When I joined Toastmasters in 1994, I could hardly string two sentences together. Whilst doing my CL1, I nearly cried. I struggled through that speech because someone told me: "You can".
In 1998, Elize van Rensburg was Division A Governor and asked me to be the Division Public Relations Officer. My response: "I know nothing about PR". Elize said I know you can do it.
In 1999 I became Area Governor also because someone said to me: "You can". I remember my first visit as Area Governor … to Forum - the "males-only" club. I was petrified. I had a lot of warnings about difficult men - especially Adrian Spruyt. I had also done my homework and knew that Forum was also the home of some of the more successful Toastmasters like Ian Flint, Will Bowker and so on. So, here is this rookie Toastmaster, walking into their meeting, ready to tell these guys how to be better Toastmasters, albeit with trembling legs. I have lived through that visit and today I can say that I have made some dear friends from that club.
My whole Toastmasters career is filled with "You cans". Two years ago, I again was approached by Elize to stand for the Lieutenant Governor Marketing position and again she said to me: "You can do it".
The "You can" theme also flowed over from my Toastmasters career into other parts of my life: About 3 years ago I joined a running/walking club. A couple of months later I entered my first 10km race. Halfway through the race I was ready to give up. I've never even run 100m what about 10km. Do you think this body can every complete a 10km race? My inner voice said: "You can do it". And I did!
About the same time I was given an opportunity to organise an International IT in Construction Conference … again because someone said to me: "You can". The conference was a logistics nightmare … getting people from all over the world to Johannesburg and from there to Nelspruit. But I did it! It was also the start of a career change and after that I was the convenor for many more international conferences.
Ladies and Gentlemen it should be no surprise to you that I chose as my theme for 2006/07 "I CAN..."
I am passionate about the opportunities offered by Toastmasters. I believe in the training opportunities offered by the organisation. It is the only organisation in the world that allows you to make mistakes and learn by them. I am sure in the past 2 years I have made hundreds of mistakes and in the coming year I will make a little fewer because I am a Toastmaster and better equipped to handle them and because I learn and grow all the way.
But, what does "I can" mean to you as Toastmasters? It means that everything is possible! No goal is unachievable, no dream is too farfetched. As a Toastmaster you can become anything you want to be: a CTM, ATM or even a DTM. You can be a club officer. From there you can climb the leadership ladder and you can give it your best shot as AG or Division Governor. At Toastmasters you not only get the opportunity to grow and reach your full potential; you also get guidance and moral support from fellow members all the way. You can, your club can, your area and division can, District 74 can …
Together we can make a difference, become better speakers and leaders. We can have great results at the end of this Toastmasters year. When you wear your "I can" badge in the coming year and someone asks you what is I can … tell them that I can be a better speaker, a better listener and a better leader because I am a Toastmaster.
