Page 34 - July 2020

FIELD NOTES

No! No! Hell No!

I’m Not Joining Toastmasters!

Gloria Cox, CC, CL

The following speech was given by Gloria Cox, member of New Horizons Toastmasters, on
June 20,2020. It was her final speech for her Competent Commmunicator award. It is reprinted

here by permission.

I was first introduced to Toastmasters After a while, Cleon started making me attend
in 1980 when I worked for Bechtel in the seminars at the conferences. He would tell
San Francisco. Three of my bosses were me which ones to avoid and which ones I might

involved in Toastmasters, and I typed like. I avoided the ones where I had to talk. I had
up their agendas. I finally asked, “What is no intention of joining Toastmasters. I do not like
Toastmasters?” They told me to come to writing speeches or speaking in front of people.
a meeting, and they would buy me lunch. I am one of those people who would rather die

When I went and found out you had to than speak in front of anyone.
speak in front of people, I said: “no thanks” I remember one time we were having dinner.
to joining Toastmasters. I told my husband, Just before the contest started, suddenly, one of
Cleon, that he should join. Cleon said he the men at our table disappeared. The next thing

didn’t need it—he didn’t have a problem I knew, he was up on stage competing. He didn’t
speaking in front of people. (He didn’t realize seem nervous when we were eating dinner. I
the value of Toastmasters at that time.) couldn’t believe he was one of the speakers.
Thirty-five years ago, we moved to We attended conferences for many years.

Oregon. A friend suggested to Cleon that People would ask Cleon why didn’t he try to get
he should join Toastmasters. He did and me to join. He would tell them he wanted to stay
has been a member for twenty-five years. married to me. He finally stopped asking. We ran
We attended District conferences, District into a man I had met earlier at one of the contests.

contests, and Regional conferences in Eugene, He asked me if I had joined Toastmasters yet. I
Medford, Bend, Timberline, and Lincoln City. I said no, I hadn’t. He then told me I was the most
only attended the dinners and contests. Then I’d stubborn person he had ever met. I didn’t think
go out on my own or with someone I had met. I was being stubborn. I just didn’t want to join.

At the dinners or contests, I would meet people When I lost my job in 2013, Cleon told me
who would ask me, “What club do you belong he wanted me to attend Toastmasters meetings
to?” I would say, “I am not a member, but my with him—so I did (I still had no intention of
husband is.” joining). He wanted me to pick up some hints

34 ONE COMMUNITY