Big “D” Toastmasters chartered in 1949. They’ve been around for almost seventy-five years. I bet they have some interesting stories to tell along with some great advice for other clubs. Why don’t you look into visiting with them to learn what you can?
Don Teague, the current club President, has been in the club for about eight years. He wants to be a member because “it’s been the only constant thing I’ve had on the schedule for the past 10 years. Part of my life is anchored around Thursday nights. The other reason is that every visitor or member has a story to tell, and it’s interesting to hear those stories. You learn a lot about other people and other cultures.”
Starray Fu, the current club Vice President of Public Relations, joined the club last year. He says, “I want to improve my public speaking skills and become a speaker. I encourage people to join so they can improve their communication skills. The club is special because it is a great opportunity to expand your network. It’s also one of the largest toastmasters in Dallas.”
The club Secretary, Paloma Schmidt, is also a new member of the club having joined last fall. She joined because, “I love the social aspect of the club, it allows me to work on my public speaking skills and at the same time build a lasting network.”
According to Don, the club’s longevity is because “I think these are really one in the same answer. This club was fortunate enough to have some long-time members (40+ years) who helped maintain how things run in the club. Someone was there who could help guide things when they needed guidance, and yet stay out of the way when things were running well. That steadiness, I think, has helped the club get to where it is today. A lot of history in the club has been preserved, simply because we had long-time members who were willing to share their knowledge and maintain the status quo.”
Paloma says, “To my knowledge, the club has been around for 75 years. That is amazing! This club is able to mix the best of both worlds, being social, welcoming, and sincere with being a great representation of what a public speaking organization can be. I’ve very much enjoyed being a part of this club. Our individual members make this club special. Their personalities, experiences, and perspectives make this place feel like home.”
They conduct regular club meetings in Hampton Inn and Suites located at 10370 N. Central Expressway Dallas on Thursday at 6:30 pm. If you are interested, you may connect with them via email at info@dallastoastmasters.com. Check out their website via Toastmaster International’s Find a Club site.
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