District Governor, Raymond Johnson, DTM
presents the 1993 - 1994 District Theme
High Expectations
Madam Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmasters, and Guests; I have high expectations for District 53 for the coming year. People will achieve what you expect of them, a point that I plan to illustrate several times in the next few minutes with stories about myself and about people who have inspired me. Through these stories, I want to share my hopes for District 53.
My first illustration starts with the story of a little boy. In 1945, within a few months, he found that he would have to repeat first grade, almost cut off his right hand, and was abandoned by his father.So as not to prolong the mystery of his identity, here is the scar. After the horrible summer of 45, I turned introspective and studious. Very early, my mother convinced me that I had to go to college, even if only for one year. That would cost about a thousand dollars. From the first time I was able to earn a little money mowing a neighbor's lawn, most of what I earned went into a savings account to accumulate that thousand dollars for a year of college.
I dug in academically too. After the inauspicious start, by third grade I had a report card with no Ds. By seventh grade, I had a report card with no Cs. By ninth grade, I had a report card with no Bs. By this time I realized that he would need a scholarship, and was digging in to earn it. My social life was a little less than I would have liked because all of my effort went to earning, saving money, and the successful drive to Valedictorian.
My mother believed in me and let me know repeatedly that she expected it of me. It became my belief, my expectation, my goal, and my achievement. People will respond to the challenge and achieve what you expect of them. Four years later, I was graduated from MIT. Any thought of valedictorian disappeared about three weeks in to my freshman year. But I made it through, and that was the goal.
You could give me the toughest problems, and I could solve them, as long as I could do it alone. But if the problem required team work, I was only an average performer, and I probably flatter myself with that rating. That doesn't sound like the type of person you would want to elect District Governor. But that was before Toasmasters entered my life.
In 1974 in by job at Connecticut General, I had the opportunity to make several proposals to management to acquire new computer hardware and software. Each time I made a proposal, I was handed my head on a plate. What was wrong? My analysis was perfect. It gave me exactly what I needed to make a recommendation. But it didn't give management what they needed to make a decision! When I heard in January 1975 that a Toastmasters Club was forming at Connecticut General, I decided it was time to look into it.
I remember one of our charter members, who we will call Ann. Sitting and talking to her one on one, it was obvious that she was an intelligent person. However, when she got up in front of an audience of more than one, the eyes terrified her. Seven months later at our charter meeting, with the Mayor of Bloomfield, several high ranking officers of Connecticut General, and several Toastmasters dignitaries present, she performed flawlessly as Table Topics Master. Watching and being a part of such a transformation makes all of the efforts of eighteen years in Toastmasters worth while. Ann accepted the high expectations of Toastmasters as her own and rose to meet the challenge.At the first demonstration meeting for Middlesex County Toastmasters, only two guests were present. One was a busy young woman who decided that this wasn't the time. The other was a man we will call John. John had a speech impediment so severe that it was difficult to tell if he was being coherent. You couldn't be very optimistic about forming a new club after that meeting, but Ron and Trudy Reeve hung in there and made it happen.
John went a District Conference and heard a contest speech on speech problems. He went to the speaker for coaching. I heard his third speech, very coherent, and very easy to listen to. John rose to the Toastmasters expectation that he could become a speaker. In 1982, near completion of my term as Area Governor, I accepted assignment as a Club Specialist, assigned to revive a failing DCASMA Club. I moved it to
With that, I gave up the effort to become a DTM. I remained a Toastmaster, but without a Toastmasters goal. I stayed in my club, and even served another year as Educational Vice-President and another year as President, but I didn't go to many district functions, and I didn't do many manual speeches. I was involved in another organization that was in desperate need of leadership. I focused my attention there, set specific goals, and achieved them.
I would make a speech any time I was asked, but I didn't usually bother to follow a Toastmasters manual, until Don Logie chastised me for doing non-manual speeches, and emphasized that I should keep following the Toastmasters Program. That started me thinking again about why I was in Toastmasters and what I should be doing. Three years ago, when I heard that there was a vacancy at Division Governor, and that there was a call for a qualified person to step forward, my first reaction was "No, I'm too busy". Then I thought, "I must be better than a vacancy," and I gave Bob Bradshaw a call. Apparently you agree that I am better than a vacancy.
About the same time, Don Logie asked me if I would like to help him start a new club at Chandler Evans. I did my job well, and we founded a strong club. One difference between this effort and my unsuccessful one nine years earlier was that I had learned that you don't do it alone. It requires team work.
When Bob Bradshaw called to ask if I had thought about my future in Toastmasters, I said that I thought I would make a good District Treasurer. He said that he hoped I would be thinking along the lines of Lt. Governor-Marketing. Well, I have never had a very good self image as a marketer, but that isn't what made me hesitate. The "Excellence in Marketing" plaque that I received last year at the Toastmasters International Convention sits proudly on my desk. It wasn't fear of moving up to Lt. Governor, Education and Training, that made me hesitate. I had been Club Vice-President, Education four times, and figured that I could cope with the job. It was fear of moving up to District Governor that made me hesitate. I have always been a good staff worker, a good number 2 person, but I was fearful of having the top job. Then there is no one else to override a bad decision, no-one esle to share the blame if things go wrong. That was scary.
I don't fear the job any more. I don't take the challenge lightly, but I know that I am up to it. Toastmasters has trained me well for the job in my two years as Lt Governor. I learn my lessons well. I know that I have the knowledge, the energy, the organization, and the good work habits to serve you well as District Governor. I think I have grown enough as a team player to lead the District53 Team effectively. I know that when I face a tough problem, I don't have to solve it alone. There are many good people ready to help.
International Director Fath, I, who once thought that I would never become a DTM, am proud to present you with my application for DTM. I could submitted it in March, but I waited for this moment to make this point. When you hear a voice telling you "I can't", you are listening to the wrong voice. I ask you to stamp that voice out, and listen for another voice saying "I think I can." To quote Og Mandino in "The Greatest Success in the World", "How is one to know what one can accomplish unless one tries. I chose this moment to demonstrate the power that is unleashed when one Toastmaster encourages another, when one Toastmaster challenges another, when one Toastmaster helps another. I have personally lived Past International President Dick Gillespe's theme "Toastmasters, Unleash Your Potential." I have personally experienced current International President Bennie Bough's theme, "Dynamic Clubs Deliver." The incoming District Governor traditionally sets a theme for the year. My theme for District 53 is "High Expectations". I think that fits well with the International theme for the new year of "People Building People". High expectations yield high results. I thought of enumerating my expectations, but that is material for officer training, not for this celebration. I will state one specific goal now. I want the leadership team you elected today to lead you to Distinguished District three years in a row.
Next year at our Spring District Conference in
In closing, I want each of you to think about what you want to achieve in your life in the next year. I am reasonably sure that you do not want to master the art of squirming out of opportunities. When your Vice-president-Education calls to ask you to make a speech, don't squirm! Say "Yes!" Say yes to opportunity. I am responsible for appointing 24 district officers between now and June 30. Twenty of those jobs are for Area Governors. When I call you with the invitation, don't squirm. Say "Yes" to the opportunity.
Don't think of it as hard work. I quote Jo Condrill, who led District 27 to Number 1 in the world last year. "It isn't hard work, it is focused application of energy".
To quote Napoleon Hill in "Think and Grow Rich", "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, and ardently act upon, it can achieve."
You are all leaders. You are leaders by being here, and most of you hold an office of leadership. There will be much opportunity to learn how to do your leadership job at upcoming District Officer Training and Toastmasters Leadership Institute. I urge each of you to set high expectations for yourself and for those who you lead. Accept the challenge! Set High Expectations! Envision your destiny! I close with the words of William Jennings Bryant. "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.Raymond Johnson, DTM
1993-94 District 53 Governor