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July 2008
Dear District 54 Toastmasters and Friends,
Jana Barnhill will be Toastmasters International's President for 2008-09. Her theme is "Toastmasters: The Courage to Conquer." Webster's Dictionary defines courage as "mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” Based on this definition, there are many things we as Toastmasters need to conquer. Many fear public speaking. Many wonder if they can perform their duties, and so forth. So the question is, "how will we conquer?"
As incoming District 54 Governor, I chose "By Endurance We Conquer" as the 2008-09 theme for District 54. It is the family motto of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famed polar explorer. Webster says that endurance is "the state of persevering."
Although his expeditions took place almost one hundred years ago, Shackleton is the subject of many recent books on leadership and movies about the fated voyage of his ship the Endurance in 1914. If you do not know the story, I will summarize it. The ship neared the Antarctic shore, but became stuck in the ice for nearly a year. Then the Endurance sank leaving the men stranded on a large ice-flow. No one knew where they were and there was no way to contact anyone. The nearest inhabited land was eight hundred miles away over the most treacherous seas in the world. Shackleton persevered and endured. He saved all twenty seven members of his expedition.
So in 2008-09, we will conquer our fears and surmount difficulties. By endurance we conquer!
By Endurance We Conquer!
Bob Grenier, DTM
District 54 Governor |
