Deveny's motto is to always be learning, and have fun while you are at it!

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere." Chinese Proverb

Rose has grown constantly from the time she started in Toastmasters. She initially started at the club level as VP of Public Relations and then Club President. Recognizing the value that she could provide in district service she stepped up in 2008 to redevelop the D7 website from the simple few pages into an amazing array of information for clubs and district officers. For the 2009-2010 year, Rose stepped up to Area Governor.

Originally joining toastmasters to develop better presentation skills for her job, Rose quickly realized that there was more to this great organization. "Toastmasters has given me more than I could have ever imagined! From day one I have benefited from the great service that the Toastmasters Organization provides. On day two, I knew that I was hooked and began immediately giving back."

Rose continue to serve others as the LT Governor of Education and Training for D7. "What I most enjoy is sharing my business knowledge with my fellow Toastmasters and sharing my Toastmasters experience with my fellow co-workers. In other words, continuously giving back to others. "

In 2005, I was asked to join Early Words TM. Well, learning, enthusiasm, motivation, and perseverance seem to characterize many of my undertakings, so I did. What fun it has turned out to be! It improved my training of Boy Scout leaders. I met friendly, supportive, and fascinating people called Toastmasters.

Since then I have had 6 years of stimulating learning experiences as a club officer in almost every capacity. I have been Area 83 Governor and now enjoy being the Northern Division G Governor. I also am a member of several clubs. In 2010-2011, I was absolutely excited to be part of demonstration teams. At times, they included the D7 Staff, Cathey Armillas, Deveny Bywaters, and Rose Wellman, International President Pat Johnson, Immediate Past International President Gary Schmidt, and Area Governors Tony Layon, Jenna Austin Nisbett, and Jeannine Shingler. At the January 2011 TLI, Karen Semprevivo, Willamette Division E Governor, and I enjoyed putting on a training session together. Learning, meeting goals, helping others meet goals, and getting to know lots of people from all walks of life have been just plain fun!

I am a retired elementary school teacher and librarian from Longview, WA. In Scouting, I am the Chinook District Vice-Chairman and Training Chairman. I organize trainings and train new adult leaders. The Scout Oath and Law, coupled with what I have seen scouting does for the character of youth touch my heartstrings. I have been Assistant Council Commissioner over Cub Scout Roundtable training Cub leaders. I also have been course director of the council's Trainer Development Conference and of Trainers' Edge, training scout leaders from all the programs. Twice I have chaired the council's Cub Scout Pow Wow, with 350-400 Cub Scout leaders in attendance each time. Three times I was fortunate to staff Wood Badge, a leadership adult training course. The National Scout Jamboree at Ft. A.P. Hil, VA provided me with mountain top and inspiring staffing experiences and memories. I've been fortunate to twice attend the BSA national Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, NM. For all of the excitement, I was humbled when I was awarded the highest award a BSA volunteer may receive from a council, the Silver Beaver Award. Seeing young scouts laughing, camping, working together, and developing into leaders of tomorrow makes my heart sing. This scouting flame will continue to burn bright in me forever.

For unhampered fun and pure relaxation, I visit my adult son, Michael, on the Olympic Peninsula. We travel and go on geocaching outings, finding hidden caches with the use of GPS. I enjoy wine tasting! My wine group has met for years, sometimes going out to dine dining from time to time. A dream of mine is authoring my own autobiography. Consequently I belong to a Write Your Own Life Story group. Needless to say, all this fun and relaxation make their way into more Toastmaster speeches. Toastmasters, Scouting, and fun become rolled into one package, me, Sharon Kuroda.