[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 133 (Tuesday, October 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2030-E2031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL: RECOGNIZING 75 YEARS OF SERVICE

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                            HON. JIM TURNER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 1999

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th anniversary 
of Toastmasters International, which since its conception on October 
22, 1924, has grown to over 8,000 clubs and 200,000 members in 60 
countries worldwide.
  During the past 75 years, Toastmasters International has performed a 
valuable service for its members and those who hear its message of 
opportunity, initiative and good fellowship by assisting in the 
development of essential communications skills. One of the 
Toastmasters' most remarkable, yet challenging, efforts has been the 
formation of clubs within prisons to teach inmates how to effectively 
communicate to others and accept criticism. I am especially proud of 
the Sabine River Toastmasters in Orange, Texas.
  One year ago, the Sabine River Toastmsters formed a club in the 
LeBlanc Prison, which is located in Jefferson County in East Texas. 
This club has been responsible for numerous success stories during the 
past year, and I am confident that the inmates of East Texas will 
continue to benefit from this encouragement and assistance in the 
development of improved communication skills for many more years to 
come.
  The ability to speak in a clear and effective manner is a powerful 
and important skill that can help all Americans overcome barriers to 
effective performance in virtually every endeavor and line of work. 
With the guidance of Toastmaster members, inmates are becoming better 
communicators with a greater sense of confidence, self-esteem and self-
respect, and they are therefore better prepared and qualified for 
employment after being released from

[[Page E2031]]

prison. Not only are the inmates encouraging and inspiring each other 
to become better citizens, but they are also taking active roles in the 
lives of our Nation's youth by discouraging them from repeating the 
same mistakes they made by joining gangs or using drugs and alcohol.
  According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 35 to 40 percent of all 
released prisoners are re-arrested within the first 12 months of 
release. Of the LeBlanc Toastmasters' 55 released alumni, 2 have been 
re-arrested, which is one tenth of what the statistics would have 
predicted. I would like to applaud the Sabine River Toastmasters for 
helping these 53 men who have built new lives for themselves after 
being released from prison.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that you join me and our colleagues 
in celebrating the week of October 17, 1999, as Toastmasters Week and 
recognizing the many opportunities in communication and public speaking 
that Toastmasters International, and specifically the Sabine River 
Toastmasters, have promoted and realized for East Texans and Americans 
all across the nation.

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