Meet Rose Nwaturuocha, one of District 19’s up and coming stars. We asked Rose to tell us about herself. Here is her reply:
“A few years ago, my work and volunteering involvement duties began to require me to make presentations to various groups. To do this with more confidence and by the book, I started to explore the options available. I found Toastmasters was by far, the cheapest and most flexible way to pursue those skills. I keyed in my zip code on Toastmasters International, and was pleasantly surprised that there was a club that met after working hours, right around my residence. This meant I could quickly dash home after work in Downtown Des Moines as a commercial underwriting specialist, feed my two teenagers, and attend meetings around the corner Tuesday evening.
On a beautiful evening in March of 2012, I bubbled into the meeting room boisterously, and met the most admirable group of Toastmasters that day: six of them to be exact. They were between the ages of 70 and 85. But their sharp minds, demeanor and the ease with which they conducted themselves through out that meeting belied their age. I quickly decided there and then that what ever fountain of youth they were partaking, I want to be have it too! They welcomed me like they have been waiting for me all year.
After my second meeting, I volunteered to help them with schedules. You see, I was new and could not show up and just speak or play any meeting role without first reading the role from the CC manual to ensure I knew what was expected of me. I was to learn later that there is a name for that role: Vice President Education. How do you become the VPE of a club after just two weeks of attending meeting? Mostly with a lot of enthusiasm, encouragement from these wonderful new friends I had just met at my club, and not being afraid to ask for help. I am humbled to say that as the Vice President of Education, and also acting as VP of membership and PR all rolled in one some day, and with the help of other great members of that club, Greater Des Moines Toastmasters membership grew over 200% at the end of that year. The club earned Distinguished Award at the end of that term.
As this Toastmaster year comes to an end, I will have completed my term serving as the club president, achieving the presidential distinguished status with strong membership that boasts at least six nationalities. I have helped with judging a lot of contests around the Area, Division and District. I have had the pleasure of meeting many Toastmasters, and I am looking forward to getting to know even more members in my role as a Division D Governor.
Once again, just like that beautiful day in March, 2012, I come to you with a lot of enthusiasm, and unabashed ability to ask for guidance and help when needed, so we can bring many around our communities to come share with us the beauty of the communication and leadership skills that Toastmasters so effectively delivers for just a token fee. I am here to mentor and be mentored, to lead and to be led, to teach and to be taught, as I continue to grow as a Toastmaster akin to those six I spoke of.
Rose Nwaturuocha, ACB, ALB
| [email protected] |
