“We build too many walls and not enough bridges ”

— Isaac Newton

Alan is building bridges while walls are being built around him.

Alan, Building Bridges Not Walls

Alan is a member of Bridge Toastmasters, a club within Seterus, Inc. While the company’s headquarters are being remodeled, he and his fellow members have taken it upon themselves to rebuild their club.

Today was their open house. Arriving at security I found the guard on the phone, completely flummoxed by a broken door. Amused, I watched as I waited in the lobby.

When Terri came to retrieve me she explained how the staircase we were climbing had been recently remodeled, adding a brand new wall. After a short walk through the office renovation and blue taped walls, the meeting already buzzed with activity.

All the great folks at Bridge Toastmasters

Amid the excitement, another kind of building took place. Instead of walls, the group was building bridges. Bridges which connected Toastmasters to guests. Bridges which connected managers to employees. Bridges which connected people to a brighter future.

The meeting got underway to a standing room only crowd. Clearly Alan and his team spread the word effectively. I was the guest speaker and was treated with courtesy and warmth, even receiving a gift of thanks for helping out the club.

As we left, I looked again at the newly constructed wall.

Walls are meant to separate us, to divide us. Bridges connect us to one another. They are the lifeline of a community, both literally and metaphorically.

Alan, and all the members of Bridge Toastmasters are building bridges instead of walls.

Bridges to a brighter future.

Helped out Bridge Toastmasters by volunteering to be their guest speaker at their successful open house.