Gordon State College Toastmasters International Club Achieves President’s Distinguished Club Award
Gordon State College Toastmasters Club has been recognized for achieving the President’s Distinguished Club Award from Toastmasters International on June 10, 2021.
Completing their goals 20 days ahead of the June 30 deadline, the GSC Toastmasters’ members representing District 14 met their goals despite the array of challenges presented by the pandemic during the 2021 spring semester.
The Toastmasters International charter was established at GSC by Distinguished Toastmaster Dr. Tonya Moore in April 2014, Director of Career Services at GSC and Club Advisor, who worked with this collection of students and one staff member to earn this honor.
"I am extremely impressed with the laser focus our Toastmasters’ students developed during the pandemic,” Moore said. “Our student leaders really displayed the Highlander EDGE during a very challenging time in our college’s history. I couldn’t be more honored and proud to serve as their coach and mentor.”
These goal-seekers have overcome fear, isolation, change, technical difficulties, sickness and loss during the spring semester to accomplish nine out of ten goals. With a remarkable composition of members ranging from ages 16 to 83, the GSC club represents graduates, current freshmen, current seniors, faculty and staff working together through a platform that encourages public speaking and leadership growth.
Originally designed to take place in person, Toastmasters International has undergone a series of transitions lately such as moving to virtual meetings, conferences and training sessions during the pandemic. In 2010, the Toastmasters International Board of Directors converted from a traditional education Program to a comprehensive user-friendly Pathways education system to provide more global professional development opportunities for members.
With the use of WebEx and emails to accomplish all club activities at a distance, it was successfully proven that volunteers, faculty and students can join together to encourage one another to thrive and meet each goal on a consistent basis.
“I am very proud of this group of individuals at Gordon State College for the determination they have shown to garner this honor from Toastmasters International,” said Dr. Kirk A. Nooks, GSC President. “They accomplished all of their goals and did so three weeks ahead of their deadline, which demonstrates the commitment they have to becoming better communicators and leaders.”
Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. It is open to the public and accessible to anyone interested in becoming involved.
Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization's membership exceeds 364,000 in more than 16,200 clubs in 145 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders.
Toastmasters International is a remarkable leadership development community full of educational pathways and resources designed to assist members in pinpointing public speaking goals while accomplishing these goals effectively and efficiently.
Toastmasters International is made up of volunteers who are enthusiastic about helping members reach their goals at their own pace, as well as determined members who continuously strive toward making their leadership goals a reality.
For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow GSC Toastmasters @GSCToastmasters on Twitter and @gsc_toastmasters on Instagram.