Upcoming Important Dates and Deadlines

We have busy times ahead! Following are some of the important deadlines and dates the clubs should keep track of:

SEPTEMBER

• ** IMPORTANT ** Dues are due by September 30th 2007. Please submit atleast six renewals as early as possible to get the DCP credit. Direct link to Club Business Section: https://ecommerce.toastmasters.org/timssnet_new/timssnet/login/tnt_login.cfm
• The District 50 Membership drive - High Five Me (Add 5 new members in July, Auguest and September and pick your Grab Bag Gifts) ends September 30th.

OCTOBER

• Nominations for the Outstanding Club Officers, Outstanding Club Newsletter and club website close on Monday October 1st 2007. Check http://www.toastmastersd50.org/whatsup/NominationOutstanding.html for details.
• Plains Division Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contest is on Saturday October 20th 2pm at the Nortel Auditorium (2221 Lakeside Blvd, Richardson , TX 75082) . Be there to support our Area Contest winners as they compete one level up! Flyer posted at: http://www.toastmastersd50.org/Contests/FallContestDate.html

NOVEMBER

• Fall 2007 Conference is November 9th and 10th at the Hampton Inn, Mesquite, TX. Register at Area/Division Contestsfor $109 discount price. *** Clubs with the highest number of members OR the highest % of members attending the conference get a $25 Gift Certificate ***
• Club Officer elections: Clubs to conduct officer elections in November as the Winter TLI starts first week December

DECEMBER

• Winter TLI (Toastmasters Learning Institute) which includes officer training and education sessions starts December 8th 2007
• Submit Club Officer lists by end of December

In addtion to this - I will contact each club to scehdule my Area Governor visit within the next few weeks.

Keep up the good work!

Area 41 Contest

Around 40 individuals both Toastmasters and guests attended the Area 41 Table Topics and Humorous Speech contest held on Saturday September 15th morning. As an Area Governor I was really fortunate to receive help from my clubs. I had one the best Contest Masters (Chris Wright) who was as entertaining as ever - teaching the audience to give a round of applause..

We had three contestants each in the Table Topics and Humorous speech contest. The results are:

Table Topics:
1st Place: Sonja Haliburton (Verbal Expressions)
2nd Place: Dot Schipper (Plano Singles)

Humorous Speech:
1st Place: Christine Wilson (Plano Singles)
2nd Place: Mickey McCord (Toastronix)

Congratulations to all the winners and the participants!

Winner is compete at the Plains Division Table Topics and Humorous Speech contest on Saturday, October 20th 2p.m. at the Nortel Auditorium. Flyer at: http://www.toastmastersd50.org/Contests/FallContestDate.html


Looking foward to more fun!

Toastmasters International NEW website

We got an email from our District Governor, mentioning about the new Toastmasters International website. I assumed it might be a small change - but the website looks totally revamped!

The URL still remains the same: www.toastmasters.org

This main page is more geared towards non-Toastmasters and general public with immediate links about How to start a Toastmasters club in a company, community (It took me a while to figure that out on the old website) and well as good information on speeches (business presentations, special occasions) and leadership tips right on the main page.

Members information:
All the information a Toastmaster member may need to access is at the Toastmasters Members website: http://www.toastmasters.org/Members.aspx

Although I am yet to browse through the website - the Member Experience link is something I particularly liked! Here you will find information for a new member, information on contests, conferences, Education program as well as something called Satellite Programs (Youth Leadership, Gavel Clubs, Speech craft etc )

Club Officers will also have a plethora of information here including access to the Club Business section.

Another cool part is that the Toastmasters Magazine is now available online! (Members only access which may mean that members have to open an account on this website)

I am ready to explore more on this website - hope you are too!

CL Manual Matrix Published!

I have uploaded the CL Manual spreadsheet using Google Docs at:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pOSOBE-GCbmqh5Sme-7IKOg

Toast & Boast - August Issue

The District 50 Toast & Boast Newsletter is now available at: http://www.toastmastersd50.org (Bookmark this website!)


This issue had loads of information including:

- New District 50 Leadership
- Toastmasters Learning Institute
- District 50 Fall Conference - (November 10 - 11 at Mesquite, TX)
- Outstanding Club Officer and Outstanding Club Newsletter deadlines (October 1st 2007)
- District 50 Membership Campaign - (going on in July - August - September!)
- Lots more...

Melanie Dunn DTM, our D50 Newsletter Editor has done an excellent job on putting this together! To contribute for the October 07 newsletter - you can contact her at: newsletter@toastmastersd50.org

Please pass on this information to your clubs membership!

The Competent Leadership Manual - Why should you use it?

Hello there!
There's a lot of talk about the Competent Leadership manual which was introduced last yeat as a part of the Toastmasters Leadership Track - here's some information on what is it and why should we, as Toastmasters, use it!

What is it?
• Introducing - Ten project Competent Leadership Manual
• Can be completed serving club meeting roles and activities
• Each exercise is evaluated
• Those completing the manual receive Competent Leader (CL) award

Strengthens the Toastmasters leadership training
Educational designations more clear and meaningful

How does the Competent Leadership Manual Work?

GOAL: Develop essential leadership skills

1. Listening and Leadership
2. Critical Thinking
3. Giving Feedback
4. Time Management
5. Planning and Implementation
6. Organizing and Delegating
7. Developing Your Facilitation Skills
8. Motivating People
9. Mentoring
10. Team Building

PROCESS: Work through TEN EASY & EXCITING projects - each consisting of:
• Introduction to the leadership skill with explicit project objectives
• A short assessment quiz illustrating the key components to master the skill
• Tips on how to develop the competency
• Guidance on how to practice in a club setting
• An evaluation guide


What’s in it for ME?!
• Hands-on-experience to practice your leadership skills in club meetings
• Feedback from fellow Toastmasters on a variety of club roles
• Work on both communication and leadership manuals at the same time.
• Earn CL award for roles you already do during a club meeting
• Fun Leadership opportunities! – chair a club event or competition; contribute to the newsletter or website; serve on HPL committee and more
• Contribute towards your Club’s success by earning credit for the DCP.


Promoting in the Club
• Club Officers/Member, can deliver CL presentation during Club Meetings
• Club members have easy access to training material (CL manual )
• VPE/President can remind members to bring CL manual to meetings
• VPE/Board should review and recognize progress (map to DCP plan)
• VPPR can promote in Club Newsletter or Website - include feedback and success stories
• Mentors assist newer members and help track progress
• Area Governor and Division Governor can promote the manual during club visits


FAQs
• Members should chose an evaluator before the meeting starts
• Written evaluations are required, if club format allows oral evaluation may be included
• Projects maybe completed in any order
• No double hits: only one role per meeting! (Ah-Counter and grammarian for one meeting – count only once!, speech evaluator for one meeting – counts towards one project)


Note: Old CL Award
• Grace period – WHQ will continue to issue the CL award under the old requirements until June 30th 2008 (Only submission by Fax/Mail)
• From July 1st 2008 – all members must meet the new requirements


Seven Simple Steps to Success:
1. Get your CL manual
2. Take the self-assessment quiz for your role
3. Read cool tips about your leadership role
4. Bring the manual for each meeting
5. Take up roles at club meetings and get involved in club activities
6. Have each role evaluated in the workbook
7. Ask your club’s VPE to submit your CL award!

Become A Competent Leader! Working on the CL manual will not only help you acheive the CL award - it will also help you immensely in your professional development!

If you have any questions - please feel free to comment on this note or write to me!

Toastmasters Hierarchy

Hello there! I promised myself that I will blog regularly so here's some information I would like to share - especially for new Toastmasters..

Toastmasters International has clubs all over the world, including many here in the Dallas area.

Toastmasters is organized with the MEMBERS on top! We have:

Members

Clubs

Areas

Divisions

Districts

Regions

WORLD

Check out the 'pictorial' view of the Area 41 clubs above - as you can see we are all a part of a very big Toastmasters family!