Delta’s Margaret Page has resigned as Toastmasters International president following a complaint and investigation of “insensitive” remarks made during a recent speaking engagement.
Page, an active member of Toastmasters as well as a business leader on the Sunshine Coast for decades before re-locating to Delta a few years ago, was named to the volunteer position of president in August 2021.
Toastmasters board member Matthew Kinsey said in a statement that a complaint was received following an incident at a District event where Page was a speaker.
“International President Page gave a speech that included statements about people of African descent and African Americans that were racially and culturally inaccurate, insensitive, stereotypical, and offensive,” said Kinsey. “The board of directors acknowledges the gravity of this incident. Our expectation is that all members, especially international-level leaders, abide by our organizations’ Code of Conduct and act and speak in alignment with Toastmasters International Core Values.”
He added that upon receipt of the complaint, an investigation was conducted and Page resigned.
In a statement provided to the Optimist, Page said: “I have resigned from my volunteer position at Toastmasters International and have apologized. The members who were offended by the story I told put themselves out there by sharing how this impacted them. I don't take that lightly and that’s why I resigned.
“It is a sacred gift when someone reflects back to you how you're showing up in their world to help you become more evolved. It was not easy for them to express this and I recognized the hurt I caused and took immediate responsibility.”
Kinsey said Immediate Past International President Richard E. Peck will serve as Acting International President, effective immediately, and through the Annual Business Meeting in August 2022, at which time Kinsey will assume the role.
“We, as an organization, have work to do,” said Kinsey. “We are committed to consistently fostering and creating an inclusive culture where all members can be heard and can learn. We are committed to ensuring harmful incidents like this do not happen again.”
