Page 36 - May 2020

FIELD NOTES

Sometimes Losing is Still Winning

Alan Schwartz, DL3

I hadn’t planned to compete in the International driving to my Toastmasters meeting while

Speech Contest. speaking with my father on the phone. He told
Tuesday, January 7th - I drove to Kafiex me a riveting story about an encounter my
Roasters - Coffee Lab in downtown Vancouver, Grandpa Lee had in one of his many missions
WA for my early morning mastermind group, during WWII. I felt compelled to add that story

Goal Getters Network. It’s a networking group to my speech at the very last minute.
I started as a support group for high achievers. I spoke about some of the trials of three
One of our guests that day was Patrick Locke, of my ancestors. I shared what I thought were
a Distinguished Toastmaster. He asked me if touching stories about

I would compete in the International Speech my Great Grandma
contest the next morning as they needed another Fannie Sheweloff, and
contestant at my Toastmasters club #3091 her son, my Grandpa
Professionally Speaking. I told him that I didn’t Lee, both of whom are

have a prepared speech. He suggested I just throw on my mothers’ side of
one together. I agreed, thinking, ‘Why not? It was the family tree. I also
just one speech, not too much of a commitment.’ shared about my Great
Wednesday, January 8th - I had been knee Grandfather Bernard

deep in a lot of recent research about my family Schwartz who is on
history for the purpose of helping my 11 year old my father’s side. Both
son, Avery, with one of his 5th grade assignments. great grandparents had
I had been spending weeks climbing several fled their oppressive

generations up our family tree by interviewing home countries to
a few of my relatives and investigating leads and come across the ocean
documents on Ancestry.com. to America over 100
It was the morning of the contest and I was years ago with next

36 ONE COMMUNITY