Will Ryan, DTM
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Dare To Believe
Mr. District Governor, past District Governors, Madame International Director, past International Director Bradshaw, and fellow Toastmasters, I love being around people who are committed to their own personal growth and who are also committed to helping each other. It’s positively intoxicating. I get high just being around Toastmasters. Let me demonstrate. Please stand and silently establish eye contact with the person next to you.
You are now looking into the eyes of a person who has incredible integrity. A person who is authentic. A person who is kind. A person who really cares about you and your personal growth. What could be better? Isn’t this intoxicating? Please be seated.
I’m reminded of a quote by Marshall McLuhan who said, “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” And that’s how I feel about Toastmasters. We are all crew. We are all in this together. We’ve had year after year of perfection. We’ve got one of the most incredible organizations on the planet. And I love it, I must say.
I’ve traveled around the District extensively in the last two years. And I’ve met many of you and listened intently to what you have said about your experiences as Toastmasters. It has been wonderful, and I did hear some resistance in your voices. People have said, “I can’t be a contestant. I am not ready for that. I haven’t got time to be Area Governor. I haven’t got the experience to do any job other than the one I’m currently doing. I can’t do my Competent Communicator this year. There’s no time.”
And so I registered those comments inside me and began thinking, “Okay, what’s missing?” Two years ago, Paul Young, our District Governor, encouraged us to “Mind the Gap.” As he so eloquently put it, “From where we are to where we want to be, and to manage that gap effectively.”
Last year John Lynch, District Governor, with his theme, said that we were to “Lead with Vision.” Mind that gap with vision and do it elegantly. And so I considered what’s missing. What is really the issue here? Are the obstacles that we have so great that they cannot be overcome? I wondered.
Most of you, I’m sure, know that what we think about expands. And what we think about is how we create our future. If our thinking is about wonderful and awe-inspiring objectives, the District makes distinguished three years in a row. Wouldn’t that be a lovely vision to have for our future together? What would you dare to visualize if you knew you could have it? Have you ever thought about that? What would you dare to have in your vision if it was a sure thing you’d have it? It’s very intriguing to think about that.
 And so what has occurred to me is there’s one small thing that we need to focus on in order to get where we want to go. The theme therefore for this year is "Dare to Believe."
Dare to Believe.
To reinforce that, we have a pack of Post-It notes for every table and every person, so you can take them home. And when you put them on your desk, or wherever you use them, they’ll be a reminder that you can Dare to Believe.
I can finish my CC this year. I can be an Area Governor. Dare to Believe. I can accomplish my goals. Dare to Believe. It goes over and over. And that’s our marching order for this year. Dare to Believe. When we do, things will happen. What we think about will happen.
When we were at the early stages of planning this conference, we set a goal to achieve 200 people attending. And some said, “We’ll never do that. We can’t get 200. The only time we ever did that was when we had the International President at our event and that was in 2002. We can’t do that.” And we held the vision. We can. We dared to believe. And earlier this evening, actually this afternoon, Mike Aron, who did a phenomenal job at registration, gave me what I am calling the "love note." The note read, "Registered before the conference: 187. Walk-ins: 18." We reached a total 205. We did it. We did it!
And that’s the way it happens—exactly that way. I have had so many wonderful, incredible coaches and teachers —God knows I need them— in my pursuit of leadership in Toastmasters. And there are far too many to identify by name—with one exception. And she has no idea I’m going to say this. In 2002, I was an instructor in TLI. And I can remember as if it were yesterday that when Val Albert stood up, I was so inspired by her that I said, "I want that, too." And on the spot I made a decision. I’m going to go for Area Governor. And I did. Some thought I was crazy, because there were only two clubs in Area E1.
Will Ryan, DTM
and Susanna Opper
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And then Division Governor was to follow. But then we came to the real tough decision—Senior Team. And my theory is that I’ll make these decisions carefully.
I would like to ask my wife, Susanna, to please stand, because I want to acknowledge her. We made this decision together. We talked about all aspects of it. And she knew that she was going to be a Toastmaster widow. That is just part of the way it works. And I wanted her agreement. It took us one year of discussion before we decided to go for it. Susanna is my rock, my confidant, my teacher and cheerleader. And I really am so grateful for her. I send her my heartfelt love and appreciation for being there. Thank you.
And so we are about to venture out on a mission starting July 1. Another Toastmaster’s year where we’re all going to Dare to Believe that we can accomplish whatever goals we set for ourselves. It is an awesome responsibility that I really understand, but also a huge privilege to serve you. And I must admit that today was exciting. I had no clue that it was going to be a competitive race for District Governor. And it feels so good to me that I have your vote. I have your approval. And that feels really, really good to me. I know we can succeed.
On July 1st, Karin (von Känel), Marsha (Kiley) and I will be on the bridge of our Toastmaster’s District 53 Ship as we launch into a new year. And all we have to remember is — Dare to Believe. Thank you so much. |
