 Every Club Distinguished
by Cyndra Melville, DTM
District Governor
EVERY club, Yes, EVERY club can be Distinguished according to the Distinguished Club Plan (DCP).
EVERY club can get their Officers List and Members Renewal List in on time. It needs to be done anyway, so get it in on time. That's one point.
EVERY club can send at least four Officers to training. All seven Officers should be trained and they all promised to go when they took office. Getting four of them there should be a snap, especially if the club pays the $15 for all members of the club to attend. That's another point.
EVERY club can participate in the Smedley Membership Contest (August and September). Hold an Open House, Guest Day, whatever peaks the interest of the club. With five new members during these months, the club earns a banner ribbon and an Education module from Toastmasters International. The District is also sponsoring special awards. Check our website www.toastmasters22.org for details. With just four new members, the club earns another point.
EVERY club can participate in the Talk Up Toastmasters Membership Contest (February and March). Same rewards as above. It's just a different time of year. The club can earn another point.
EVERY club can participate in the Beat The Clock Membership Contest (May and June). Same rewards as above. It's just a different time of year. The club can earn another point, unless they have already earned both new membership points. This is the time to focus on the membership requirement for Distinguished Club which is a membership of twenty or more or have a net gain of 5 members over the number that you had on June 30 of last year.
EVERY club can encourage their members to earn at least one Educational Award and one Leadership Award. This is just what we do to help members achieve their goals. There is the possibility for six points here.
EVERY club a Distinguished club sounds like a lofty goal. You CAN do it! Let's make it this year! |
 An Excerpt From a Letter to the 2008-2009 District Governors
by Jana Barnhill, DTM, AS
2008-2009 International President As an organization, we have challenged ourselves to become recognized throughout the world as the undisputed expert in communication and leadership skills development. It will also take Courage to Conquer that challenge. But I know we can do it! How?
First, we must have the courage to expect greatness. Our organization is only as strong as our weakest club. If we are to achieve our strategic objective of consistently achieving membership growth, we must provide a product people believe in. That means quality clubs.
Second, if we are to become an expert in leadership skills development, we must continue to strengthen our leadership program. We all know from our experience of speaking in our clubs that our growth is dependent on the feedback we receive. Our Competent Leader Manual was just the first step in providing such formal feedback to leaders. We must do more. |
 Best Club Practices
by Annette Rude, DTM,
Lt. Governor Education & Training
A great way to improve your own club is to learn from other clubs - by visiting a club or talking with officers at training. Every club has some best practices that help them be successful. Here are some real world examples:
Gene Schreiner of Cerner Innovative: We created a meeting role for CL Evaluator. Now many more people are working on their Competent Leader manual.
Marianne Lee of Wichita Downtown: Our visitor packet includes a document telling what the Roles of the Meeting are so that the guest can follow along in more comfort.
Laurence Khanu of Beechmasters: We adopted the use of a club management database called "Easy-Speak" (www.easy-speak.org). This database makes the task of administration of the club easier.
Rhonda Green of Semi-Pro: We recognize all Toastmasters awards received by our members. We also recognize the Best Toastmaster of the Meeting and of the Year.
Help your club to identify and foster its best practices in order to make them a lasting part of your club culture. |
 Lead by Example!
By Rob Christeson, ACS, ALB
Division A Governor
Were you thinking that you needed just one more challenge in your life? Then this is a good time to be a Toastmaster! Just last month at our make-up officer training in Division A (hereafter referred to as the A-Team), I challenged all club officers on the A-Team to complete an award this year. Now, I am extending the same challenge to all of District 22!
Make 2008-2009 the year you complete that next award. You don't have to be a club officer to accept this challenge, but I'm encouraging everyone in a leadership position to let their club know that they are going to complete an award this year.
You may want to ask "Why now?" As we move through our second month of the Toastmasters year, this is a great time to evaluate your goals and plan out your year. As other members of your club see you progressing toward that next award, it will serve as motivation for them to succeed in their goals as well. After all, Enthusiasm is Contagious...Pass it on.
Two ways you can accomplish this is through a CL or CC award. Even if you already have one, or both, a subsequent award can help you to keep your skills sharp. Coordinating with your club's VP of Education can help you align your weekly efforts to completing that CL, or putting together just one speech every 4-5 weeks can get that CC done.
Advanced awards can also be done in this timeframe. I've recently taken on the challenge of completing my High Performance Leadership project, and plan to have it done and turned in before the spring conference. This will put me on track to complete my ALS this year. After all, it wouldn't make sense to challenge you with something I wasn't going to do myself.
I hope that every Toastmaster in District 22 will take on this challenge, and make 2008-2009 the year you complete that next Leadership or Communication goal. Set the tone at your club, and Lead by Example!
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 Evaluation Contests 101
by Shaun Bennett, DTM
Heartland Toastmasters
The Evaluation Contests are coming up and you are thinking about entering. A question comes to mind which every contestant ponders, "How do I prepare for a contest, when I don't know the subject?" The answer is, you can prepare for the evaluation contest in 4 simple ways.
First, begin evaluating speeches NOW. Practice evaluating every week. If you can't be a speech evaluator, be the General Evaluator, the Ah Counter or the Grammarian. Give some kind of evaluation each week from now until the contest starts.
Second, consider each evaluation a contest evaluation. Stop giving "Ho Hum" Ah Counter reports. Liven them up. Make them exciting. "Today we had 5 people use the word of the day, Omnipotent, and 2 people used it correctly!" You will not give an exciting evaluation in contest if you do not practice it on a consistent basis.
Third, make every evaluation a challenge to your club's members. Instead of telling a person what they did wrong, point out the good and challenge them to excellence. "Jeremy, this week you only had 23 audible pauses and only one 'you know.' You are getting better. With a few more speeches under your belt, you will eliminate all the ah's from your vocabulary. Good Job!"
Fourth, give balanced evaluations. Start with the positive, reinforce what they do well. Then, in an encouraging manner, suggest something that they could improve to become even better. End with what you liked most about the speech. Just like a set of weights, the larger, heavier parts should be the beginning and end, which are the positive parts. The middle is smaller but it is what makes the workout possible. It is what makes improvement possible.
Lift some weights this week, work out your evaluation muscles, and enter the Evaluation Contest for your club. You just might win the District contest. |
 Be a MORE than MORE Club
by Annette Rude, DTMLt. Governor Education & Training Congratulations to the following clubs who went beyond achieving DCP goals in their quest to help their members be successful.
More than 4 CC's: More than 2 AC's:
Fountain Head Cerner Innovative
Pure Energy Building Speakers
Agmasters Don't Stop Talking
Springfield Agmasters
More than 2 CL/ALs: More than 8 New Members
Boeing Achievers Wichita Downtown
McConnell Tanker Central Exchange
I'M A Toastmaster Catpoint
Semi Pro Top Box
S'MartMasters Network Masters
Don't Stop Talking I'M A Toastmaster
Capgemini Cerner's PowerSpeak IT
Temple Jam'N
Exact Expressions Boeing Achievers
Heartland Lenexa
Cerner Innovative
Money Talks
Optimizing Educational Achievement
Why optimize educational achievement in your club? It is our club's mission to help members achieve through the experience of public speaking. It also makes our meetings more effective, exciting and fun. Members who are meeting their goals are more likely to continue.
What is your club's optimum number of speeches and awards? Calculate it out and put it to your members. One speech, twice a month is 24 speeches - making two Competent Communicators very possible. If you meet weekly, two speeches per meeting allows for 100 speeches per year - a potential TEN Competent Communicators per year. An unfilled speaking role is a lost opportunity.
How? If you talk with members of clubs that consistently meet educational goals, you will find that they work at it. They assign mentors, they actively encourage each other, they plan educational awards, they plan meetings in advance - and, yes, they schedule or assign roles and speeches.
Assignment etiquette
Assigning or "scheduling" roles and speeches can be done in a courteous and helpful manner. Almost everyone needs encouragement at one time or another. Here are some tips and guidelines:
First, schedule assignments well in advance of the meeting. Encourage members to think about their participation at future meetings. As VP Education, plan out two or three months at a time. People will cancel, so there will be openings for new people.
Notify members before you plan a new schedule so that they can volunteer for positions and let you know when they will be unable to attend.
Manage the assignments to help people achieve new skills. Rotate people through a variety of roles. Use an order of roles that you move new members through. Alternate planned roles with less planned roles, such as Speaker then Evaluator, or Toastmaster then General Evaluator.
Get confirmation for key roles like Toastmaster or Speaker before you publish the first schedule. Then publish a "preliminary" schedule for members to check against their calendar.
Finally, remind, remind, remind. For optimum participation, the VP Education or the Toastmaster should send a reminder email immediately following each meeting that lists the roles for the upcoming meeting. Let members know that the Toastmaster is now in charge of the schedule.
What's in it for me? It is very satisfying to participate in a well attended, fully staffed - and optimized - Toastmasters meeting. And, oh yes, we love those awards. |
How To Earn A Smedley Award
by Kim Myers, DTM
Lt. Governor Marketing
What is a Smedley Award you ask? It is a lovely ribbon for your club's banner. Every club can earn membership points for their club's Distinguished Club Plan and earn a ribbon for their banner by converting 5 guests into Toastmasters Club members between August 1 and September 30.
Being the chair of a membership drive is part of earning a Competent Leader. Any club member can plan and organize a membership drive. Plan an open house for your first meeting of the month, or organize a Bring A Guest Campaign, or bring food and invite your friends. Each of these is a means of increasing club membership.
Only five clubs in our District earned Smedley Awards last year. Those clubs were:
· Club 5664, Que Masters 5 new members
· Club 636291, Top Box Toasters, 6 new members
· Club 793002, Cerner's PowerSpeak IT, 6 new members
· Club 902517, Security Benefit, 5 new members
· Club 1042018, Cerner Innovative, 6 new members
Do not forget to be prepared with guest packets, club members to befriend your guests, and an overview of each of the roles at the meeting. Make your guests feel welcomed and valued.
The next step is to have your club prepared for your new members, with mentors prepared to guide your new members in attaining their personal goals.
We hope to see more clubs challenge themselves to earn a Smedley Award this year and have fun! More members equal more enthusiasm in your club meetings. |
You Are Your Club's Best Publicity
by Anabelle Minniefield, CTM
Public Relations Officer
When we think of publicity, we typically think of press releases, special events, websites, newsletters, etc. What we fail to consider is that these are just tools to create interest in Toastmasters. The "real" publicity occurs at the club meetings.
We've all heard of WIIFM (What's in it for me?). WIIFM not only applies to prospective members, it applies to current members too. If a meeting is not well-planned, well-organized, and well-conducted, guests and members may ask themselves, is this worth my time? What they see, hear and feel at the meetings influences their likelihood to return to another meeting.
As members, we need to remain cognizant of how our participation at meetings impacts everyone, including ourselves. Regardless of our role at the meeting, we need to prepare for it and deliver it with enthusiasm. After all, Enthusiasm is Contagious! There is nothing more exhilarating than leaving a meeting with the thought, "That was a great meeting! I can't wait to come back!"
Make sure to always acknowledge each other at meetings and really make a guest feel welcome. Remember, it's all about the experience. |
 It Is Up To Me
I'M A Toastmaster Club
VP Public Relations
Like many of you, I joined Toastmasters to improve my speaking abilities and communication skills. Once I signed my paperwork and paid my fees, I thought, cool, now I am a Toastmaster.
Soon, I realized that there was much more to being a Toastmaster than just paying my dues and signing on the dotted line. If I wanted to receive the full benefit of the Toastmaster experience, I had to become involved in the meetings, giving speeches, doing evaluations and all the things that go into being part of the Toastmaster meeting format. I also realized that I needed goals to achieve the programs laid out in the manuals.
Our club was going to be holding our International Speech Contest about five months after I joined. I set a goal of making my first six speeches so that I could compete in the contest. My goal was to win the club contest and move on to the area contest. I accomplished this goal and then exceeded my expectations when I won the area contest. My run ended at the division, but I had reached my goal. I had challenged myself.
I set my next goal of fulfilling my Competent Communicator manual before the end of the Toastmaster year. I was able to complete this goal on time and have set higher goals for this new Toastmaster year. I am sharing my goals with you for a simple reason. I want to also share the lessons I have learned along the path to achievement.
Through our goals, we learn more about public speaking, communication and leadership. More importantly, we learn about ourselves and what we are capable of accomplishing. Goals are simply a yardstick with which to measure progress. If you do not meet your goals, do not be discouraged; reset your goals and move forward.
The Toastmaster experience can be summed up this way: The benefits I receive from Toastmasters are tied to the goals I set and, ultimately, it is up to me. |
 Education Awards
Congratulations to the following people for advancing through the Toastmasters education program!
Date Member Club Name
DTM
7/8/2008 Cline, Wesley Building Speakers Club
7/11/2008 Myers, Kimberly L Don't Stop Talking at DST
Advanced Leader Silver
7/9/2008 Myers, Kimberly L Don't Stop Talking at DST
8/4/2008 Melville, Cyndra E Toastmasters Unlimited
Advanced Leader Bronze
7/8/2008 Gunaratne, Charmalee H Temple Club
7/18/2008 Shell-Navarro, Tawny L Heartland Club
7/29/2008 Dodson, Carl Metcalf Toastmasters
Competent Leader
7/10/2008 Sullivan, Jeffrey L Don't Stop Talking at DST
7/14/2008 Bishop, Darrel G Boeing Achievers
7/17/2008 Becker, Gene Haworth-Wichita
7/18/2008 Shell-Navarro, Tawny L Heartland Club
7/24/2008 Shook, Sharon Agmasters Club
8/1/2008 Coleman, Jane Agmasters Club
8/4/2008 Thiessen, JoAnn I'M A Toastmaster
8/6/2008 Voorhees, Alston B Que Masters Club
8/6/2008 Ullrich, Laurie M Hallmark Club
8/14/2008 Carr, Deborah McConnell Tanker Talkers
Old Competent Leader
Advanced Communicator Gold
7/8/2008 Cline, Wesley Building Speakers
Advanced Communicator Silver
7/10/2008 Swanson-Chrisman, Neil Downtown Club
7/14/2008 Walton, Gary E Suburban Club
8/5/2008 Sheahan, Richard J Early Bird Toastmasters
8/7/2008 Gridley, Steven W Boeing Achievers
Advanced Communicator Bronze
7/2/2008 Robinson, Bessie M Temple Club
7/3/2008 Lancaster, Peggy A Professionally Speaking
7/16/2008 Scott, Barbara J Metcalf Toastmasters
7/28/2008 Mayse, Barney W Suburban Club
Competent Communicator
7/1/2008 Tronsgard, Jodi K Colleagues of Wisdom
7/1/2008 Harper, Shawn St Joseph Toastmasters
7/7/2008 Venkatasubban, Chittur Beechmasters Club
7/8/2008 Price, Shel L S'MartMasters Toastmasters
7/11/2008 Silvey, Jim L Building Speakers Club
7/28/2008 Ahmad, Naz Que Masters Club
7/29/2008 Boll, Katie L Olathe Sunrise Speakers
7/30/2008 Melin, Jonathan P Boeing Achievers
8/1/2008 Samuels, Barbara Energizing Voices
8/6/2008 Melville, Cyndra E Pro-MO
8/7/2008 Miller, Eldon MarrathonMasters Club
8/11/2008 Goebel, Mike G West Wichita Toastmasters
8/11/2008 Gaytan, Ernesto Metcalf Toastmasters
8/14/2008 Cisneros, David E Olathe Sunrise Speakers | |
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On The Calendar
August:
8/23:
Club Officer Make-up Training 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Kansas State University
1029 Durland Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506
Any officers who have not been trained are welcome to attend this training. Volunteers needed; if you can help, contact Faron Barr, Division T Gov (785) 266-8333 (785) 231-9921
August and September:
8/1-9/30:
Smedley Award Contest
9/15-9/27:
Club Fall Contests: Humorous Speech and Evaluation
September:
Club Treasurers: Time to collect renewal dues
Area Fall Contests: Humorous Speech and Evaluation
9/15:
Area R6
6:30 pm Registration
7:00 pm Contest
Barry Room, North Kansas City Hospital, 2800 Clay Edwards Drive, North Kansas City, Missouri
9/20:
Area R63 & R64 9:00 am Registration
9:30 am Contest
KCMO Water Dept Administration Bldg, 4800 E. 63rd St. Tfwy, Kansas City, MO. Registration $2.00
Area A21
8:00 am Registration
8:30 am Contest
LSI, 3718 N. Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas
Area A22
10:00 am Registration 10:30 am Contest
LSI, 3718 N. Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas
Area A23 12:00 noon Registration 12:30 pm Contest
LSI, 3718 N. Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas
Areas K43, K44 & K45
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am Contest
IBM Building, Thunder and Lightning Conference Room, 16011 College Blvd, Lenexa, KS. Refreshments provided, registration $2.00
Area T12
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am Contest
Topeka/Shawnee County Public Library
1515 SW Tenth St
Topeka, KS
Perkins Room, Second Floor
9/27
Areas L33 & R65 10:00 am Registration 10:30 am Contest
Plaza Public Library, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, MO
Areas S71, S72 & S75
9:00 am Registration
9:30 am Contest
YRC Worldwide Corporate Headquarters, 10990 Roe Ave., Overland Park, Kansas
Area T11
9:00 am Registration
9:30 am Contest
2112 Learned Hall, 15th St and Naismith Dr, Lawrence KS
Area T13
9:30 am Registration 10:00 am Contest
Kansas State University Campus, 1029 Durland Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506
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Message
Board
Reach Out & Read Seeks Volunteers Might you be interested in volunteering to serve as a speaker in a new Speakers Bureau committee over the next year? Or perhaps to chair the committee?
Reach Out & Read Kansas City (ROR-KC) is a medically-based, early childhood literacy program that provides free books to under-privileged children in 40 pediatric clinics around the KC metro area. We are in the process of forming a Speakers Bureau to talk with parenting groups and service organizations about early childhood literacy and ROR-KC.
You can find out more about ROR-KC at http://www.reachoutandreadkc.org
Or contact Laura Long, Volunteer Coordinator, at 913-588-2793.
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Words For The Wise Toastmaster
Last month, you received a taste of this new feature. Tell me what you think.
As a Toastmaster, it behooves us to continually improve our language skills.
I will provide six words every month; two nouns, two verbs, and two adjectives. One or two words may be a completely new for you.
I challenge you to take the following words and create one or two lines using as many words as possible. I just may print the best next month.
cicerone
\sih-suh-ROH-nee\
noun
1: a guide who conducts sightseers
2: mentor, tutor
approbation
\ap-ruh-BAY-shun\
noun
1: an act of approving formally or officially
2: commendation, praise
permeate
\PER-mee-ayt\
verb
1: to diffuse through or penetrate (something)
2: to pass through the pores or interstices of
cultivate
\ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt\
transitive verb
1: to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops
2: a: to foster growth of b: culture: to improve by labor, care or study
3: further, encourage
4: to seek the society of: make friends with
steadfast
\STED-fast\
adjective
1: a: firmly fixed in place: immovable b: not subject to change
2: firm in belief, determination, or adherence: loyal
innocuous
\ih-NAH-kyuh-wus\
adjective
1: producing no injury: harmless
2: not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility: inoffensive, insipid
If you would like to receive a daily word of your own to increase your vocabulary, one site I have found is Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day. Link to it here...
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A Look Ahead
District 22 honored at International Conference
Membership Renewals
Membership Strategies
Smedley Award
Contests
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Corrections
In last month's The Gavel, Education Awards, the following Toastmaster's were incorrectly identified.
ALB
Rochelle Lee was incorrectly identified as belonging to MoKan Talkers. She is with MoKan Toasters
ACS
Patti Simons was incorrectly identified as belonging to Bluejacket Toastmasters. She is with MoKan Toasters
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The Gavel 
