A Toast to the Toastmasters!

In October, Stow resident Pete Punwani told Stow Patch his , the minimum needed to become an officially chartered organization. 

Just a few weeks ago, the club grew to 20 people and earned the right to charter. 

In order to reach charter status, a club must sign up 20 members, ratify bylaws, elect officers and send payments to Toastmasters International.

"The hardest part is getting 20 members invested in your club," said Punwani. "The other parts will be done by March 7."

Here's the plan of events this month:

• March 7 - Regular meeting at 7 p.m. in room 110 at , followed by officer elections
• March 14 - The club's first speech contest
• March 21 - The charter party
• March 28 - The newly elected officers run their first meeting

"My personal feelings about this accomplishment is pure joy. This is by far the hardest task I have had since joining Toastmasters back in 2006," said Punwani.

He said he is happy for his friends Missy Moore and Bill Ferry have helped in the process of becoming a charter since the club had its first meeting in October. 

"I’m an ecstatic to have been a part of this process, it was a vision of Pete’s to have a club locally in Stow," said Moore. "The Stow Toastmasters now have recognition world-wide as part of an elite organization that works towards individual betterment in communications and leadership. The club will now be listed on the International website as well as be able to obtain their own website as a chartered club."

With the new status, comes more opportunities. 

"Members will be able to test their skills and compete in contest that could take them to a national level," said Moore. "The members will be able to network and find an entirely new place of belonging in an environment where the club mentors, encourages and most of all becomes part of a family that allows you to grow and try new topics, expand your speaking horizons to levels in which a member may have not even imagined possible before joining Toastmasters."

To join or for more information, call Pete Punwani at 440-829-8596 or email him at Pete.Punwani@gmail.com. (Membership is offered to those who are 18 or older.)