[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14664]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON TOASTMASTERS POTOMAC 
                                  CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR.

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2017

  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Booz Allen 
Hamilton Toastmasters Potomac Club, a ten year Arlington, Virginia 
communications and leadership club, achieving significant success in 
its club and membership. Toastmasters International is a global, 
international communication community founded in 1904 by Dr. Ralph 
Chester Smedley.
  Dr. Smedley, the director of a local YMCA, observed several young men 
who were not getting jobs. He took it upon himself to form a speaking 
club, in which he mentored young members on how to shake hands, answer 
two to three minute table topics, improve nose to nose communication, 
practice skills of vocal variety, mitigate use of filler works, use 
their hands to maintain audience attention, and take constructive 
recommendations from peers. He also taught the young men how to ``step 
away from the podium'' and ``dance your words''.
  Today, the Crystal City chapter of the club is a healthy, vibrant 
community of communicators in Virginia's 8th Congressional District.
  In a record 4 months, the club grew from near critical to President's 
Distinguished, the Toastmasters International's highest club ranking.
  I salute the Toastmasters Potomac Club for their dedication to living 
out the values of Toastmasters International's founder Dr. Ralph 
Chester Smedley.

                          ____________________