Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight: Honouring Long-Time Toastmasters Leaders

Each month, District 68 celebrates the members whose dedication, growth and leadership inspire our community. Fresh spotlights are published monthly on our YouTube channel, so you can watch their stories in their own words.

District 68 member spotlights

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Spotlight Archive

May 2024 – Grace Nabasabala
March/April 2024 – Hazel MasCarenhas, Current DD & DTM
January 2024 Spotlight
December 2023 Spotlight
November Spotlight – Remembering Chic Miller
October 2023 Spotlight
September 2023 – Gene Reyes

Featured Member: Gene Reyes

Gene Reyes holds two Distinguished Toastmaster awards and served as a district officer during the year District 68 ranked first in the world. He joined Toastmasters in August 1969 and is a member of the Naturally N’awlins club #7207, which gathers on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm.

You can reach Gene by email at [email protected], or watch his full interview on YouTube.

Watch Gene’s Interview

A Career Shaped by Communication

Gene spent part of his career as a supervisor at New Orleans Public Service, a workplace that hosted its own Toastmasters club, and he is a proud graduate of Louisiana State University. His immediate supervisor invited him to join, and he stayed because he saw how the programme helped him manage his nerves and strengthen his speaking. His club also served as a place where candidates for supervisory roles were identified, which opened the door to his own promotion. He valued the networking and the shared lunch that came with each meeting.

Later he became a transportation superintendent for Louisiana Power & Light/Entergy. After retiring in 1999, he kept attending regular club meetings to enrich his retirement and keep learning, having witnessed the power of Toastmasters firsthand.

Leadership Milestones

Helped revive District 68 in 1981 when poor club performance threatened its standing; the district soon tied for first in the world.
Reached the semi-finals of the International Speech contest in Vancouver, Canada in 2019.
Served as District 68 District Governor from 1981–1982 and again from 2000–2001, earning presidential distinguished district and, in his second term, presidential select district.
Received a presidential citation from Toastmasters International in 2021.
Worked as a tour guide with Tours by Isabelle New Orleans for 18 years and belonged to the local tour guide association.
Served as president of the National Tour Guide Association and was elected to the executive committee of the International Tour Guide Association, all before Hurricane Ida in August 2021.

In His Own Words

“Most people would ask me ‘why would you stay in a club for 56 years?’ and I would tell them I’m a very slow learner in a joking manner. It takes me a while. I have seen the power of Toastmasters. I have seen what it has done. I’ve seen it take people who stutter and can hardly speak or can hardly stand on their feet, then six months later, they’re competing at a contest. That’s a big part of this organization. It changes people’s lives.”

Interviewed by Chisty Killelea

Q&A with Gene Reyes

What first brought you to Toastmasters, and why do you stay?

My immediate supervisor at New Orleans Public Service, where I worked as a supervisor, invited me. I stay because I have seen the power of Toastmasters changing people’s lives.

What surprised you after joining?

The power of Toastmasters — how it changed people’s lives — and the results of mentoring, alongside helping people become better communicators.

Tell us about a time you used something you gained from Toastmasters.

As an engineer working with other leaders and engineers, upper management discussed various problems at work. My manager asked me to take over a work meeting because of what he saw in me from my Toastmasters experience.

How have you changed since joining? Give an example.

I was never a competitive person or an outstanding speaker, and I’m still not, but I can organise and pull my thoughts together quickly. The speeches helped me and boosted my confidence, which helped me take on more responsibility in my career.

How has serving in leadership roles benefited you?

I tend to be in a leadership role and I enjoy that. I was a two-time district governor, which I’m very proud of, and I also received the presidential citation from Toastmasters International. Because of my Toastmasters experience, I did not hesitate to jump on my feet and start talking. I also took on leadership roles in different organisations. For example, the Young Leadership Council LLC, known for shaping young leaders in New Orleans, selected me as a role model for my leadership activities with other community organisations. I’m very proud of that as well.

What would you tell someone on the fence about joining?

You can have the greatest product or business in the world, but if you cannot market it, you have nothing. You must be able to present it so people can listen to what you are saying.

What would you say to someone afraid of public speaking?

Then you came to the right organisation. Do not miss the opportunity! There is no other organisation that is going to give you an opportunity for immediate evaluation on how to improve your speaking skills and a way to improve your listening skills. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join the greatest speaking organisation in the world!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’ve really enjoyed my career in Toastmasters. I ran for International Director two years in a row but was not elected. However, I made wonderful friends throughout the southeastern part of the country during the election. No matter what organisation I joined, people recognised my abilities and asked me to run for office. I recommend Toastmasters to everybody.