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FIELD NOTES
Interview with Alan Schwartz
Stephana Johnson, DL3
District 7 Public Relations Manager
Thank you everyone for joining us, and welcome Maker’.
back to another Saturday Morning PR Strategies I’ve always
with Stephana, District 7 Public Relations considered myself
Manager. to be an artist.
We are joined by Alan Schwartz. Alan is My original focus
someone that I was introduced to by a fellow was always “how
Toastmaster when they sent me his newspaper do I become
article. It was a powerful article that made me a professional
think I’ve got to reach out to this Toastmaster artist?” I paint.
As the PR Manager this is what I want. I draw. I create
“More good works made well known”. How do a lot of nature
we do that? We get our Toastmasters, our Clubs, landscapes, but
the District, and its good works into the news. also have some
It can be a local newspaper, a specific industry weird stuff out there. Over 25 years ago I moved
publication, podcast, or other media. to Portland from Los Angeles, where I grew up.
I was trying to make it on my own as an artist.
Welcome Alan! Let us know who you I didn’t make it as an artist, but I did end up
are, where you’re from, and what falling in love! My wife and I’ve been together
Toastmasters Club or Clubs are you for the last 20 years.
involved in? How long have you been
in Toastmasters, and we’ll take it from Great! Everything you’re saying has a
there? nugget for a potential story. Beautiful,
it’s like this tapestry you’re creating.
Absolutely. Thank you so much for that This tapestry of life. Oftentimes
introduction. I belong to Professionally individuals don’t think that their
Speaking Toastmasters Club #3091. I joined in life is newsworthy, and I can tell you
January 2019. A lot has changed for me since I can have one conversation with
then. I can tell you a little bit about me, a little bit someone, and I can hear something
about how I came to be a Toastmaster, and how that IS newsworthy. Something
I came to be known as an industry ‘Difference to be celebrated. Something to be
34 ONE COMMUNITY