SYRACUSE — Richard Peck, of Seymour, Conn., second vice president of Toastmasters International, will address attendees at the District 11 Toastmaster’s International Fall Conference to be held Nov. 3 and 4 at Oakwood Resort in Syracuse. Toastmasters from throughout all of Indiana and Northwestern Kentucky will participate in the 2 day conference.

Richard Peck

Peck was elected to the one-year term at the organization’s 86^th annual International Convention, held Aug. 23-26 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

A Toastmaster for 11 years, Peck has been a member of his home club, Nutmeg in Woodbridge, Conn., since 2006. He recently served a two-year term on the Toastmasters Board of Directors, has held a number of high-profile leadership positions within Toastmasters, and has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation—the highest level of educational achievement in the organization.

He says, “To me, Toastmasters is about making a positive, life-changing impact on individuals throughout the world.”

Throughout his life’s journeys, he has faced numerous obstacles, some of which felt insurmountable. In his keynote, “With A Little Help”, Richard will talk about some of those challenges , what he learned from them, and share tips on how he overcame these obstacles to achieve his goals.

In his keynote Peck will relate to the audience.  As you chase your dreams, take on new responsibilities, and try to make a difference in the world, you will inevitably face challenges and obstacles that block your path. These challenges and obstacles are often small, but sometimes they can feel insurmountable. At that moment the next step feels hard, you can feel alone and burdened with uncertainty. Often it seems easier to walk away, leaving your dreams and goals ready for the trashcan.  

Peck has faced what felt like insurmountable odds. He knows how it feels to face the world alone with uncertainty. He has filled more than one trash can with his own discarded goals and dreams.

However, over time, he has also learned that in those most uncertain moments, no matter how strong or determined he was, he could not achieve success alone. It was only by asking for help and support from others that he could achieve success, whether that be in his personal, professional or Toastmasters lives.

In this keynote Richard will share his life’s rollercoaster journey. He will share the lessons he has learned in asking others for help and advice. He will share how he identifies who the right people are to ask for help, how he clarifies what help he needs exactly, and how to inspire people to want to help.

Applicable to all these will be practical tips that you can use, whenever the big obstacles occur in your life. These are tips that will make a difference and help you overcome your obstacles, one foot at a time.

In addition to this prestigious keynote, the conference will include educational sessions, recognition of awards, and the District Humorous Speech contest.  The Humorous Speech contest will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, and is open to the public for a $5 admission fee.