 Work Your Plan
By Cyndra Melville, DTM
District 22 Governor
It is a beautiful thing when a good plan comes together. Most of our clubs put together a good plan in June and July for the club to be Distinguished or better. Are you working that plan?
Did you do something special in August and September to attract new members; perhaps an Open House, Guest Day, or Membership Campaign? Remember, to qualify for Distinguished Club, you must have 20 or more members or have a net gain of 5 or more members. By net gain, we mean five more on June 30, 2009 than on June 30, 2008. So if your club lost 2 members, you need 7 new ones. Traditionally, September and January are the two months that Toastmasters gains the most new members. People join in September because it's "back to school" and January because of New Year's resolutions. Plan now for your membership drive in January.
Also in January is our second round of TLI's (Toastmasters Leadership Institute). This is the Club Officer Training in the DCP plus advanced training opportunities. You need at least four officers trained for that point. Send all seven officers to the same training session and receive special recognition from our Lt. Governor - Education and Training, Annette Rude. The second round of training is different from the first because most of the officers have already received the first round of training plus six months of experience and we have discussions from the officers about what has worked well and areas needing attention. Check out the District web site at www.toastmasters22.org for the time and city. It's already out there. The address will be added later. Mark your calendars.
How are your educational and leadership awards coming along? Have you been tracking progress? Are you careful not to waste valuable speaking time slots? Are you encouraging your members and giving them recognition? These are all important to a successful club.
You have a good plan. Now, work it. Plan your work. Work your plan. Talk about it together. Use some creative new ideas. We can all be Distinguished (or better) clubs!
|
 The Value of Twenty-Seven Dollars
By Kim Myers, DTM
District 22 Lt. Governor Marketing
Oh my goodness you are thinking, my VP - Membership is reminding me to bring my checkbook to the next Toastmasters meeting. Truly, do not forget. Your Toastmasters membership offers the least expensive training for public speaking. Twenty-seven dollars offers you so very much.
Here are just a few of the benefits of Toastmasters:
- The opportunity to speak in public in front of a friendly audience Receive evaluations for your prepared speeches
- Meet new friends and open doors to other opportunities
- Receive your Toastmasters Magazine that provides easy to understand tips for excellence in public speaking
- Leadership training (TLI) for our current and future club leaders Networking opportunities
- Did I mention friendship?
- Competition for the competitive speakers
- A variety of manuals for the 'advanced' speaker
There are still fourteen clubs that have not renewed their minimum of 6 members to be considered 'ON TIME". But do not forget that every membership should be encouraged to turn in their membership renewal in a timely fashion. The treasurer should turn those in as quickly as possible. Members should let their club officers know if they suddenly do not receive their Toastmasters Magazine because that is a good indication that your dues have not been submitted.
We hope to see everyone continue his or her Toastmasters membership!
|
 Getting Serious About Humor
By Annette Rude, DTM
Lt. Governor Education and Training
Are you intrigued by humor? Do you love it when your Toastmasters meeting fills with laughter, an engaging, magical moment that sparks more humor and more shared laughter? Is it even more fun when you make it happen? If you are ready to explore being funny, then here are some recommendations for getting serious about humor. First, watch a lot of humorous speeches. Have you ever blown a joke that you thought was intrinsically funny and surprised when no one laughed? It turns out delivery is as important as the material. Attend our District Humorous Speech Contest on November 15, laugh a lot and learn by the example of some funny people and their funny stories. Learn from people who are serious about humor. Also at our Fall Conference on November 15, Maggie Kelley will lead a session on humor, called "Tickle Their Funny Bone." Maggie has tried her hand at improv and works at being funny. You can find out more about Maggie in our website archive article at http://www.toastmasters22.org/pdf_files/trsr-kelley.PDF. Come and find out what Maggie knows about laughter and humor. Signup for tips on humor. I discovered a serious source of insight on humor at a session at Toastmasters International Convention in August. The presenter, John Kinde, also presented an idea for using "observational humor" in your Toastmaster club that he felt was more helpful than being Joke Master. His website, http://www.humorpower.com, includes an article called "Using Spontaneous and Observational Humor." I subscribed to his email newsletter and got more helpful tips. Just click on Articles and Click on Free Ezine to subscribe. Finally, you just have to do it - prepare a speech with the intention of being humorous and making people laugh. Toastmasters provides the structure with Advanced Manuals Humorously Speaking and The Entertaining Speaker. You find your own funny style and develop your own funny stories. If you want to be a good speaker, then you have to get serious about humor. Come to the Fall Conference on November 15 to attend our session on humor, our Humorous Speech Contest and be sure to pick up a copy of an Advanced Speech manual at our sales table. Register today. Click on Conference at http://www.toastmasters22.org. Join us in laughter and learning that is uniquely Toastmasters. |
 BRAG Breakfast
By Marianne Lee, DTM
Past District Governor
Wichita Downtown Toastmasters
Semi-Pro Toastmasters
Yahoo!.....it's baaaaaack at the Conference! I have missed this special event at the last few Conferences, and I am thrilled to see it's been added to this one.
Have you ever watched the smiles on the faces and the twinkle in the eyes of a group of fishermen sitting around a table, sharing a meal and bragging about their catches? Isn't that a hoot? This event has all the smiles and the twinkles, ----only the stories will all be true!
Come, share breakfast with me and all the others who will be eager to tell you what is going right in our Clubs, and we'll applaud what is going right in yours! I'll bet you can't out-brag me about your Club(s) in the time of a Table Topic or less. I think I can out-brag you....and I will!
The fun challenge is ON. C'mon, let's take it to the Brag Breakfast!
Don't forget to check your breakfast choice on your Conference Registration form. |
 Proposed Changes to the District Conference Rotation
By Rob Christeson, ACS, ALB
Division A Governor
Fellow members of District 22, your District Conference Rotation committee has conferred and agreed to recommend the following changes to the District 22 procedures (http://www.toastmasters22.org/d22_procedures.html).
This change will be presented to the District Council for a vote at the coming District Conference on November 15, 2008. It is important that Club Presidents, Vice Presidents of Education, and all District Officers are prepared to vote on this issue, or submit their proxies as needed.
District Conference Locations
District Conference locations will rotate between Divisions "T", "L", "K", "A", "R", and "S", in that order. The conference host and location may differ from this policy if so determined to be in the best interest of the District by vote of the District Executive Committee. The Conference, if possible, will be chaired by a Toastmaster(s) from the host Division. The Chairperson is selected by the Lieutenant Governor Education and Training.
This would produce the following schedule:
T Fall 2009 (already scheduled)
L Spring 2010
K Fall 2010
A Spring 2011
R Fall 2011
S Spring 2012
|
 Pay It Forward
By Anabelle Minniefield, CTM
Public Relations Officer
Have you ever referred a friend, co-worker or family member to Toastmasters and had them join? Your gratification was probably in knowing that you introduced them to a life-altering organization.
What you may not have known is that you can earn recognition for the number of individuals you sponsor (refer). There is an Individual Membership Program held between July 1 and June 30. 2008-2009 Membership Building Contest Brochure
If you sponsor 5 new members, you earn a unique pin; 10 new members, a silver star pin; and 15 or more members, a Toastmasters necktie or scarf. Your name will also appear with other individual membership contest winners on Toastmasters International's website.
To receive credit as a sponsor, your name must appear on the application for Toastmasters club membership along with your home club number. New, dual and reinstated members count for credit; transfer and charter members do not.
Like the movie 'Pay It Forward', think about the ripple effect you can create with merely sponsoring five individuals! Those five individuals will refer other individuals and the cycle continues.
Next time you see someone that you think could benefit from Toastmasters, invite them to a meeting and encourage them to join. Just don't forget to have them write your name and club number on the membership form!
Congratulations to the following individuals who "Paid it Forward' in the 2007-2008 Toastmaster year:
Name Number of Sponsorships
- James F. Hill, CL 10
- Junda K. Fuehrer, CC, CL 10
- Dave Cunningham, DTM 9
- Raghu Kadava 9
- Bob A. Gough, ACS 8
- Debra Dorsey, CC 8
- Thomas Mulinazzi, ACB, CL 7
- Cheryl Baker, CC 7
- Teresa D. Wallace, ACS, ALB 7
- Ron Nutsch, CTM 6
- Richard J. Sheahan, ATMB, CL 6
- Connie George, ATM, CL 6
- Gene Becker, DTM 5
- G. Dan Roberts, ACS, CL 5
- Jeanetta Ellis 5
- Marvin E. Schottel, ACS, CL 5
- Ivan C. Perez, CTM 5
- Cheri L. Standiford, ACG, CL 5
- Stephen C. Boll, ACB, CL 5
- Darrel G. Bishop, DTM 5
- Brent W. Shelton, CTM, CL 5
|
What Have You Sold Today?
By Faron Barr, ACS, ALS
Division T Governor
There is a saying in the business world that states: "You don't know how much you have sold today."
This saying simply means that your productive actions today may have many rewards later that neither you nor anyone else expected. This is exactly what happened to one of our Toastmaster members from the Leavenworth Toastmasters club.
Lucy Yother, ATMS, CL, was asked to speak to the Women's Division of the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce about Toastmasters. There were about 50 people in attendance. After this meeting, Lucy was surprised to find that this presentation made the Leavenworth newspaper!
Apparently, a reporter must have been in the audience. What was even more special was that this article made the FIRST PAGE! It was also printed in the Lansing paper on the sixth page. One speech and Lucy was able to reach the entire town of Leavenworth! All it cost her was a few minutes of her time.
Leavenworth Toastmasters has also had success by distributing colorful one-page flyers, designed by Jason Schulz, DTM, announcing their meeting place and time. Two people saw these flyers and joined their club on the first visit.
What these examples show us is that a little effort can turn into a lot of success. It just may not be apparent how much success you will have at first. Each of us can learn from Lucy's and the Leavenworth Toastmaster's example. Take the opportunity to spread the Toastmaster word every chance you get. You may see your clubs grow in ways you didn't expect as well.
|
How Advanced Are You?
By Peggy Lancaster, ACB, CL
How advanced are you?
As Toastmasters complete each new manual we take away not only a new designation but new skills and insights into the world of speaking. These skills should be utilized each and every time we give a speech. Once we move from the Competent Communication manual into the advanced manuals, sometimes we forget the lessons we learned while completing that very first manual.
Those first ten speeches are the basis on which to build. We all sometimes hurry to prepare an assignment. It is the nature of our harried life styles. As Advanced Toastmasters, we should have a repertoire of ideas and outlines at our disposal so that we can give a speech on short notice. This, however, does not mean we shouldn't prepare to give a speech. To give a speech in a club meeting just to fulfill the assignment not only short changes you, it short changes new members and guests.
As Advanced Toastmasters, new members look to us for help and guidance. How helpful can we be if we don't prepare and progress each time we speak? Our goal should always to be to give the best speech we can not just to fulfill the assignment. As we grow as speakers so do our clubs grow in quality membership. |
By Rob Christeson, ACS, ALB
Division A Governor
Toastmasters International (TI) headquarters has confirmed that the "Old" Competent Leader award is still valid as the prerequisite award for the Advanced Leader - Silver. This is good news for those members looking to complete their DTM under that program.
Since TI stopped awarding the "Old" CL on July 1st, there has been speculation that members completing their AL Silver award may be required to accomplish the CL manual and an AL Bronze to meet the new prerequisites. I was able to confirm, in writing, with the Educations and Awards folks at TI that the current criteria for the AL Silver had not changed this year.
Along with that, TI has not announced any pending changes to the AL Silver criteria. That doesn't mean it won't change, just that it won't change for sure this year. To be safe, I would recommend that any member concerned about finishing their AL Silver after June 30th may want to go ahead and start tracking a current CL award. After all, you're already doing most of the work at your club meetings. Get the credit you deserve!
|
|
TI Governance Changes
Toastmasters International Board of Directors is considering changes to the governance structure of Toastmasters International. A proposal will likely be voted in August 2009 at International Convention. An updated version of the Shaping the Future of Toastmasters document is now available on the Toastmasters International Web site. This concise document describes the governance reshaping initiative as it now stands.
At International Convention in Canada last August, the TI Board announced the appointment of Daniel Rex as Executive Director, replacing Donna Groh.
|
 Education Awards
Congratulations to the following people for advancing through the Toastmasters education program!
Date Member Club Name
Leadership Excellence
10/1/2008 Linstra, Laura Don't Stop Talking at DST
Advanced Leader Bronze
9/21/2008 Hawkins, Heather Pro-MO
9/18/2008 Bishop, Darrel G Semi Pro Toastmasters
Competent Leader
10/8/2008 Earles, Jeannette K S'MartMasters
10/1/2008 Parrott, Crystal M Wichita Downtown
9/23/2008 Escott, Melanie S Energizing Voices
9/21/2008 Hawkins, Heather A Pro-MO
9/16/2008 Lo, Susan S Yes We Can Toast
9/12/2008 Green, Rhonda F Semi Pro Toastmasters
Advanced Communicator Silver
10/7/2008 Watson-Perkins, Veron KCI Club
10/7/2008 Revels, Arnetta D KCI Club
10/2/2008 Hawkins, Heather A Pro-MO
9/18/2008 Mitchell, Leslie Ann Avionics Masters
Advanced Communicator Bronze
9/30/2008 Hund, Bryan Security Benefit
9/25/2008 McDonald, Paul D Yes We Can Toast
9/24/2008 Ross, Kevin M Lenexa Toastmasters
Competent Communicator
9/30/2008 Nabi, Mahmud West Wichita Toastmasters
9/30/2008 Bonar, Laura M Articulators Club
9/30/2008 Vaccaro, Cathy Gorilla Toastmasters
9/30/2008 Johnson, Marl L Gorilla Toastmasters
9/21/2008 Monroe, David B Bluejacket Toastmasters
9/19/2008 Gonzales, Daniel Que Masters Club
|
| District 22 Newsletter Editor |
|
Kim Mitchell, CC, ALB
| |
|
|
Conference Deadlines
Meals - 11/5
Doubletree Hotel 10100 College Blvd, Overland Park KS
913-451-6100 or 800-222-8733 Guest room $79+tax
DEC meeting, District Council meetings, Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests
|
|
On The Calendar
October:
Humorous Speech
and Evaluation
10/18:
Division S
11 am Registration
11:30 am Contest
YRC Worldwide
Corporate Headquarters,
10990 Roe Blvd,
Overland Park KS 67211
Snacks. Registration $3.00
10/25:
Division L
9:00 am Registration
9:30 am Contest
KCMO Water Dept
Administration Bldg,
4800 E 63rd St. Tfwy,
Kansas City MO
Snacks. Registration $2.00
November:
11/14-15:
District 22 Fall Conference
Doubletree Hotel
10100 College Blvd,
Overland Park KS
913-451-6100 or
800-222-8733
Guest room $79+tax
DEC meeting,
District Council meetings,
Humorous Speech
and Evaluation Contests
Registration Deadline
Meals - 11/5
|
Words For The Wise Toastmaster
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.
posse
PAH-see
noun
1: a large group often with a common interest
2: a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency
3: one's attendants or associates
red herring
RED-HERR-ing
noun
1: a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color
2: something that distracts attention from the real issue
exonerate
ig-ZAH-nuh-rayt
verb
1: to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship
2: to clear from accusation or blame
indagate
IN-duh-gayt
verb
to search into : investigate
rih-PLEET
adjective
1: fully or abundantly provided or filled
2 a: abundantly fed b: fat, stout
3: complete
myopic
mye-OH-pik
adjective
1 a: affected by nearsightedness : of, relating to, or exihibiting nearsightedness
2: lacking in foresight or discernment : limited in outlook
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...
|
|
A Look Ahead
Special Conference Edition
Smedley Winners
DCP and Educational Goals
Goal Getter
| |
The Gavel 
