Last Woman Standing

Turnabout is fair play. Just a few weeks earlier Becky Osland worked out a surprise award ceremony for Ryan Hove. Ryan had presented a speech concluding an advanced manual to reach the Toastmaster milestone of Advanced Communicator-Gold. That completed Ryan's requirements for a DTM, Distinguished Toastmaster. On July 2, Ryan returned the favor, and the hat that said "DTM", in a surprise move that turned the hat into a traveling trophy.

{pictured above, Becky Osland. Photographer: Duane Noto}

 

All of our HealthToasters meetings are special events, but Ryan had a conclusion to his speech at our first July meeting that paid special tribute to Becky. Ryan's speech was a well crafted examination of the Toastmasters educational tracks for communications and for leadership, titled "From CC to DTM". This is Toastmaster-speak for finishing the first manual, CC, Competent Communicator and traveling on to achieve the DTM, Distinguished Toastmaster. A DTM is the highest level of achievement that the Toastmasters International (TI) organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills.

 

During his speech, Ryan indicated the count of how many HealthToasters had reached each of the achievement levels. In his conclusion, he asked all of those that had completed the Competent Communicator manual to stand up. As he proceeds to mark off the advanced milestones, he asked the club members to remain standing if they had achieved it. When he reached the final rung on the ladder for accomplishing the highest level in communications as well as the highest level in leadership, there was only one other person standing, Becky Osland.

 

Becky's final requirement was achieved when she completed the year of service as an Area Governor, so she didn't have a speech to mark the accomplishment. Ryan captured the moment with flowers and the club members had their chance to pay special tribute to our newest Distinguished Toastmaster.

 

Ryan Hove achieved his DTM as a member of HealthToasters but he started in Toastmasters at another club. We have another scenario for Stephen Shaner, who began his Toastmasters path at our HealthToasters club but reached his DTM in another City. Becky Osland is the first HealthToaster to achieve all of the requirements for her DTM while HealthToasters was her home club. Congratulations Becky!

 

Becky is an interesting case study for HealthToasters. Now more comfortable addressing a group of people, she tells the story of the first time she was asked to respond to a Table Topics question and couldn't muster an answer. There is also the story of the Turtle Necks. Becky always wore a turtle neck sweater when she started in Toastmasters for fear that her face and neck would turn red from nervousness. She is now more confident and comfortable when addressing a group of people because of her practice at our HealthToasters Club.

 

See related archive story about our super distinguished club.

 

 

Becky Osland is pictured here receiving flowers from Ryan Hove. {Photographer: Duane Noto}