Thunderbird Toastmasters Club #396, came out of a Speech-craft held in the summer of 1946 in Victoria, British Columbia.

As stated in a speech by Barrie Goult, PDG, ATM, District 21 Toastmasters, first District Governor “… We were thereafter joined by the Thunderbird Club, when its charter was presented by President McCrillis, who was welcomed to Victoria by Mayor Percy George [who was Mayor from 1945-1951]”. Thunderbird thereby became the 5^th club in BC., along with Victoria Toastmasters Club #38 (First Canadian Toastmasters), Vancouver Toastmasters Club #59, Chilliwack Toastmasters Club,  and the Union Toastmasters Club #331 (Rise and Shine Toastmasters) of Victoria.

Toastmasters International Inc. President McCrillis had told Barrie Goult and his fellow toastmasters in 1945, if they organize five clubs they could have their own District.

Thunderbird was charted on July 20^th, 1946 just 6 days before District 21 Toastmasters becoming a district at the Toastmasters International General Meeting in Seattle, Washington.

Those early members of Thunderbird must have been involved in the first “Golden Gavel Speaking Contest” in 1946.

Many members of Thunderbird were in attendance at a gathering of the three Vancouver Island Toastmasters on June 8th, 1948 with Dr Ralf Smedley, the founder of Toastmasters International; the other club were Victoria Toastmasters Club #38 (First Canadian Toastmasters), Union Club Toastmasters Club #331 (Rise and Shine Toastmasters). The Thunderbird Toastmasters attending the dinner where W.L. Eaton, F.D. Elford, Ron Hemur, Aubrey C. Karagianis, O.T. Macdonald-Miller,

A. McDermid,  Neil Main, Joe R. Pears, Emerson Smith, J.W. Wilson,  J.L. Wooding.

Other members in 1946, John R. Archer, George O. Hawkins; 1951 Walter R. Margetts, E.W. Langston, Ralf T. Singleton, A.F. Ellis, E.L. Adams, Albert T Roos, Jack de Vafeeril; 1953 R.H. McKenzie, R, Galing; 1955 Eric Colmer; 1956 H. Waiss; 1958 Bob Baird. These members had visited Victoria Toastmasters Club #38 (First Canadian Toastmasters) over the years.

Thunderbird members who served on the District 21 teams have been:

1953-55	Gordon Willscroft	Lieutenant-Governor, then District Governor
1956-57	Walter Margetts	Senior Lieutenant-Governor
1958-61	Jim W. McKay	Junior Lieutenant-Governor, then Senior Lieutenant-Governor, finally District Governor
1958-63	Gordon Willscroft	Education Chairman for 5 years (although he represented club #1811 on the official record). He was then the “Link Newsletter” Editor from 1963-65
1960-61	R.W. “Bob” Baird	Secretary-Treasurer. 1963-66 he represented club #331 as Administrative Lieutenant-Governor, then Educational Lieutenant-Governor, finally District Governor
1973-74	Frank Leask	Secretary-Treasurer
1975-76	Graham Garman	Secretary-Treasurer
1977-80	Graham Garman	Administrative Lieutenant-Governor, then Educational Lieutenant-Governor, finally District Governor. Margret Hope of Club #59 was his lieutenant, in 1980 she became the first woman District Governor of District 21. She went on the be the first woman International Director representing District 21. Under Graham’s leadership the district became a Distinguished District.
2000-01	Garth Coward	Area 1 Governor. He shared the Outstanding Area Governor of the Year from District 21. He received the Sponsor of the Year Award at the 2001 Fall Conference.
2003-04	Gath Coward	Division ‘A’ Governor
2005-06	Joyce Liu	Area 3 Governor
2007-08	Brian Dodd	Area 3 Governor, he has been elected Area 3 Governor for 2011-12 (Although representing VI Entrepreneur Toastmasters Club #1087015). He is also the District Historian since 2008.
2008-09	Karen Knight	Area 3 Governor. She received the Outstanding Area Governor of the Year from District 21
2009-10	Karen Knight	Division ‘A’ Governor. She beat Brian Dodd in the election at the 2009 District 21 Spring Convention in Whistler.
2009-10	Mark Rock	Area 4 Governor
2010-11	Joel Rose	Area 3 Governor
2011-12	Karen Knight	Lieutenant-Governor of Marketing.

 

Thunderbird has been a great supporter of the non-toastmaster “Golden Gavel Speaking Contest” for rookie speakers, from its inception in 1946. Thunderbird has been represented by five winners: 1952 Walter R. Margetts, 1956 Arthur Nuigent, 1959 Andrew K. Wong, 1966 Andy Andrews, and 1967 Graham Thompson.

This new club began meeting at the Cherry Bank Hotel on Burdett Street. The original Club Charter was lost (it was burned in a fire of it’s meeting place); a new one was reissued on November 20, 1961.

Other meeting places have been Somerset House on Dallas Road, where Frank Kitching lived. University of Victoria, Downtown Campus, and the club’s current location James Bay New Horizons behind the Parliament Building.

A rather interesting member of Thunderbird Toastmasters joined in 1981, having been involved in Toastmasters since 1959. Mr. Frank Kitching had just won the District 21 speech contest the year before, and remained with Thunderbird until 1994. It was largely through Frank Kitching’s efforts that Thunderbird Toastmasters became known as “the club with a heart” – an undisputed title which remains to this day. Frank received the Clair Farris Award at the 1984 Fall Conference.

More recently, local artist AJ Johnson presented Thunderbird Toastmasters with an original piece of his artwork designed especially for the club as a 50^th anniversary gift. At the Executive meeting of April 23, 1997, AJ’s gift was adopted as the official club logo.

On Dec 2, 1996 Thunderbird celebrated their 50^th anniversary with a “Speakers Showcase” competition open to all clubs in Area 8. Among the volunteers were 3 from Birdcage, Raymond Ho, Karen Heighes and Eileen Wiedeman. Karen won with a speech entitled “Anonymous was a Lady”. President Kathie Black and VP-PR Diane Edwards were in charge of the program held in the Horizon West room of the Imperial Inn (Contributed by Eileen Wiedeman)

 

“You’re Never Too Old” by Gillian Kettlewell, District 21 PR Officer (The Link page 3 Apr 1997)

One of the most enjoyable half hours I have recently spent was speaking Frank Kitching. Frank is 93 years young and has been a Toastmaster for almost 40 years. He joined Vancouver Club #59 in 1958. From there he transferred to the Burrard Club, and then to Thunderbird # 396 in Victoria. For the past three years he has been an active participant in the Kalamalka Club in Vernon.

When I spoke with Frank, I asked him why he stayed in Toastmasters. He replied, “I like people, the friendship, challenges, and learning the things you should and should not do at the lectern.”

One of the things he enjoys most is evaluating the Ice Breaker Speech. At the lectern for his own presentations, he never uses notes. He prepares, prepares and prepares. He memorizes the main points and has far more material than he needs. Thus, if something is forgotten, there is still enough material. His advice on being a better communicator is to speak from the heart, truly mean what you say, feel it and you will gain rapport with the audience.

Frank’s greatest achievement in Toastmasters was to win 1st place in the District 21, 1983 International Speech Contest.

It gave him the opportunity to represent British Columbia at the Region One Conference in Reno where he placed third. Frank told me that one of the best things that ever happened in Toastmasters was when the organization voted to admit women.

I am proud to be a member of this organization that has people like Frank from whom we can learn so much. He really is a wonderful gentleman.

Frank, we hope you will be around for many more years so more of us can get to meet you and share your knowledge. It was a delight chatting with you.

Editors note by Addie Derby: Frank Kitching evaluated my Ice Breaker in Sept 1980 when he visited the Connaught Club. I will always be grateful for his advice. Frank is a giant in our midst.

2007 Chris Hayes come in 2^nd in the Golden Gavel Speaking Contest. That year Adam McKinnon was also in the final contest on March 23th.

 

Thunderbird Toastmasters is a President’s Distinguished Club, the highest level of recognition available for outstanding performance. In fact, since the Toastmaster Distinguished Club Program first began in July 1999, Thunderbird has received the President’s Distinguished Club designation every year since. It is one of only two clubs in British Columbia to have achieved and maintained such an honor, and the only club in Greater Victoria to have done so.

 

Past Presidents 1995-2011

• 2011-2012 – Irene Paris [Present President]
• 2010-2011 – Derek Pettigrew
• 2009-2010 – Garth Coward, DTM
• 2008-2009 – Joel Rose. ACB, CL
• 2007-2008 – Karen Knight, DTM
• 2006-2007 – Brian Dodd, DTM
• 2005-2006 – Mark Roch, ATM-B, CL
• 2004-2005 – Joyce Liu, ATM-B, CL
• 2003-2004 – Mark Roch, ATM-B, CL
• 2002-2003 – Irena Netik, CTM, CL
• 2001-2002 – Dave Duprey, ATM-B, CL
• 2000-2001 – Ian Matthews, CTM
• 1999-2000 – Garth Coward, ATM-G, CL
• 1998-1999 – Donna Van Alphen, ATM
• 1997-1998 – Paul Holmes, CTM
• 1996-1997 – Kathie Black, CTM
• 1995-1996 – Everett Ofori, CTM

Assembled and Edited by Brian Dodd, DTM, District 21 Historian (2008-2011), June, 2011