the history of park city toastmasters

Prior to 2000, a Toastmasters club existed briefly in Park City.

In 2000 Jon Henry and Allan Stockbridge inquired separately with Toastmasters International about starting a club in Park City. The District leadership soon brought the two together with some Toastmasters in Salt Lake City to begin the process of chartering a club in Park City again. Soon, with local advertising on KCPW and the Park Record, the necessary number of people (20) were gathered to start another club.

Since chartering a club in 2000, the club has remained healthy with an active membership between 15 and 30 people. If you have visited a Toastmaster club before you may note that each club has its own personality. The Park City Toastmasters Club has a distinct tone: the membership is cosmopolitan, professional, and yet very easy going and fun loving. The club does not operate as rigidly or business like as some other clubs do, and yet we are host to a variety of professions (real estate, finance, travel, mediation, personal coaching, design, teaching, administration, recreation, piloting, etc.)

In 2008 the club experienced tremendous growth. A healthy club has 20 members. We have had as many as 43 at once. During the 2008/2009 Toastmaster year we gained 43 new members. Understand that Toastmasters can be a revolving door with members moving away, getting new jobs or commitments and subsequently leaving the club. But our club caught the attention of the Area, Division, and District for its rapid growth and health.

Also in 2008, the club became more active and competetive in speech contests. In 2008, Jon Henry won the Division Tall Tales contest and Mike Hodge won the District Humorous contest. In 2009, Andy Cier won the District Humorous contest and Jon Henry won the District Evaluation contest.

Park City has also contributed several Area Governors over the years - Patricia Russell ('07), Julio Garraeaud ('08), Lynn Ware Peek ('09), and John Concannon ('10).