea, but there are other District TOASTMASTERS “well, if any man alive possessed
support positions such as Division Directors and the knowledge.”
Area Directors. Payback is indeed heavenly! Sorry—must go.
Am I insane? Well. . . I don’t have a certificate I hear the rattling of chains and the clanking of
saying that I’m not, but. . . I truly believe that you keys and cashbooks ascending the back steps. Are
and I have a major responsibility to pay back a little there no officers?
VOICES! | MARCH 2019 41
