HISTORY OF DIPLOMATIC TOASTMASTERS

Why do we call ourselves “Diplomatic Toastmasters”? For the answer, I went to the source of all early knowledge of our club--our founding member, Toni Rodgers, who is our only DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster--the highest educational level in our alphabet soup!):

The club name was the result of a group of multiple discussions. We envisioned our group to be a collection of individuals in a formal, structured program who thought of themselves as always being courteous and forever conscious of their affect upon others, thus Diplomatic.

As diplomatic (men and women) members, every presenter had to wear a jacket (male and female) for any presentation he/she gave. Even the table topics person had to be formally dressed to present. We were sticklers for structured meetings and protocol. We had also decided to be completely involved in the District 30 leadership and contests. We have achieved all of those goals, and we continue to put our best foot forward through the club’s leadership.

(Well, obviously, we relaxed the dress code some time ago!)

The club started after Kenneth and Toni Rodgers moved to Evanston from Reading, Pennsylvania after having seen a Toastmasters event when living there. In October, 1990, a demo meeting was held at Second Baptist Church of Evanston, Illinois. After proposing the possibility of starting a club at the church to then-pastor Dr. Hycel B. Taylor, he was receptive to the idea. The club met weekly and chartered in March 1991 as a community club in the North Division of District 30 (Lake, Cook, Will and DuPage Counties).

It didn’t take long for the club to distinguish itself! When the club celebrated its 5th anniversary in 1996, the District 30 Historian told us how unique Diplomatic was in having achieved so much in such a short period of time.

Our club will celebrate its 15th anniversary in March 2006. If you click on the “History” link within http://www.toastofchicago.org (Chicagoland District 30 Toastmasters), you will see some pretty amazing things that reflect Diplomatic's recognition and high regard within District 30 as great leaders and speech contestants. Here is a summary of these achievements:

Contests:
The first member to advance beyond the club in a speech contest was Sandra Chavis (who also earned the club’s first CTM), who represented us in the now-defunct Dramatic Reading Contest at the Area contest in 1992.

Dawn Crumpler won the 1993 District International Speech Contest—just two years after the club chartered. She represented the District at the Region V International Speech Contest.

Terry Watson won the District Humorous Speech Contest in 1995 and represented the District at the 1996 Region V Humorous Speech contest. (He won the 1996 Dramatic Reading Contest finals as a member of another club.)

Dr. Mimi Blevins (now Johnson) placed second at the District Humorous Speech finals in 1996.

Dawne Simmons-Archie, who joined the club in July 1998, came in second place at the District fall 1998 Humorous Speech Contest. The contest still went to Region V at that point. When the first place winner was not able to attend in June 1999, Dawne was asked to step in, and she took third place--a major achievement for a Toastmaster with less than a year’s tenure!

Nicole Cabell represented the club at the District Dramatic Reading Contest in 1999. (As Nicole Cabell-Pope and a member of another club, she represented District 30 at the 2003 Region V International Speech Contest.)

Steve Frederick went to the District International Speech contest in Spring 2001 and the North Division Humorous Speech contest in Fall 2002, placing second on both occasions.

Bobbi Viegas Miller participated in the Spring 2002 Table Topics District finals.

Rhonda K. Craven took first place at the Fall 2002 District Evaluation contest finals.

Lara Biggs participated in the Evaluation finals in Fall 2003.

Susan Fisher placed second in the 2005 Division Humorous Speech contest.

Terri Heath won the District Evaluation contest finals at the Fall 2005 District competition.

Club Presidents
Toni Rodgers—1991-1992
Sandra Chavis—1992-1993
Lisa Johnson—1993-1994
Betty Lindsey—1994-1995
Bridgette Price—1995-1996
Janet Butler—1996-1997
Rochelle Santopoalo—1997-1998
Rhonda K. Craven—1998-1999, 2002-2003, 2003-2004
Dawne Simmons-Archie—1999-2000
Susan Black—2000-2001, 2001-2002
Shari Woods—2004-2005
Tamara Lewis—2005-2006

Recognition of Our Dedication to Toastmasters’ Goals
Our club banner sports many ribbons! They reflect Diplomatic’s ongoing commitment to earning educational awards (CTMs, CLs, ATMs and the like), building membership, helping to start new clubs, and getting our paperwork in on time! Whenever we display our banner during the Saturday morning banner parade at the Fall and Spring conferences, we always get a positive response! Many clubs that have been around longer than Diplomatic reflect only a handful of ribbons.

Outside of the club, Diplomatic members have supported the Illinois Academic Decathlon, serving as evaluation team members. Our participation, along with that of other Toastmasters, brought a level of integrity and support the Decathlon desired after the Steinmetz High School scandal in the late 1990s.

Since the club began, it has been a minimum of a Distinguished Club, with several years being Select Distinguished. In 1999-2000, as well as 2003-2004, we were President's Distinguished. In 2004-5, we were Select Distinguished. Our goal is always to be President’s Distinguished. Here are the points we must achieve to do so as long as we maintain a base of 20 members:

As you can see, this is a team effort. I'm happy to still be part of the Diplomatic team after 12 years as we help each other to grow in our communication skills and to continue the tradition of excellence that Diplomatic cherishes.


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