Page 40 - October 2020 Voices

FIELD NOTES

Panel Discussion
SURVIVAL SECRETS OF 2019-20

Andrea Matthews, EH2

During the last Toastmasters year, the world saw of the American Automobile Association–
major upheavals. The upheavals kept on coming. Oregon Idaho, normally located in downtown
It was tempting to hide under the covers. But Portland and now 100% online. Last year, Carmil

somehow, in spite of it all, 46 clubs managed to was President of AAA Towsters. During her
have stable membership or even grow during presidency, they achieved 5 Distinguished Club
that time. goals and added 8 members. According to
These clubs managed not only to survive Carmil, AAA Towsters took about a month off at

upheaval, they thrived! What was their secret? the beginning of the pandemic to re-group and
Portlandia Club wanted to know. Last year, learn to conduct online meetings. Without this
Portlandia Club’s membership hung on. We break, they may have lost members overwhelmed
survived a move from our temporary location by the upheaval of transition to working from

in the World Trade Center back to our home home.
in the Portland Building. After two meetings Though AAA Towsters lost members who
back home, the pandemic hit. We took a short were not comfortable in the online environment,
break, and then made the transition to a fully they gained participation from around the state,

online meeting. Each Zoom meeting was more including members from the Lake Oswego
upbeat and fun than the last. By June, we had and Salem offices. These members would not
achieved 5 Distinguished Club goals, but did not have been able to make the commute to meet
meet the membership requirements to receive in-person in downtown Portland—online was a

the Distinguished Club award. plus for them.
We invited leaders from thriving clubs to Like many Americans, AAA Towsters
participate in a panel discussion so we could find members faced the extra upheaval of layoffs
out their keys to success. Our Zoom meeting during the pandemic. Some members had no

took place on September 17, 2020, during the work and some members had extra work. As
upheaval of hazardous air quality due to wildfire an organization, AAA prides itself on being
smoke. Here’s what we learned: coachable and adaptable, and AAA Towsters
reflects that spirit. In the coming year, the club

Take a break—The first panelist was Carmil plans to leverage their company newsletter
Ritchie, DTM. Carmil has been a Toastmaster to attract new members from across the AAA
since 2003. Carmil was representing AAA Oregon Idaho region.
Towsters, the Corporate Toastmasters Club

40 ONE COMMUNITY