I was an experienced technical presenter when I joined Toastmasters in 1999. I joined to learn how to become less professorial and more engaging as a presenter. I had one simple goal: earn a Competent Communicator Award. I knew that continual public speaking practice would sharpen my presentation skills. I soon learned that effective evaluations are the key to improvement.

It was not long before I was involved in club and district leadership. I served as my home club president in 2000-2001. I am proud of our accomplishments that year. Our club achieved the Select Distinguished award. In the process we transformed our struggling club of 12 members with no award into a Select Distinguished club.

The following year I served as Area 55 Governor. The experience opened up a whole new world of Toastmasters. I met many new friends, I visited other Toastmasters clubs, and I helped charter a new club. That year I attended two TELIs, attended District and Regional Conventions, and joined a leadership specialty club. My network of friends expanded to hundreds. Area Governor, Area 55 achieved Presidents Distinguished honors that year.

The experience was so rewarding, I ran for Northern Division Governor. Thanks to the hard work of 6 dedicated area governors, Northern Division achieved Presidents Distinguished honors.

I went on to serve in the top three leadership positions in the District. When I was Lieutenant Governor of Marketing I was invited to the February Saturday Morning Live! Breakfast of Champions. I was impressed with the quality of the presentations and evaluations. In August 2004, I chose to join this evaluation specialty club and have been a member ever since. I served as SML! Club President 2006-2007. Our talented officer team continued the tradition of excellence as we earned the Presidents Distinguished Club award.

One of the most difficult and yet satisfying years for me was 2005-2006. I was elected District 6 Governor in the spring of 2005. The goal I set out for the district leadership team was simple: achieve Distinguished District recognition. This was bit more challenging after the organization voted to increase dues by fifty percent in August of that year. We worked hard on membership building. At the end of the campaign, District 6 was recognized as a Select Distinguished District! Only twice before had our district finished in the top twelve districts in the world. This was also the first time in three years that our district had achieved Distinguished recognition.

I have grown as a leader through each experience. I believe the Toastmasters shared vision says it best. Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change.

I invite you to find your voice by joining Saturday Morning Live! Toastmasters.  You will discover abundant opportunities to improve your communication and leadership skills, skills that can be used to serve your world.