Happy 50th Anniversary

Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club 1514 District 66 Charlottesville, Virginia

by Mike Etchemendy

Fifty years of practicing Communication and Leadership translates into good benefits for members of Blue Ridge Toastmasters. Blue Ridge Toastmasters celebrated the anniversary with a meeting September 18, 2012 open to Toastmasters from other clubs and guests. Buzz Scanland a charter member of the club gave a speech explaining original membership and the early Blue Ridge Toastmasters. Attendees included current members, former members, one charter member, guests, Toastmasters District 66 Officer Joanne Paris Jones ACB, Toastmasters Area Officer Melvin Carter CC, and members of another Charlottesville Toastmasters Club, Vinegar Hill. Ian Henry led meeting logistics with assistance from Andy Hight, Dave Miles, and Dominick Montie.

Blue Ridge Toastmasters continues as a strong club built up over time by members attending meetings regularly to participate giving speeches, extemporaneous speaking, and providing feedback through good evaluations. Toastmasters skills can be harnessed by members to use for their lives. People from a broad spectrum of professions including medicine, real estate, tourism, and law have improved their effectiveness from participation in the meetings and manuals of Toastmasters International. People sustain Blue Ridge Toastmasters by participating in meetings and paying dues. There are many roles to meetings including room set up and multiple speaking opportunities. The membership and program materials are keystones to Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club retaining vitality for fifty years. The celebratory meeting resounded with gratitude praising Toastmasters and the Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club.

The evening's Toastmaster was Dave Miles, President of Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club. The four speakers were Mary Rose Dreelin, Buzz Scanland, Greg Huber, and Mike Etchemendy. Kristine Vey evaluated the speakers. Our Table Topics Master was Marty Roddy. Our General Evaluator was Ian Henry who worked on the event as a final project earning his Distinguished Toastmaster. The official photographer was Sabrina Lau.

Toastmasters Clubs that are 50 years old or older are quite interesting as they have a strong foundation and required nurturing over time. Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club #1514 has been fortunate to have members contributing their talents and efforts to continue the Toastmasters Mission. Part of the Mission is seen in the simple Toastmaster's Promise:

As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise:

• To attend club meetings regularly
• To prepare all of my speech and leadership projects to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Competent Communication, Advanced Communication or Competent Leadership manuals
• To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments
• To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations
• To help the club maintain the positive, friendly environment necessary for all members to learn and grow
• To serve my club as an officer when called upon to do so
• To treat my fellow club members and our guests with respect and courtesy
• To bring guests to club meetings so they can see the benefits Toastmasters membership offers
• To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters educational and recognition programs
• To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters activities