Toastmasters Leadership Institute:
Mark Your Calendar for Success
 By John Mulroy, ACG ALB Lt. Governor Education & Training
Are you geared up to start the New Year? We are rapidly nearing the halfway point in the Toastmasters year - just a few more weeks and we'll be "on the downhill slide" towards the end of the year.
Has your club achieved all of the goals you set for it six months ago? Probably not since there is still half the year to go. Now, however, we need to really focus on those goals and how we are going to attain them all and more!
Help is on the way!. The Toastmasters Leadership Institute sessions scheduled in January and February will help all the Club Officers revisit the goals they set, share their experiences so far this year with their peers from other clubs, and hear about new ideas that will help.
Club Officer Training Sessions. These sessions will put the officers together with their peers from other clubs. They will have a great opportunity to share their experiences, talk about successes and challenges, ask questions of knowledgeable presenters, and come away with more than they started with. TI educational materials will be given to those who attend these sessions.
Additional Training Sessions. We will have additional breakout sessions covering other topics - Motivating Achievement and Club Success, Organizing Club Contests, separate sessions for Judges and Chief Judges Training, Club Coaching, being a District Officer, Creating a Marketing Flier, Building membership, facilitating "Moments of Truth", and a session demonstrating how the planning affects a Contest. We are not able to offer all of these topics at all the locations due to some time constraints, but most will be.
Recognition. We will also be presenting the Club and Individual Goal Getter ribbons to those winners who are present. Marketing winners present will also get their prizes. Clubs with seven separate officers trained at least once this year will receive Magnificent 7 Leadership Team buttons.
Registration. Registration is $3 per person at the door or $15 club pre-registration for unlimited attendance by all club members. To pre-register your club, mail check or money order for $15 made out to Toastmasters District 22 to: John Mulroy, D22 LGET, 14270 W. 131st Street, Olathe, KS 66062, No credit cards please.
Go to the District website for more complete information about the schedule and the session closest to you: http://www.toastmasters22.org/pdf_files/latest_TLI.pdf
Let us, the District Leadership, help you "Unleash YOUR Possibilities" by attending the Toastmasters Leadership Institute closest to you!
Schedule
Lunches purchased at the door for lunchwill include sandwich, chips and a beverage (water or soft drink). You are welcome to bring a beverage or snack of your choice. Please note that other refreshments will not be served.
Saturday, January 16 - Springfield, Mo.
ANPAC, 1949 E Sunshine
9:30 am Registration begins
10:00 am How to Facilitate a Moments of Truth
10:45 am Contest Training - Pulling it all together
11:30 am Lunch & Learn ($7at registration) - Serving as a District Officer.
12:15-3:30 pm General session, Officer Breakout and elective sessions plus awards and recognition
Saturday, January 23 - Wichita, Ks.
Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, 929 North St. Francis Street
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am General session, Officer Breakout and elective sessions plus awards and recognition
12:15 pm Lunch & Learn ($7at registration) - Serving as a District Officer.
1:00 How to Facilitate a Moments of Truth; Club Coaching
1:50-2:40 pm - Contest training - pulling it all together
Monday, January 25 - Liberty, Mo.
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 North 291 Highway, (SW of intersection I35 & 291 Hwy)
5:00 pm Registration
5:15 pm Club Coaching
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm General session, Officer Breakout and elective sessions plus awards and recognition .
Saturday, January 30 - Overland Park, Ks.
Shawnee Mission South High School, 5800 107th Street.
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am General session, Officer Breakout and elective sessions plus awards and recognition
12:15 pm Lunch & Learn ($7at registration) - Serving as a District Officer.
1:00 pm How to Facilitate a Moments of Truth
1:50-2:40 pm - Contest training - Pulling it all together
Saturday, February 13 - Topeka, Ks.
First Southern Baptist Church, 1912 SW Gage
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am General session, Officer Breakout and elective sessions plus awards and recognition
12:15 pm Lunch & Learn ($7at registration) - Serving as a District Officer.
1:00 pm How to Facilitate a Moments of Truth
1:50-2:40 pm - Contest training - Pulling it all together.
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 OOEE! Unleash Meeting Excellence
By Annette Rude, DTM
District Governor
Excellent club meetings keep existing members involved and coming back for more. Excellent meetings make it easy to sign up guests as members.
Excellence is like the beauty of a sunrise: an experience rather than a state of being. Aim for excellence when you are the Toastmaster of the next meeting. You will create an experience to remember.
How? Consider embracing O.O.E.E. leadership.
OWN IT: This is YOUR meeting. You manage the success factors. Does your vision for an excellent meeting include a preplanned agenda, educational programs, several speakers, excellent feedback - and lots of participation? Make it so. Is there an unifying theme? Pick one. Will your introductions be interesting? Absolutely. You are the face of the meeting. Make it your best.
ORGANIZE IT: Does your club have a blank meeting outline form that follows its traditional meeting sequence? If so, use it. If not, make one and post it on your website. Who's in charge here? You are. Are there empty roles? Fill them. Are your speakers prepared? Find out; speeches, speeches, speeches are the cornerstone of excellent clubs. Invite members to present Toastmasters educational modules for your meeting.
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION: Is everyone coming? Being Toastmaster is your excuse to contact every member of your club to find out. Share your enthusiasm. Spark the speakers. Start with emails but finish with phone calls to members who are not responding. Personal contact works.
ENJOY YOURSELF. It's time to take the stage. Look them in the eye. Be excited. Share your enthusiasm! It's contagious.
OOEE! At the end of your meeting, members will sign up to speak, guests will join. It will be a meeting to remember.
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 Be the Coach!
By Rob Christeson, DTM
Lt. Governor Marketing
It seems counterintuitive, but throughout District 22 we are having a membership crisis at a time when people need communication, leadership, and networking skills the most. More than 75% of the clubs in our district are below 20 active members. Many are well below 20, and more than a third are below 13 active members. It's important to remember that strong clubs make members more successful, and great members make their clubs strong.
We know we have great members out there, but what can you do? What can we do? One of the things the District can help with is the Club Coaching program. Basically, any member can serve as a coach for another club. The coach can help with specific membership campaigns, general club support, and also working with the district for continued/specific support.
To be a coach, you need to meet these criteria:
- Be a Toastmaster (duh).
- Be interested in helping others.
- Be available to attend another club's regular meetings and executive council meetings.
- Be willing to tell the LGM (me) that you are interested, and what your availability is (i.e. Topeka or Salina after work hours).
To have a coach appointed to your club, you have to meet these criteria:
- Have 12 or fewer active members.
- Have the President e-mail the LGM (me) and say "Our club requests a club coach".
Other important notes (clearing up misconceptions)
- You can volunteer as a coach without knowing if a club currently needs you.
- You can ask for a coach for your club even if you don not have a volunteer identified.
- Potential coach and club can pre-coordinate with each other if you want.
- Club Coaches get credit toward their ALS, and some free materials from TI to help them and the clubs be successful.
- We're going to have some nifty training early next year for our club coaches...stay tuned!
- Do not join the club before the appointment is official - otherwise it won't count toward ALS credit.
- To be successful and get the ALS credit, the club has to finish this year (or next) as Distinguished or better.
Our team has the potential to be the best in the world. We have the players, we have the playbooks, and we have the talent. I hope that each of you will consider the opportunities that club coaching can bring to you and your clubs, and e-mail me at rob@robchristeson.com to volunteer as a coach, or request one for your club. By working together, you can unleash your possibilities for you and your fellow members!
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 Goal Getters are in the Home Stretch! By John Mulroy, ACG ALB
Lt. Governor Education & Training
How about you? Are you in the race to earn an educational award this year? Is your goal in sight?
There is less than a month to go in the Goal Getter contest! We have seen some amazing efforts by individuals - and clubs! Is it simply because of the contest or because they are dedicated Toastmasters?
Congratulations to everyone who reached their educational goal and increased our numbers of educational awards! I invite you to one of our TLI events in January where I will present you with your personal Goal Getter ribbon.
Regarding multiple awards, the most astonishing news is that eight more people earned a second educational award in November, bringing that total to 15. A total of 143 educational awards have been by 111 different Toastmasters so far this this year.
Nine clubs have earned 5 DCP points and the club Goal Getter award. How is your club doing? There are now seven clubs with 4 DCP points - that is only one point shy. Forty clubs now have either 2 or 3 DCP points! There is still time to build points for your club! What do you need to get to that distinguished level? In most cases it is membership and speeches, speeches, and more speeches! You all can do it - I know it!
If you are not sure how many points your clubs has earned, check online: http://reports.toastmasters.org/reports_new/dcp.cfm
If you are not aware of the details of the contest, find out more at: http://www.toastmasters22.org/pdf_files/GoalGetters.pdf
December is a short month - TI's offices will be closed on December 17 for the remainder of 2009. Any awards earned will be credited after they re-open on January 4 as long as they are entered with the correct date before January 11.
Be a Goal Getter! Unleash Your Possibilities!
Let's make it a "December to Remember" and not let the Holidays slow us down! Give yourself the gift of the feeling of accomplishment!
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 Promoting Your Club -- Business Cards
By Marilyn Schwartz, ACG, ALB
Public Relations Officer
There always seems to be a lull between District Fall Conference and Toastmaster Leadership Institute (TLI) in January for Toastmasters. Everyone has finished up the Thanksgiving leftovers and started their Christmas shopping. The last thing anyone thinks about is increasing their club membership.
The timing, however, is perfect to promote your club. Catch those potential guests before they make their New Year's resolutions. Make them aware that there is a Toastmasters club nearby. Visiting a Toastmasters club (or better yet, joining one!) is a great way to start out the new year.
An easy way to get your meeting day, time and location information out to the public is by printing club business cards. There is a template for a club officer business card on the District 22 website at: http://tm22.org/downloadable_files/Template_TM_Bsn_Cards.doc. You can easily make a general club business card by substituting the club name, meeting day/time and meeting location for those of the club officer.
If you are a corporate club, put your club business cards on bulletin boards and on tables in the break room. Contact Human Resources to include one in the new employee orientation packets. Ask if you can pass them out at employee meetings.
Community clubs can put them on library and grocery store bulletin boards. Ask the receptionist at doctor and dentist offices in the area if you can leave a stack next to the magazines. Send them to the Human Resources and Training Departments of any local businesses to give out to employees.
Club business cards are a simple yet effective way to get your meeting information to potential guests. Take advantage of the end of the year timing to promote your club by distributing club business cards.
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 District Website Contest Winners
By Martha Hoffman, ACB ALS
District 22 hosted its first website contest. Who won? The clubs of District 22. Showcasing the beauty and bounty of Toastmasters, club websites broadcast who you are, where you meet and why potential members would want to join your club. It's a business card for your club and more. Does your website tell people what you do and why they should join? It should be obvious. CapGemini club won the first District 22 Website Contest. Masters won the closed club contest.
The CapGemini site has some amazing extras on their site. Click the links to check it out: - Famous Speeches in History (use Link)
- Famous Speeches in Film Masters has a complete set of forms and amazing information to make your club run better. Click forms for an awesome list.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
A winning website speaks to your club, when and where you meet. It also communicates your club style and adds that personal touch. Your photos should show the people in your club. We all win when your site speaks proudly.
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| District 22 Fall Conference
Familar faces and kindred spirits congregated at the evening banquet at the Fall Conference in Topeka on November 21. Recognize anyone?
The party got started with Karaoke at Friday Fun Night. Toastmasters love stage time! Who could forget Ed Tate & his backup singers, Martha Hoffman, Helen Gebre-Amlak, Martha DeMond & Laura Linstra.
Articles below feature Speech Contest winners, Hall of Fame honorees, Communication & Leadership Award recipients.
Photos by Marilyn Schwartz, ACG ALB, Public Relations Officer.
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District 22 Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest Winners
Humorous Speech Contest Winners: (left to right) Helen Fu, 1st Place; Sharon Shook, 2nd Place; Julie Sanders, 3rd Place.
Evaluation Contest Winners: (left to right) Neil Swanson-Chrisman, 1st Place; Chet Mayekawa, 2nd Place; Laura Linstra, 3rd Place.
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| Hall of Fame Honorees
At Hall of Fame ceremonies at the conference, Immediate Past District Governor Cyndra Melville, DTM, presented awards for achievement and service in 2008-2009.
Rob Christeson, DTM, (right) was recognized as Division Governor of the Year. Rob served as Governor for Division A which achieved President's Distinguished Division in 2008-2009.
Rhonda Green, DTM, (left) was awarded Area Governor of the Year. Rhonda served as A23 Area Governor which achieved President's Distinguished Area in 2008-2009.
Faron Barr, DTM, (right) was recognized with a Special Award for Outstanding Achievement as Division T Governor for two years. Division T achieved President's Distinguished in 2008-2009.
Martha DeMond, DTM, (left) earned the distinction of District 22 Outstanding Toastmaster of the Year. Martha served successfully as a club coach, was proactive in assisting the Distict Governor with club building, completed her DTM, and served at numerous District 22 events.
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| Communication & Leadership Award
On behalf of District 22, Lt. Governor Education & Training John Mulroy presented Toastmasters award for outstanding community service through communication and leadership at the Fall Conference Luncheon.
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Jeanette Collier and Ann Weick (left to right) were recognized for their leadership in developing the Just for Food program in Lawrence, Kansas. The program coordinates the collection and distribution of food to many food pantries throughout area.
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HRC Club Celebrates 1st Anniversary with 5 Competent Communicators
HRC Club in Topeka celebrated its first anniversary in November and recognized five members for earning their Competent Communicator. Several more are expected this year. From its inception, HRC has made it a practice to have three speeches at every weekly noon hour meeting.
Toastmasters International Director Ron Kirchgessner, DTM, (left) and Area Governor Victor Jackson, CC, (right) were on hand to present a certificate of appreciation to Richard Rhoades, Director of the VA Health Revenue Center on behalf of the HRC club. (Photo by David Herring, Public Affairs Officer, Health Resource Center)
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Creative Table Topics:
Getting to know you
By Barb Ventucci, President, HRC Toastmasters, Topeka, Kansas
So tell me, what did you get into trouble for the most when you were young? In your opinion what are the Seven Wonders of the World? Which is more important to you, intelligence or common sense? If you could do something dangerous just once with no risk, what would you do? Where would you choose to live if you had to leave this country?
I'm not the nosiest person in the world, nor am I a reporter or a teacher who wants essays from the class. I'm a Toastmaster, and these are examples of "Table Topics"!!!!!
Our club recently celebrated its one year anniversary. Because most of us did not know much about any of the other club members prior to our inception, we thought it would be fun to have a series of "introductions" for Table Topics. The first person introduced a second person of their choice, who introduced a third person, and so on. This was the true test of how well we had listened to our fellow Toastmasters' speeches over the past year.
The assignment: Give a proper two minute introduction to a fellow Toastmaster, incorporating things you have learned about him or her over the past year.
The enthusiasm prevailed. People, who didn't have a clue about the person sitting next to them a year ago, spoke about their fellow Toastmaster's family, childhood stories, golf games and college debate skills!
Speaking of debate, another heated Table Topic session our club had was an actual mini debate, complete with scoring forms.
Our club tends to devote most of the Table Topics to amusing subject matter. One of the funniest was a session which the volunteer blindly selected a picture of an unusual animal the Table Topics Master had available, and had to name the creature and state how it spent its day.
Wikipedia defines Table Topics, as used by the Toastmasters, as "The portion of a club meeting devoted to exercises in impromptu speaking. Presided over by the Table Topics Master, who calls on each Table Topics Speaker to give a short, impromptu speech, Table Topics provide you with an opportunity to practice careful listening, quickly preparing a relevant response, and expressing fluent, clear, and organized thoughts in a limited time."
Whatever Table Topics you choose in your own meetings, be creative, and have fun with them!
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 Practice, Practice, Practice:
My Unforgettable Contest Experience
By Shala Peel, VP PR, Speaking Eagles Club, Springfield, Missouri
If anyone had told me a year ago I would have competed in a Humorous Speech Contest, I would have looked them square in the eye and told them how completely nuts they were. Me, compete in a humorous speech contest? Now that's funny!
I had no faith in my ability to write a contest worthy speech and definitely didn't feel I could deliver one, especially since delivery can have more impact than the lines in a humorous speech. However, my mentor told me he has repeatedly seen speakers become better after competing, regardless of how they placed, and since becoming better is why I joined Toastmasters, competing seemed logical.
After the original idea and construction of my speech came together, I rehearsed for days in my garage, --lines, movement, and timing. But the one question still remained. Was it funny?
In a quest to know, I got a wild hair of an idea. While on my daily walk in the park, I came across a mother and daughter. Without blinking I walked right up and asked if I could borrow seven minutes of their time. The look on their face was priceless. Once I explained myself they were happy to oblige. Right there in the grass I performed my speech. The little girl laughed. I thought, "Oh good!" The mother cried. I thought, "Oh No! This is supposed to be funny." I didn't know what to make of it. I needed more opinions. I walked further until I found a couple sitting on a bench. They, too, were happy to oblige. They laughed! They knew of Toastmasters and were able to provide helpful criticism.
I worked on their suggestions and the next night I presented my speech in the bar of the bowling alley. By performing for perfect strangers, I was able to get much needed practice time and unbiased criticism. I also learned valuable lessons on audience response, such as how not to step on the laugh.
Time can only tell if my contest experience has made me a better speaker, however, it is an experience I will neither regret, nor ever forget.
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 Education Awards
Congratulations to the following people for advancing through the Toastmasters education program!
This list includes those who attained their awards between 11/12/09 and 12/10/09.
Advanced Leader Silver
11/12/2009 Walton, Jane C. Masters Club
Advanced Leader Bronze
11/13/2009 Cape, Dawna Speaking Eagles
11/17/2009 Wootan, David L Professionally Speaking Toastmasters
Competent Leader
11/16/2009 Dillon, Dane S Boeing Achievers Club
11/16/2009 Dunn, Darryl Que Masters Club
11/17/2009 Wootan, David L Professionally Speaking Toastmasters
11/18/2009 Williams, Constance Spieler's Toastmasters
12/02/2009 Bishop, Darrel G. Haworth-Wichita Club
12/04/2009 Schwartz, Marilyn Lee's Summitt Toastmasters
12/07/2009 Kunkle, Bette Building Speakers Club
12/09/2009 Tran, Crystal Xuan Catpoint Club
Advanced Communicator Gold
11/29/2009 Swanson, Susan E. Bootstraps Toastmasters
12/06/2009 Walton, Gary E. Suburban Club
Advanced Communicator Bronze
11/17/2009 Gaytan, Ernesto Metcalf Toastmasters
11/18/2009 Shook, Sharon Agmasters Club
11/18/2009 Green, Rhonda F. Boeing Achievers Club
12/01/2009 Tchatoky, Sam Power Speakers
12/02/2009 Runyan, Cathy C. Tiffany Springs Toastmasters
Competent Communicator
11/12/2009 Seitz, Mary Angelee I'M A Toastmaster
11/13/2009 Cape, Dawna Speaking Eagles
11/16/2009 Dowell, Douglas Lee's Summitt Toastmasters
11/16/2009 Benton, Eric Robert Que Masters Club
11/18/2009 Dodd, Frank P. Early Bird Toastmasters
11/23/2009 Deich, Richard A. Insuring Success
11/25/2009 Riddle, Martha J. Meadowlark Club
11/25/2009 Morton, Joseph Building Speakers Club
11/30/2009 Unrein, Terry Jam'N Club
12/02/2009 Bentinck, Maria G. Manhattan Toastmasters
12/08/2009 Wang, Ming-Heng Ku Engineering Toastmasters
12/08/2009 Stewart, Kelly Articulators Club
12/09/2009 Schwartz, Marilyn Sparkling Waters Toastmasters
12/09/2009 Jeffery, Harald Speaking Eagles
12/10/2009 Worley, J. Dale Unity Village Toastmasters
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| District 22 Newsletter Editor |
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Maureen Dywer, CC
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Happy Holidays!  |
Saturday, January 16
Springfield TLI
Saturday, January 23
Wichita TLI
Monday, January 25
Liberty TLI
Saturday, January 30
Overland Park TLI
Saturday, February 6
DEC meeting
Saturday, February 13
Topeka TLI
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Special Notice 
This is a reminder that World Headquarters will be closed from December 17 through January 4.
Any Educational Awards entered on-line before December 17 will be processed and counted, but certificates will not be shipped until after the first of the year.
If you need to order anything from the Toastmasters International store, you will need to get that order in before they close or you may have to wait for a while for delivery. |
Marketing Tip
for the New Year: FEATURED SPEAKER
Hold "featured speaker" meetings once a month, and publicize it.
The name of the club member speaking is not critical, but the topic should be something that would attract guests.
Some examples include, "Professional use of online social media",
"Impress your boss: how to give a status report in 2 minutes or less",
"10 crazy interview questions and how to answer them", "How to handle your next performance appraisal",
or anything that would resonate with your current and prospective corporate or community audience.
The trick here is that your club already has members that can give these presentations, they just need the encouragement (or maybe just the opportunity).
Also, it doesn't have to be a solo effort. The social media topic could have three 5-7 minute speakers, one for Facebook, one for LinkedIn, and one for Blogging. Endless Possibilities!
Send me a comment with your ideas!
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Unleash Your 
"The mission of a Toastmasters Club is to
provide ... every individual member the opportunity to develop communication AND
LEADERSHIP skills..."
Only seven club leadership opportunities
are available. Fill all seven positions to create a fully empowered leadership team for your club.
Electing seven individuals spreads the workload, offers more ideas and
increases team energy.
District 22 will recognize your club for having an officer team of seven different individuals who each attend club officer training at least once during the officer year.
"Magnificent 7" buttons will be awarded to the club officers.
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