I watched Richard Peck to become toastmaster international president at this year’s international convention. Time goes fast. We met 9 years ago at a district 53 conference. I newly joined toastmaster then and attended the conference for the first time by the encouragement of my mentor.
I remembered Rich, tall, slim man in suit, standing at the entrance with a hand in the cast welcoming the attendees. We chatted briefly. He spoke in a low, gentle, and soothing tone. When he heard it’s my first conference, he went to get a first timer flyer for me. I met Rich several times in later toastmaster events. Every time, he was the same gentleman, in suit, calmly and warmly speaking to people. Later Rich was interested to be an international board of director. Who can be a better person than him to represent our region? I happily volunteered to campaign for him globally as I made friends upon visiting clubs around the world and at international convention. He won the election.
Now I’m thrilled to see Rich to be the international president of toastmaster. He started in an unprecedented time. Covid-19 brought the first international convention and club meetings online and temporarily held the travel. It’d be a different year yet who would be a better president than Rich to lead toastmaster through? Congratulation, Rich and thank you as a role model for the service leadership.