Page 30 - June 2019

FIELD NOTES

Ray Fox, ACS, ALB
An Inmate’s Journey to Find His Voice

Lauralee Norris, IP3

March 3, 2011 Ray became a member of the communicate when you entered. Because your
newly chartered Articulate Ambassadors, a family is here, you are probably going to stay

Toastmasters Prison club in the Eastern Oregon in my community. . .I want you to be just like
Correctional Institution at the edge of Pendleton, any citizen when you come out that front door.
Oregon. This act jump started his journey That’s my passion.”
towards becoming a free man once again. Allan became the District 7 Prison Club

Liaison over 20 years ago after being a District
Toastmasters Then Governor. One of the clubs included the Oregon

Ray spent time in every prison in Oregon State Penitentiary Gavel Club. He helped the club
during his 30 years of incarceration. Every two become a chartered Toastmasters club, and was

years he could apply for parole. Six or seven able to help them with their online paperwork.
times he was denied. Ray had nearly lost hope As for Ray, he took Allan’s statement to heart
of being free. He kept asking “Ray, what are as he became a free man in 2015. “It was only
you gonna do?” Toastmasters helped make the after I started Articulate Ambassadors that

changes he needed. they finally let me off,” said Ray Fox. “I blame
As the head of public relations for the Lifers Toastmasters for my freedom. That is why I talk
Club at Oregon State Penitentiary, Ray found it about Toastmasters everywhere I go”
difficult to communicate with non-inmates (e.g. Ray put together a strong support system,

officers, staff, outside sponsors, etc.). He decided and they were waiting for him when he was
he needed to grow up and be more serious released. Ray said he got a standing ovation when
about his life if his communication was going he officially left the prison as a free man.
to become better. That idea led to the creation Ray said that “When I was walking out of the

of Articulate Ambassadors in 2011. District 7 Columbia River Correctional Institution, I
Prison Liaison Allan Edinger said “I told them, told everyone I was walking out of prison, and
when you entered the back door of the prison, I walking into a new life, and I was not going to
didn’t like your ego. . . I didn’t like the way you look back.”

30 ONE COMMUNITY