NEWSLETTER

September 09

Toastmasters

District 47, Division F, Area 61

Club #1197988

www.Toastmastersd47.org

Manatee County Government

8/7/2009

July – December 2009 Officers

President – Paul Johnson, CC

VP Education – Anne VanWormer, CC

VP Membership – Stephanie Moreland, CC

VP Public Relations – Mary Moeller, CC, CL

Chairman Marketing Comm. – Renee Isom

Secretary – Becky Cresswell

Treasurer – Rossina Leider, CC

Sergeant at Arms – Ron Kennedy

Power Speakers of MCG

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September 10, 2009

Fellow Members and Guests, I first want to thank everyone who responded to me about the newsletters. I had a lot of employees tells me that the newsletter was great. Thank you for your input. I will try my best to keep it interesting and informative. If there is anything you like to see or want in this newsletter, please feel free to contact me. August was a busy month for me! Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures of the Friday meetings. But we had a lot of good speakers! Everyone is doing very well on their roles and speeches. Hopefully on the next issue, I will have pictures. The Hardee Club is having a Humorist Speech Contest for Area 61 on September 12th. More information is in this newsletter. Enjoy reading and if you have any questions, please email me at mary.moeller@mymanatee.org. Mary Moeller, CC, CL VP Public Relations

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1st Week of August Theme: “Summer Vacations”

Toastmaster: Renee Isom

Invocation: Stephanie Moreland

Word of the Day: “Navigate”

By Ron Kennedy

Humorist: Mary Moeller

Table Topic Master: Jack Frohmander

General Evaluator: Allen Bentley

“Icebreaker – “This is Me!”

Deborah Carey-Reed

2nd Week of August Theme: “I Can Do It””

Toastmaster: Mike Hilleshiem

Invocation: Liz Jones

Word of the Day: “Assertive”

By Mike Hilleshiem

Humorist: Sharon Tarman

Table Topic Master: Paul Johnson

General Evaluator: Rossina Leider

“Going through the Motions” Ron Kennedy “Setting the Standards” Stephanie Moreland “Silence Matters” Liz Jones

Winner

Best Table Topic: John Chappie

Best Speakers (3 way tie): Stephanie

Moreland, Ron Kennedy & Liz Jones

Best Evaluators (3 way tie): Rossina

Leider, Alice Rimer and Lorraine Caruso

Winner

Best Table Topic: Becky Cresswell

Best Speaker: Deborah Carey-Reed

Best Evaluator: Elizabeth Jones

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3rd Week of August Theme: “Moving On”

Toastmaster: Moonlin Johnson

Invocation: Jack Frohmander

Word of the Day: “Emigrate”

By Becky Cresswell

Humorist: Mary Moeller

Table Topic Master: Chad Butzow

General Evaluator: Jack Frohmander

“Safety Comes First”

Mary Moeller

4th Week of August Theme: “Step Up”

Toastmaster: Allen Bentley

Invocation: Allen Bentley

Word of the Day: “Brilliant”

By Lorraine Caruso

Humorist: Mike Hilleshiem

Table Topic Master: Debra Carey-Reed

General Evaluator: Paul Johnson

“Icebreaker”

Olga Smith

Winner

Best Table Topic: Stephanie Moreland

Best Speaker: Olga Smith

Best Evaluator: Allen Bentley

Winner

Best Table Topic: Becky Cresswell

Best Speaker: Mary Moeller

Best Evaluator: Anne VanWormer

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Confessions of a Terrified Speaker By Marla C. Maeder

My fear of public speaking started early, but thanks to Toastmasters, it is rapidly diminishing. It’s been a long and bumpy ride, though.

My first public performance was at the tender age of 7 when my mother signed me up for the second-grade talent contest at Bunker Hill Elementary School in Houston, Texas. Every detail of that event is etched in my mind. I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say the song was short and I left the stage to polite, but tepid, applause.

My subsequent public performances were few -- including singing a solo in a small Baptist church for which I fortified myself by drinking half a bottle of wine.

My career as a writer saved me from public presentations. Mostly, I hid behind a computer, producing stories, publications and speeches for others. Occasionally, I’d get called on to speak at company meetings or conferences, which inevitably resulted in heart-banging, stomach-churning, nail-biting dread. Like a kid sucking a helium balloon, my voice would spiral higher and higher, faster and faster, until all sound evaporated into the stratosphere.

My fear of public speaking was getting out of control. Determined to beat this paralyzing panic, I visited a Toastmasters club near my office. As luck would have it, I was called on to give a Table Topics speech. It happened that the subject on this particular day – September 12 – was one I longed to talk about: “Describe your reaction to the events of September 11.” The words came easily. I won the Table Topics trophy and felt a tremendous surge of confidence.

A month later I gave my Ice Breaker speech and was overwhelmed by the supportive, encouraging feedback of other Toastmasters. I couldn’t wait to go to work on my next presentation. I’ve completed several speeches so far, and each time gets easier. I am deeply grateful to my fellow Toastmasters for creating an environment that nurtures such tremendous personal growth.

I only wish I’d found Toastmasters 20 years ago or, better yet, 40 years ago when I was 7! Eager to make up for lost time, I now find myself grabbing every speaking opportunity. Who knows? I may even work up a little song- and-dance routine.

Marla C. Maeder is a member of a Toastmasters club in Madison, Wisconsin

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Courtesy photo Toastmasters Linda Udall (left) and Mario Trevino (right) will represent Heartland Talk of the Town Toastmasters at the Area 61 speech contest

in Wauchula on Sept. 12. They are pictured with Scott McLean of Lake Placid, who is a member of that club and was the target speaker for the Heartland Club

Contest. McLean works as a soils analysis consultant and used to play football with the Dallas Cowboys.

published: Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Fay, Trevino, Udall represent area at Toastmasters event

Special to the News-Sun

WAUCHULA - Some of the funniest speakers of Highlands, Hardee and Manatee counties will converge on the city of Wauchula on Saturday to try and take home top honors in the Toastmasters District 47, Division F. Area 61 Fall Humorous and Evaluators Speech Contest.

Cathy Schreima, Area 61 Governor, of Sebring, has announced her theme, "Let The Good Times Roll."

The contest will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday with doors opening at 6 p.m at Riverview Heights Baptist Church, 1321 E. Main St., Wauchula.

Ron Walters of Bradenton Toastmasters will serve as the contest master.

"We're going to have a real celebration and have a lot of fun with this contest. So get ready to party and laugh a lot. I've heard three of the possible seven speeches and they are all very funny," Schreima said.

Local contestants from Sebring are Linda Udall and Mario Trevino, both from Sebring, and Eve Fay from Lake Placid. Highland's Little Theatre board member Linda Wells will be the target speaker for the evaluator's contest.

Refreshments will be served. The event is free. Donations will be accepted for the church. The contest is open to the public.

Heartland Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday at the Heacock Insurance Company on U.S. 27.

Lake Placid Toastmasters meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday at Compton Real Estate in Lake Placid.

Hardee County Toastmasters meets at noon on the second and fourth (moving to first and third in October) Wednesday at the Wauchula Chamber of Commerce.

Guests are welcome at any meeting or contest. For more information e-mail Schreima at lionlady88@gmail.com or call 382-3674 or cell 419-733-4593 or visit www.toastmasters.org.

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Here's the competition.

From Heartland TOT in Sebring

HS: Linda Udall, "Fairy Tales & Frogs"

Ev: Mario Trevino

From Hardee Co.

HS: James Braddock, "Revenge of the Baby Bovine"

Ev: Loraine Braddock

From Lake Placid

HS: Eve Fay, "Are you an addict?"

From Bradenton TM

HS: Mollie Sluss, "The Joke is on me."

Ev: Pete Blews

From Tropicana

HS: Bernadette Azai, "Germophobia"

Ev: Pat Stiles

From WRC club in Bradenton

HS: Jesse Millican, "What do I have to fear?"

Ev: Steve Zeris

Power Speakers Bradenton

HS: Mary Moeller

"A Country Boy Can Survive"

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OFFICER’S MEMBER PROFILE

How long have you worked for Manatee County? I have worked for Manatee County for 23 years. Who do you work for? I work for Manatee County Planning Department. How long have you been a member of Toastmasters? I have been a Toastmaster member for one year. Why did you join Toastmaster? I joined Toastmasters to enhance my public speaking and leadership abilities. Additionally, I want to help and encourage others interested in public speaking. What do you like about the Club? Toastmasters has an Educational Program which focuses on Competent Communication, Competent and Positive Leadership, and it encourages excellence. Though it is very important in our jobs, this training goes beyond the workplace. What we learn at Toastmasters belongs to us. We own it. No one can take it from us. Effective speaking can be utilized in every aspect of our everyday lives; at home, church, school, food store, games etc. What is your Goal? My goal is to become an exceptional, effective and vibrant public speaker. Any awards received or working on? I have received the Competent Communicator Award. I hope to be receiving the Competent Leadership award soon. Why should employees join the Toastmaster? Power Speakers MCG is the best place to learn to build our confidence and to push ourselves outside of the comfort zone. This is the place to grow. This is the place to strive for excellence in public speaking. This is a chance of a lifetime. Change must first begin in ourselves. Toastmasters offers opportunities for delivery of speeches and evaluations within and outside of the club and offers members the opportunity to participate in speech contests and leadership seminars.

STEPHANIE MORELAND, CC,

VP MEMBERSHIP

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We invite you to come visit us. We have the meeting every Friday

from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Public Works Building at 1022

26th Ave E. We have a lot of fun and listen to speeches and

evaluations. We find this to be a beneficial learning environment.

REMINDER

SEPTEMBER 18TH

12 PM – 1 PM - “MOMENT OF TRUTH”

This is a helpful tip for the members only.

Welcome New Members!!

August

John Chappie

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MEMBER PROFILE

How long have you worked for Manatee County? Started March 26, 2007 Who do you work for? Ron Schulhofer, Public Works Director How long have you been a member of Toastmasters? I am a charter member since last summer. Why did you join Toastmasters? You can always use the practice and to already be a part so I can be in position to encourage others to join. What do you like about the Club? Hearing great stories and trying to convince others MMGW is a hoax. What is your Goal? To stay sharp with speaking in general and improve my quick reaction/no preparation speaking. Any awards received or working on? Currently at the competent communicator. (first 10 speeches) Why should employees join the Toastmaster? I say this. You can have 10 people say the exact same thing to you that you don't want to hear. The one you're most likely to take the information from willingly is the one that communicated the best to you. It's all in how you say it.

CHAD BUTZOW, CC

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10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes Top executives often fall flat on their faces as speakers. How come intelligent, business-savvy people end up boring their audiences? They fail to recognize that public speaking is an acquired skill that improves with practice and honest feedback. Speaking for 20 minutes before the right group of people can do more for your career than spending a year behind a desk! Rob Sherman, an attorney and public speaker in Columbus, Ohio, says in an article in the Toastmaster magazine to avoid these mistakes:

Starting with a whimper. Don’t start with “Thank you for that kind introduction.” Start with a bang! Give the audience a startling statistic, an interesting quote, a news headline – something powerful that will get their attention immediately.

Attempting to imitate other speakers. Authenticity is lost when you aren’t yourself.

Failing to “work” the room. Your audience wants to meet you. If you don’t take time to mingle before the presentation, you lose an opportunity to enhance your credibility with your listeners.

Failing to use relaxation techniques. Do whatever it takes – listening to music, breathing deeply, shrugging your shoulders – to relieve nervous tension.

Reading a speech word for word. This will put the audience to sleep. Instead use a “keyword” outline: Look at the keyword to prompt your thoughts. Look into the eyes of the audience, then speak.

Using someone else’s stories. It’s okay to use brief quotes from other sources, but to connect with the audience, you must illustrate your most profound thoughts from your own life experiences. If you think you don’t have any interesting stories to tell, you are not looking hard enough.

Speaking without passion. The more passionate you are about your topic, the more likely your audience will act on your suggestions.

Ending a speech with questions and answers. Instead, tell the audience that you will take questions and then say, “We will move to our closing point.” After the Q and A, tell a story that ties in with your main theme, or summarize your key points. Conclude with a quote or call to action.

Failing to prepare. Your reputation is at stake every time you face an audience – so rehearse well enough to ensure you’ll leave a good impression!

Failing to recognize that speaking is an acquired skill. Effective executives learn how to present in the same way they learn to use other tools to operate their businesses.