In this heartfelt video recorded on July 3, 2019 at Chicago O'Hare Airport, the speaker—who arrived in District 11 from India in 2017—delivers a personal farewell before departing for India. He expresses deep gratitude to District 11 leaders who helped him integrate and grow within Toastmasters, highlighting his transformative experience as a Pathways Guide and his participation in TLIs, Fall and Spring Conferences. He specifically thanks individuals such as Angela Grimm, Meg Claxton, Lou Bagnell, Nancy Dig, Crystal, Serena, and Scott for their mentorship and support. The speaker affirms the abundant opportunities within Toastmasters, conveys optimism about the district’s future, and pledges to remain available for assistance via email, chat, or social media despite his physical absence. The message concludes with a hopeful, spiritual sign‑off, emphasizing continued connection and personal growth.
Chapters
Good morning, leaders of District 11. It is July 3rd, 2019, about 10:45 AM EST or 9:45 AM CST. I am at Chicago Airport Terminal 5 waiting for my flight to India at noon. Last 1.5 weeks has been crazy for me, to say the least. Gone through a lot. But I still firmly believe that probably God has a bigger plan for me, and I'm very, very hopeful that I'll be back soon. But before I go, I have one important thing to do, which I'm doing right now, is to express my gratitude towards all the leaders of District 11. I came in 2017 from India and had no idea how Toastmasters works in District 11, but I'm so grateful to all the leaders here who really made me comfortable, made me to what I am. I also wanted to thank some of the individuals, and I'll start with probably Angela Grimm, who gave me the opportunity to be a Pathways guide. Pathways had been a— being a Pathways guide has been a transforming journey for me. I think I've really gone to the next level once I became the Pathways Guide, started going to different clubs, taking sessions, and then also participating in TLIs, Fall Conferences, Spring Conferences. Also, I've got so many other leaders: Meg Claxton, Lou Bagnell, Nancy Dig, Crystal, Serena, you rock! My fellow Pathways guide and also all the different committee chairs. At this emotional moment, I'm not able to recall all of the name, but remember, you are— you all are in my heart. Scott recently for the TLI, 2 days before I got this bad news. Toastmasters is an organization which really helps you go to the next level. And there is no dearth of opportunity, no dearth of people who want to help you and go out of the way to help you reach where you want to. So I am so proud of what we are doing as District 11, and I'm really hopeful that we'll be reaching greater heights, and I'm really hopeful that I'll be back soon. But until then, please remember that District 11 lives in my heart, and I'm so, so grateful to all of you leaders for all you have done for me to make me what I am in these last 2 years. I would still be an email or chat or Facebook or Gmail away if you need any help on anything. I would be more than happy to help you, or rather serve you. So here I am signing off on this bit of emotional journey, but I'm so grateful to be connected and to be part of this transformational opportunities that we are going through. Signing off, God bless you, keep growing one step at a time. Thank you.
