A few weeks ago, I spoke on the phone for a half an hour with one of the Region V International Directors regarding the recent TI report that they are considering eliminating the Regional Conferences after this year.  This issue raised my attention as it was a hot topic in both the ToastmasterPrime Google group and Toastmasters International Members LinkedIn group, and I couldn’t find an opinion supporting this move.  At the end of the conversation, I mentioned to the ID that I shouldn’t be discussing such issues at all as I’ve stayed away from the District 30 and International scene for the last couple of years, but for whatever reason issues such as the Regional Conferences kept me interested.

While many of my entries in this blog reflect someone who is disillusioned with the organization, whether in the club, District or International level, I admit even within the last couple of years I:

  • check the TI website nearly every day to find out who in D30 achieved an award, what club was chartered recently, what clubs paid or haven’t paid their dues, etc.
  • browse the various Toastmaster-related blogs and discussion groups often
  • talked and e-mailed to several TM friends about a variety of Toastmaster issues

With one of the District 30 Area Governors this year from one of my clubs, I talked to her often about what’s going on with her role and with D30.  Now she’s running for Division Governor, one of nine candidates for six spots.  So I ended up talking to her about how her campaign is going and how she’s stacked up against the others in the race.

In addition, District 30 has contested races for Lt. Governor of Education and Training (which I mentioned previously) as well as Lt. Governor of Marketing, both which have a candidate I have a strong preference (and a candidate which I have an intense dislike).  In the International level, Dietmar Wagenknecht, past District 30 Governor and International Director, is running for 3rd Vice President.  Right after I found out he was nominated, I asked a couple of past D30 Governors if there was someone in D30 that ran for such a position (no one had ever made a serious run, though there was Russell Puzey, 1953-54 TI President who lived in the Chicagoland area but was more involved prior to District 30′s creation in 1950).   While Dietmar has an opponent in Ralph Wallace from New Mexico, there was talk in the ToastmastersPrime group of drafting a 3rd candidate from the floor due to their concerns about the proposed TI changes including eliminating the Regional Conferences.

Why am I still paying attention to such issues, instead of focusing more on my non-Toastmaster (or post-Toastmaster) activities?  Shouldn’t I be saying “I don’t give a s–t about what’s going on in District 30 or in Toastmasters International”?

I guess the primary reason for this is that I still truly care about Toastmasters and am concern about the direction the leadership is taking, be in District 30 or International.  I still think about ideas that we can develop to make District 30 much better than it is now.  I’m concerned about the members in my clubs, the friends I made through Toastmasters throughout the years and even those I just met at recent events as many represent the future of this organization.

I get that impression from other TM-bloggers such as Bill Bishop and Sara Marks, as well as discussion group participants like Rich Hopkins.  We write about TM because we care.  If we didn’t care, we wouldn’t be spending the time complaining and ranting about any TM issue that is bothering us at this time.  Those in power want to shut us up, I get that impression from those at the top in District 30 the last few years.  Instead of putting up with those who think what we do or believe don’t match their view of the world, we are using the Internet and other “grass roots” methods to advocate what we believe in, for the good of the organization and not in our own interests.