Area 23 Governor

Plano Beverage Boasters (QUALIFIED/DISTINGUISHED):
6 DCP points for 2 CLs, 15 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 1 more DCP point to be SELECT DISTINGUISHED

Crossmasters:
7 DCP points for 2 CCs, 2 CL, 10 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 4 more members to qualify and be SELECT DISTINGUISHED

Let’s Talk:
5 DCP points for 4 CL/DTMs, 4 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 2 more members to qualify and be DISTINGUISHED

Legacy Leaders:
3 DCP points for 8 new members and for submitting dues on time

• 1 more member to qualify

Please remember to submit all educational achievements on www.toastmasters.org or they will not be counted towards your DCP points total.

Congrats and keep up the good work!

We had a fantastic turnout at the contest on March 9 with roughly 40 in attendance. I saw members from 4 Area 23 clubs and many guests.

We had competitors from three clubs: Crossmasters, Let’s Talk, and Plano Beverage Boasters. All competitors did great, and the results are:

International
1st Jan B. (Crossmasters)
2nd Steve H. (Let’s Talk)

Top (from left): LGM Charlene Burroughs, Area Governor Skyler Kanegi, 1st Place Winner Jan B., Division Governor LaTonya Celestine, Contest Master Adeyinka Y.
Bottom (from left): LGM Charlene Burroughs, Area Governor Skyler Kanegi, 2nd Place Winner Steve H., Division Governor LaTonya Celestine, Contest Master Adeyinka Y.

Table Topics
1st Rita T. (Let’s Talk)
2nd Beckye H. (Crossmasters)

From left: LGM Charlene Burroughs, Area Governor Skyler Kanegi, Division Governor LaTonya Celestine, 1st Place Winner Rita T., 2nd Place Winner Beckye H., Contest Master Adeyinka Y.

Great job, Area 23! Thanks for coming to support your members, and thank you to all of our helpers.

I hope to see 1st and 2nd place winners at the Frontier Division contest on April 27. (2nd place winners should be in attendance in case 1st place winners are not available.) And even if you are not competing, I hope you will come to the contest to support your club. Our Frontier Division governor, LaTonya Celestine, DTM, has planned some fun events for us afterwards as well.

Plano Beverage Boasters (QUALIFIED/DISTINGUISHED):
6 DCP points for 2 CLs, 15 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 1 more DCP point to be SELECT DISTINGUISHED

Crossmasters:
6 DCP points for 2 CCs, 1 CL, 10 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 4 more members to qualify and be DISTINGUISHED

Let’s Talk:
5 DCP points for 4 CL/DTMs, 4 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 2 more members to qualify and be DISTINGUISHED

Legacy Leaders:
3 DCP points for 8 new members and for submitting dues on time

• 1 more member to qualify

Please remember to submit all educational achievements on www.toastmasters.org or they will not be counted towards your DCP points total.

Congrats and keep up the good work!

Toastmasters International and District 50 are running the following initiatives:

• Add 5 members by March 31 and receive 10% off your next Toastmasters.org purchase
• Hold an open house (must register here) and add 5 members before March 31 and get ALL advanced manuals for your club (valued at $75)
• Get your CC before March 31 and get 4 advanced manuals (that’s 2 bonus advanced manuals to get you through your ACS)
• Get 2 DCP points by March 31 and receive $50
• Become a Distinguished club and received $100

Plano Beverage Boasters (QUALIFIED/DISTINGUISHED):
6 DCP points for 2 CLs, 11 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 1 more DCP point to be SELECT DISTINGUISHED

Crossmasters:
4 DCP points for 1 CL, 6 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 3 more members to qualify and be DISTINGUISHED

Let’s Talk:
4 DCP points for 2 CL/DTMs, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

• 5 more members to qualify and be DISTINGUISHED

Legacy Leaders:
2 DCP points for 5 new members and for submitting dues on time

• 5 more members to qualify

Please remember to submit all educational achievements on www.toastmasters.org or they will not be counted towards your DCP points total.

Congrats and keep up the good work!

Plano Beverage Boasters (QUALIFIED/DISTINGUISHED):
5 DCP points for 2 CLs, 4 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

Crossmasters:
4 DCP points for 1 CL, 4 new members, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

Let’s Talk:
4 DCP points for 2 CL/DTMs, getting 4+ officers trained in Summer and Winter TLIs, and submitting dues on time

Please remember to submit all educational achievements on www.toastmasters.org or they will not be counted towards your DCP points total.

Congrats and keep up the good work!

This week, I interviewed Helen Liu, DTM-3 and former District 50 Governor. She talks about how Toastmasters has helped her in her personal life and what she learned as District Governor.


How long have you been in Toastmasters, and what is your current educational level?

I joined Toastmasters in March 2001.  It’s been almost 12 years.  I have achieve 3 Distinguished Toastmaster and I am working on my 4th DTM.
 

In which clubs are you currently a member?

I am a member of DFW Tech Talk and World Wranglers.
 

Why did you join Toastmasters?

I wanted to overcome my fear to speak up at meetings and be able to express myself clearly.


What are the top three benefits you have gained from Toastmasters? I know it’s hard to pick just three, but please try :)
 
1. Meet many friends 

2. Think positively 

3. Be a better person
 

Looking back, can you provide your top five tips to brand new Toastmasters? What has been most beneficial to you in your development, and what do you wish you had done when you first joined Toastmasters?

1. Stay with the program 
   
   
2. Don’t pass any opportunity to give a (Manual) speech
   
   
3. Volunteer to help and serve 
   
   
4. When asked to step up to take a leader’s position, accept the challenge and expand your horizon
    
5. Toastmasters is about people helping people. Always put members first.

I benefit the most by listening to other members’ stories and learn to look at things from the bright side. I wish I’d join Toastmasters earlier when I was young. It would have helped me in dealing with some difficult situations in life.

Outside of Toastmasters clubs, Toastmasters International provides many opportunities to get involved. Which of these do you believe would be most beneficial to a new Toastmaster, and why?

Compete at the Area Contest, attend TLI, go to a conference, just to name a few.  Step beyond your club will broaden you vision and overcome your fear to speak to people you don’t know.

My personal story:  6 months after I joined Toastmasters, I represented my club to compete at the Area Contest for Humorous Speech simply because the member who said she was going to represent us could not make it.  I won first place at the Area, competed at the Division and won first place.  I got to compete at the District level as a rookie.  Even though I didn’t win, it was an unforgetable experience, and that’s when I got to know so many people, and they still remember my squirrel story up to this day.

You served as District Governor in 2007-08. What leadership lessons can you share with club officers who want to motivate their members and clubs towards greater success?

Be a servant leader, work as a team, delegate, and have fun!

—
Thanks, Helen!

Today I interviewed Phil Roth, TM, President of Crossmasters. Phil talks about his leadership lessons learned and explains a spreadsheet his club has put together to keep track of member accomplishments. This spreadsheet is a list of member names, their current educational level, and when they plan to reach their next educational level. Cool!

How long have you been in Toastmasters, and what is your current educational level?

I have been in CROSSMASTERS for about a year.  I also have been a member of chapters at TXU in Dallas and EDS in Plano.

Why did you join Toastmasters?

I joined CROSSMASTERS because I enjoy public speaking but rarely get a chance to do so in my current role.

What are the top three benefits you have gained from Toastmasters?

1. The ability to write and present speeches on various topics – which is great for anyone to do.
   
   
2. The opportunity to provide leadership to a great club that has changed a great deal since its reincarnation over a year ago.
   
   
3. The opportunity to help less experienced members grow in their speaking and leadership abilities.

What made you decide to be a club officer?

This club has a lot of potential and I wanted to bring some ideas to help it become even more successful.

What leadership lessons have you learned from your term so far?

I think the biggest challenge has been a recent turnover of board members.  Because of recent job changes, we lost several members and board members.  What was initially discouraging, however, has now become an opportunity to utilize the skills and ideas of new board members to grow the club.

Crossmasters has a spreadsheet of member achievements and goals for their next award. Can you tell us more about this spreadsheet and the process for setting it up? What kind of impact has the spreadsheet had on member achievement?

I believe that goals should be written down and members should be reminded of their goals and their current status.  This spreadsheet is our way of clarifying who is striving for what goals, and it also provides a gauge as to how each member is doing.

—
Thanks, Phil!

This Monday, I interviewed Lisette C., DTM, a high-achieving Toastmaster who was 2011 Area Governor of the Year and 2012 Division Governor of the Year. She talks about how to give an effective evaluation and motivate others to achieve.

How long have you been in Toastmasters, and what is your current educational level?

Since June 2009, DTM

In which clubs are you currently a member?

Let’s Talk Advanced Club and Fiesta Bilingual

Why did you join Toastmasters? 

I joined Toastmasters to overcome the grief after my father’s death in June 2008

What are the top three benefits you have gained from Toastmasters? I know it’s hard to pick just three, but please try :) 

Confidence, Increased Self Worth, and Professional Advancement

Looking back, can you provide your top five tips to brand new Toastmasters? What has been most beneficial to you in your development, and what do you wish you had done when you first joined Toastmasters?

1. Challenge Yourself
   
   
2. Don’t Let Fear Stand in Your Way
   
   
3. Invest in Yourself
   
   
4. Become a mentor and mentee
   
   
5. Achieve your Full Potential

The ability to receive all the assistance and guidance from Toastmasters of various backgrounds has been the most beneficial to me in my developments. I wish I had joined an Advanced Club sooner in my Toastmasters career as it has proved extremely beneficial!

Outside of Toastmasters clubs, Toastmasters International provides many opportunities to get involved. Which of these do you believe would be most beneficial to a new Toastmaster, and why?

District Leadership is an excellent way to get involved, especially if you would like to pursue a career in management in the future.  There is no better way to prepare for the responsibilities of that role, than to do so in a volunteer organization.  If you can effectively fulfill your responsibilities, encourage your team to execute a mission, and motivate others to achieve goals for their benefit as well as the organization you have proven yourself to be an Exceptional Manager!

In Fall 2012, you represented Area 23 at the Frontier Division Evaluation Contest—and won! What are your strategies for giving a good evaluation, and what tips would you give to a new Toastmaster who wants to be a better evaluator?

Watch, Listen, Retain, and Motivate would be the tips to providing a good evaluation.  It was a growth process to reaching the District stage and it was the result of listening to all my mentors throughout the course of my Toastmasters journey that made it possible and worthwhile.

When you served as Area 23 Governor and again as Frontier Division Governor, you were able to motivate club officers to lead their clubs to success. What tips do you have for club officers who want to motivate their members and clubs towards greater success?

Work together as a team to achieve your goals.  No man or woman is an island.  If you support your club members wholeheartedly they will support you.  Don’t underestimate the value and benefits of the mentoring partnership in the achievement of goals at all levels of our organization.

—
Thanks, Lisette!

Next Monday: We’ll hear from Phil Roth, TM, President of Crossmasters, on developing a plan for member achievement!

This Monday, I interviewed Jyo Pai, DTM, an 11-year veteran of Toastmasters and my Toastmasters mentor. She talks about what she has gained from Toastmasters, the importance of mentorship, and how she transformed the culture and doubled the membership of her home club, Preston Persuaders.

How long have you been in Toastmasters, and what is your current educational level?

I joined my first Toastmasters Club – Preston Persuaders – in June 2001. I am a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and now working towards my second DTM award.

In which clubs are you currently a member?

My home club – Preston Persuaders
Park Central Toastmasters – I am the current VP Membership
Pro Speak Toastmasters – I am the current President and VP Membership

Why did you join Toastmasters?

To polish my speaking skills, to organize my thoughts into coherent responses, and to develop my self-confidence in a learn by doing environment.

What are the top three benefits you have gained from your many years in Toastmasters? I know it’s hard to pick just three, but please try :)

1. Ability to present myself in  a professional and self-confident manner
   
   
2. Increased self-confidence to provide helpful, supportive, and meaningful feedback to help others grow
   
   
3. Sharper listening, thinking, and speaking skills
   
   

Looking back, can you provide your top five tips to brand new Toastmasters? What has been most beneficial to you in your development, and what do you wish you had done when you first joined Toastmasters?

1. Make a weekly commitment to attend club meetings.
   
   
2. Create a plan to give a prepared speech at least once a month.
   
   
3. Read through speech project in the Competent Communicator manual and build your speech based on the stated objectives.
   
   
4. Keep a notebook to jot down every idea you get…it could be the seed for your next speech!
   
   
5. Learn how to “prepare” good evaluations by becoming a better listener, a good observer, and a positive motivator – pay close attention to the evaluators as they evaluate speeches.

Each of the above has been a vital key to my development as a speaker and a leader.  I wish I had sought out a mentor early in my Toastmaster “career”. Mentors are invaluable in helping develop new members.

Outside of Toastmasters clubs, Toastmasters International provides many opportunities to get involved. Which of these do you believe would be most beneficial to a new Toastmaster, and why?

Toastmasters is a marathon, not a sprint. Do not be in too much of a hurry to get “immersed” in a lot of activity. The reason most people join Toastmasters is to develop themselves first. There are many opportunities for learning outside the club. My recommendation is to take advantage of these for the experience and to meet people outside your club. Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) is a great way to meet Toastmasters from other clubs. Attending a contest provides a different perspective on how you can challenge yourself in a competitive speaking environment. Conferences are wonderful social opportunities to practice conversational skills.

I have heard stories about your impact on a particular club, Preston Persuaders. In 2008, Preston Persuaders was struggling with few members, and people did not sign up for speeches. Today, Preston Persuaders has 40+ members, a 3-week waiting list for speaking slots, and a dynamic club culture. Your leadership contributed significantly to that transformation. Can you tell us more about how Preston Persuaders became such a strong club and provide tips for what Area 23 club officers can do to similarly transform their clubs?

Every club needs to be able to embody the Toastmaster club mission and demonstrate this mission at every meeting. The club mission is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

It took several months of focused work to transform the club meetings. Some lessons learned during this time continue to be our guiding principles:

• Club officers, led by the club President, create such a supportive and positive learning environment for members and guests
  
  
• Interesting, varied, and fun meetings are planned for the members – learning takes place in a friendly and fun environment
  
  
• Club officers need to work together as a team to plan meetings, membership drives, club contests, and present these to members as growth opportunities that will benefit them individually
  
  
• Guests who wish to join as members need to understand they are expected to be active participants – we talk to them about the “Toastmaster’s Promise”
  
  
• The meetings should provide an opportunity for EVERY member to speak in some way – either as a helper, as the joke master, as a table topics participant, as the person reciting the pledge or club mission, and give each guest an opportunity to speak.
  
  
• The club must respect people’s time – starting and ending on time is extremely important, as is having an organized agenda, a welcoming atmosphere for guests and members
  
  
• Celebrating member successes – standing ovation after a member is voted in to the club, standing ovations after the icebreaker speech, toastmaster of the month recognition, spark plug for member who brought an extra spark to the meeting…there are endless ways to recognize someone and make them feel special. This recognition goes a long way in boosting self-confidence.

Guests see the fun we have, the learning that takes place, the benefits they can derive by joining our club.


Do you have any additional tips for either advanced or new officers, or for people who are interested in becoming officers?

• Take your role seriously and give it your best effort. Your club and members depend on you as their leader.
  
  
• Attend club officer training. Network with officers from other clubs and brainstorm with them for new ideas to try.
  
  
• If you want to serve as an officer, attend a TLI before you serve – this will give you an insight into what the responsibility entails.
  
  
• Get yourself a mentor either within your club or someone from another club. An experienced toastmaster who is willing to invest some time in you.

—
Thanks, Jyo! If you have a question for Jyo or would like her to be a guest speaker at your club, please email her.

Next Monday: We’ll hear from Lisette C., DTM, VP of Membership of Let’s Talk, 2011 Area Governor of the Year, 2012 Division Governor of the Year, about giving great evaluations and motivating others to achieve!