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| Toastmaster Kathy Leu, ACB, CL |
When you are involved in a club such
as Toastmasters where individual involvement is key for every meeting to be
successful, you are happy to have a strong member like Kathy Leu. Kathy Leu is the kind of coworker and club
member who makes a strong interpersonal connection with every one she meets.
Her magnetic personality combined with a very calm, laid-back demeanor almost
belies her natural ability to lead and support when needed. She is the kind of strong member that carries
a club, rallies its members, and can be counted on to rise to the occasion. For
these reasons, I chose Kathy Leu to be my first featured member for the Monthly
Mudslinger Spotlight.
Please help me welcome Kathy
Leu to the Spotlight… (Applause).
Carolina:
Hi, Kathy. Thanks for sitting down with
me today. First things first, how did you hear about Toastmasters?
Kathy: I had seen the signs that promoted
Toastmasters. At first, I decided that I could not make it because of the
days. I always had something that was
going on and thought I should not join a club when I could not attend most of
its meetings. Then, when I moved up to Supply Chain (M-I SWACO Department), my
coworker, Monty, who was already a member dragged me to the meetings any way
(chuckles). Ok, he did not really drag me, but I went with him. I attended a
few meetings and sat in. Then, I decided to join.
Carolina:
So you had never been in Toastmasters before?
Kathy: No. Never.
Carolina:
That surprises me, because you have been such a strong member from the get-go.
I thought you must have been involved with it before.
Kathy: (chuckles).
Carolina:
So what do you enjoy most about being in Toastmasters?
Kathy: Just getting to know about
people. Meeting other people outside my
own department. In my job, I do not have the opportunity to move around much to
meet other employees. In Toastmasters, I have been able to meet many people
from other departments that I would not have otherwise been able to meet.
Carolina:
I agree with you. That is still one of my favorite things about Toastmasters,
too. We learn so much about the members through their speeches whether they
want us to or not.
Kathy: YES, I know! Like
learning about Sara (Brunner) and how she struggled here after moving to
America, being thrown into a second language and starting a new life. And hearing Nathan (Rife) sing in his
speech. I was so impressed.
Carolina:
(laughing loudly) I know. Who knew Nathan could sing?
Kathy: Also, I was timing his speech and
I was so into it that I lost track of timing him.
Carolina: Yes, I remember you saying that at the meeting. Very funny. How do you think Toastmasters has helped you recently?
Kathy: It helps me form my thoughts
better. It really has helped me in my volunteer position with the Boy Scouts
and presenting the benefits of scouting to new parents and helping them become
familiar with the program. I want to
persuade the parents that we can all do this together (scouting). It does not
have to be so overwhelming. We can all take a piece of the pie, and it will be
a lot easier instead of one person doing it all.
Carolina:
Why would you recommend Toastmasters to your coworkers and friends?
Kathy: Simply to gain more
confidence. Whether it is speaking to
someone one-on-one or just being able to express a thought. It is easier in
your head, but actually, speaking out loud is a lot harder, especially keeping
your grammar and tenses in line with your train of thoughts. I have a lot of great speeches in my head (laughs).
Carolina:
Okay, now we are to the part where we
get to know Kathy Leu. What are a few things left on your BUCKET LIST?
Kathy: (laughs) I don’t have a BUCKET
LIST. In fact, the first time I ever heard of it was in the movie (The Bucket
List), but I personally don’t have one.
Carolina:
Do you at least have one non-official thing you would like to do?
Kathy: There is a running joke I have
with my husband. One year while he was in college, he toured Europe after a big
breakup with a girlfriend. He went with
a buddy and they road trains, lived in Hostels, and backpacked through Europe.
He was able to see Europe and I’m
like when will you take me to see the Eiffel Tower? When do I get to see the
Eiffel Tower? Of course, we have been married for over 35 years and I still
haven’t been to France. I tell him, when are you going to take me? You
promised. Of course, I am going on a cruise for our anniversary.
Carolina:
Yay! Ok, next question: what is your favorite movie?
Kathy: Oh, Sound of Movie would be
one. My Fair Lady would be another. Now
you get to see what types of movies I like. Another, not well known, is The
Flower Drum Song. I can identify with this movie. It is sort of like West Side
Story, but the Chinese- coming- to- America. I can see my grandmother, my mom,
and myself in it. It’s my story. It came
out the same year as West Side Story, but was overshadowed by it.
Carolina:
Well, you know, Natalie Wood and all…. (Laughter).
Kathy: oh, yeah, and The Joy Luck Club.
Carolina:
I LOVE The Joy Luck Club.
Kathy: Again that movie I can identify
with. It is very true, the cultural clashes of generations. Very much like The
Flower Drum Song.
Carolina:
What is your perfect getaway?
Kathy: Anywhere I can relax and
cross-stitch, not the pattern cross-stitch, but COUNTED cross-stitch.
Carolina:
In a few sentences, give me a mini-autobiography of yourself.
Kathy: I am a first-generation American. My parents
are from China. I couldn’t speak English. When I went to elementary school, I
failed first grade! They actually failed me. In Junior High, I went to summer
school to get back to my original graduation date (before I failed first
grade). I was born in San Francisco born
in the Chinese Hospital. That is the actual name of the hospital. It is in the
middle of China Town. That is always a cool thing to say. A lot is expected of
the first born, which I am. I never got to participate in a lot of school
events. I always had to go home and help out at the family grocery store. The
plan was to go to school, graduate college, and continue to help out with the
family business. My fist date was an arranged date by my mother and the guy’s
mother (not her husband) to go to the prom. I met my husband (Leeland) during
my last year of high school at a city-wide picnic for Chinese in Houston. Back
then in Houston, the Chinese community was small. We all knew each other. We
met again in college at University of Houston. Our circle of friends
overlapped, so we got to meet each other, see each other, so we were friends
first. I am a wedding coordinator. I have done 35 weddings. I have three sons. I am officially old
because I am a grandmother. I have a
grandson and a granddaughter from my oldest son. My second son is working after
graduation. My third son is in his last year and a half of college. So that is my life in a nut shell.
Carolina:
So you are still involved in Boy Scouts even though your sons are out of it?
Kathy: Oh, yes. We are still involved
because we have a connection with people. Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and become Eagle Scouts – the highest
rank in Scouting! We know there are parents out there who
share the same value system as we do and want the same things for their kids,
so we keep helping out for that reason and because we are still having fun.
(End of Interview)
Kathy
has come a long way from the little girl who did not speak English and failed
first grade. She has earned her Competent
Leader certification though Toastmasters International and recently her
Advanced Communicator Bronze. She
successful served as Vice President of Education for the club in 2010 and early
2011, a position that is both challenging and demanding. I often go to her for advice and guidance. Kathy is a very strong supporter of
Toastmasters. She is a PR machine in her own right. She also is a mentor to all
of us. Her absence is felt at meetings when she cannot attend (which is rare), so
you can imagine what our club would be like without her. Luckily, we will not have to know what that
is like if Kathy has anything to do with it. By the way, her favorite color is purple. After seeing the write up of this article, she requested that her answers be in her favorite color purple.
