District 71 Newsletterd71toastmasters.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/December-2016... ·...

District 71 Newsletter December 2016

Compiled by : Division “G”

& District 71 PR Team

This is a time to sit back and relax for a few days from your

Toastmasters Path, and enjoy the season’s merriment and goodwill.

we are delighted to bring you a range of articles and contributions

which we hope you will enjoy over the holiday.

It is also a time to reflect on your achievements at the end of the first half of the current

Toastmasters year, and perhaps, reflect on your goals for the second half. we always find this

a worthwhile break in which to review achievements, and to plan

for remaining or outstanding goals.

For Club Officers it is an opportunity to review the Dashboard,

your Club DCP progress and, most importantly of all, your

members’ progress. Perhaps have a thought for undertaking a

“Moments of Truth” review, and to plan some open meetings,

Contests and Training events. Ask yourself if there is anything more you can do to better fulfil

your members’ expectations. If you have not already done so, why not send a Club

Questionnaire to your members from the Easi-speak site – it’s all set up there if you use the

site.

Area and Division Directors have their busiest season coming up, what with DOT, COT,

Contests, Workshops and elections in the offing for the next 6 months; this is the time when

you can show your true metal and lead positively from the front. Look to see if there are Clubs

in your Area or Division that need help, remind them of the incentives available from the DLT,

and guide them to use them wisely.

Read on and enjoy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I am delighted to bring you season’s

greetings, and wish you a happy and

successful 2017

Steve Wellman, Div. G Director




From West Cork to Mallow and beyond!!

Tales from a Travelling Toastie.

“When this program was first launched, I thought ‘what a wonderful idea’. I had experienced traveling to other clubs, just two in 2009, one not so far away, Speak Easy in Mallow and another very, very far away in Auckland, New Zealand. I learn so much from both clubs and felt there is no better way to get to know fellow Toastmasters than seeing them in action during a typical meeting.”

On returning from our summer break this year I was determined to don my Traveling Toastie boots and take to the roads. As President of Division A's most recently chartered club, West Cork Toastmasters I felt I could also be an ambassador for our club and get the opportunity to invite fellow Toastmasters to beautiful Rosscarbery, Co Cork. So far I have had a great time and lots of fun visiting the following clubs Cork, Talking Heads, Blarney, Emc Forum, Powdermills, East Cork, Douglas, Guardian, Carrigaline, Bandon, Midleton and Bishopstown Toastmasters. On my journey I have met Toastmasters who have been involved in their clubs for over 40 years, some 20 years and some Toastmasters delivering their Ice-breakers speech and just starting their journey. I met the wonderful Paula Kelleher D71 Topics Champion on her return to Guardian Toastmasters and what a wonderful welcome she received.

I have heard wonderful speeches from the Brenton Laws when women seemed to rule the world, how to conduct lifesaving CPR, to bed wetting, an interpretative reading speech which had such a flow to it, why Norway is the place to go to, an educational speech on the importance of Evaluations, goal setting, a roast of The Donald, a speech on Santa Clause which was an original, to a kitchen makeover which resulted in no more burns to mention just a few. If there was one thing that connects all the clubs I have visited from Auckland, to the clubs I visited recently and West Cork Toastmasters is that they are populated with wonderful individuals. Toastmasters everywhere I have been share these wonderful qualities, courage, public speaking demands courage, supportive by nature, a sense of fun and always welcoming. Every club visited, truly welcomed me - by so many Toastmasters I did not know and by the Toastmasters I had the pleasure of meeting over the years.

It is my intention for 2017 to keep on visiting clubs, meeting new Toastmasters, making friends along the way and learning. The welcome mat is out for Toastmasters everywhere who wish to visit West Cork Toastmasters. The Travelling Toastie program is a wonderful concept and I cannot recommend it more highly. When visiting a club, take on a role or give a speech and step outside your comfort zone, you will be a better Toastmaster for the experience, you will learn so much and you will meet and make friends with wonderful individuals.

John Keating DTM

President of West Cork Toastmasters




It’s-a-Kinda-Magic, Keep an eye out for the Spring 2017 conference Manchester Conference 12 -14 May 2017.

The weblink is as follows: http://www.toastmastersmagic.org.uk .

Earlybird price expiring 31 Dec ’16.

The conference team are working hard to make your experience in Manchester

unforgettable.

I am truly lucky to be in such a great organization with fantastic people. Thanks for all you

do to make our District successful.

Red Skelton

District 71 Program Quality Director 2016/2017

We have 2 new Facebook Mentoring Groups for you: They will have ongoing tips and advice on

the Speechcraft Program and on the Youth Leadership Program: Please do look up and like +

comment.

http://www.toastmastersmagic.org.uk/




Interview by Karen O’Donnell, DTM, with Past District Governor, Harry Knox, DTM. Karen: Tell me Harry, when did you join Toastmasters? Harry: I attended my first Toastmasters meeting in October 1979 and joined up the following meeting. That was 37 years ago. Karen: What is your experience of contests Harry? Harry: In 1981 when I won the District 71 International

speech contest and became the first person from District 71 to speak at the World Championship which was held in Phoenix, Arizona in August 1981, where I came second in the Inter-District Competition. Karen: Your wife Ursula has also had a busy time in Toastmasters, Harry: We got married in July 1981 so that we could attend the International Conference as part of our Honeymoon. Ursula later followed on as Club President of the Club we both founded a year after I had been President of Clonmel Toastmasters Club. She was later Area governor of the Year and District 71 Toastmaster of the year on two different occasions and became part of the District Leadership Team in 1989/90. Karen: What were your greatest achievements throughout the period you served on the District Leadership Team? Harry: On a personal level, it was becoming the first DTMs and jointly by Ursula and I in 1986/87. Secondly, being elected the youngest District Governor ever to that time in Limerick in 1987 was nice. On a District Level, it was the holding the first full Autumn Conference hosted by the Blarney Toastmasters Club in October 1987. I also introduced the first District Evaluation Contest at the Spring Conference held in Stowe, England, in May 1988. Karen: Finally, you have been a member for 37 years and continue to be a member, what have you learned in Toastmasters that has helped you in the “real world” or has been applied there by you? Harry: The Management and Leadership experience gained proved invaluable with my career and helped get me a position which I served in and enjoyed for 18 years. It was like a 2nd career after having had a 26 year 1st career. Since I retired in February 2016, I have been to Uganda twice and have set up a charity called Opportunity Knox, which incidentally was the title of my 1981 District Contest winning speech, that provides food bedding and education to the poorest families in one village there. Additionally, I volunteered and self-funded to train teachers for a month in India throughout July 2016 with a charity called Global Schoolroom. As a result I will be going back there again on a personal basis to volunteer in a large 1200 pupil mission school. Without my Toastmaster training I know that I would not have had the confidence to tackle these projects. I am sure there will be many other areas in which I can use my Toastmaster training in the years ahead.

Karen O’Donnell District 71 PR Manager




Newsletter Competitions

November Crossword Winner – Elizabeth Jordan

Well done Elizabeth, your winning prize is on its way to you!!

Travelling Toastie Program

Our Travelling Toastie program has proven to be very popular with our

members and clubs. Already, we have 12 people who quality as official

Travelling Toasties and these Toastmasters will be recognised at District

71 Spring Conference. To quality you need to complete and submit the

online form for each visit. 3 unique club visits qualifies you as an Official

Travelling Toastie. For more details check out our incentives on our

district website www.d71toastmasters.org

Our Official Travelling Toasties:

Division A John Keating

Division C Barry Lane

Division D Michael Maunsell; David Newmark, Adrian Melia; Deirdre Walsh & Gearoid Murphy

Division G Steve Campion & Valerie Swanborough

Division M Sandra Losty & John Doyle

Division S Nicholas Mockler

Each Division will have an overall leaders’ prize too!

We have very active Toastmasters in many divisions taking part in our program. Currently our

District Leadership Board is looking like this:-

Adrian Melia Division D

John Keating Division A

Sandra Losty Division M

By participating in this program, you will enrich your Toastmasters’ experience & gain more friends. Our clubs will gain from your experiences in other clubs. Club meetings will have more variety on the meeting agendas when facilitating a Travelling Toastie. Take on this challenge and let us know how you get on!




Best Testimonial Video

.

Do you have a smart phone or a video camera?

Sharing a video testimonial on social media or your website will create more interest

around Toastmasters and your club. With smart phones it makes it even easier to

create! Help your club by catching a testimonial on video!

Closing Date

April 1st 2017

Winner will be chosen by panel

of judges

Sandra Losty – PR Team

will be co-ordinating this

competition.

Criteria

Take a video, 3 minutes maximum, of a Toastmaster or Toastmasters event, and post on

Facebook or on your clubs website. Post your video on your Facebook page and tag

Karen O’Donnell.

Email a copy of your video to Sandra Losty [email protected].

Winner will be:- Recognised at District Conference in Spring Presented with a certificate & pin Receive a gift Video posted on District Website

www.d71toastmasters.org & Facebook page

New Contest Season coming up

The next Contest Season is coming up in the new year. Have

you trained Judges, Contest Chairs and officials? If not, why not

run training or refreshers now?

Have you set your dates and are you ready to notify members

Aim now for Quality Contests!

http://www.d71toastmasters.org/




A further extract from the diary of the

D71 Club Growth Director Patricia O’Reilly, DTM

Some of you may have noticed that I was missing from the November newsletter. But

sometimes in life, like the Frank Sinatra song, “Something’s Gotta

Give, Something’s Gotta Give, Something’s Gotta Give”. In November

my inbox was inundated with Area Directors’ Club Visit Reports.

Given that Area Directors put so much time and effort into these reports

and given that the clubs strive to be quality clubs, reading the reports

took precedence over submitting an article for the November newsletter. As Stephen Covey

said, “The key is not to prioritise your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

Those club visit reports made very interesting reading. It is encouraging to see that there are

so many strong, quality clubs in District 71. Our clubs:-

Are warm, friendly and welcoming

Offer mentoring

Involve new members in the program as soon as they join

Support all their members

Monitor member progress

Gather contact details for guests

Follow up on existing members if they miss a couple of meetings

CLUB GROWTH - To date there are 5 new clubs:-

1. Anglian Advanced Communicators

2. Google Phonic

3. Accentuators

4. Amazon

5. G-Toast UK

2017 is almost here – a new year, new goals. Is there room for a Toastmasters club in your

community, your workplace? If you think there might be please email me

[email protected]. Starting a new club is challenging and it can mean stepping

out of your comfort zone, but it is a rewarding experience.

CLUB COACHES are being appointed to clubs with 12 or fewer members.

If your club has 12 or fewer members and you would like to have the benefit

of a club coach let me know.

Finally, I would like to thank you all for your support to date and to wish

you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and productive New Year

from Bailey and me.

Patricia

mailto:[email protected]




What is meetup I hear you ask?

Meetup is an online social networking portal

that facilitates offline group meetings in

various localities around the

world. Meetup allows members to find and

join groups unified by a common interest,

such as politics, books, games, movies,

health, pets, careers or hobbies.

Many clubs have already benefited from having a presence on Meetup. It is another

tool which can be used to increase public awareness of our wonderful clubs and to get

more

During one of our successful PR Tips Conference Calls, Jim Gregory enquired if we

could run this at a District level. Myself and Jim looked into the logistics of this and

although it seemed appealing, it wasn’t feasible at District level to run this. I did

however secure some ‘trial periods’ for individual clubs. I was offered 17 club slots

and approached all Division Directors to get their views on which clubs to include in

this trial period.

Here is the list of clubs which will benefit from this trial period till February 2017

Division A Cork East Toastmasters Douglas Slainte Club Powdermills Club

Division B Galtees Toastmasters Failte Club

Division D Tower Toastmasters Cashel Club Athy Toastmasters

Division E Castle Communicators Salford Speakers

Division F Foyle Speakers Tullamore Toastmasters

Division G Brandon Speakers RAF Mildenhall Toastmasters

Division S Livingston Speakers Linlithgow Speakers Falkirk Orators

At your meetings, do keep a ‘sign in sheet’ whereby guests are encouraged to

comment on how they heard of the club. In this way, we can see which guests have

attend as a result of Meetup. This service is quite inexpensive especially if 3 clubs

share the costs. In Ireland, it works out at $30.00 for 6 months, for 3 clubs. The annual

cost per club therefore works out @ $20.00 per club. This could indeed be a

worthwhile investment which can increase awareness of our wonderful clubs and also

gain new members.

Karen O’Donnell

District 71 PR Manager




Best Club Website Award

Closing Date

April 1st 2017

Winner will be chosen by panel of judges

Brendan Haughton – PR Team

will be co-ordinating this competition.

Websites are a wonderful way of ‘showcasing’ the amazing benefits of our clubs. It gives potential guests a glimpse of our meetings. Do you have an interesting club website? Is it attracting new members to your club? Would you like to be recognised for your website work?

Best Club Website Award

Winning Club

Recognised at Spring District Conference

Presented with a Certificate of Achievement

Presented with a Club gift.

Criteria Website must have sections which answer the following areas:-

How to improve your public speaking

What is Toastmasters

Testimonials

Where and when your club meets

About our club and values

Contact details

To further enhance your website, you might consider the following:-

Video clips of your meetings and testimonials

Video of a speech

Pictures of your meetings

Club Newsletter

Deadline Email [email protected] with website details before 1st April 2017

http://d71toastmasters.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Website-control.jpg




Speechcraft the Electrifiers’ Way

Ipswich Electrifiers Speakers’ Club gained five membership

applications at the end of their highly successful four-session

speechcraft course – and in the process, gave members the

opportunity to work successfully together, and progress towards

their ACS and CL awards.

The course ran weekly with the second and fourth sessions

combining with the club meeting. Each session included Table

Topics, an educational presentation followed by evaluation, and

a 10-15 minute session in which each participant discussed with

their advisor the educational content and the assignment for the

next session.

Participants delivered three speeches and two evaluations. They were full of praise

for the warmth, support and encouragement they received – and members

enthusiastically endorsed the educational presentations.

Guest speaker Nicky Browne gave an inspirational

speech on the importance of learning new skills at any

point in life. The course ended with presentations in

recognition of the contributions made by the participants

and their advisors.

(some participants)

The club committee is considering running another

speechcraft course in the future and sharing what

they learnt at the next COT. For further information

please contact [email protected]

(some of the facilitators)

By Andrew Nunn, Area Director G1

Speechcraft – TI Site : https://www.toastmasters.org/Membership/Community-Based-Programs

The Speechcraft program allows experienced Toastmasters to present the fundamentals of public speaking to non-members. It can be offered as an integral part of your club meeting or as a seminar-style program presented outside the club. It can be conducted in four, six or eight sessions.

Conducting Speechcraft inside the club setting makes it easier for participants to become members.

Conducting Speechcraft outside the club setting can lead to the formation of a new Toastmasters club.

District 71 Speechcraft Chair : Daniel Sandars : [email protected]

District Speechcraft Mentoring Group on FB : SpeechCraft Mentoring Group (TMI District 71+)

A group where Toastmasters can help Toastmasters to outreach to the public by delivering the

Speechcraft education programme. Look us up on FB for more information and assistance.





Chantal Cooke is our professional PR consultant for District 71. Over recent years, members of our district have had articles published via Chantal. This is a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of Toastmasters, increase public awareness of this organisation and an opportunity for the writer to gain recognition! Communication is more than the spoken word – why not get your message across in the written word also!! The good news is, we have an added incentive for all you budding writers!!

Writing an Article via Chantal The overall aim is to raise the profile of Toastmasters across the UK and Ireland. And the bonus is – it will also raise the profile of the author as you will be credited on all your articles e.g. Jo Smith of Toastmasters International. We have had a lot of coverage and previous authors have benefited a great deal from the additional exposure.

In order to use your article the additional info (bio, photo etc.) must be delivered at the same time – we cannot use the article until we have all the information/images. Chantal will liaise with you re changes, journalist interviews and requests, and will send you (and the rest of the Toastmasters team) links to coverage

The article needs to be approx. 1000 words long and advice heavy. (no shorter than

850 words please). Subject needs to reflect what we learn from Toastmasters i.e.

subjects related to communication and leadership. Some recent topics include:

7 Basic rules of Public Speaking

Share what you know and doors will open

How to overcome fear and be a better speaker

5 Questions to ask before you stand up and deliver a presentation

If it is solely a pitch/marketing the Toastmaster brand this will fall under the title of

advertising and not go to press.

Note: Chantal may edit the piece to suit the publication. The publisher may also edit

the piece

Reward When a District 71 member is successful in having an article published via Chantal, they will be entered into a draw for a conference ticket!!! (Travel & Accommodation is not part of the prize)

Please note:- In order to be entered into this draw, be sure to include our District 71 PR Manager ([email protected]) in all your communications with Chantal. To contact Chantal, email: [email protected]




Dear Editor, What an exciting year we have had in our Wicklow Toastmaster club and plans already made for the season coming up in 2017. We took part in the media room project, organised by Sandra Losty and Karen O'Donnell, during the District 71 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest in the Regency Hotel. The interview with Brendan Haughton and Carolann Murphy is now online for Facebook pages to promote the club and to attract new members for the future. Caroline Higgins our very hard working VPE started a mentoring programme this year and this will be followed up with members attending the Mentoring Workshop, Sunday 15th January, 11am - 1pm in the Glenview Hotel, Co Wicklow - organised by Sarah-Jane Cairns, Area 5 Director and facilitated by Paddy Lavelle. Open meeting - an open meeting is planned for Wicklow Toastmasters on Thursday 19th January next at 7.30pm in the Grand Hotel, Wicklow Town. The public of course will be invited to see Toastmasters in action and we will have welcome packs with information about our club and the Toastmaster Magazine included. Speakers will include Aisleigh Tobin, Caroline Higgins, Jonathon Wallace and visiting Toastmaster Kevin Doyle, Greystones Club. We hope that members of neighbouring clubs and far and wide will join us for this evening, Toastmasters International Magazine - we had a surprise email from Craig Harrison DTM, California,

US, to interview our President, Carolann Murphy for a feature on Tall Tales and storytelling in Ireland, planned for the March issue of the Magazine. Craig found Carolann when one of the editors of the magazine googles 'Tall tales Ireland' and her name popped up in an article in the Wicklow People written by Will Doyle, Wicklow Toastmaster's VPR, last January, titled 'Carolann wins Toastmaster Tall Tales Title'. Well done to Will for his work in promoting the club and Toastmasters in the local media, resulting in making this recent great contact for us. We will have more information on how the feature is progressing in the New Year. On behalf of Wicklow Toastmasters we wish all the clubs around

the globe a happy and peaceful Christmas and New year. Carolann Murphy President, Wicklow Toastmasters

Wicklow Toasties in Festive mode

Carolann Murphy, President with Willy Doyle and Colin Byford

This has got to be my “pick of the month” letter from the President

of Wicklow Toastmasters. Wicklow is known as “The Garden of

Ireland” and the Club meet 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of each month in

The Grand Hotel, Wicklow. Well done Carolann. I have lifted the

photos from Ed Doyle’s newsletters. Ed.




In which ocean is Christmas Island?

In ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens, what was the first thing that Scrooge purchased after his change of heart?

Who wrote the Bing Crosby hit song ‘White Christmas’?

What date is St. Stephen’s Day?

What Christmas item was invented by London Baker and wedding-cake specialist Tom Smith in 1847?

What is New Year’s Eve called in Scotland?

From which country does the Poinsettia plant originate

What is the name of the cake traditionally eaten in Italy at Christmas?

Who composed the music known as The Nutcracker Suite, for the Christmas themed ballet The Nutcracker, premiered in St. Petersburg, 1892?

In which celebrated film does James Stewart attempt suicide one Christmas?

Under which Puritan leader did the English parliament pass a law banning Christmas in 1647?

In the song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, how many swans were a-swimming?

‘Nadolig Llawen’ means Merry Christmas in which European language? In which country does Santa have his own personal postcode HOH OHO?

What are the names of the three wise men said to have brought gifts to the baby Jesus?

Festive Quiz by Elizabeth Jordan,

Area Director G20

Entries on or before 10/01/17 to Karen O’Donnell :

[email protected]

Correct answers will enter a draw and winner will

receive a prize!





Bedford Speakers – Secret Santa

Stephen Morrow As Willy Wonka

Dublin 18 Toastmasters

Castleknock & Phoenix Tara Foyle Speakers




East Herts Toastmasters

Kevin Lee & Fiona Kearns

(Game of Thrones Christmas Theme) Gorey Toastmasters

Mullingar Toastmasters

Nottingham Toastmasters




Lucan Toastmas

West Cork Toastmasters

Kildare Toastmasters

Lucan Toastmasters

Baltinglass Speakers




Letters or articles for submission: Letter, Max 200 words – longer is an

article! Please address these to me at [email protected] depending on space, we will

endeavour to put a compilation of these in future

The next edition, January 2017, is being compiled by Division “A” David Cowhig; David is looking for

articles and contributions for the newsletter. If you have news, views and Toastmasters New Year

Resolutions or reports please send them in as soon as possible, before 10 January 2017.

Please email them to David:- [email protected] And copy to [email protected]

Publishers note : The District 71 Newsletter is published by the District 71 PR Team headed by Karen

O’Donnell, PR Manager and assisted by Sandra Losty and Brendan Haughton. Each edition is

compiled by one of our Division Directors and their team.

ANY MEMBER CONTACT INFORMATION IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS FOR THE SOLE USE OF TOASTMASTERS’ MEMBERS FOR TOASTMASTERS BUSINESS ONLY. IT IS NOT TO BE USED FOR SOLICITATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF NON-TOASTMASTERS MATERIALS OR INFORMATION.

Our Division Directors are spear-heading the monthly newsletters as follows:-

January A

February F

March D

April S

May E

Slán Abhaile – Bye till next year, Santa



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