Statement from James Brown, candidate for 2020–2021 Division F Director:

COVID-19, Pathways, dwindling clubs. Millions out of a job and the resulting financial distress are challenges to District 28, the Toastmasters international leadership cadre and life in general. The organization as well individuals inside the organization are faced with dealing with massive change and uncertainty, the question for me is how we do as a district deal with change? And to be truthful I think that, there is no textbook answer, I feel that a leader needs to be able to look at situations, and access what can be done to mitigate the impact of challenging situations as much as possible. What I did in the past as a City Council person, or as a past Division Director is a nostalgia, we are no longer in the basement of the YMCA where Toastmasters started. There are a lot of questions I don’t have the answers to. I believe the John F. Kennedy quote, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” What I can commit to as an Division Director, is forming a team that is willing to be flexible and adaptable to change. I commit being a person who looks at situations, and works with diligence to be a part of a solution that creates the best possible outcomes for all involved.

Since we won’t be holding an in-person conference this year, we’ve created a virtual Candidates’ Corner on our District Council meeting event page, where we’ll be publishing statements from each of our candidates as we receive them.