Speaker - June 2018

Roush, who has presented more than 3,500 programs in
11 countries thus far, was recruited to join Toastmasters
in 1990 by another Toastmaster-turned-pro, Mary-Ellen
Drummond. Roush earned the Distinguished Toastmaster
(DTM) designation, which couples public speaking and
leadership, while serving on the NSA-San Diego Board.
In 1993, she earned the Toastmasters Accredited
Speaker designation on her first attempt. She’s only the
sixth female and the youngest to have done so. Plus, she
did it while simultaneously serving as District 5 Governor.

More than any NSA member, Roush has found the ideal sweet spot in Toastmasters through service. She serves as a global ambassador keynoting conferences, including Canada in April and Australia in May of this year. She was honored by Toastmasters in 2009 for her global contributions in leadership and communication with the International Presidential Citation, the highest award a member can receive—comparable to NSA’s Cavett Award.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
TRAVEL AND TRIAL RUNS

LaCroix, who has spoken in 144 international cities, says of Toastmasters, “If you want to travel the world, why would you not want to be part of an organization where you can go to China, call up a local Toastmaster, and say, ‘Hey, any advice for me in town?’” He adds that many members will come show you around.

“It’s like you have brothers and sisters around
the world,” LaCroix says. “You can go speak at a
Toastmasters club in the city of your choice—wherever
you want to travel—build your business and write o; the
trip. That’s a bonus.”
LaCroix adds that it’s also a great place to make
mistakes. “I think they should change their slogan to
‘Toastmasters International: a great place to make mis-
takes.’” He believes that if you want to be world class, you
have to push yourself. You have to make more mistakes.

Tate agrees. To date, he has spoken professionally in all 50 states, in 25 countries, and on five continents. He believes Toastmasters provides essential practice in front of live audiences.

“Every time I do an engagement, I’ve got to be great.
Everything has to work,” Tate says. “Each night before
his monologue, Jay Leno would go to a local comedy club
and practice that night’s monologue. I use Toastmasters
the same way.”
I made my mistakes last year. Most people who
achieve the AS designation, like Stark and LaCroix, do
not do so on their first attempt. Out of 350,000 mem-
bers, there are only 75 Accredited Speakers traveling the
nation and the world spreading the value of communica-
tion and leadership. I will be back on that stage. ■

“I joined both NSA and Toastmasters at the same time
in 1991, because Dottie Walters suggested I do so in
her book SpeakandGrow Rich. I have continued both
memberships because I feel that Toastmasters offers
me a wonderfully supportive place to develop and
practice my material, and my membership in NSA/
CAPS provides me the business skills, support, and
advice that help me grow my training business.”
—Ross Mackay, Accredited Speaker