Phil Taylor, DTM

International Director

Biography

Phil Taylor joined Toastmasters in 1991.  A little more than a year later, after serving as club President of Litton Corporate Communicators Toastmasters in Beverly Hills, California, Phil became an Area Governor in District 1.  Since that time, Phil has held a district position of some kind in 11 of the 12 years that have elapsed.  In 1998-99 he served as District 1 Governor in Southern California, and was part of a team that achieved Distinguished status, with District 1 #13 in the world that year.  Phil’s involvement at the District level did not diminish after his service as District Governor.  In the years that followed he served as District 1 Chief Judge, Directory Editor, and following a move to the San Francisco Bay area to take a job with United Airlines in 2000, as District 4 Fall 2002 Conference Chair and also Division E Governor in District 4.  On August 22, 2003, at the Toastmasters Annual Business Meeting at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia, Phil was elected International Director from Region II for the term from 2003 to 2005.

 A software programmer by trade, with 27 years of experience in the field, Phil is living proof that computer people can communicate effectively when it’s absolutely necessary.  Actually, he contends that in his current position with the United Airlines Information Services Division at the San Francisco airport Maintenance and Operations Center, success depends on careful listening, communicating, and planning, skills that Phil pledges to employ and extend throughout his term as Director.

 Phil Taylor actually has a life outside Toastmasters as well!  He is currently at work on a mystery novel (tentatively entitled “Cloud of Witnesses”) set in his home state of Wisconsin.  Completion is planned for December of 2003.  He has also acted in Regional and Community Theater.  In 1979-80, Phil portrayed the Archbishop in the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.  He also performed with the Minnesota Shakespeare Company, and has acted in more contemporary roles as well, including the role of “Doc” in the play “Crimes of the Heart”.  Even within Toastmasters, his more creative side occasionally emerges.  Interesting note: Phil has never been defeated in an Area Humorous or Tall Tales contest, and has won 5 trophies at that level, in both Districts 1 and 4.  Additional interesting note: Phil has never won a contest at the Division level, though he has come in second three times!

 For those seeking sage advice Phil can offer the following: “Running for International Director two years in a row has really taught me the value of perseverance and trying again - but then come to think of it I've always had to do things twice to get them right. I had to take my driver's test twice to pass. I had to run twice each to get elected to Division Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Marketing in Toastmasters, and now twice for International Director. I've concluded one thing: if you're the type of individual such as myself that needs to do everything twice to get it right, you're best advised to avoid skydiving! “ 

Phil Taylor, DTM

209 E. Eaglewood Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

(h) 408.734.2703