Any good magician, any good story, will leave you entranced and enchanted. The past 15 months as the guild master (club president) for this amazing guild, full of amazing guild members, has been magical. It is my hope that your experience in the guild (club), whether as guild member (club member), party leader (club officer, sponsor, or mentor), or visiting dignitary and guest, has entranced and enchanted you.

It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve as the guild’s guild master. I was adamant that the role of guild master was one that I was uninterested in, as I saw what was involved. Until the Dungeons & Toast masters of toast (Toastmasters) guild came along, that is. That opened me to to new possibilities, new horizons, new adventures. All I had to hear was that a new guild for fans of RPGs was starting and I was in.

In an instant, my no transformed as if by magic, into a yes. I’ve had the good fortune to work with some of the best party leaders a guild master could ask for; masters in their own right. The Sacred Scroll stored in a place of honor in the guild house contains their names; it is long, and ever growing as it should be, and includes–Hovey Y., Ryan K., Kelly S., Greg S., Andrew B., Michael H., Loni H., Jeremy K., Arbind R., Yanini C., Matthew G., and Michael C.

There are many people to thank, and many awesome memories to share. Too many to fit on this small scroll. Special shout outs to Stephanie H., Greg S., Loni H., Andrew B., and Michael C., for helping with our special themed guild meetings; shout outs likewise to Greg S. and Loni H., for our fabulous guest speakers.

Thank you to Loni H., Hovey Y., Cathy B., Michael H., and Greg S., for bringing our aetheral communication machine to life (our wonderful club website).

I also want to bring attention to our guild champion in our lord’s yearly verbal joust (Toastmasters speech contest): Andrew B., who advanced far and made it to the district speech contest, and did himself and the guild proud. Kelly S., also competed in the verbal joust, albeit for another club. Kelly did a great job, one that deserves to be recognized, regardless of what club she competed in. Fantastic job Andrew and Kelly!

Team Awesome–aka the Magnificent Seven–Greg S., Andrew B., Michael H., Loni H., Jeremy K., Arbind R., Yanini C., Matthew G., and Michael C., all were party leaders par excellence.

And to you, my fellow guild members, all treasured members of this guild, go my many thanks. You make this guild run. You make it fun. It is by and for you. Thank you for being excellent in so many ways.

I’ve had the time of my life and had more fun in the role than I ever thought I would. I’ve leveled repeatedly in ways that I never imagined I would, or needed to.

Thank you all for taking this journey with me.

When I served as a local lord (Area Director) of an area in the masters of toast realm, my Division Director, a woman of great foresight and wisdom once said to me, “We leave the division better than we found it.” When I apply that statement to our guild, I’d say we did just that in the fist 15 months of our existence as an official guild. (Eighteen months, if you count the chartering period.)

I ask you to look back and remember all of the fun we had. And to look ahead at all of the fun we’re going to have in the new masters of toast year (Toastmasters), that starts on July 1. More on this, I cannot say, as I am sworn to secrecy. Come to our July 8 guild meeting and you will learn what quests and adventures lie in store for you!

I now prepare to pass the mantle of leadership and the mighty, magical guild gavel to our next guild master–Andrew B., as I level up and ascend into a new position of leadership–that of Immediate Past Guild Master (Immediate Past President).

Until our paths next cross, guild members, guests, dignitaries–friends–stay safe, remember that “It’s dangerous to go alone (The Legend of Zelda)”, so take trusted guild members with you, and may your sword be as sharp as your wit. Always. If you ever need help, blow the Horn of Gondor and I shall be there.

Patrick V.

Guild master