Page 8 - 2018 December
P. 8

COVER STORY








         My service as an Area and Division Director has given me



         the experience I need to be an effective team leader when the



         opportunity arises—and I anticipate that it will.






      You said in your last speech that you were  Toastmasters with the promise that it would help

      an introvert. Please talk about that and  me become a better communicator and more
      how it has impacted your life.                         successful in job interviews. Cleon will tell you

          First, as I stated in my speech, I want to dispel  often that it took a few years of his cajoling for me
      the notion that introverts are shy, for that’s often  to finally visit a club, but it really took me only a

      false. Introverts do prefer to be alone when they  month. I checked out three Monday night clubs,
      can, but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily  the WRIP City Club, Portland Toastmasters (Club
      fearful of being with people. Many introverts love  31), and the At the River’s Edge Club. After visiting
      spending time with people, as long as they have  each club twice, I finally settled on At the River’s

      plenty of time to recharge in solitude. I was shy at  Edge Club (with Jerry Kleffner) and made it my
      one time, but Toastmasters helped me overcome  home for the next five years.
      my shyness. I’m still an introvert, though, and
      always will be. Being an introvert has motivated  First Toastmasters meeting - what was it

      me to enjoy the alone time necessary to pursue  like for you - feelings and insights

      my passion for creative work, whether that be              My first visit to a Toastmasters meeting, at
      software engineering, mathematics, or music.           the River’s Edge Club, happened to be on the
                                                             night of a club speech contest (the International

      Why did you join Toastmasters - what  Speech and Evaluation Contest). Though the
      prompted that action - talk to us about  club was small at that time, I was impressed with
      that decision.                                         how friendly everyone was. This experience of

          I joined Toastmasters in May of 2009, during  friendliness was consistent with each of the other

      the depth of the Great Recession. Like many  two clubs I visited. Realizing that a contest is not
      professionals at that time, I had recently lost  a normal meeting, I knew that I had to come back
      my job in a layoff. I thought it important to  and visit again before deciding whether to join.
      find and join a support group for unemployed  I wasn’t intimidated by the quality of speakers

      professionals, which led me to the Job Finders  I saw in any of the clubs I visited before joining,
      Support Group facilitated by Distinguished  though I do remember Ellen Ino rocking an
      Toastmaster Cleon Cox. As he does for many who  amazing speech during one of my visits to Club
      join the group, he encouraged me to check out  31. I don’t recall thinking that I could never speak




       8      ONE COMMUNITY
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