At the June TLIs, our District announced four separate marketing contests for the new Toastmaster's year.  

First, there was a membership building contest for clubs to hold a meeting with 5 or more guests. Every club could win, and those that were successful will receive a complete Leadership Excellence series at the January TLI: Semi-Pro Club, Farmers Insurance, Building Speakers, Central Exchange, Heartland, Speaking Eagles, Boeing Achievers, Professionally Speaking, I'MA Toastmaster, Masters and Catpoint Toastmasters.

Second, the member of each club who brought the most guests to their club meetings from July through September will receive a coupon for a free manual (CC, CL, or Advanced Communicator manual) of their choice from the District's TI Store at the January TLI. Very few winners have been submitted, so I'll accept any final names until the end of the Fall Conference.

Third, club treasurers were asked to submit their club dues before the TI deadline, and any club that submitted their dues by September 15^th was entered into a drawing to receive a $25 credit toward conference registration for the Nov 20-21 Fall Conference. The winners were:  Division T - Chris O'neill, Division  A - Rex Pawlak, Division L - Joseph Morton, Division K - Lois Harger, Division R - Brenda Knight, Division S - Kaynaz Firoozabadi. Note: because this award was drawn late, any winner can defer their credit to the spring conference in Overland Park.

Finally, Area Governors were asked to help their clubs complete their October renewals by the due date of October 1st. 13 of 25 Areas were successful, and 4 winners were drawn to receive $25 credit toward their fall conference registration:  Brenda Christensen, Helen Gebre-Amlak, Tawny Shell-Naverro and Lan Strickland.

Thanks to everyone for their participation and patience.  And congratulations to all of our winners, and the members and clubs who supported them. See you in Topeka!

A quorum consists of 1/3 of Club Presidents and 1/3 of Club Vice Presidents of Education - or their proxy holders.  If either of your club officers is unable to attend, they may authorize you or another member of your club to carry their vote by filling out a form called a Club Proxy.  This Proxy Form is on our website at http://www.toastmasters22.org/pdf_files/d22_proxy_form2009F.pdf 

Representatives must register at the Credentials table and pick up their ballots by 3:00 pm on Saturday before the meeting which begins at 4:30 pm.  The location is Kansas State Historical Museum, 6425 S.W. 6th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas.

The Council meeting itself is free; no registration required.  For other conference activities, you may register up to and including the day of the conference.  Additional information and registration forms are on our website on the Conference page and in the Conference Edition of the newsletter.

You can preview district business reports on the Business page of our website, also found under Administration.

Please help our District be successful by making sure that your club is represented at our District Council meeting.  Your participation is important  -- and greatly appreciated.

All across District 22, individual Toastmasters and clubs are making remarkable efforts in the Goal Getter Contest.

In the contest for individual Toastmasters, Rhonda Green earned yet another award and now has 6 educational awards.  Paul McDonald is starting to make a move and now has 5 awards.  Laura Linstra Is holding her own at 4, as is Andrew Statler at 3.  Rob Christeson also now has 3.  There are 7 other Toastmasters who have earned 2 awards.  As a District, we earned 26 awards in October and now stand at 112 for the year so far.  Each and every person who has earned at least one award is to be congratulated.      

Through October, Boeing is holding steady at 6 Distinguished Club Points.  Lo and Behold -- Olathe Sunrise Speakers has made a move from the middle of the pack and is now nose to nose with Boeing with 6 also.   DST, Cerner Innovative and now Heartland Club all have 5 DCP points.  Clubs with 4 points are:  Masters, MoKan Toasters, Speaking Eagles, Insuring Success, Building Speakers and West Wichita.  Additionally, 38 clubs now have either 2 or 3 DCP points!  There is still time to build points for your club!  In the next few months, focus on speeches, speeches, and more speeches! 

The Thanksgiving holiday often causes some clubs to have fewer meetings than usual.  Don't let that prevent you from earning Educational Awards this month.  Make it a month to be truly thankful for your own and your club's accomplishments.  

Be a Goal Getter!  Unleash Your Possibilities!     

If you are not aware of the details of the contest, find out more at:  http://www.toastmasters22.org/pdf_files/GoalGetters.pdf

Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  It hallmarks the beginning of the holiday season.  Bring the festive mood to your club meetings by planning a holiday event. 

Pick a holiday theme and weave it throughout your meeting.  Food is always a welcome addition.  It can be as simple as snacks or as elaborate as a potluck.  Call former members and those that have not renewed to let them know that they are missed. 

Promote your club by making your holiday event an open house meeting.  Ask each member to bring a relative, neighbor, friend or co-worker as a guest. 

Be sure to divide up the work.  Team up members to do a specific task - phoning/emailing invitations, organizing the refreshments, setting up the extra tables and chairs needed, welcoming and directing guests or clean-up. 

Most importantly, make your event FUN!  Ask the speakers to make their speeches light-hearted or humorous.  Have the Table Topics Master select a topic that is easy to speak on and will provide enjoyable responses.

Toastmasters are a family.  Families celebrate holidays.  Therefore, Toastmasters should celebrate the holidays.  Promote your club by bringing your past, present and future family of Toastmasters together to celebrate the upcoming holidays.