Carolyn Peeler works as a management consultant at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, New Mexico. She’s also a longtime member of the Desert Basin Club in Alamogordo. Carolyn has always been active in her club. She’s currently the secretary/treasurer, and has served as Treasurer and as President. She also did a stint as an Area Governor. Carolyn was previously profiled on the district website. (Carolyn Peeler – Mentoring a Legacy)
For most Toastmasters, the training we receive in the club is invaluable when we put it to use in the “real” world, often at work when we’re asked to give a presentation. As we grow more confident in our skills, we may seek out other opportunities to speak, perhaps at church or in organizations in which we’re involved. Sometimes those opportunities are handed to us without much work on our part. Most often, however, getting the chance to speak takes some effort.
Carolyn is a perfect example of using connections and putting in the effort to be invited to speak outside the club. Some of the occasions where she’s parlayed her Toastmasters skills into outside speaking engagements:
- Guest speaker at Holloman Middle School National Junior Honor Society
- Graduation speaker at Holloman Middle School
- Emceed fashion shows put on by the Army and Air Force exchange service
- Keynote speaker at a room dedication for the Tuskegee Airmen
- Emceed the NCAAP’s Educator of the Year program several times
- Keynote speaker for the NCAAP’s Educator of the Year program, for which she has been asked to speak again this year
- Moderated a pastor’s anniversary
The stories of how she got these opportunities are illustrations of how to seek speaking opportunities.
Holloman Middle School – As a result of Carolyn’s involvement with the NCAAP’s Educator of the Year, it was natural for the school to reach out to her when they needed a guest speaker for the National Junior Honor Society. When the middle school’s new principal needed a graduation speaker the next year, his secretary remembered Carolyn and suggested her name.
Fashion show –The manager of the base exchange’s fashion show program needed an emcee for the show. Carolyn knew the manager and volunteered to fill in. She did such a good job that she was asked back several years in a row.
Tuskegee Airmen room dedication – Carolyn has long been involved with the Tuskegee Airmen chapter at Holloman. When a room was to be dedicated to the airmen, Carolyn chaired the committee for the dedication. They needed a keynote speaker, and Carolyn volunteered.
NAACP Educator of the Year – Carolyn has been an active member of the NAACP for many years. The Educator of the Year program came up and Carolyn, the longtime chair of that committee (and also Education chair,) stepped in as emcee. This year the planners needed a keynote speaker and once again Carolyn volunteered to fill that role.
Pastor’s Anniversary – No, Carolyn didn’t chair this committee. However, the pastor was a fellow member of the NAACP, knew she was in Toastmasters, and had seen her speak. He asked Carolyn to moderate his anniversary party, where she introduced speakers who stood up and gave their speeches about the celebratory couple.
Carolyn’s efforts haven’t ended. For black history month, she was given the opportunity to read a book about a prominent black citizen to 4th and 5th graders. Carolyn chose Ella Fitzgerald, introducing the Queen of Scat to children who might otherwise never hear of her. Carolyn’s story isn’t unique. Getting opportunities to speak outside Toastmasters is not always easy. It often requires being involved in activities and organizations, letting them know you’re a Toastmaster, and stepping up to be a speaker when the occasion arises.
