Past Annual Dinners

2022 Sponsors

The "strangers" were her schoolmates – other seniors who went through the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program to restart their confidence and communication skills. She went on to say,

"I had lost so many of my social skills, physically and emotionally due to distancing. The longer it went on, the more my past anxieties began to resurface."

This year's Annual Dinner theme was "Building Resilience for a Brighter Future." Principal Sandy Reese said the distancing had an extremely negative impact on her students. She wanted to find a way to help. 

 We honored Pioneer High School seniors who participated in the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program. They entered their freshman year right before having to go home due to a pandemic that shut down their world, isolated them from their established friends and community members, and exasperated any trauma and anxiety they were starting to get a handle on. 

 If you missed this year, you missed a fantastic opportunity to get to know the young adults who don't usually struggle in school, share from a different perspective. As this student put it,

"I was nervous to outright ask for help in fear of seeming dramatic or attention seeking, like teenagers are often seen. I hid it well, participating in extracurriculars and keeping straight A's because I learned early on that as long as the adults around you don't see your grades suffering, they don't see you suffering either."

 But relief came for this student and fourteen others:

"By the end of these 8 weeks, I felt so comfortable sharing with them and telling them things I would usually keep private. I was able to re-learn my social skills and speak to others without my anxiety stopping me. My confidence grew so much with the respect that I was shown. The other students gave me support and showed empathy, and my mentors encouraged me and taught me a lot. I would recommend this program to anyone in high school right now - whether they are struggling or not."

This newsletter is dedicated to the ALMS volunteers who serve our youth at the dinner and throughout the year. There were 13 out of 15 young adults that attended the dinner. ALMS has served over 70 students from February to November 2022. I can guarantee you that the goal was accomplished - they were seen!

 Thanks to: Jim and Darryl for their counsel, wisdom, and time to those young men referred by the DA's office after making a mistake and needing a second chance to become the fathers their sons and daughters needed with a bit of help from two mentors who care.

Thanks to Yolanda and Dina for making Toastmasters available in Pioneer High School and Woodland Community College. Their help encouraged communication and supported our young people while finding their voice – students see that someone cares for them.

Thanks to Cathy and LC for giving so much of their time, ensuring job readiness was available for youth coming out of the pandemic, and confirming that adults really see you suffering. They care.  

Thanks to Josh for giving movie night a good start. The young people who attend know they have a caring community ready to listen, learn, and have fun together.  

Thanks to Donna and Tim for being there Sunday afternoons to "Take A Break" with our young adults in whatever way is necessary, and Frank, for your work at the Annual Dinner.