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Newsletter of District 73 of Toastmasters Interational
Transcript of Southern Cross Newsletter - February 2015
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 2015
SOUTHERN CROSS
Newsletter of Toastmasters
International District 73
February 2015– Edition 113
Published bi-monthly. Editions
will be available online from the
Southern Cross page of the
District 73 website
(www.d73.toastmasters.org.au/
southerncross) on the first day
of the month available.
Editor:
Andrew Breeden DTM
Email: [email protected]
Publisher:
Anthony Murray DTM DG
Email: [email protected]
The views and opinions
expressed in Southern Cross
are not necessarily those of the
editor, the district executive or
Toastmasters International.
To submit articles and photos
for Southern Cross:
Email them to the editor at [email protected]
Next Edition:
April 2015
– Edition 114
Convention Preview
Edition
Deadline for articles:
Wednesday March 18th
2015
Released on:
Wednesday April 1st
2015 at
www.d73.toastmasters.
org.au/southerncross
The tree has been taken down and the decorations have been
put away. Now we’ve back onto Toastmasters. What a way to
start the New Year off with some new members coming through
the doors and joining your Toastmasters club.
I always find that this time of year is the busiest in regards to
new members. There are plenty of people who make the New
Year’s Resolution to improve their Communication and
Leadership skills, which is where Toastmasters usually comes
in.
To help you turn those new guests into new members this
edition of the Southern Cross is dedicated to Membership.
Editorial ..................................................................................... 2
What’s in this edition of the Southern Cross ........................... 2
District Governor’s Message ............................................. 3 & 4
Lt. Governor Education and Training’s Message ................... 5
Lt. Governor Marketing’s Message ................................... 6 & 7
Public Relations Officer’s Message ......................................... 8
Club Marketing
– Cranbourne Toastmasters Promotional Event .................... 9
Marketing Toastmasters
- Membership Building Ideas ......................................... 10 – 12
Discover Your Voice – Annual Convention ........................... 12
Travelling Toastmaster ................................................. 13 & 14
Call for Nominations for District Officers ........................ 15 - 17
A Country Toastmasters Club
- Wandin Toastmasters Celebrated It’s Birth ........................ 18
Youth Leadership .......................................................... 19 & 20
Southern Vales Toastmasters ............................................... 20
Congratulations to these recent award recipients ................ 21
Put it in the Diary .................................................................... 22
SOUTHERN CROSS
EDITION 113 PAGE 3
Hello Toastmasters and Happy New Year.
The start of the New Year is a time of
reflection for many people; it’s a time when
we think about what we did, or perhaps what
we didn’t do over the last twelve months.
Unfortunately 2014 brought us many
tragedies, not only here in Australia but
throughout the world and these have been
highlighted on the news every night.
However the one thing that stands out is that
when tragedy strikes, people come together
and help each other. Please spare a thought
for those less fortunate than us.
But let’s focus on the good. What good thing
do you remember from 2014?
I have lots of good memories of 2014, but
Saturday, May 17 was one of the highlights
of the year.
Above: The District Council Meeting
on Saturday, May 17 2014
I remember it so well and it seems like
yesterday. It was the day I was elected
District Governor and it was one of the
proudest moments of my life. I was so
excited and couldn’t wait to start my new
role. Six months into my term as District
Governor I am still excited, I love what I do.
When I joined Toastmasters in 1996 I had no
idea where it would take me, the last thing I
expected was to become the leader of our
district. Taking on the various leadership
roles throughout my Toastmaster career has
taught me so much and I’m still learning. So
I thought this would be a good time to share
a few things I've learnt over the last six
months as District Governor.
1. You can't do it alone.
It’s not always easy sailing, sometimes
you’ve got to ask for help putting up the
sails (sorry to all the sailors). By the time I
became District Governor I already had
many years’ experience, I thought I could
do everything myself. I was wrong. This
was by far the most important thing I
learnt.
As District Governor I receive a lot of
emails and I do my best to answer each
one, however sometimes I get asked a
question that I just cannot answer. This is
where I need to look to others for
assistance and that’s where my team
comes in. Each member brings their own
skills and together we are a success. As
a leader you need a team and I've been
lucky enough to have an awesome team
this year. Having a good team that you
can trust will make all the difference to
your success.
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 4 FEBRUARY 2015
2. Everyone is different.
There is an old saying “if everyone were
the same it would be a boring world.” One
of the things that makes our district a
great success is that it is made up of
people from different cultures, beliefs and
skills. As District Governor I have
listened to many different suggestions and
ideas people have put forward to better
our district; some have been very good
and others not so good. However,
everyone has an opinion and the “boss” is
not always right. I've learnt that as a
leader it is important to listen to everyone
and ultimately make the best decision that
will benefit the district.
3. Practice what you preach
It’s all about doing what you expect from
others. As District Governor I want my
team to be respectful, trustworthy and
reliable and they want the same from me.
If you have expectations from your team,
they have expectations from you. At the
beginning of the year Division and Area
Governors should ask their clubs (their
team) to set goals and then follow up
these goals throughout the year. If you
want them to adhere to their goals, you
need to do the same.
4. Have a Mentor
When you first become a Toastmaster you
usually have a mentor that helps guide
you through your first few speeches. The
Toastmaster Mentor program is wonderful;
unfortunately many people believe they
don’t need a mentor after they reach a
certain level (whatever level they think that
may be). A leader needs a mentor too,
someone who has been there before and
can offer advice. There is a lot to learn
the first time you do the Area Governor
role and your predecessor is your ideal
mentor, remember they were in your
position last year. I've been a
Toastmaster for 19 years but I still need a
mentor for each new role I do. Thank you
David Murphy for being there as my
mentor when I needed you.
In the December issue of the Southern Cross
I spoke about leadership and how
Toastmasters can help you become a better
leader. You don’t have to aim for
International President or even District
Governor but I believe that your Toastmaster
career isn’t complete until you’ve taken on a
Leadership role. In this edition of the
Southern Cross there is an article by Claire
Richardson calling for nominations for District
Officer Roles. Taking on a Toastmasters
District Officer Role can be a very
challenging and rewarding experience and I
encourage everyone to take up the
challenge.
Every leadership role I undertook in
Toastmasters has made me a better
communicator, a stronger leader and a better
person; and it will do the same for you.
Hopefully 2015 will be a wonderful year for
you in your personal and Toastmaster life.
Announcement
I’m sorry to announce that on January 16, 2015 Keir Wells DTM resigned as Eastern Division Governor.
To ensure the continued success of the Division I have appointed Area Governor for E15 Travis Finlayson to take over this role for the remainder of the 2014-2015 Toastmaster year as of February 1, 2015.
Please support Travis as he takes on this important role within District 73. I thank Keir for his leadership in the role and wish him well.
SOUTHERN CROSS
EDITION 113 PAGE 5
As I write, I reflect on the theme for this edition of the Southern Cross - ‘Membership’ – and think about how this relates to me as a member, my role as a district officer and TI’s focus on club quality. As a member of five Toastmasters clubs I think how easily I could be a member of twice as many clubs! Why? Simply, clubs with positive atmosphere, energy and group dynamics are vibrant, energetic clubs with variety and engaged members are clubs I wish to join! Regularly run the Toastmaster’s ‘Moments of Truth’ module to understand the health of your club and ensure you are meeting members’ needs.
Strong and healthy clubs can be seen in the number of Distinguished Club Program (DCP) goals each club achieves. Members completing the Competent Communicator or Advanced Communication manuals shows that members are being given the opportunities to work through the Toastmasters education program. How is your club doing? Are your members progressing through Leadership manuals? Are your needs being met? Are you on track to complete and educational goal for you and your club? Working together and growing healthy clubs, we achieve our goals.
I am pleased to advise that we now have 15 clubs who have achieved 5 or more DCP goals, which is truly inspiring. We also have 15 clubs who are closing in on Distinguished Club status, earning 4 goals so far. It is important to remember, that to be considered for recognition, clubs must, as at June 30, either have 20 members or a net growth of at least five new members! The current results are as follows:
Clubs who have met four goals:
Cranbourne
Berwick
Bayside
Adelaide
More Than Words
Quintessence
Deakin University
Carlton
Happy Hour
Brimbank
Whitehorse
Victorian Governors
Talking Blue
South Yarra
GE
Clubs who have met five goals:
Kingston Communicators
Sale
Raconteurs
Heidelberg Health
Diamond Valley
Northern Exposure
Pushing the Envelope
Williamstown
Docklands
Clubs who have met six goals:
Hume
Lilydale
National Australia Bank
Clubs who have met seven goals:
Ivanhoe
Clubs who have met eight goals:
Rowville
Manningham
Keep up the wonderful work.
See you soon, warmest regards.
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 6 FEBRUARY 2015
Dear Members,
Hope you had a relaxing and refreshing
holiday break and are looking forward to the
second half of the Toastmasters year.
The theme of this month's Southern Cross
newsletter is quite timely, given we have just
commenced the Toastmasters International
"Talk Up Toastmasters" membership building
contest! This is a good opportunity to
encourage your members to invite guests to
a special meeting where prospective
members can learn about the benefits of
Toastmasters.
If your club adds five (5) new, dual or
reinstated members between February 1 and
March 31, 2015, it will receive a special "Talk
Up Toastmasters" ribbon to display on the
club banner.
More information and conditions can be
found here:
https://www.toastmasters.org/Leadership-
Central/Club-Officer-Tools/Membership-
Building/Membership-Building-Programs-for-
Clubs
Here are some examples of membership
building ideas undertaken by clubs across
District 73:
East Gippsland Club has handed out PR
material at nearby libraries. Toastmasters
magazines have been placed in doctor's
surgeries and medical centres. The club has
also advertised on local radio. Club members
spoke to presenters and the committee of
East Gippsland radio at their last AGM and
invited them to a Toastmasters meeting.
Adelaide Central have promoted themselves
through their website. Guests have been
invited back to attend future meetings with
explanations on how the club can meet their
needs.
Cranbourne Toastmasters held a sausage
sizzle in November, as both a fundraising
and promotional activity.
The Diamond Valley Toastmasters Club
website has member photos, contact
information and the club location on the
Home page. Flyers are distributed for
members to post on local noticeboards.
Members have club business cards for
networking and to give to prospective
members. Club activities are listed in the
“What’s On?” column in the local paper.
There is also an annual high-visibility display
in the local community centre window at the
local shopping centre.
SOUTHERN CROSS
EDITION 113 PAGE 7
Hobart Toastmasters Club's Facebook page
has played a big role in publicising
Toastmasters and helping membership
growth. Employers have also noticed the
letter sent by World Headquarters to
members when they complete their
Competent Communicator manual – creating
more opportunities for membership growth.
Spirit of Devonport has its meetings
mentioned weekly in The Advocate (local)
newspaper's 'community diary'. New
member sponsors are also recognised.
JBWere Toastmasters uses the internal
company email system to promote
Toastmasters. The club also uses a
developmental plan for individual members.
At Shepparton Club, signage is installed in
various locations around the club area, e.g.
various businesses, libraries and Council
offices.
Yarra Valley Water Toastmasters Club is
promoted to staff within the organisation as a
professional development opportunity which
can benefit their career. An LCD TV is
displayed at the company site, promoting
Toastmasters via TV screens and poster
displays.
Wandin promotes itself through community
notices, the club website and Facebook.
Members are encouraged to bring friends.
Elaine McCarthy (member and Area
Governor) often invites guest speakers from
her radio program to visit the club. This has
been a very successful way to obtain new
members.
Monash Toastmasters runs a Youth
Leadership program each year at the school
(which is also their club meeting location) for
Year 5 & 6, in conjunction with Glen
Waverley and Chadstone Oaks. The club
receives free room hire for club meetings as
a result of conducting Youth Leadership at
the school.
South Yarra Toastmasters
has created a new club newsletter, which
has generated awareness of the club and its
activities for members within and outside of
the club.
…..and many more!
Congratulations to all clubs on their
membership building efforts! If your club has
had a successful or unique membership
building experience, please do let us know,
and it will be shared in the next edition of the
Southern Cross newsletter.
All the best with your club's membership
building endeavours in the coming months!
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 8 FEBRUARY 2015
Wow 2015 already!
With a new year commencing, a lot of people ask themselves a key question:
“Am I getting the most from my time?”
That question raises many opportunities – and challenges – for Toastmasters clubs!
Are our members achieving all they expect from the time – and money – they spend with Toastmasters? What is it that we offer people to help them get more from their time – and their life?
If you think about it, these are questions that we should be answering regularly.
Do you show people how you help them get the most from their time?
These conversations are not necessarily about getting new members. They are really about strengthening your clubs, as well as the Toastmasters Brand.
Do people know about Toastmasters? Do they know what Toastmasters does? Do they appreciate the benefits available to them?
Through Public Relations we look to grow that brand awareness, but also to remind our members of the opportunities available through Toastmasters.
Our Positive Promotions Program, Above and Beyond Program and our Best Newsletter contest are designed to involve your club in promotion, helping them maintain and grow membership .
Do your fellow club members publicly share and celebrate what you have gained from your club throughout the year?
Do you mention what you gained at Toastmasters outside Toastmasters?
Do you find interesting ways to share that information amongst your communities?
As you practice the membership building ideas in this newsletter, think about all the ways you can share the benefits of Toastmasters.
Regularly remind members and prospects how time at Toastmasters is time well invested.
Opportunity
We’re looking for a special person!
Do you have 10-30 minutes per
week?
Do you understand wordpress, HTML,
CSS and Microsoft Excel?
Do you want to help develop and
maintain District 73’s portal to
education and leadership
development?
Contact
more details on how you can join our team.
SOUTHERN CROSS
EDITION 113 PAGE 9
CRANBOURNE TOASTMASTERS CLUB PROMOTIONAL EVENT – STRENGTH IN
TEAMWORK
By Robyn O’Donnell – Club Coach Cranbourne Toastmasters
Late last year, Cranbourne Toastmasters
held a fundraising sausage sizzle event at
Mitre Ten on Cranbourne Road.
An opportunity to promote the club and
Toastmasters in the Area, as well as raise
funds, the day was a great success.
Most importantly, it was a day of team
building and a credit to the dedication of
the committee and members towards the
growth and success of the club overall.
When I took on the role of Club Coach at
Cranbourne in May last year the club had
nine members with a strong core of
dedicated members on the committee,.
The last six months have seen the
membership grow progressively, with two
of the newer members taking on active
committee roles.
It has been wonderful to see the
enthusiasm of the new committee
members. The sausage sizzle event was
a great suggestion, and we thank Andrew
for arranging the hire of equipment
through his church, and also the food and
drinks required on the day.
The event was held on a Saturday and we
were there from 8:30 am until around 3:00
pm taking full advantage of shoppers
going in and out of Mitre 10. We
successfully raised funds, while we
chatted with people about Toastmasters,
and handed out promotional material to
those interested.
One of the most rewarding things for me
was seeing how well we all worked as a
team, and the members who came and
assisted throughout the day. Almost all of
the members attended, and those who
were unable to come gave support and
encouragement, so were there in spirit. It
was an opportunity to get to know each
other better, and consolidate our
friendship and commitment to the growth
and success of the club. As club coach
and now member I was both proud and
inspired to be part of the team on the day.
We plan more of these events, and we
hope to be a well-oiled machine with this
experience behind us. I would also like to
thank the District for their support with the
loan of a Toastmasters banner and
promotional material which was used on
the day. We are also looking forward to
running a Speechcraft course in February
which will help with our continued growth.
Cranbourne Toastmasters Club is an
inspiration to all of us in District 73, and I
look forward to the next six months as we
continue to work towards our goal of
Distinguished Status by June 30.
SOUTHERN CROSS
EDITION 113 PAGE 10
Membership Building Ideas
Here are 40 membership building ideas
for you.
1. Places to put flyers - Bulletin boards,
Library, Coffee shops, College,
Churches, Retirement Centre, Grocery
stores, Restaurants, Recreational
centre, Doctor's office, Dentist's office,
Movie Theatre, Grocery Stores,
Company internal websites, Airport,
City Hall, Police Station, Banks, Post
Office, Bookstores, Chamber of
Commerce, Beauty Saloon, Hair
Stylists
2. Ask a member from another club (look
for one who you believe is especially
motivational in their speaking ability) to
do an education module at one of your
club meetings. Create a guest list to
invite prospective members who can
benefit from the topic. Choose from the
Successful Club or Successful Speaker
series. (Note: the evaluation and
listening modules work particularly
well).
3. Create a holiday invitation (or St.
Patricks Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving,
etc.) and ask each member to hand out
invitations to friends and co-workers.
Plan your agenda around a holiday
theme.
4. Plan a special showcase meeting. Invite
members from around the district to
present a special program. Invite
guests and be ready to sign them up on
the spot.
5. Conduct a SpeechCraft™ program. If
you do not have enough members to
contribute, call on members from other
clubs to help out. Warning: don't expect
someone else to do all the work,
though. Charge a fee for the
SpeechCraft that will cover the new
member fees and the first six months of
dues. At the end of the SpeechCraft,
offer a "free" membership to all
successful participants.
6. Take your show on the road. Schedule
your meeting in a new location where it
will get more visibility. Suggestions:
community centre, library, retirement
community, book store, etc. Get the
facility to help promote your special
appearance. Invite guests.
7. Appreciation night: Honour a
community member at a special
meeting! Ask the guest to say a few
words promoting Toastmasters. Be
sure to have lots of guests in
attendance to applaud the guest of
honour.
8. Design a club brochure and distribute it
to prospective members.
9. Ask your Chamber of Commerce or
Council to list your Toastmaster
meeting information in their newsletter.
10. Develop a web site listing your club
information. Make it visually appealing
and interesting. (NOTE: Toastmasters
has specific guidelines regarding web
SOUTHERN CROSS
EDITION 113 PAGE 11
sites. Be sure to check this
information.)
11. Contact your city's cultural centres.
They may be interested in holding a
SpeechCraft for their members or
perhaps starting a club. (NOTE: Many
of these individuals will have English as
a second language. It may be helpful to
work with someone who is associated
with the specific cultural community.)
12. Post brochures and flyers about your
club at your local library.
13. Do you wish to reach less confident
speakers of English? Ask someone to
write develop posters in common first
languages. Readers may read it and
encourage others to join so that they
may grow confidence to “get ahead”.
14. Post brochures and flyers about your
club at local book stores, both new and
used.
15. Invite your family and friends to attend
a speech contest.
16. If members belong to more than one
club, ask them to bring their extra
copies of the Toastmaster magazine to
your club meetings. Prepare a binder
with these copies, and have it available
for review by guests. Plan a club
membership building contest.
17. Send out press releases on all your
activities. Don't be discouraged if it
takes a while to be noticed. (NOTE:
Small community newspapers are likely
to give you the best coverage.) Send
personal notes to members that you
haven't seen for a while. Let them know
that you've missed them, and would like
to see them again.
18. Send a press release announcing your
club’s anniversary
19. Send a press release about your
club’s open house meeting
20. Send a press release about a guest
speaker coming to your club
21. Send a press release about a your
club’s speech contest winner at the
Area, Division, District or International
level
22. Send a press release about your
major club and member awards
23. Send a press release on your club’s
speakers
24. Send a press release on Toastmasters
anniversary
25. Send a press release on a new club
demonstration meeting
26. Send a press release on a new club
charter night
27. Send a press release on your club’s
youth leadership program
28. Send a press release on your club’s
Speechcraft program
29. Send a press release tying
Toastmasters and new self
improvement goals people set at the
beginning of the new year
30. Send a press release on your club’s
Communication Achievement award
31. Develop a silent seller award in your
club. A silent seller is an award that is
given to a person who has 10 straight
weeks of perfect attendance. Use
prizes from the Toastmasters catalog
such as a mug, pen, mouse pad or a
magazine holder. Ask your winners to
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 12 FEBRUARY 2015
display these items at their home or at
work. They will be good conversational
pieces.
32. Set up a silent salesman at a grocery
store. The silent salesman is a display
case that you can get from
Toastmasters International that you can
put your club promotional material in it.
33. Your club can open a booth at a fair.
34. Participate in a parade in your local
community.
35. Speak at your city’s Chamber of
Commerce meetings.
36. Submit copies of your Toastmaster
Magazine and/or your club’s
newsletters to Libraries, Doctors’
offices, and Dentists’ offices. Have your
clubs business card attached to them
so people can visit your club.
37. Have your club organize or judge
speech contests or debates for High
School students.
38. Give seminars to High School
students regarding career planning and
the importance of communication
39. Use a Toastmasters Window shade
for your car
40. Develop a custom made bumper
sticker that has your club’s website and
put it on your car.
With thanks to District 84, Florida, USA
“In life finding a voice is speaking and
living the truth. Each of you is an original.
Each of you has a distinctive voice. When
you find it your story will be told. You will
be heard”.
John Grisham.
The Annual Convention is a showcase of
keynote speakers, contests, workshops
and includes the Annual General Meeting
for the Toastmasters year.
Accommodation is available on site at the
Country Club Tasmania – Launceston and
a short distance from the venue in the
Villas at a discounted rate. Bookings can
be made by calling the Country club direct
or booking online and using the special
codes provided.
As the last competition on the way to the
International Convention next year in Las
Vegas we have chosen as the theme for
our Gala Dinner – “Vegas Baby”. Don’t
forget to bring all your Celine Dion T
shirts, your sequins, your feather boas,
magicians outfits, or suits and dance the
night away.
Event and Accommodation Information
can be found on the district website at
http://d73.toastmasters.org.au/annual-
toastmasters-convention-may-2015/
SOUTHERN CROSS
EDITION 113 PAGE 13
By Mathew Catchlove, Frankston Toastmasters
When I first visited India in 2012 I had barely made it out of Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi when I fell victim to a scam that almost ruined my whole trip. The journey to India had taken 18 hours and as the plane touched down at 4am I was feeling jet-lagged and sleep deprived. Still, I drank coffee and waited at the airport until 7am thinking that it was too early to try and check into the hotel.
Above: Mathew Catchlove
When I eventually boarded a taxi the driver was very friendly and had lots of questions and chatter for me. ‘Is this your first time in India? Where are you from? Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist - Very good cricket players.’
After half an hour of driving he started to tell me that he could not find my hotel. He pulled over and asked pedestrians if they knew the place, but naturally nobody knew one mid-range hotel out of thousands in Delhi. So then he took me to an ‘Official Government Tourist Office’ where a ‘friendly’ man called up my hotel for me. In reality he just called up a friend of his who said that my room had been given to someone else. We then tried calling several other hotels. Each time the man dialled the number and spoke to the
person on the end of the line first before handing the phone to me. Each place we rang was now charging exorbitant rates sometimes as much as 15 times what was stated in the guidebook. My resistance was worn down at this point and I ended up handing over several hundred dollars in cash for an expensive package tour of India. A driver was quickly found for me and I set off for Jaipur another 8 hours on the road.
When I finally made it and checked into the hotel in Jaipur I was feeling very muddled. I had by now figured out that I had stupidly fallen for a scam, but I was so tired I could barely think straight. I felt scared too; feeling alone in a strange country and not sure if there was anybody that I could trust. After sleeping the night, I insisted to my driver that we return straight away to Delhi. We went back to the tourist office and I was able to recover about 80% of my money and then I went to my original hotel in Delhi which naturally was still awaiting my arrival.
My experience getting scammed in India is, to be fair, more at the extreme end. Fortunately most travellers will go overseas and not have to deal with anything like that. Still it highlights a common difficulty that many travellers face when going overseas. Beyond seeing sights and attractions it is real pleasure to be able to build friendships and have genuine interactions with local people. But as my experience highlights it can be hard to know who to trust. How do you know that the person that you are meeting is genuine and friendly; or do they just see you as a walking ATM?
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 14 FEBRUARY 2015
In India and many other developing countries it is easy to get cynical and worn down. People will regularly walk up to you on the street and persistently invite you to their friend’s or uncle’s textile or gem store. Tuk-Tuk drivers will enquire where you are going and try to push you into entering their vehicle for an inflated ride. Even when you do meet someone that might have honest intentions, they are typically connected with the tourist industry - tour guides, hotel workers - and so there is still a financial aspect to the relationship.
How then do you meet genuine local people? One possibility is to take advantage of the organisation that we are all a member of, Toastmasters International, and attend a meeting when you are next overseas. Toastmasters is now very much an international organisation with more than 14,650 clubs in 126 nations across the globe.
In my travels I have now been to four overseas Clubs. Delhi and Bangalore in India, Vientiane in Laos and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. While each club followed the same Toastmasters program of prepared speeches and table topics, the culture of each club has been quite different and I have come away from each meeting with insights into the spirit of a place and sometimes even friendships.
Here are some examples:
In Delhi, I went to one club near one of the major universities. Unfortunately, I got lost along the way and managed to only see the last half-hour of the meeting. Despite that, the members were very welcoming. The President gave me the honour of delivering the award ceremony and I was invited for coffee with the members; where they refused to let me pay. One girl from the club later met up with me on another day and helped me haggle and shop at the market for gifts for family and friends. Two years later we still keep in touch.
In Laos there is only one club in the country: LAC Toastmasters (above) in Vientiane. The members there are mostly current or former students at the Laos-American College. Laos is one of the poorest countries in Asia with an estimated 26% of the people living below the poverty line. The people are some of the most friendly that you will find. When I visited the club in October, the table topics question was ‘What would you do to improve Laos?’ and it was touching to hear members of the club speak with passion about how they wanted to make life better for the people in their country.
In Cambodia I attended a club in Phnom Penh (below). This club has so many members that guests need to attend at least 4 meetings before they would even be considered for membership. The membership included one Buddhist Monk who was attending meetings to improve his English skills.
When you are next overseas and you have some time to spare, I strongly recommend checking out a Toastmasters meeting. It is a great way to meet local people and get an insight into the country you are visiting. And if you are really keen, complete another speech while you’re there!
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EDITION 113 PAGE 15
Taking on a Toastmasters District Officer Role can be a very challenging and rewarding experience and we would encourage all Toastmasters to try it at LEAST once (although it can be addictive!).
Nominations for District Officer Roles for the 2015-16 year close on Monday March 23
rd 2015.
If you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know, please make sure you fully complete and email the following information to the Nominating Committee Chair, Claire Richardson DTM at [email protected]:
District Leader Nominating Form
Officer Agreement and Release Form
Evidence of education qualifications from the Toastmasters International website (see box for how to do this)
Note: an interview with the District Nominating Committee will be a part of the application process for some roles.
This year there have been significant changes to the roles so please review the following descriptions to ensure you understand what is involved in the roles.
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
(Formerly District Governor) As the district’s Chief Executive Officer, direct the district in a way which fosters strong clubs; produces maximum growth in education completions, clubs and membership; and be consistent with the interests of members of Toastmasters International. Motivate the district to achieve Distinguished recognition. Achieve the mission of the
district in a manner that motivates volunteer leaders and promotes a standard of excellence in all district activities.
Qualifications
At the time of taking office, the district director must have served at least twelve consecutive months as a Lieutenant Governor or Division Governor or a combination thereof.
PROGRAM QUALITY DIRECTOR
(Formerly Lieutenant Governor Education and Training) Under the guidance of the district director, strive to have every club and each member reap the benefits of Toastmasters and to have every club become Distinguished. Provides direction and counsel to Division Directors, Area Directors, and Club Officers on the educational opportunities in Toastmasters. Design and conduct successful district training programs, conferences, and other district educational events.
Qualifications
At the time of taking office, the program quality director must have served at least six consecutive months as a club President and at least 12 consecutive months as a Lieutenant Governor, Division Governor, Area Governor, or a combination thereof.
CLUB GROWTH DIRECTOR
(Formerly Lieutenant Governor Marketing) Under guidance of the district director, make the benefits of Toastmasters membership available to greater numbers of people. Plan, develop, implement, and direct district marketing objectives. Develop and direct
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PAGE 16 FEBRUARY 2015
programs for new club development, club rescue efforts, club membership promotion, and membership retention. Achieve Distinguished District goals for membership and club growth. Promote standards of service to the member and to the club.
Qualifications
At the time of taking office, the Club Growth Director must have served at least six consecutive months as a club President and at least twelve consecutive months as a Lieutenant Governor, Division Governor, Area Governor, or a combination thereof.
DIVISION DIRECTOR
(Formerly Division Governor) Achieve the mission of the district within the division, accomplishing district goals in membership building and retention, club extension, and educational accomplishments. Ensure that each club realizes its mission and fulfills its responsibilities to members. Achieve Distinguished Division Program goals and ensure that areas and clubs within the division achieve Distinguished recognition. Serve the division clubs by providing district support and resources through the area directors.
Qualifications
A division director must have served at
least six consecutive months as a
member of a district council (e.g., club
President, Vice President Education,
Area Governor, District Secretary,
District Treasurer).
OTHER POSITIONS
The following positions are either elected or appointed by the district director:
AREA DIRECTOR
(Formerly Area Governor) Provide district contact, support, and assistance to the club so that it may achieve the club mission and fulfill its
responsibilities to members. Help clubs by keeping in regular contact with club presidents in the area and by visiting each club at least twice during the year. Achieve Distinguished Area Program goals and ensure that each area club is Distinguished.
Qualifications
At the time of taking office, an area director should have served as a member of a district council (e.g., club President, Vice President Education, or district officer).
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
(Formerly Public Relations Officer) Work under the direction of the District Director. Help maintain communication between the district and its members and work to increase public awareness of Toastmasters International through the media. Prepare a public relations program designed to achieve goals for membership growth, club growth, and educational achievements in clubs and achievement in the Distinguished Club Program. Promote district conferences and leadership training opportunities within the district.
Qualifications
At the time of taking office, the Public Relations Manager serves in a staff position under the direction of the District Director, and should possess experience in and core understanding of public relations.
FINANCE MANAGER
(Formerly District Treasurer) Establish and maintain effective fiscal management of the district. Promote the growth of Toastmasters by providing sound fiscal guidance to the district. Produce monthly reports reflecting the district’s financial status, and ensure that expenditures remain within the budget approved by the district council. Ensure that the district maintains the financial controls
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EDITION 113 PAGE 17
established by Toastmasters International.
Qualifications
At the time of taking office, the finance manager should have accounting experience and understand basic bookkeeping practices.
ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
(Formerly District Secretary) Help the district function effectively and achieve its mission by recording and maintaining accurate minutes of district council, executive committee, and other meetings. Serve as upholder of the District Administrative Bylaws and policies.
Qualifications
At the time of taking office, the
Administration Manager should be a
reliable, prompt, well-organized
Toastmaster who can accurately record
meeting actions, has access to a
personal computer and is able to
reproduce materials.
The District Nominating Committee looks
forward to receiving applications and
queries from anyone interested so we can
again build a strong District Management
Team for our members.
Suggestion for 2x info ‘boxes’ among the
text to break up the monotony.
WHY NOMINATE? Gain valuable and rewarding leadership
experience by helping other Clubs and members in a structured and supported way.
Meet and exchange ideas with inspiring Toastmasters from all over the District.
Contribute to your Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) Award on your journey to Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) in the Toastmasters program. You can’t become a DTM without them!
Learn and participate in the inner workings of a large, multinational, volunteer-based organisation.
Expand your Toastmasters network.
Give back to the organisation that gives so much to so many!
HOW TO GET YOUR OFFICIAL
EDUCATION CREDENTIALS
To get your credentials from the Toastmasters
International Website for your application,
simply:
Click Login at the top of the Toastmasters
International home page
(www.toastmasters.org).
If you do not know your username, it is an
eight (8) digit number which you can find
above your name and address on the
plastic covers over the Toastmasters
magazines that are sent out monthly.
Otherwise click on the ‘forgot your
password’ link, follow the steps in the next
point and they will give you your username
on the screen before they send your
password to the email address.
If you have forgotten your password or
have not logged in before, click on
the Forgot your password link to create
your password. Enter your email address
and click Submit. Please make sure it is
the same email address your Club Offices
will have entered when you became a
member.
You will receive an email with your new
password.
Once you have logged in successfully,
click on the Welcome, <your name> (e.g.
Welcome, Claire for me) link at the top right
menu bar on this page.
This page will have your membership
information on it. Scoll down and click on
the large “OFFICES HELD” button.
Either print to PDF, print and then scan the
printout, or use the printscreen and save
function so that you can save and email
this official record along with your District
Leader Nominating Form and Officer
Agreement and Release Form to
rg.au
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EDITION 113 PAGE 18
Wandin Toastmasters Celebrates Its Birth By Judy Murphy DTM
In last month’s Southern Cross, you heard that Wandin Toastmasters finally chartered on 25th October. That milestone was formally celebrated at the Christmas break up meeting. The setting was in the beautiful gardens of the home of President, Nola Sharp. Fine weather was ordered and that’s exactly what was delivered. Many of the charter members and Toastmasters from the various clubs who supported the founding of the club came dressed for the theme of Christmas.
Above: The Four Wise Men are Russell Moore , Ranges Division Governor, Bruce Hill, Yoke-Ching
Tan and Tracy Green.
The Three Wise Men Plus One from district also attended although two of them were women! Bruce Hill, district club extension chair, presented the club with timing lights as there are a few of us who like to talk and talk and talk. Tracy Green, Lt Gov Education and Training presented the club banner and Yoke-Ching Tan, Lt Gov Marketing gave each of the members their charter certificate and new badge. Ranges Division Governor, Russell Moore also attended.
SAA, Louise Wilkinson opened the meeting in her usual creative way by having us sing “’Tis the Season to be Jolly”. This was followed by Table Topics, an entertaining speech, awards and the formal chartering and inductions. Of course this was interspersed with delicious home prepared food, wine and conversation.
Above: charter club members with Yoke-Ching Tan
Again, thank you to everyone who made chartering the club possible and to Bruce, Tracy, Yoke-Ching and Russell for making the long trek out to the beautiful Yarra Valley to help us celebrate.
Above: Nola Sharp and racy Green with the
Toastmasters Town Sign
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EDITION 113 PAGE 19
By Joanne Ball
President, Frankston Toastmasters Club Public Speaking & Debating Club Coordinator/Coach, Hillcrest Christian College
During 2014, the Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program (YLP) was held at Hillcrest Christian College at Clyde North sponsored by the Frankston Toastmasters Club. The YLP was held over eight of the fourteen 100 minute meetings of the Middle School Public Speaking and Debating Club for students in Years 7 and 8.
Frankston's President Joanne Ball, was the Coordinator of the Hillcrest's YLP with several visits from David Hughes DTM also from Frankston, as well as visits from Beng Tan, of Monash and Harry Lew of Bayside, which were enjoyed by the students.
Winning the CSSN Junior Debating Competition Shield for Hillcrest and achieving their Toastmasters International YLP certificate, were two of the highlights for students who elected to join the club for Terms 2-4 in 2014.
Commencing with the foundations of public speaking, through the Toastmasters program, club members learned to prepare, practise and present speeches, give impromptu mini-speeches, evaluate each other and conduct discussions using parliamentary procedure.
Debating rules, strategies and techniques formed the next part of the year in order to field a team in the interschool competition for Years 7 to 9.
Abhi Ramesh, Mena Elchagi and Reshma Navaneetha Kumar were selected to represent the College in the CSSN Junior Debating Competition. The team, allocated the negative side, was defeated by one point by Waverley Christian College (Narre Warren) on the topic “That we should not allow animals to be used as objects of sport”. On the same day, the same well-prepared team, arguing the affirmative, won against another Waverley team with the topic “That a mission to Mars would be a waste of money”. The Hillcrest team gained the most points for the day and was declared the winner of the heat. Abhi was awarded best speaker in the second debate.
Knowing there were also two debates on the day of the finals, an additional team was chosen.
On the morning of the finals, Jordan Van Rhyn, Grace Pitcher and Jordyn Hogg, in their first ever interschool debating contest, convincingly won the negative side of the topic “That we should have the death penalty for terrorists” against Heathdale Christian College. In the afternoon, Abhi, Mena and Reshma argued in the affirmative for the topic “That child immunisation should be compulsory” and won soundly against Flinders Christian Community College (Carrum Downs). Abhi was again awarded best speaker.
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 20 FEBRUARY 2015
Above: Youth Leadership Program Workbook
The Debaters Association of Victoria adjudicators provided valuable feedback to each competitor and were impressed with our team members. Highlights included Jordan’s ‘sophisticated points’, Grace’s ‘substantive points being well developed’ and Jordyn’s ‘really strong manner from the start’ and this team ‘being more sophisticated (than the opposition)…it showed depth of analysis’. The adjudicator praised Abhi’s ‘good manner, setting up the debate well’, Mena’s ‘really good arguments and ideas, excellent structure’ and Reshma’s ‘excellent rebuttal’ and congratulated the team on being ‘well prepared and the debate being well argued’.
Hillcrest’s debating triumph was all the more so, because the majority of opposition teams comprised Year 9 students and Hillcrest fielded four Year 7 and two Year 8 students. The students’ conscientious approach to researching, reasoning weighty issues, writing and re-writing speeches and rebuttals, spending time at home and giving up lunchtimes to practise speaking and work together as a team deserves applause.
At a special ceremony in front of 250 Year 7 and 8 students, there were 13 students who were awarded their YLP certificate. They had attended regularly, completed
two prepared speeches and multiple table topic speeches and evaluations and participated enthusiastically in all aspects of the YLP.
I can recommend the YLP to other members to run in other schools. The student and coordinator handbooks available from TI are helpful and I am willing to pass on other advice to whoever is interested.
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EDITION 113 PAGE 21
Competent Communicator
Stephen Jasper City Centre
Paul Scully More Than Words
Fergus Dobbins 505 Speakers Corner
Janine Greening Cranbourne
Li Yu Tea Tree Gully
Jane Watkins GE
Salvatore Cristiano GE
Arthur Weiss National Australia Bank
Agnes Liu Adelaide Central
Aaron Chia Hobart
Karen Salton Caterpillar of Australia
Andrew Pettit Lilydale
Kylie Allen Lilydale
Peter Defteros North Melbourne
Gillian Russell Glen Waverley
Geoffrey Graham Bendigo
Paul Kittson Balaclava
Stephen Hansen Launceston
Georgia Fountoulaki
Launceston
Arvind Ratnaike Manningham
Paul Tero Whitehorse
Kellie Schultz Epping
Charles Duffy AECOMmunicators
Weiyuan Xin Cranbourne
Margaret Young Sale
Kathleen McKimm Sale
Elise Hutley More Than Words
Diana Summers North Melbourne
Chris Noble Raconteurs
Competent Leader
Zachary Nelles Sunbury and Macedon Ranges
Mark Lane CFA District 13
Tom Trewartha Champion
Grace Cornwell Talking Blue
Salvatore Cristiano GE
Louise Tyrrell GE
Dhishen Govender Pushing The Envelope
Anna Varghese Whitehorse
Karen Salton Caterpillar of Australia
Debbie Lee Rowville
Advanced Communicator Bronze
Krish Kumar Victorian Governors
Jim Lord Ivanhoe
Vicki Wilson Moorabbin Saints
Harry Lew Bayside
Advanced Leader Bronze
Fouad Fouad Hume
Jack Fawcett Scientific Communicators
Harry Lew Bayside
Debbie Lee Rowville
Deborah Roffey Sandbelt
Julie Wacker Williamstown
Advanced Communicator Silver
Christine Kneebone
Raconteurs
Vivien Ellard 505 Speakers Corner
Advanced Leader Silver
Clayton Pearson SA Governors
Leadership Excellence
Rajnish Bhide Wandin
Clayton Pearson SA Governors
SOUTHERN CROSS
PAGE 22 FEBRUARY 2015
FEBRUARY
Sun 8 Bass Division Rural TLI/COT
When: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Where: BHP Wellington Entertainment
Centre, Hua Room 100 Foster St, Sale
Information: Janet Shaw Cost: $10
Thu 12 Southern Division TLI/COT
When: 5:30 – 9:00 pm Where: The NAB Academy, 500 Bourke
St. Melbourne Information: Bruce Hill: dg-
Sat 14 Northern Division TLI/COT
When: 1:00 – 5:00 pm Where: Scientology Centre,
235 – 251 Mount Alexander Road, Ascot Vale
Information: Graham Fuller: [email protected]
Sat 14 Metropolitan Division Contests
When: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Where: RMIT 360 Swanston St,
Melbourne, Building 8
Sat 14 Bass Division Contests
When: 9:30 am – 1:00 pm Where: Southern Community Church of
Christ- Cheltenham
Sun 15 T & E Workshop - The Power of Ideas
When: 1:00 – 5:00 pm Where: Sth Melbourne Town Hall,
210 Bank Street, South Melbourne
Sat 21 Central Division TLI/COT
When: 9:30 am – 1:30 pm Where: TBA Information: Peter Cesco: dg-
Sat 21 Northern Division Contests
When: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Where: Scientology Centre,
235 – 251 Mount Alexander Road, Ascot Vale
Information: Graham Fuller: [email protected]
Sat 21 Ranges Division TLI/COT
When: 1:00 – 5:00 pm Where: Mount Lilydale Mercy College,
120 Anderson St, Lilydale
Tue 24 Northern Division Rural TLI/COT
When: 6:30 – 8:30 pm Where: Wangaratta TM Club Information: Graham Fuller - dg-
Wed 25 Metropolitan Division TLI/COT
When: 5:30 – 7:30 pm Where: The Urban Workshop,
50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Sat 28 Bass Division TLI/COT
When: 9:00 am – 3:45 pm Where: Berwick RSL, Berwick
Sat 28 Northern Division Rural TLI/COT
When: 11:00 am – 3:30 pm Where: Thornton Hall, Long Gully
Community Centre, 25 Havilah Road Bendigo
Information: Graham Fuller: [email protected]
MARCH
Sun 1 Southern Division Contests
When: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Where: South Melbourne Community
Centre Cnr Park St and Ferrars Pl, South Melbourne
Sun 8 T & E Workshop - The art of Listening When: 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Where: Sth Melbourne Town Hall, 210 Bank Street, South Melbourne
Sat 14 Eastern Division Contests
When: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Where: TBA
Wed 18 Southern Cross Article Deadline
Article Deadline for the April Southern Cross. Send to: [email protected]
Sat 21 Ranges Division Contests
When: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Where: Endeavour Hills Neighbourhood
Centre, 10 Raymond McMahon Blvd, Endeavour Hills
APRIL
Wed 1 Southern Cross Released
April Southern Cross Released southerncross/d73.toastmasters.org.au
