Founders Past District Governor Receives Top National Honor
Jeffrey Chess was honored on December 7, 2004 in Washington, DC by his employer,
the Department of Defense (DOD), as an Outstanding DOD Employee With Disabilities.
Jeffrey was one of only 17 nationwide to be honored. This annual ceremony increases
awareness of the valuable contributions to national security made by persons
with disabilities.
Jeffrey was born with severe hearing loss. He uses hearing aids to hear the
sounds most people take for granted.
Jeffrey credits his workplace success to the skills he learned in Toastmasters. As stated in the DOD awards program, He provides a wide array of talents to his employer, but of particular note is his ability to lead his team in performing comprehensive and highly effective audits and to build consensus by fostering cooperation between customers and contractors.
Jeffrey joined Toastmasters in 1983 to overcome his shyness. He will always remember his first speech, which turned out to be a 30-second mumble during which time he made consistent and direct eye contact with the wall. Jeffrey stayed with the program and developed the skills he sought. Toastmasters helped him conquer that shyness.
Today Jeffrey belongs to three clubs. Since leading Founders as District Governor in 1996-97, he has continued to support the District by serving as District Secretary, Conference Chair numerous times, and two terms as District Treasurer. He is a double DTM and the 1999 winner of the Gene Beckwith Memorial Award.
Congratulations to Jeffrey!