Page 38 - january 2022
P. 38
FIELD NOTES
Toastmasters Leadership Institute
Bob Hall, EC2
The call came in the Monday before Toastmasters dozens of others anticipated problems, fixed the
Leadership Institute (TLI). The voice sounded problem before anyone knew it was a problem,
flat and expressionless, but the words were and no one was the wiser.
unmistakably clear. Patrick Locke had gone to Hi, my name is Bob Hall. I was given the
check on a friend and fellow Toastmaster that task last July to organize the Winter TLI that
evening and no one answered. The sheriff was concluded in December. It was my joy and
called, and the door was forced. An esteemed delight to work with a cast of volunteers to bring
and valued Toastmaster would no longer step up this event to our membership. It was certainly a
to the podium, shepherd in a new club, mentor learning experience for me, stepping out of my
new club members, or share her passion for comfort zone. Leanna Lindquist ran several of
technology with District 7 members. Her name them recently (big shoes!) and characterized the
was Carol Schultz. She was a mentor, a coach, a process as putting together a 2,000-piece jigsaw
sponsor, and a lead Zoom master for TLI. She puzzle. I couldn’t agree more.
will be missed. We sent out a survey to those who attended.
Despite the tragic circumstances, his shock The comments we received were overwhelmingly
at the discovery, and the personal toll it took on positive. The major reason for this was the
him, Patrick stepped into the breach. He worked unstinting and unreserved spirit of those
with her relatives, rescued her cat, consoled her volunteers who made it all look so easy and
fellow club members, and filled her role at TLI seamless.
as a Zoom master lead. Such is the support and One of our speakers came down with
dedication, the teamwork and collaboration, and pneumonia the day before. She hadn’t missed
the care and compassion that Toastmasters have a TLI in 14 years and was devastated when she
for fellow Toastmasters. called in at the last minute, hoping against hope
This is but one example of the unselfish and she would recover. Ellen Ino ran into that fire,
unsung heroes of the recent TLI. There were acquired her slides, recruited a couple of other
many instances where things might have gone experts, Dave Bones and our keynote speaker
wrong, but they didn’t. They didn’t surface or Mark Lucas. They joined her in the conflagration,
materialize because volunteers like Patrick and and delivered the presentation to high acclaim.
38 ONE COMMUNITY
