by Emily Murray DTM District Director
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Hello Sunshines, and welcome to the beginning of a bright new Toastmasters Year! We’re in our first month, and it’s really real! I am Emily Murray, DTM, and I am honored to be this year’s District 25 Director. Program Quality Director Jesse Ford, DTM, and Club Growth Director Phylliss Christian-Daniels, DTM, and I are excited that you are here and we are all looking forward to watching you grow this year. We want to be part of that and help you on your journey – whatever it may be. This year’s focus is “Share Your Sunshine”. I want us to share what makes us special and our unique skills and knowledge with others – help each other grow by using what is within each of us. There is a wonderful story about a corn farmer that really makes an excellent analogy for this focus: There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and asked his secret to success. The reporter was shocked to discover that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “Why would you share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in direct competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked. “Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” If we are to grow we must help each other grow. As Toastmasters we are already used to this idea – it’s what evaluators and general evaluators do in every meeting, after all. I want to encourage you to take it further, find new ways, new places, and new people that you can plant a seed in and help grow through your sunshine. I know you are asking – so what can I expect to experience this year? There will be fun – come to the Year End Celebration, the Summit, or the May Annual Conference and find out. There will be connection – come to the Toastmasters Leadership Institute trainings (club officer, but open to anyone who wants to come), or try one of the 2 new incentives, especially the Sunshine 2 Sunshine for example. There will be challenges, like the upcoming dues change – but let’s help each other through them. Most importantly, there will be growth – that’s why we’re all here in some form or fashion. We are here for you and we can’t wait to see what new heights you achieve this year. Let’s see how you go and Share Your Sunshine! |
