Installing the new executive

Yesterday I had the privilege of installing the 2009 - 2010 club officers for the Agvantage Toastmasters club.

There are several reasons for doing this:

It provides an opportunity for the outgoing club executive committee to be acknowledged for their contribution to the good health of the club as they are formally discharged from their responsibilities.

The incoming committee is introduced and also acknowledged for their willingness to commit their time and energy so as to help the entire membership achieve their personal and group goals.

Further we are reminded that this is a volunteer organization committed to the improvement of communication and leadership skills.

Personally I am very happy to perform this act as I seem many energized and amazing people willing to step up and help their fellow learners get to where they want to be.

Yesterday was no exception to this as I installed Rachel Jones as President and VP of Education, Shiona Glass as VP Membership, Becky Jamieson as Treasurer and John Kleingebbinck, Lisa Ivaldi as VP Public Relations (absent) and Yufi Jin as Secretary (absent).

Than you all for your commitment to your personal growth and that of your fellow club members. I know it will be a great year!

billkirby2007@hotmail.com

see the pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=sets
Agvantage Toastmasters induction July 28, 2009

Reep the rewards

Our Fall speech contests are coming and your chance to participate is now.

A Toastmasters contest is a time for people to grow, step outside their comfort zone, learn something new, be part of a team and have a great time no matter what role they are in.

What role can you play in a speech contest?

The most obvious is contestant but not all of us have that competitive element to our personality.
I can tell you from experience that speaking in front of a large group is very energizing and raises the quality of every speech.

Other things you could do are:

• Contest chair person
• Chief Judge
• Judge
• Promotions
• Master of Ceremonies
• Sergeant at arms
• sponsorship
• volunteer

Of course no contest would be complete without audience members.

A Toastmasters contest is an opportunity for us to show those outside of Toastmasters, our friends, family and colleagues what we have accomplished. You will be pleased to find that most audiences outside of Toastmasters also want us to succeed. Especially if you are connected to them.

Once they have seen what we can do. They will also want to be a part of something special. Beginning their own path to personal growth.

Contact me at billkirby2007@hotmail.com to find out how you can help be part of something special.

Growing outside the club

Yesterday I came across a news paper article written by a Toastmaster I know. Tony is a Toastmaster of less than one year and has been on a mission of self improvement for some time.

When he joined Toastmasters, he was reserved and lacked some confidence. His club quickly discovered that what he lacked in confidence he made up for in determination. If he could, Tony, would give a speech every week.

Tony is a natural story teller and offers up very descriptive prose when he speaks. His structure did need work, but over, all his stories were quite entertaining.

All this to say that in the last almost year Tony has grown more confident and still delivers a colourful speech which are now combined with body language and structure as well as all the things we learn from our cc manual projects.

Tony has clearly grown inside the club. So much so that he gained the confidence to try something NEW. Tony took his speaking style and applied pen to paper, submitting a guest column to his local news paper. To great pleasure it was published on July 21, 2009. Although the paper edited the column for length, Tony has become a great deal more confident and it is inspiring him to try more new things inside the club where it is safe and outside where the perceived risk is greater but so are the rewards.

At the same time as Tony was stretching his personal wings, he was also promoting Toastmasters and a special Toastmasters event. This can and does help clubs grow as well by encouraging new people to attend meetings as guests.

Tony's column can be read at the following link and who knows this may give you some ideas of your own.

http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/opinions/article/182526

If you wish to share your ideas please fee free to contact me at billkirby2007@hotmail.com or post your comments.

Tony is not the first and will not be the last. He is certainly the latest to do what we are all striving to do and that is GROW, GROW, GROW until we become more than we ever expected and all that we are meant to be!

More Club Officer Training

Division W will offer Club officer training on Tuesday August 11 from 6:30pm to 9pm at the following location:

AGFA

455 Phillip ST.

Waterloo ON N2L 3X2

There will be a cost of $5 per person and refreshments will be provided.

If you require additional information please feel free to contact me at billkirby2007@hotmail.com

Voting is part of your role

The Board of Directors of Toastmasters International, at its February, 2009, meeting, unanimously recommended approval of the Bylaw amendments.
Amendments to the Bylaws of Toastmasters International will be presented to the voting membership at the 2009 Annual Business Meeting.

Each club president should have received a proxy form from Toastmasters international. This proxy form is for those of you who do not intend to participate (in person) in the business meeting portion of the international conference in Mashantucket, CT Aug 12th - 15th, 2009.

Please complete the form indicating your intended vote.

To read the proposal visit the following link :

http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/MembersFunctionalCategories/AboutTI/Board/GovernanceReshaping/BylawSynopsis.aspx

This is a "YES" or "NO" vote which is important to how toastmasters international will support the different levels of leadership around the world. Please do your part and either attend the business meeting or complete your proxy form and send it to the address indicated in the form package TODAY.

If you have any questions, wish to discuss the proposal or did not receive the form please feel free to contact me at billkirby2007@hotmail.com

Persever

No matter how often you have failed you must keep trying. Because it is not a matter of failure it is a matter of what you have learned and how you finish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MslbhDZoniY

Club Officer Training

The District will hold one last club officer training on
Aug 22/09.

Location: St. John's Kilmarnock School, 2201 RR-30 Joseph St., Breslau, ON, N0B 1A0

Date & Time: Saturday Aug 22, 2009 8:30am to approximately noon

registration starting at 8:30 AM. The officer training will be held in the
morning with additional workshops in the afternoon. More details will
follow.

This is a 20 - 25 minute drive from Guelph. Please let me know if you have officers that need to be trained and if they will be attending. We can perhaps arrange some carpooling.
billkirby2007@hotmail.com

Going outside the club rewards program

One of the most interesting ways to grow is to experience what other Toastmasters clubs and events have to offer.

Every year District 86 encourages individuals to " GO OUTSIDE THEIR CLUB " with a rewards program.

All you have to do is ask your club President or e-mail me (billkirby2007@hotmail.com) for the form and take it with you when you visit another club, contest, training or special event and have it initialed by the club President or other executive, then have your club President submit the signed papers to Merri McCartney, 116 Jeater Street, Kincardine, ON, N2Z 2X3 by June 30, 2010.

Please share this with all your members, it is a great way to learn from other clubs and extend the benefits of membership in this very friendly International organization. Who knows you may event get material for a new speech.

Have Fun!!

Area club visits

over the last couple of weeks I have contacted all of the clubs in Area 62 so as to begin my official club visits. as a precursor to these visits I would ask all the club Presidents and VP's of Education to review the following document.

http://www.toastmasters.org/ClubVisitRpt.aspx

This is the club visit form which will be submitted to Toastmasters International following the visit.

If you would like to discuss the content please feel free to contact me via e-mail

billkirby2007@hotmail.com

During the club visit I will be looking for the opportunity to talk to your members about the Distinguished Club Plan and my role as Area Governor. I will also take some time and formally recognize your new club executive committee with an induction ceremony.

Going and Growing outside your club

Brant Toastmasters is having a special evaluation meeting this coming Monday, July 20. This could be an excellent opportunity for anyone interested to learn more about the art of evaluating. The details of what this meeting will entail are as follows.

There is a special Evaluation meeting at Brant Toastmasters on Monday, July 20 from 7:30 - 9:30. At this meeting there will be

• Education on Evaluation by David T. Shaw.
• Two Speakers
• Three Speech Evaluators for each speaker.
• Two Evaluation Evaluators for each Speech Evaluator.

Brant Toastmasters meets at Charlotte Villa Retirement Residence - basement, 120 Darling Street, Brantford, Ontario

Distinguished District

Dear Toastmaster

Congratulations to all of you. District 86 is officially a Distinguished District with Toastmasters International! What does that mean?

It means:

- that members, just like you have achieved their goals;

- that Clubs, just like your club have achieved their goals;

- that new members have joined because they see the value in the Toastmasters program;

- that new clubs have been started to provide the Toastmasters program to more people;

- that members have been achieving their Competent Communicator award;

- that members have been achieving their Advanced Communicator award;

- that members have followed the Leadership track and earned their Leadership awards;

In our inaugural year, District 86 has built relationships, set solid foundations and prepared our District for future success. It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve you. I wish you all the best in the upcoming year.

Lori Lococo DTM

Creating a New Tomorrow

Immediate Past District 86 Governor 2008/2009

Club officer training part two

For those who have been unable to attend there is still training to be had in Toronto. The following link takes you to the training schedule for District 60

http://www.toastmasters60.org/training.asp