Ankur Bora
TNT Toastmasters presents : A tribute to LaShunda Rundles , 20th October 2022
The meeting was solely dedicated to honoring late LaShunda Rundles. She was a member of TNT Toastmasters. She gave her Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking speech at our club for the first time at New New Buffet in 2008. There are a handful of current TNT members who heard her give this speech for the first time at our local meeting back in 2008.
Special guests of this celebratory meeting included two of LaShunda's sisters (Barbara and Sonya, pictured behind and to the right of the portrait of LaShunda by Hirak Medhi , a young artist from India).
Presiding officer: Amy Nelson
Toastmaster: Scott Sheaffer
Introduction to LaShunda Rundles : Tracy Underhill
We had six members present speeches on how LaShunda has inspired them: John Arnott II, Bruce Arfsten, Sharon Baty, Ron Amberg, Pauline Shirley, Ankur Bora
Speech by Ankur Bora
Friends, years ago, my younger daughter brought me a homework assignment - It was a short survey asking what the three most important things in life were. When I answered, she was perplexed. “Papa for number 1, you answered Kindness, for number 2, you answered Kindness, for number 3, you answered Kindness again, why?” I smiled and began to tell her about a time over ten years ago when I took her to an event to meet someone very especial.
It was March 3rd 2010, the meeting was organized by the district Toastmasters to be addressed by Lashunda Rundles. Lashunda was the 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking, This was a great opportunity for me to meet her in person, and I attended the event with my daughter and wife. The meeting started with her Championship speech “Speak”. She was seriously ill, yet she appeared content, fully engaged and in high spirits as she spoke to the applauding audience. After her I was able to meet her. I had been publishing a journal for young people, to inspire them with the stories of the achievers and I was eager to show Lashunda my writings. Now, anyone who knows me will tell you that I am always enthusiastic, someone who loves to engage in conversation with people. My wife keeps me grounded if I go way over the top. She would pinch me or stomp on my feet. That day, as I was utterly engaged with LaShunda, I first felt the pinch. But then as soon as I began to enthusiastically show the rest of pages of the journal to LaShunda the stomping began! So there I was, a wannabe Toastmaster being pinched and stomped by his wife, and there was the World Champion , listening attentively, oblivious to everyone around her. As I recall, it wasn’t just the joy of talking to LaShunda; up close, I saw the goodness that trickled from her core. It had been a long day, and she was probably tired and stressed because of her severe illness yet she chose to be kind and responsive to me, she patiently went through every page of the journal. And as we parted, she told me, “Always be kind to yourself.”
Friends, all of us have a tendency towards self-criticism, self-doubt, self-pity. I had been working on a project for several months, I suddenly got sick, I missed my deadline due to my illness. My manager made an offensive remark, and I remained upset for several days. In moments like these, how do you react? You are on your way to an urgent meeting with a client, you get stuck in traffic and missed the opportunity; You put your heart and soul marketing a product, but you missed the sales deadline. You practiced relentlessly on your speech contest, you came in last. Every one of us face setbacks, disappointments, and failures. Our first instinct is to beat ourselves up over it, we let our inner critic come roaring in, telling us we are not good enough. Instead of blaming ourselves with self-criticism, if we let go of the chains of shame, guilt, and embarrassment, if we chose to treat ourselves with compassion, love, and kindness, we can unlock our potential and power. LaShunda had been suffering from Lupus, a disease which caused the immune system to destroy her own body. Her immune system, instead of protecting her, attacked her tissues, skin, organs, and brain. Her own body betrayed her, she had every reason to be filled with self-pity. But she did not hold onto it. Instead, she forgave herself. She made peace with her body; she moved forward and became a world champion. LaShunda was kind to herself, she was kind to me and to others, and her kindness continues to radiate.
In August 2012, LaShunda succumbed to lupus, but her goodness continued to influence and impact my life. I took a solemn vow – first to be kind to myself, second to be kind to everyone around me and third to spread kindness everywhere. Thus, anytime I find myself in a long line at a grocery checkout where the store clerk is crabby, or at a drive through where the attendant is unresponsive, or at the airport where the ticket agent is inconsiderate, no matter what , I remain kind. LaShunda filled my heart with so much empathy that no matter how tired, stressed, or irrational I may feel I choose to be kind always, each time, every time. Since then , I have been passing her message of kindness through writing and speaking engagements -Toastmasters meetings, community forums or at local organizations. Friends, there are three important things in life – kindness, kindness, kindness.
The Speech was also delivered at The Art of the Heal, Dallas on 9th July
One of the organizers, Dr. Anne Redelfs, called to thank me for representing Toastmasters and delivering my speech. She also left a note, “And I’m happy to say that on the evaluation sheets where asked what takeaways people got from the event, several people wrote: number one kindness, number two kindness, and number three kindness.”
YouTube video link
Workshop ( Virtual Event)
Highway to Excellence toastmasters has a unique program called workshop where members get the opportunity to conduct a program of his own. On 17th September 2020 , there was an unique event A tribute to LaShunda Rundles – with music , speech , songs and visuals.
Toastmasters International is an organization that changes lives. In addition to the experiential learning inside our clubs, the District offers additional opportunities for personal growth. Speech contests are an example of such opportunities. The International Speech Contest is the one contest that goes beyond the District level to the International Stage. District winners moved up to semifinals. Semifinal winners then competed in the World Championship of Public Speaking.
This evening is in honor of a remarkable Toastmaster who progressed through that grueling International Speech competition and became The 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking. Her victory was a victory for everyone in District 50 and District 25! She presented a winning speech in spite of the war she was waging against a debilitating disease. She was triumphant….not just as a Toastmasters champion but also in life…the way she lived her life.
· Introduction by Marylee Mims , past district governor Toastmasters International.
· A portrait was unveiled. It is of LaShunda. It was created by Hirak Medhi , a young artist from India.
· Ankur Bora gave a speech reflecting on how LaShunda’s inspiration and kindness profoundly touched him. The title was Three important things in life
· Vanessa Rivera presented an instrumental reflection.
· Sonya Rundles followed with a reflection through song.
· Shannon Hills-Cline offered closing thoughts.
· Chuck Mencke welcomed guest comments.
Ankur Bora has been thinking about an evening to honor La Shunda Rundles for a number of years. He is thankful for the other team members (Toastmasters all) for the successful event.
District 25 Newsletter: A tribute to LaShunda Rundles with music , speech , songs and visuals
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