Holiday Visits
You don’t join a Club you join the organisation. Something that you will not realise until you travel abroad. When I was getting an understanding of MSC I heard some members talk of visits to other Clubs while on holiday, usually in the USA. This was bold behaviour in my eyes as the travel to and from the lectern took some self-management on my part. Several years later, after my time living in Malaysia, the appeal of ‘leaning into discomfort’ as one of my bosses used to say (a powerful phrase, keep it to hand) resurfaced.
In the late 90s I had a business trip to Brisbane, Australia. There was an accessible Club in the city, there was a meeting on the day of my arrival and I asked if I could attend. I’d had an overnight flight which clouded my evening’s concentration but I can still recall the unvarnished welcome that I received: ‘we’ve got a ‘pom’ visitor this evening!’ It was a relaxed, fun evening where I spent a lot of time purposely sat on the edge of my seat. Not from excitement but from exhaustion.
A few years later my younger daughter was doing an overland trip from St. Petersburg to Bangkok, I agreed to meet her in Beijing where we would have a short holiday. Prior to flying east I contacted China Capital Toastmasters to ask if I was welcome to attend while in their city. I got a positive response. A few days after landing I was sat in a meeting room at the Zhao Long hotel waiting for the crack of the gavel. Most present were youngsters seeking to improve their spoken English, the mood was slightly earnest. I was told moments before the start that I could speak to the group for 40 seconds. I got my 40 seconds and not one more. The bell rang and a handshake pulled me out of the way of the next agenda item. The remainder of the meeting ran with similar efficiency and frugality, not much latitude was on show. Different city, different style.
Another vivid memory was born from my evening with Metro New York Toastmasters Club in 2010. Again I followed my preferred pattern of contacting the club from home to enquire if I could turn up to a meeting. I was welcome. It was a family holiday; my daughters and wife went to see show on Broadway. I went into a subterranean room that was largely full of welcoming New Yorkers. It was the Club’s contest evening but even so I was given a few minutes to introduce myself to the group. The whole evening was another different experience to those other Toastmaster visit. A reminder that we as Toastmasters do different things in the same way.
There is no place like home but when you are away look up a Toastmaster Club, there are plenty to choose from. It’s certain to be interesting and maybe entertaining. You’re part of an international organisation that offers a hand in friendship.
–Ian Rees
Maidenhead Speakers Club 