Winter Park Toastmasters Celebrates 50 years!

by Karl Righter, DTM PDG

Karl Righter, DTM
Past District Governor

November 22, 1963 was a bittersweet day for 26 men who had planned that evening to attend the charter banquet of a new Toastmasters club in Winter Park, Florida. They of course were shocked to learn of President John Kennedy’s death that afternoon and now were contemplating cancelling the event. After much agonizing thought, the club founders decided to proceed with the banquet and include a tribute to the fallen president. Winter Park Toastmasters Club 3674 was thus born the day President John F. Kennedy died.

50 years later to the day, 112 current and former members, including charter president Bob Milburn, ATM, plus visiting dignitaries from District 84, gathered at the University Club of Winter Park to celebrate the golden anniversary of Winter Park Toastmasters. Nearly 40 past presidents took a trip down memory lane as 32-year member Roy Scherer, ATM interviewed many of them during a program segment called Reflections. District 84 Governor Dee Melvin, DTM delivered the keynote address, and Past District 47 Governor Karl Righter, DTM, was the Master of Ceremonies and kept the crowd entertained throughout the evening with his bombproof humor.

The following district officers were also in attendance: Past District 84 Governor Scott Hoehn, DTM; Lt. Governor, Education & Training Mary Carol Holbert, DTM; District 84 Public Relations Officer Cindy Abeel, CC; Division D Governor Gene Kowalski, DTM; Division C Governor Nancy Hoehn, DTM; Area Governor Hari Atkuri, ACB; and, Area Governor Mark Ahlers, CC.