International President Helen Blanchard's "One Score and Six"
presentation focused on the 26th anniversary of "Women in Toastmasters"
and, she used this subject to talk about the organization's changes and to
share her
experiences as "the first woman" in Toastmasters.
The changes which have occurred include a dramatic growth. Toastmasters
International has doubled in size, both in number of clubs and membership.
During the 26 years, the educational material increased from one basic
manual of 26 speeches, and one advanced manual of 15 speeches to today's
basic manual of 10 speeches and 15 advanced manuals.
The organization hired a full time Executive Director, Terry McCann. This
resulted in positive and consistent improvements throughout Toastmasters.
Ms. Blanchard's membership in Toastmasters was prompted by her career
duties with the government. During the second World War, torpedoes were not
hitting their targets and she developed software to analyze the problem. In
1970 she began teaching
Navy Engineers how to acquire, analyze and report the data.
"Teaching Navy engineers anything was difficult at best" she said. She
thought Toastmasters might help her communication skills. She visited a
Toastmasters Club but was told to go to the Toastmistress organization.
However, two weeks later, after having reviewed her application, the club
she had visited asked her to join. Since women were not allowed,
she submitted her application for membership in Toastmasters International
as "H. Blanchard."
TI responded with a request for a name for "H."
At the next meeting, the focus of Table Topics was to find a name for
"H." "Homer" was the winning suggestion.
She was accepted as a member by her club, but not necessarily outside
of it. She was asked not to attend District events. Some men did
not want her attending other meetings. However, many good friends helped
her and kept her going until the time came when a sufficient number of
Toastmasters believed
women should be allowed to join.
Her career moved ahead, she said, due to the Toastmaster program. It
took her up the career ladder. As she spoke of various career
highlights, she included one in which she had breakfast on a ship in Norway
with Prince Charles.
She spoke of several "family, social and business benefits" to be gained
from Toastmaster membership and included this observation:
"It's a volunteer organization and when you learn to motivate volunteers
you can motivate anyone."
She suggested that members try the leadership track. "You invest so
little and gain so much. It also provides an opportunity to influence
Toastmasters International."
"Why do many Toastmasters go further up the leadership ladder," she
asked? "Because someone they like and respect asked them to go on, to take
one more step up."
Her suggestion to all leaders: Thank the people who helped you.
In her closing she quoted Walter Lippman:
"The final test of a leader: Does he leave behind in others the will and the
conviction to carry on."
She added: "That goes for women too."
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