Page 23 - September 2020 Voices

BURIED TREASURE

EUGENE TOASTMASTERS:

OREGON’S FIRST CLUB (Part 4)

Harvey Schowe, DTM

The first meeting of the Eugene Toastmasters Eugene Register Guard article reported a YMCA
club began at 6:00 pm Tuesday, November 26, Center meeting was held on Sunday at 2:30 pm
1929 at the Eugene YMCA Center. Professor with Harry Elliot as chairman. Howard Lee and
Charles Howard was the director of the new Charlie Fulton presented a 3-minute debate topic,

club with 12 charter members. The Club met presenting one side and rebuttal; club members
twice a month, on the first and third Tuesdays, presented the opposite side. For unknown
with a 20- member limit. Frank Stinson Gannet, reasons the Club disbanded after January 1934.
Director and Vice President of the Eugene YMCA Byron Welsh wrote in the January 1931 issue

Center, was chairman for the meeting. The of The Gavel about how Toastmasters training
following Club officers were elected: Robert C. benefitted members for public appearances and
Merrell - President, Ray Torrey - Vice President, extemporaneous speaking.
and Albert Skade - Secretary-Treasurer. Harry T. Shea reported on member

Professor Wayne Layman Morse of the activities in the June and July
University of Oregon Law School spoke about 1931 issues. Charles Emory
his experiences with public speaking clubs. addressed a University of
Professor Charles G. Howard of the University Oregon class on insurance.

of Oregon Law School was assigned as club critic Harry Holden spoke about
for speaking performance in future meetings. “Vocation of Insurance”
The Club president and secretary select the critic during the Hi-Y club
for one year. meeting. Williand Kidwell

The Eugene Lions High Twelve Club met gave several speeches at the Wayne Layman Morse
Friday, February 7, 1930. Wayne Morse gave the Young People’s club of Christine Church. F.
speech “How and Why to Speak in Public.” Morse C. Pursley spoke during the Sunday evening
was acknowledged as an outstanding University Presbyterian Church Forums. Dr. W. C. Buchanan

of Oregon instructor in public speaking. He was principal speaker during the annual Kiwanis
mentioned being Eugene Toastmasters club Club Ladies’ Night. Dr. J. E. Richmond delivered
president. At the June 16, 1930 meeting an address on Orthodontia during the June 18,
members voted to become a closed club as of 1931 Oregon Dental Association meeting in

1931 with a 25 member limit. The Club had 45 Portland.
members with 24 active participants at the time. Photograph reproduced with Copyright Permissions from
After 1931, no information about club Eugene Register Guard Newspaper
meetings was reported until a January 21, 1934

VOICES! | SEPTEMBER 2020 23