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When A Club Feels Like Home

Jennifer Schmidt, EH2

I’ll never forget Saturday, August 10, 2019. I that day! “Wow, how nice, but should I really
left Vancouver, Washington at seven in the go?” I wasn’t sure, after all, it was their annual

morning, and drove an hour to visit New Club picnic and I had only just met them.
Horizons Toastmasters in Tualatin, Oregon for Since spontaneity seemed to be my theme
the first time. What was unusual? I just decided for the day, I stopped by to say “hello.” When
to show up for the meeting on that day. What I arrived, I felt like a long lost family member

made me go? Mostly, it was the multiple website instead of a stranger, as they greeted me with
photos with people who looked like they were smiles and waves. After a while, a friendly Table
having fun. They also met on Saturday, which Topics competition started, and the group
was a convenient day for me, a bonus. encouraged me to participate. What stood out

When I arrived, I was introduced to the was the fact that no one cared they had just
Club’s president, Kamili Talley, who gave met me. I held my own with the various Table
me the warmest welcome, and the best Topics and found I liked participating with the
first impression. It was a fun meeting, I felt group. Strangers didn’t exist here, only newly

comfortable, and they announced they were discovered friends.
gathering later that day at a local park for their Now it's been over three years since that day.
annual picnic. I thought to myself, “well, maybe I’ve had many adventures, including writing,
next year I could go,” but they invited me to go and delivering speeches, participating in three

28 ONE COMMUNITY