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Feb 01, 2014 |
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There is one stop light between my house and the Eastside Cafe in Pryor where I go to drink coffee and talk. I don't know how or why, but I rarely catch the red light. Some people are like that green light. They are always ready to help. They will advise you. They will assist you. They will entertain you. Matt Branstetter is one of those individuals. Still, there are times when he will stop you and say, "Have you thought about this?" Some might think Matt is so set in his ways that it's his way or no way. That thought is far from the truth. Near the end of his term as District 16 Governor, Matt and I had several meetings. Both of us kept a constant watch on the numbers. He needed three things to happen for the district to be distinguished. He needed distinguished clubs, members, and total clubs. As June 30 approached, he had the distinguished clubs and we had several clubs ready to charter. What the district needed was members. We were seated at the bar in a rustic restaurant a few blocks south of Chesapeake. Finally, Matt turned to me, "We need 300 members with two weeks to go. It's not going to happen," he said. "It's up to you whether you charter those clubs at Chesapeake or save them for next year. It's your call." We saved those clubs and a couple more and the next year Ed Engelke missed being distinguished by a hair. He came so close. Matt is back again this year with more determination than ever. He is heading up a new Toastmasters International program that will radically change the way members achieve their educational goals. Matt Branstetter is my February 1, 2014 'Toastmaster of the Day'. |
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This story was approved.