BURIED TREASURE
Frank Paulding & First Canadian Toastmasters Club #38 (Part Five) Harvey Schowe, DTM - District 7 Historian
Ralph Smedley began discussions for a Toastmasters federation in July 1930 at the
THE NORTHWEST SPEAKS THE SPOKES CLUB
YMCA Summer School at Whittier College in California. Clark Chamberland was the
Our good friend Frank Paulding, General
temporary chairman. Committees were assigned
Secretary of the “Y” at New Westminster, B.C.
to study the federation plans. Frank Paulding
sent in the following interesting account of
expressed interest in having the Spokes Club
the Spokes Club, which corresponds to our
become part of Toastmasters. In his book, Ralph
Toastmaster Clubs here in the States.
Smedley wrote, “It occurred to me that with a
In speaking of the club program, he says:
club in British Columbia seeking to join us, we
“You will notice that we have four Toast
might consider us international too; and so, I
nights, five Debate nights, and one continued
suggested that we call ourselves Toastmasters
study subject, namely recreation, together
International, frankly acknowledging that the
with some miscellaneous topics. So far, we
source of my idea was Rotary International.”
are having the best attendance that we
In late summer 1930, temporary officers
have had in years, which speaks volumes
were appointed. Clark Chamberlain requested
for the popularity of the program. We have
all known clubs to send representatives to an
approximately forty members.
organizing meeting in Los Angeles, California
The Spokes Club is not a regular dinner
on October 4, 1930. The first permanent officers
club; it holds dinner meetings occasionally.
elected during this meeting were: J. Clark
At the beginning of the season, they send
Chamberlain, President; Arthur H. Johnson and
out a printed program, which schedules
C. George Hedstrom, Vice-Presidents; Robert
coming topics and events, from October to
H. Orr, Secretary; George M. Grant, Treasurer.
April first when an Annual Toast Night is held
During this meeting, the idea for a newsletter
to wind up the season. This program idea
or bulletin named The Gavel was proposed as
is a splendid one and no doubt some of us
a means for clubs to communicate with each
could profit from our meetings by following
other. The first issue of The Gavel was published
this idea.
December 6, 1930. Two years later it became Toastmaster. Frank Paulding wrote the following article for the December 6, 1930 issue of The Gavel:
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