Will  Snader
Candidate 
International Director 2007-2009 
Toastmasters International

VISION STATEMENT

Centuries ago, the famous Scottish Poet, Robert Burns, wrote these words, “O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us.” 

These words echo the fear that so many of us share, and the reason we become Toastmasters.  We fear what people will see and, as importantly, what they will hear from us.  Simply stated we fear it will generate rejection and failure.  As we know from our own personal Toastmasters experience, no Toastmaster ever feels rejection, and there is no failure but only positive, affirming, constructive feedback to help us improve in our effectiveness as human beings.

The world we knew as children, regardless if we are young or old, is not the world today, nor will it be the world tomorrow.  What happens in one corner of the world impacts another part.  It is sheer folly to believe that we are not truly dependent on one another.  What each of us has to say and our ability to truly listen, to hear, and to understand one another is critical to our future.  Leadership at all levels from the family to local government to nations to the world take encouragement from the skills we practice. 

Toastmasters International stands ready at a unique opportunity in the history of mankind.  We are the leading organization in the world for communications and leadership development.  Our challenge is to insure that everyone knows that simple fact about us.  Our core values of integrity, service, communications, and leadership development answer a basic need for mankind.  Every day we Make a Mark.  Empowered by our core values, we insure that this Mark improves the quality of life and the human spirit.  When I stand at our Toastmasters International Convention, I realize absolutely that in this place and in that time, there is no club, no district, no region nor any nation.  We are simply members of Toastmasters, practicing life changing skills and becoming better human beings.  The world is a better place because of us.  I encourage each of you to join with me in Making Your Mark for a better world.