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Toastmasters: Changing Lives, One at A Time

     Fellow toastmasters leaders of District 67, as I searched for a theme for my year as your District Governor, I asked myself, “What is toastmasters to me?”  Indeed what is it about Toastmasters that has kept me longer than most things I have been involved in, including my marriage?  Last year in Atlanta, Stan Stills of Toastmasters International said, “Toastmasters is in the business of CHANGE.” Then, Jon Greiner, DTM, the incoming International President chose for his theme; “Toastmasters: Changing Lives, One at A Time”. These 2 remarkable statements resonate deeply with me. Toastmasters is about education, and education changes how we see things and think.  Therefore, it is inevitable that TM changes lives.  To me, change is made possible with self-confidence and sense of empowerment.  And if we can overcome the fear of speaking in public, which many fear more than death itself, then what else is there to be afraid of?   

Toastmasters to me, is about empowering ourselves and others to strive and achieve.  In my 15 years, I have seen many, many toastmasters grown from a shaky shy introvert to confident and self assured achiever.  One example is a member who despite a broad international background and speaking 5 languages fluently was so lacking in confidence that she chose the job of being a kindergarten teacher because dealing with small children is less threatening.  A few years in toastmasters has empowered her to compete in District speech contests and serve as club president.  That sense of empowerment also shows up in other aspects of her life.  She asked for and got the promotion from a teacher to the principal.  And now she plans to go the US to get her PhD.

That empowered achiever is Adrianne Bee.  Will she stand up to be acknowledged.   

My own experience in Toastmasters is also one of “Empower and Achieve”. 15 years ago when I returned to Taiwan after nearly 25 years abroad in Japan and the United States, I didn’t really have a job, no friends to speak of and not even a wife.  In 1989, my marriage of 17 years to an American woman came to an end.  At the same time the trading company that I founded in 1980 in New York was in serious difficulties due to the global economic shifts.  My bank withdrew its financial support. Most important of all, I lost the will to fight and felt defeated. Having lost the 2 main pillars of my life at the same time, I figured somebody up there was telling me it is time to go back home.  I was a totally dis-empowered person when I returned to Taiwan with the same 2 suitcases I left 25 years ago.

 One of the first things I did upon return to Taipei, is joining Prestige TMC with the simple intention of learning public speaking skills and make some friends.  The warm supportive atmosphere encouraged me as I mastered the art of public speaking, which helped me regain my self confidence.  When I was asked to serve as president of Prestige in my 3^rd year, I was surprised.  Little did I imagine that I would meet and marry Jorie Wu DTM, the first District Governor of Taiwan Toastmasters.  Much less would I imagine that I would be standing here giving my inaugural speech as Taiwan’s 5^th District Governor of D-67... 

Perhaps the most dramatic story of “Empower and Achieve” appeared in the recent issue of Toastmasters magazine. About 20 years ago, Carol was a beautiful and successful 29 year old sales manager of a hotel chain in Atlanta.  One morning while driving to work she was hit head on by a drunken driver.  Her once beautiful face was totally destroyed from hitting the steering wheel at the combined impact of 100 miles per hour.  Despite 6 surgeries the doctor was unable to reconstruct her face.

In addition the accident also robbed her of her once excellent memory.  She lost her job and a few years later, her husband divorced her.  The only thing that kept her from killing herself was her young daughter.

 3 years ago, she joined toastmasters.  Despite her nervousness and shyness Carol won best speakers award from her icebreaker and several speeches after that.  She felt accepted and felt greatly encouraged by the warm supportive atmosphere of her toastmasters club.  From the confidence gained Carol started speaking outside of her club in organizations such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunken Driving).  She felt she has an important message to tell.  Carol felt encouraged enough that she wrote a book about her story, which is accepted by a Hollywood studio to make a movie.  Carol credits toastmasters for giving her the sense of empowerment and a new purpose to achieve in her life.      

D-67 in Taiwan has enjoyed outstanding growth in the last 10 years or so, thanks mainly to eagerness of Taiwanese to improve their English.  However, that advantage, while a big help, has blinded us to the true value of toastmastering—which to me is changing our lives through empowering ourselves, and others.  We achieve this through improved communication and leadership skill.  It is my hope that through the theme this year of “Empower & Achieve” we can focus our attention at this core value of TM.

 I would like to leave you tonight with the story of the 3 stonecutters:  A visitor walked into a village and saw a man chipping a stone.  He asked the stonecutter what he is doing.  “I am chipping at the stone to make a building block” was the reply.  The man walked to a 2^nd stonecutter doing the same thing and asked him the same question.  “ I am shaping the stones to make a wall” was the reply.  The man walked on and saw a 3^rd stonecutter also cutting a stone and asked him what he is doing.  The 3^rd stonecutter replied,  “ I am cutting the stones to help build a grand cathedral so that people from far and near can come and worship God and achieve salvation.”

 It is my hope that we will be the 3^rd stonecutter who can see that rather than the boring drudgery of chipping at stones, we are helping to build a grand cathedral of toastmastering in Taiwan where all can come and empower each other to change our lives.

 Fellow leaders of District 67, we are each other’s wind beneath our wings.  Together, we shall empower our district and achieve President Distinguished District.