After the first five speeches, I was not afraid to stand up in front of the audience.  I finally have the courage to use my body gestures freely and spring-up my vocal variety.  I even have the confident to enter a speech contest for the Division D.  Although, I did not win the Division speech contest many of my home club Toastmasters and supporters told me that “I am a winner because of my courage and fortitude”. 

In July 2006, I was asked if I wanted to be the Club President, the title did sound very attractive and I decided to give it a shot.  I was very busy trying to figure out how to run my home club and then I discovered that the Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) actually existed.  I am humble, and honor to have the privilege to serve as Club President.  I learned that volunteering for the leadership role during the twelve months was the biggest factor that helped me to refine my communication skills and leadership lessons that I have learned. 

These are practical lessons no book or school can ever teach.  I also learned the power of networking and the challenges of marketing.  Together with our club officers’ hard work, we changed the dynamic of our club to attract many members from different business units and let our guests know that this Toastmasters club is open for all State Street Bank employees.  Our membership grew from 15 to 33 in 2006/2007.  We invited diversity to our club.  We emphasize the theme “Listen and Learn.”  I am very pleased and proud that our club became Distinguished in 2006/2007 for the first time since inception of 2001.  In addition, I became a Competent Communicator (CC) and Competent Leader (CL) within the same year. 

In 2007/2008, I served as an Area Governor for D2 and pursued a high performance leadership project as the Membership Dues Are Due Co-Coordinator for our District 31.  I earned my Advanced Communicator Bronze. (ACB).  I saved one club that was previously defunct, IBT Toastmasters and reinstated it in April 2008.  This club was renamed as “State Street Back Bay Toastmasters – Club no. 609914” We currently have 4 clubs in the United States under State Street Toastmasters Chapter.  One in down town Boston, one in Back Bay, one in Quincy and one in Westwood that was chartered recently.  Overseas, we have one club in Mid-town Tokyo, one in Sydney, Australia, one soon to be charted in Toronto, Canada.  Together with many club officers in the United States and through out the world, we are working closely with our HR Business Partners – Global Inclusion team to get Toastmasters recognized and financially support.  For the up coming term, I am going to serve as Division D Governor for the Boston area.  As the clock is ticking, I am in competition with my son, Larry who is 16 now.  Larry will finish high school in 2010 and I am aiming to become a Distinguished Toastmaster at the same time frame.  I wish to pursue further leadership roles at the District levels.

Tien Truong, CC, ACB, CL
Club President 2006/2007
Club Treasurer for both Boston and Back Bay Clubs 2007/2008
Area D2 Governor 2007/2008
Membership Dues Coordinator 2007/2008
Division D Governor 2008/2009