Page 35 - May 2020

BURIED TREASURE

Ben Medofsky: Toastmaster &

Civic Leader 1956 to 1967 (Part 5)

Harvey Schowe, DTM

According to Glenn Meek, Past District 7 Humorous Speak-Off in 1964. The humorous
Historian, documents show Ben Medofsky speech contest idea was implemented in the fall
was a member of High Dawn Toastmasters of 1967 by District Governor Andy Anders. Andy
Club that chartered June 13, 1949. Ben helped appointed a committee of five to come up with a

organize Beyond Basic Club #1360 and Morning name for the contest and obtain a trophy. Three
Glories Toastmasters Club. The Beyond Basics members of this committee were Ben Medofsky,
Toastmasters Club, now named New Horizons Glenn Meek, and Past District 7 Governor George
Toastmasters Club, held its charter celebration Loney. A contest name had not yet been chosen

on October 12, 1953. Membership required a when on October 4, 1967, while dining at the
Toastmaster to complete 12 speeches in the basic Multnomah Hotel, Ben Medofsky suffered a heart
manual or a two-year basics course at another attack and died at the hospital.
Toastmasters club. This was the first club of its The remaining committee members met

type that Toastmasters International chartered. October 10, 1967. George Loney suggested
As a Beyond Basics member, Medofsky served naming the humorous speech contest after Ben
as vice president and treasurer. Ben visited on Medofsky. The Ben Medofsky Contest name
average four to eight Toastmasters clubs a week was retained until 2007. The contest name was

because he met good people in the clubs. Blue Ox changed to Humorous Speech Contest. District
Toastmasters club #1235 was one of the clubs he 7 Toastmasters held its last humorous speech
visited frequently. The club met in the Bonneville contest November 2017.
Power Administration cafeteria small dining

room on Mondays during the lunch hour. Ben Ben Medofsky’s Quotations
participated in club meetings as an evaluator and “Every day is a new life to a wise person. This is
speaker. He signed in with Happy Day or Smile the first day of my life for every day is a new life to
in the Blue Ox guest book. a wise person. I feel good Happy Day to you all. I do

The idea for a humorous speech contest not feel old. I do not have old thoughts. I feel young. I
began with District Governor John Case in 1963. have young thoughts.”
He encouraged clubs to use humor and suggested
a Humorous Area Speak Off. David Tribel, “ Happiness is within me, I am the master of my
District Governor 1963 to 1964, tried to start a fate.”

contest. Everyone thought this was a good idea
but no one was interested in giving a humorous “Freedom of Speech: When you can say anything
speech. A few clubs competed in a successful with out thinking about it”

VOICES! | MAY 2020 35