This year (2018) is the 45th year that Cranbrook First Toastmasters has been a Toastmasters International Chartered Club #3532.

In 1973 a group of gentlemen led by Gary Cavers gathered together to hone their speaking skills. This eventually became the Cranbrook First Toastmasters. In 1975 a group of Ladies started a Club that would become the first Ladies Toastmasters Club #731, to be chartered in the World. In 1976, out of that Ladies Club came a speaker, Stephanie (Steve) Noonan who would rise to the occasion at the World Speaking Championships and place third in the World. The Ladies Club eventually went down to four members and folded.

Through the history of Toastmasters in the region, there were clubs started in Creston, Kimberley, another Cranbrook Club and Invermere. Cranbrook Phoenix Club #1911 Chartered January 1, 1982 with members Blair Farish and Diana Cavers.

The club had a good long run and after 35 years, folded in 2017, due to low numbers. Kimberley Toastmasters Club had their informational meeting in March 10 of 1982 at the College Campus in Kimberley. Blair Farish, Evelyn Craig and Sharron Billey were instrumental in that initial meeting.

Kimberley’s Club #5133 Chartered in May, 1983 but there is no further information about the club. In March 1982, there was an informational meeting in Creston to start the Creston Valley Toastmasters Club. Creston Valley Toastmasters Club #4949 Chartered in July 1982. Creston Valley members still meet regularly in Creston.

Invermere had a Toastmasters Club for many years hosted by Winn Weir, an accomplished speaker. In the mid 1980’s the Invermere Club and the Cranbrook Ladies Club met and had a debate, “Resolved that Beauty Pageants should be abolished.” It would have been interesting to be at that debate considering that the Sam Steele Sweethearts, still around today, host a Pageant. What you may not know is that Cranbrook Toastmasters Clubs have worked yearly with the Sweethearts Candidates to build their public speaking skills. Sadly the Invermere club eventually folded.

This week Cranbrook First Toastmasters will start a year-long celebration recognizing the 45 years they have helped individuals overcome their fear of speaking in front of small and large groups and helped individuals build their leadership skills to become better leaders in their communities, with volunteer organizations or being elected to school boards or other political positions. The Club works with the Air Cadets Effective Speaking and the Sam Steele Sweethearts Candidates as well as offering Speech Craft sessions in the community, most recently to the Blade Runners.

We invite you to join us on Thursday, January 25 at 6 pm for a potluck dinner, meet and greet. At 6:45 p.m. we will introduce our Dignitaries then hold an open house Toastmasters meeting covering the skills you will learn at regular Toastmasters meetings.

The location is the College of the Rockies room 147 for the dinner and room 250 the Lecture Theatre for the meeting. Calling all former and future Toastmasters, to help us celebrate.

Lead image: A scan of a picture from a 1975 Cranbrook Townsman edition. Image submitted

Cranbrook First Toastmasters

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