Back in April of 2023, I wrote a blog celebrating my rebirth in Toastmasters. I had just accepted the nomination to become President of the Greensburg club. I was looking forward to leading the club to success once again. We gained some members, lost some, and gained some more back, and ended up Select Distinguished.
Today’s content may be the same as the blog I wrote from two Springs ago. Don’t like it? That’s OK. It’s not your story.
Despite a good year for the club, there’s a few things I still could have done to be a better example. One would have been starting a new path and completing two levels. It still wouldn’t have gotten us to President’s but it would have kept my speaking skills well-polished.
The 2023-24 Toastmaster year was a bridge being built to what I think will be a great year coming up in 2024-25. We had over half of our clubs finish distinguished or better. They did that by: growing their membership, attending club officer trainings, renewing dues, submitting their club officer list, and giving speeches. We had our area go Distinguished, our division go President’s Distinguished, and our district went Select Distinguished. We learned about new clubs that formed, including Dubois and Western Maryland in our division. This year provided us with a great example of why you don’t throw in the towel with a week left. In those eight days leading up to the end of the Toastmaster year, we made moves and led our district to success. It was great to be back in 2023-24 and I don’t think I missed a single meeting in Greensburg.
This week, in addition to my Laurel Highlands Toastmasters meeting, I also plan to attend Western Maryland’s meeting online this Thursday. Future club visits include Bakery Square (either virtual or in person) and Johnstown (in person) in August. I’m thinking about attending the Fall Symposium as well when it gets scheduled. Last time I checked, the date and venue were to be determined. Even with a new job, it hasn’t been hard making time for meetings and I’m still enjoying it. Life can get in the way and sometimes we have to give up what we like doing. I still like Toastmasters and I’m finding a way to make it work.
Five years ago, I was doing well. I was on the cusp of achieving my Distinguished Toastmaster award and got it in the Fall. I was visiting clubs. I got to visit the new Bakery Square Club that had just chartered that October. I made my visits to Cranberry High Noon and other clubs. Things were going great and then everything went to crap.
The pandemic introduced me to Zoom, which gave me an opportunity to visit other clubs in the District from my own home. I won the Spirit of Toastmasters award in September of 2020 for all my dedication to the District. I even took part in a panel discussion at Winter TLI in December on the Spirit of Toastmasters.
Despite winning the award, I was getting discouraged. Not so much in Toastmasters, but taking a hiatus would have benefited me. I was at my job of over 10 years and was ready for a change. I took a long break from the church but I’m getting back into God’s Word and embarking on a 28 day prayer journey. I got my DTM in 2019 and we’re still waiting for me to complete my first path four years later, but I’m getting close. I still think in-person meetings and events are better but, virtual meetings have grown on me since I got my laptop and bought a webcam.
I think I’m finally getting the hang of this Zoom and I’m embracing Pathways, finally.
Stylish 🍒 