“Come,” said Lindsay Luo, I1 Area Director for Division I. Those simple words stayed with Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Runfeng Bruce Yu. The first time was when Lindsay welcomed him to District 118 Division I Club Officer Training (COT). The second was when she asked, “Would you like to join our organizing team, Bruce?” What began as a casual invitation soon became an opportunity to serve behind the scenes and experience Toastmasters from a different perspective.
Bruce first met Lindsay at Presidents Advanced Toastmasters Club in October 2025. Neither of them knew that a single meeting would lead to another encounter months later. It was a reminder that in Toastmasters, every conversation has the potential to become a lasting connection.
After returning from a trip to Xinjiang, Bruce was eager to reconnect with the Toastmasters community. He searched for events where he could meet like-minded people while continuing to grow as a leader. District 118 Division I Club Officer Training proved to be exactly what he was looking for. When Lindsay invited Bruce to join the organizing team, he gladly accepted. As a member of the Course Group, he coordinated presentation materials for trainers, attended organizing team meetings, and helped ensure every training session was well prepared before participants arrived.
The training brought together club officers from 26 clubs within Division I, with nearly 100 members attending. The program featured courses covering various aspects of club leadership, including District Division Information Updates, Club Officer Roles and Responsibilities, Creating High Quality Clubs, Attracting and Retaining Members, Constructive Feedback, and How to Build a Healthy Team.
On the morning of the event, Bruce arrived early to help transform an empty venue into a welcoming learning environment. Together with fellow members, he arranged tables and chairs so that each club could sit together, placed agendas, presentation handouts, and bottled water on every table, and helped prepare the venue for nearly a full day of training. He also researched restaurant options for the organizing team’s lunch, ensuring members could recharge after the busy morning.
During the training, Bruce served as the microphone coordinator, ensuring that speakers could be heard clearly and that transitions between sessions ran smoothly. While the role often went unnoticed by participants, it was one of many behind-the-scenes responsibilities that helped the event run seamlessly. He received the Best Stage Crew Dedication Award from Demir Huang, Director of Division I.
Looking back, Bruce realized that one introduction had led to an unforgettable journey. District 118 Division I Club Officer Training was a reminder that every connection creates an opportunity, and every act of service makes a difference.