SPEAKER_00 0:12

Hi, my name is Brinkman Silverville and Toastmaster from Brisbane Australia. Welcome to my Toastmasters World to the podcast. Please join me as I travel virtually around the world and chat to Toastmasters from different countries and all of the life. Let's explore this episode of Toastmaster's World Tour, we travel virtually to Vancouver, Canada. So far in this podcast series, we've chatted to some non-Toastmasters who are contemplating joining. In today's podcast, we're going to zoom to the other end of someone's journey and chat to someone who was a Toastmaster but has left. Let's see why she left and if she'll consider rejoining. Our next guest is my third cousin, Elaine Appell from Vancouver, Canada. Welcome to the show, Elaine.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Thank you, Brandon. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 1:25

I recently asked you to be a special guest on my online speechcraft course in late October, providing some Halloween-themed table topics questions for my Halloween-themed meeting. The speechcrafters each had a choice of either a question from one of my clubmates, Sue Kelly, or one from you. One was trick and the other was treat. I know it was very late at night in Vancouver, so you didn't get to sit in on that one. Do you think you were designated as trick or treat?

SPEAKER_01 1:59

I think I was the treat because you love me, you know me well.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Exactly. And uh nothing, nothing on Sue and Sue Kelly, my club mate, but uh you're you're my cousin, so of course you were the treat.

SPEAKER_01 2:15

Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 2:16

Now, in the process of involving you thus, it transpired that you yourself had actually been a Toastmaster in a previous life. When did you join?

SPEAKER_01 2:28

I believe it was seven or eight uh years ago, and uh so I'm trying to do the math here. What was that uh year? Maybe uh 2018 or so around there.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

Sure. And how long were you a Toastmaster for?

SPEAKER_01 2:47

I believe it was uh uh seven years. Wow, and and and and and on and off, and now I'm uh I I'm uh alumni of uh of the Toastmasters Club.

SPEAKER_00 2:59

Very good. Uh so why did you join Toastmasters in the first place?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

I was attending a conference and I was asked to introduce some guest speakers, and as I spoke into the mic, I realized no one was listening, no one could hear me or no one cared. And at that time I I started to turn red. Uh, you know, the the red started to creep up my neck and and I felt panic stricken. And uh so I managed to get through that conference, but I realized that was uh a shortfall or a weakness of mine and something that I would like to work on. And I joined uh Toastmasters to build uh confidence and learn how to speak, not only among uh small groups of people, but uh large groups, even up to 300 people. And uh since I have been a member, I I feel like I have overcome that fear of public speaking. And certainly I have a long way to go, but I feel like I have improved.

SPEAKER_00 4:05

You poor thing, what an uncomfortable feeling. But but well done being brave enough to give it a shot in the first go when you felt unprepared. I hear that you've you've got some benefits out of it. Were were there any other benefits that you were hoping to get out of it?

SPEAKER_01 4:19

For sure. Well, you know, I I I met uh lots of wonderful people in the club, and uh even over the years, people come and go. So I managed to meet probably over a hundred people. Uh I formed a number of friendships uh and even close friendships with with a smaller group of people, but I feel like I know them well. Uh I can be myself, and so that was the other reason for joining was was to meet others and uh hopefully you know form some new friendships.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

Yeah, look, I agree. I think the camaraderie is definitely one of the major benefits. It's a fantastic environment where we're all sort of on the same page trying to you know self-improve and grow. Were there any other unexpected benefits?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Uh that there were you know, there was access to the annual conference, uh training sessions. Uh really if you know the opportunities are endless. I also uh joined our uh committee and uh took on a number of uh roles. And uh so so that was exciting as well, is just to challenge myself, push myself uh and see what I was capable of. And uh so I I believe that opportunity is available for everyone. Uh it's not just about the you know, writing speeches, conveying speeches, but you know, I I think to just push ourselves to, you know, what whatever our limit is, uh whatever our desire is to grow. And uh so yeah, I I've involved myself in a in a number of areas of the club and uh and felt like I I could continue to grow with them.

SPEAKER_00 6:06

Awesome. And so from what you were saying before, it sounds like it was about a year ago or so that you left. Is that right?

SPEAKER_01 6:13

I believe so. Yeah, I've I've lost track of time a little bit, but uh but that seems about right, yes.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

And were you like chased out by an angry mob with pitchforks?

SPEAKER_01 6:25

Uh oh no, th thank goodness. But I'm visualizing that, Brendan. So why didn't you learn? Yeah. Well, I I I felt uh I'm the kind of person I I I bite off more than I can chew. I I take on too many things, and uh uh not only was I I raising uh my family, my uh teenage son, but you know, I have a career. Uh I'm involved in our uh strata. Um so I'm I'm the vice president of our townhouse complex and uh I'm involved in our son's school. And so I thought uh I just had too many, too many things going on. And so I thought I would uh just back out for, you know, not forever, um, but just for a period of time so I could get a handle on everything else in my life. And uh the beauty of Toastmasters, I can always go back and uh you know rejoin. But uh for now I'm I'm you know an alumni member. Uh I do pop in to enjoy their open houses, or you know, anytime they need a judge for a competition, uh they reach out to me. Uh, you know, if if they're desperate for a member, you know, I could always join short term as well. So yeah, so I feel I'm I'm not far away. I I am I am around and you know who who knows what the future will look like.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

Yeah, sure. So I mean seven years is a long time to stick at anything. So, you know, well done to you. And and I think sometimes these things, you know, life gets in the way and things run a natural course. Did you the flip side of this is did you have any trouble, you know, leaving? Did you, you know, you was some people sort of referred, people seem so dedicated to Toastmasters. Some people have described it as a bit like a cult. Have you? Yes. Did you have to be uh extracted with her like your family have to send us cult extraction team or the FBI?

SPEAKER_01 8:20

Well, thank thankfully, thankfully not. No, I I I I wanted to see the end of the term, I and I believe that was the calendar year. And uh I'm the kind of person that once I make a commitment, I like to follow through. So I feel like I met you know all of all of the requirements for the club. Uh they were able to replace my roles and and thankfully their club has has grown exponentially actually since since I left. Uh I don't know if that's because I left, but yeah. Yeah, yeah. So no problem at all to to opt out. Uh really at any point in time, people can okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Well that's good to know you're free to leave. No one can hold you prisoner. So that's wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 9:02

That's a yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:04

So it sounds like you would consider rejoining some point down the track, potentially.

SPEAKER_01 9:10

Yeah, I think so. You know, I even now I I feel like I'm using my crutch words and and possibly stuttering a little bit. So, you know, I I don't have perfect speech. I do feel more comfortable with one-on-one or or smaller groups, and uh every so often. So this this February with the company I'm working for, I do need to convey a presentation to a large audience, and already I'm feeling you know a little bit panicked about it. And so I might, you know, pop into the club or contact my previous mentor just to run it by them, see if I'm on track. Uh so there are those opportunities as well. You know, if I if I wanted to attend for one or two meetings, I'm sure they would welcome me uh just for that purpose. And uh yeah, so that's the other beauty. There's there's no pressure to join. You know, I feel like I'm I'm welcome at at any time.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Yeah, that's wonderful. And you know, you do find that uh these opportunities crop up again, you know, needing to speak again, and then you can always have Toastmasters to go back to because you know, I don't think you're ever going to completely forget it, but you know, there's a bit of use it or lose it, isn't there? You do regress a little bit. Uh so wonderful to have that to come back to. So this year that you know, we've got the Toastmasters International Convention and World Championship of Public Speaking is coming up in August. Have you been to one of them before?

SPEAKER_01 10:39

No, I haven't. But uh, you know, I've I think it was a missed opportunity. And uh yeah, I I've I I didn't attend them in in years past, but I'm sure they're fabulous.

SPEAKER_00 10:51

Yeah, well, I can highly recommend. I went to Anaheim in 2024, and it's where I met a lot of the um international guests I hope to have on the show. And uh, you know, you know this year it's in your hometown of Vancouver.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Oh yes, of course it is. Oh yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

So that's there's some food for thought. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us today, Elaine?

SPEAKER_01 11:14

I feel like uh Toastmasters has changed my life for the better, and I feel like I have grown with uh my level of confidence. I now know how to write a speech and convey a speech. I'm open to receiving feedback, you know, good, bad, or ugly. And uh I feel like in a Toastmasters club, it's a very comfortable environment to make mistakes, and I certainly made a lot of them. But uh, you know, it's a very supportive group, and the feedback is meant to be helpful, uh, not only for the individual conveying the speech, but for all of the members. And I feel like we grew together. You know, when I think back to day one and uh, you know, fast forward uh seven years later, we all grew as as individuals, and uh and I feel like they're lifelong friends. Um, even now I'm facing a bit of a health issue, and I can reach out to them at any time for friendship and love and support. And uh so I feel like it's it's far more than than public speaking. Um, the other point I wanted to mention, I did develop my leadership skills because I took on those uh different roles and and stretched my my myself, my brain, my capabilities. And uh so I feel like I've grown as as an individual, as a professional, you know, thanks to Toastmasters International.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

That's wonderful, Elaine. And and what were you? Uh what was your Toastmasters Club there in Vancouver?

SPEAKER_01 12:46

It's called uh Toastmasters by the Sea, and it is located in White Rock, British Columbia. And as you look out the window, there is a beautiful view of the ocean and uh the mountains in the distance and the US, actually. So uh White Rock is located close to the Canada-US border. So even as you look out across the Bay, you can see Washington State. Uh, but it's a really lovely community, uh, wonderful group of people. And uh yeah, you know, I've I miss them. I look forward to seeing them, you know, the next time I I can. Uh and just so grateful for for everything they've they've done for me. And hopefully I've contributed to their lives as well.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

I'm sure you have. Are they open to visitors?

SPEAKER_01 13:33

Yes, at any time. Yeah. In fact, I think they have more open houses than they had when I when I was a member. I think they're trying to have two or three a year. They have a couple of uh speechcrafts, uh speechcraft events per year. And uh so that's open to the public to you know come and and participate and hopefully they you know have new members after the speechcraft events. So yeah, lots of opportunities to participate. And not only in person now, thank goodness, uh, but also online. I understand their club is international. They have members from India, from New Zealand, from Australia. So yeah, they've they've they've grown, you know, beyond uh beyond White Rock, British Columbia.

SPEAKER_00 14:20

Still, you've sold me. White Rock sounds absolutely fabulous. And if I ever do make it to the convention in Vancouver, I'd love to pop in and visit your club and say, I'm Elaine's the cousin.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

Yes, you're welcome at any time. Yes, I I I I will I will take you personally. I I will introduce you to others and they would love to meet you, Brendan.

SPEAKER_00 14:42

Tell a few lies and put in the good word for me.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

I will, I will.

SPEAKER_00 14:47

Thank you so much, Elaine. It's been an absolute pleasure.

SPEAKER_01 14:50

Likewise, thank you, Brendan.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

Thanks for listening to today's show. One of the key elements of Toastmasters is evaluations. This is how we grow and improve, both by encouraging comments for things we got right and points for improvement. We all learn and benefit from these evaluations, not just the person being evaluated. So any feedback in the comments is greatly appreciated. If you have a Toastmasters story you'd like to share, or would like to be on the show, I'd love to hear from you. You can reach me at Toastmastersworldtour at gmail.com. Thanks for listening.