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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 Griffin Office Center in Windsor,
conducted a Speechcraft program, and served as club President.
After a year of trying, I only had eight members. I told myself,
I'll never make DTM. I can't start a new club. I don't have what
it takes to bring in new members. Obstacles are what you see
when you take your eyes off the goal. I was seeing the obstacles.
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 District 53 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 Waterbury,
we will have a presidential visit from International President
Neil Wilkinson. I hope we will all be there to share the experience,
and I expect that we will be there to celebrate a very successful
year for District 53 and its members. I have fond memories of
Dobbie Dobson's presidential visit about 14 years ago. I still
remember one sentence from his speech. The sentence had thirteen
words, each a two letter word. It was "If it is to be, it
is up to me to do it". That sentence has had a major impact
on how I have approached life ever since. "If it is to be,
it is up to me, to do it". I invite you to come experience
the presidential visit next year, and I hope that it is important
for you as Dobbie Dobson's visit was for me then.
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.
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