Words of Wisdom in Troubling Times

A collection of quotes on resolve.

“To me the most impressive part has been the way you, our members, quickly responded to challenges and found opportunities to overcome them. I view challenges as opportunities in their rawest form. They enable us to view things differently … to try new things … to break free from the norm … and to experience change. You proved this to be true.”

—2020-2021 International President Richard E. Peck

“We cannot stop serving our members, even in this time.”

—Ran Tao, then-president of A.A.C.T.P Wuhan Toastmasters

“Change is inevitable; what isn’t pre¬ordained is our response. We have a choice to be positive in the face of difficulty…Change forces us to add new tools to our toolbox. It also strengthens our community by sharing our humanity during this difficult time.”

— Sarah Chafee, Concord Toastmasters Club, Concord, New Hampshire

“While we are most comfortable fully engaged with in-person meetings…online meetings, speeches, and chats are giving us purpose and a reason to smile with one another. We are experiencing our support system, still in place, all around the world.”

—2019-2020 International President Deepak Menon, DTM,

“It (Paris) would have been the first time in Toastmasters history that an international president from North America was inaugurated outside of North America. Oui, Oui, Smedley! This didn’t happen as we’d planned it, but it won’t ever change who we are or what we do because we are Toastmasters, where leaders are made.”

—Bettyann Peck, DTM, Park City Toastmasters, Stratford, Connecticut

“Even though right now many of the borders are closed and we’re dealing with this pandemic pause, that doesn’t mean you still can’t be virtual and global simultaneously. This is probably the best opportunity that we’ve ever had to be truly connected as a human race.”

—Sheryl Roush, DTM, AS, Sharp Toastmasters, Chula Vista, California