ILLINOIS—Members and guests of the Rockford Spokesman Club met at the city’s conservatory and gardens on June 17 for their ladies’ gala and graduation event.

During the first half of the meeting, topicsmaster Don Hoehn presented a number of thought-provoking questions to the 36 people in attendance. Some of the questions addressed differences between men and women. Following a catered buffet meal, toastmaster and club president Ben Tryba introduced the speakers and evaluators for the speech portion of the gala. All four speeches included inspiring stories of overcoming adversity.

Regional Director Cal Culpepper, the club director, and Associate Pastor Eric Anderson, the assistant director, presented certificates of graduation to members Bryan Orleans and Matthew Yench. Mr. Culpepper then concluded the meeting with a lecture on “Royal Leadership in Transition,” focusing on royalty and urgency.

After the meeting, the Spokesmen and their dates took a self-guided tour through the atrium of the conservatory, with many of the couples stopping for a photo opportunity in front of a waterfall surrounded by varieties of tropical plants.

Guest Cheyenne Chaney, from Ohio, remarked, “The environment really showed the creation of God and how He works hard to make something look so beautiful.”

Graduate Matthew Yench said that the gala “is like the culmination of all the hard work we put into the club season, and it was great to share the club experience with the lady guests.”