by Jesse Ford DTM District Director
Do you remember the time that you walked into your first toastmasters meeting? Do you remember the first time you held a role? Do you remember when you stepped outside your club and into your first Conference or District event?
Three years ago, as the newly elected Club Growth Director, I remember thinking to myself, “what do I do now?”
It’s a good thing I had District Director Marcheta Gardner and Program Quality Director Emily Murray to look up to. We jumped into immediately having calls all the time and doing all the “stuff and things” that make District 25 so amazing.
But then… I got told I get to go to two days of Trio Training and then to the Toastmasters Convention. Scared, excited, and nervous, but always trying to be positive, I jumped in and decided to make the best of it. Now comes the good part.
At that training I met a man named Stephen Bryden. He was a Club Growth Director from another region in Canada. Stephen and I were both the talking and the silly guys in our training classes, so we instantly connected. I’m excited to now say that three years later, we are both District Directors. The Canadians are now on our Region 3 calls, so I’ll get to see him even more often, even if it is on Zoom.
Finding friends is an amazing aspect of Toastmasters. This year, Stephen and I both got to carry flags at the 100-Year Celebration.
Finding this international friend has meant so much to me. I am grateful for Stephen and his friendship, but I’m even more grateful that he has helped me grow into my role of District Director. After all, what are friends for?
Here We GROW!
