Page 6 - 2024-01

COVER STORY
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Life Changing Experiences in the Bahamas

The True Story of Adventures at a Toastmaster Convention

Doctor Gwendolyn Avington

District 7 Club Growth Director

District Leader Training Nassau, Bahamas was
a life changing experience on my Toastmasters
journey. I was already excited in my role as Jim
Robison, District Director for District 7, and
I had participated in 21 interviews with then
potential International leaders. I was intrigued
by all the new ideas for improving Toastmasters
member experience, increasing members,
retaining members, and changes to the Pathways Dr, Gwen Avington and Jim Robison pick up
education program (i.e., 6 Pathways instead of their name plates at the 2023 convention.
11, New Learning Management System (LMS)).
As if this was not exciting enough, I was going
to get the opportunity to meet all these hopeful an opportunity to grow and learn to blend our
candidates in person in Nassau, Bahamas. styles for the benefit of successfully leading the
district throughout the Toastmasters year.
District 7 Commitment and Flight To Bahamas

Experience

The first leg of the flight was fun for me. As we
On August 13, 2023, Jim and I met at the airport checked bags, the airline agent struck up
to start our journey to the Bahamas as District a conversation with me about Toastmasters in
Leaders. My first lesson on this life changing the area. She expressed that she used to
experience was to learn about my own District be in Toastmasters and would like to reengage
Leader. Jim is a man of few words unless he with the organization. I had a great time
feels he needs to speak up. I learned that he is reminding her of the benefits of Toastmasters for
a thinker, not a rush to just get it done. He is a her both personally and professionally.
teacher that wants you to be successful. I shared I had almost too much fun, as we had to leave
with him my Toastmasters goals and aspirations her, hurry through security, and get to our
and he started from there to fill in the spaces flight that was in the process of boarding.
he thought would be most helpful to me. As As we arrived in Atlanta, Georgia for the next
we spent time at District Leader Training, my leg of the flight, it was surreal for me. We
respect for and understanding of his leadership had arrived and met with many others from our
and communication style grew. I believe this Toastmasters Tribe. It was a marvel to
was significant because I understood how my me to be in the company of so many individuals
leadership and communication styles mixed that had stepped up to Toastmasters
with and was different from his styles. This was District Leadership. I was new to the process as

2 ONE COMMUNITY