District 26 Dialogue Page 1 WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE Volume 41, Issue 9 March 2014 D ISTRICT 26 D IALOGUE
Region 1__Serving Colorado, Wyoming and Western Nebraska INSIDE THIS ISSUE: DISTRICT GOVERNOR MURDERED! Calendar of Events 2 By Darrell Houghton CC/CL, VPE at Gates to Excellence News & Notes 2 703 Gallons 3 District 26 Marketing Activities 3 Lance Miller Wows TLIs 4 Get Guests 5 Emphasize Strong v. Weak Words 6 Contests Expand Experience 6 A Toastmaster's Perspective on an 7 NSA Meeting Absolutely Articulate Celebrates 7 Five Year Anniversary Sometimes It’s About Learning… 8 Another Success Story 8 Left to right: Dianne Sundet (Baroness Ravioli), Gordon Muschett (Congressman Darrin Toosteal), Darrell Building Enthusiastic Leaders at the 9 Houghton (Don Wannabe), Donna Pollack (Vanessa Crooner), Svetla Kavakova (Rebecca Ravioli), Ray Mohr D26 Spring Conference (Capo “Toto” Tequila), Niki Konkoly (Donna Wannabe), Pam Hertzog (Vicky Ravioli), Tom Hobbs (Don “Big Jim” Ravioli/Mayor “Big Bill” Bumpkin), Jenny Powers (Carrie Crooner-Ravioli), David Sargent (Al Capone), Deborah Musings from the Editor 10 Uriel (Inspector Neville “The Nose” Nutella)
ell, not exactly. Rather, it was Don “Big Awards were given to Niki Konkoly (“Donna Pass it on! Jim” Ravioli, played by Tom Hobbs, who Wannabe”) for Best Costume, Tom Hobbs (“Don W was the unlucky character murdered at a ‘Big Jim’ Ravioli”) for Best Performer, and Gordon Let the rest of your club Murder Mystery party and pot luck hosted by Muschett (“Congressman Toosteal”) for the know the March Gates to Excellence on the evening of February character who acquired the most money. Super Dialogue is available. 1st, 2014. With a Roaring 20‘s theme, “Murder at Sleuth certificates were given to Tom Hobbs the Four Deuces” gave the members of Gates to (reincarnated as “Mayor Bumpkin”) and Area Excellence and their guests an opportunity to Governor Pam Hertzog (“Vicky Ravioli”), for solving dress up as gangsters, molls, flappers, corrupt the murder of “Big Jim”, and to Gordon Muschett politicians, and many other interesting characters. for solving the murder of Baroness Ravioli. There was plenty of bribery and back stabbing The District 26 Dialogue is published going on throughout the evening as members Interested in hosting your own murder mystery monthly to keep the members informed attempted to solve the murder of “Big Jim”, while party? Here are some resources to ensure your about events in the district and to present trying to keep their secrets from other characters. party is the bees knees: educational and motivational material to help in the maintenance of clubs and the Baroness Ravioli, played by Dianne Sundet, had Tips for Hosting your Own Murder Mystery Game: service to our members. Unsolicited articles the unfortunate luck to also be murdered during http://www.great-murder-mystery-games.com/ are encouraged. Submissions should be the evening. party-tips.html newsworthy, informative, thought- Murder Mystery Rules, Guidelines, Tips, & Tricks: provoking and of district-wide appeal. While the evening was fun for everyone, it was also an opportunity to practice many of the skills http://www.host-a-murder.com/guidelines.html Include web links if available. For more Dinner and a Murder (vender where we purchased details go to http://d26Toastmasters.org/ we have learned while in Toastmasters. Dressing “Murder at the Four Deuces”) WP/news-events/district-26-dialogue/. up in character gave us an opportunity to practice vocal variety and to use body language in creative http://www.dinnerandamurder.com/ ways. Tuning in to the conversations of other characters allowed us to practice our listening Googling “murder mystery kits” also brings up an skills, and answering the probing questions from amazing number of resources. Find a club other characters was like answering Table Topic questions.
Page 2 Volume 41, Issue 9
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS March 2014 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 Mar 1 – District Officer Training and OPEN HOUSE Mar 1 – District Executive Committee Meeting 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (following training) Mar 1 – Remind clubs to submit membership dues renewals online 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Mar 3 – 43 Minute District Leadership Conference Call 1st Mondays Mar 31 – Talk up 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Toastmasters membership contest ends
See the district calendar 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 for more details 30 31
NEWS & NOTES
This does not constitute an endorsement by Area Contest Schedule Toastmasters International nor District 26 Celebrating 10 years Toastmasters. It does, however, get my Mar 15 – S2 International Speech and Table personal endorsement. You might consider or Topics Contests using it for recruitment. — GSS more in March! Mar 15 – E6 & E7 International and Table Topics Speech Contests Mar 20 – S5 International Speech & Table Topics Joe added the following to his article on Colorado Springs Toastmasters Club, 555 – Contest 66 yrs. Mar 21 – F2 & F4 International and Table Topics page 8: Cheyenne Toastmasters Club, 798 – 64 yrs. Contest Pueblo Toastmasters Club, 795 – 64 yrs. Skyline Club, 1038 – 62 yrs. Mar 22 – E4 and 5 International and Table Top- What can you do? I hope this encourages Earlybird Club, 1268 – 61 yrs. ics Speech Contests you to Front Range Toastmasters Club, 2668 – Mar 22 – F1 International Speech and Table 56 yrs. Topics Contests #1 enroll in How to Speak for Fun and Profit Toast Of Inverness Club, 4128 – 34 yrs. Mar 22 – S6 International Speech and Table Seminar where you get 400 groups who Sunshine Valley Club, 4469 – 33 yrs. Topics Contest need speakers every week Downtown Speakeasy Club, 7312 – 25 yrs. Mar 23 – S 1, 3 & 4 International Speech and #2 Join Toastmasters near your home Loquacious Lunch Bunch Toastmasters Club, 7329 – 25 yrs. Table Topics Contests #3 Remember you can count your talks in Pathfinder Club, 8593 – 22 yrs. the community towards your CC as long as Mar 29 – N3 International Speech and Table Lodo Toastmasters Club, 9839 – 20 yrs. Topics Contest you bring an evaluator with you. Toast & Jam Club, 4558 – 16 yrs. Mar 29 – F5 International and Table Topics TLC Club, 7028 – 16 yrs. GO GO! Evening Stars Club, 7448 – 11 yrs. Speech Contest By enrolling in How to Speak for Fun and Toastmasters at Memorial Hospital Club, Mar 29 – F6 International and Table Topics Profit www.SabahSpeaks.com and joining 644254 – 10 yrs. Speech Contest Toastmasters www.Toastmasters.org Joe Mar 29 – M3, M4 International Speech and Table Topics Contest Sabah will pay your Toastmaster dues for 6 Please see the D26 website for a Mar 29 – E1,2, & 3 International and Table Top- months (up to $50). complete list. ics Speech Contests
District 26 Dialogue Page 3 703 GALLONS Tom Hobbs, DTM District 26 Governor
“Uncle Tom, We need More!” My 4 year old excited as she got more excited. As we niece just kept saying it over and over and laughed and she squealed more people over till the whole park knew it. The harder I came. I didn’t know when she would have pushed the higher she went on the swing. had enough. More Uncle Tom, more she She was determined to make it high above shouted. She counted how many we made. the sky. You too can make it high in the sky Well in her own way of counting that is. 100. when you ask for just a little more. More. 500. More 600. Finally 700 seemed to satisfy her. The soap was almost out and I Karen knew how to ask for just a little more used the last I had to fill the tub. We got 1 of anything. If she reached just a little farther more big bubble. Then she and the crowd she could get the cookies on the counter. begged for maybe 1 more bubble. We tipped Just stand on her tiptoes and she could reach the tub to get the very last of the soap. 1 the light switch. Each time she reached the more bubble was made. rewards were clear. All it took was just a little more. After we left she looked at me and said, “If we had just 1 more we would have had the With her big eyes her excitement was easy to best day ever.” see. When she needed just a little more reach she would wiggle and she laughed. And She often referred to the time when, “We soon someone would come help. almost had the best day ever. If we only could have had 703 gallons of soap bubbles.” I The day we made soap bubbles in the park knew it was not the soap but the enthusiasm was awesome. Not the little ones but the we generated that drew the large crowd into Many members of District 26 Toastmasters really big ones made with a hula hoop. The the park. They cheered us both on. have wondered why I encourage people to bubbles were so big you could stand in them. bring 703 gallons of enthusiasm to their This did take a lot of water and soap in a big As she is no longer with us, I strive for the meetings and events. Now you know the rest tub. The more we made the more people in Best Day Ever. My desire is to wish everyone of the story. the park came to watch. The crowd was 703 gallons of enthusiasm.
DISTRICT 26 MARKETING ACTIVITIES Deborah Frauenfelder, DTM, Lt. Governor Marketing
Students, students, students were student union building. If you would like to everywhere on a cold Colorado winter day visit, or join the club, please contact Tyler then the Metropolitan State University (MSU) Antikainen at Toastmasters club on the Auraria Campus [email protected] for the held their Kickoff meeting. We had a small room schedule. The club will charter once but dedicated audience with a diverse they have 20+ members (17 of which must background attend the meeting on 2/4/14. be new Toastmasters). Thus, this club will Their second meeting attracted the attention soon need 2 mentors. of our District Governor, Tom Hobbs, who attended to evaluate a fantastic icebreaker. The Department of Energy kickoff meeting is Since MSU Toastmasters meets on the scheduled for 2/26/14 in Golden, CO. Two Aurora Campus, they are forming an open mentors are needed to help this club which community club – which means anyone can will charter soon after their kickoff meeting. attend the meetings. While, they are focusing Send requests to mentor either of these new on attracting MSU students, students from clubs to Deborah Frauenfelder at the Community College of Denver, and [email protected]. Colorado University – Denver are welcome to attend the meetings and join the club. MSU Thank you District 26 Toastmasters for Toastmasters meets the 1st, 3rd and 5th continuing to market Toastmasters within Tuesdays at 12:30 to 1:45 in the Tivoli your communities!
Page 4 Volume 41, Issue 9
LANCE MILLER WOWS TLIS Linda Rhea, DTM Lt. Governor Education & Training
“The Dynamics of Club Leadership”
Building Champion Members, Club Officers, and Clubs was 2005 World Champion of Public Speaking Lance Miller’s theme at 5 TLI (Toastmaster Leadership Institutes (TLI) January 24 to 28, 2014 in Fort Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Edwards and his visit to Cloud Nine Club officers in Aspen. His Champion message centered on 3 areas: Club Officer Teams, Club Success Strategies and Marketing.
CLUB OFFICER TEAM leading as a TEAM is the key to a successful Club. He explained the way each officer touches the member and how club officer functions work together to build the club success. One suggestion is to complete as much of a new member application as possible in advance including the amount due for the month so it is fast and simple to sign the member up.
CLUB SUCCESS centers on delivering what the members want. His club dropped to 5 members and then grew to 96 and 4th in the world. He said surveys reveal the top 2 reasons members keep coming back is the fun of the meeting and the friendships. His club then began to deliver fun and friendship along with the program of each member completing an educational level each year. They have extra meetings and potlucks to get the members the speeches and camaraderie they want.
MARKETING ideas included Social Media, Special events and Speechcraft. His #1 tip is sending emails about each meeting to the clubs email list comprised of everyone who ever visited or expressed interest. It is remarkable how many members the list brings – even after 2 or 12 years. The list is king. Does you club have one and use it?
Let us know your secrets to club success!
District 26 Dialogue Page 5
GET GUESTS Maura Thompson, CC, CL Public Relations Officer
2.5 Keep it branded! http:// information like date, time and location. www.toastmasters.org/logos Link a map or use a photo (and TAG it) Read more here 3. Be sure to add photos of your club https://www.facebook.com/help/18571 members and TAG them. This allows 6894811068?sr=4&sid=0dQouYzEBcD member’s friends to see the photo and Fgiy0k follow it back to the Cub FB page and widens the Club’s audience. Read more 2. Invite people to attend. Read more here here https://www.facebook.com/help/21385 https://www.facebook.com/help/12497 1145302199?sr=7&sid=0x7w4XPZVDg 0597582337?sr=1&sid=01GlXwFYxTuK SDqrP9 dAe8g 3. During the announcement portion of 4. You can share all kinds of information on each meeting encourage your Club the Club page, upcoming Club meeting members to RSVP to the next Meeting info like speakers and evaluators, Event AND to invite at least 5 friends to announcements from previous Club attend the meeting. It only takes 2-3 meeting, Club Ribbon winners (include minutes for them to do. photos and TAG), Club and District Contest info, Conference, TLI Count the Guests It’s a fact. Your Club can’t grow without information, Distinguished Club status, Lance Miller pointed out it took 8 invites from guests. To get guests, you have to get the special events like Picnics and Bowling his co-worker before he attended a meeting, word out about your Club. What is the gatherings, Club member’s so while you might not see immediate results, quickest and easiest way to get word out and accomplishments like CC, CL, ABL etc., imagine how many guests you could get after guests into your club? Invite them via the list goes on and on. 4 months if 15 of you members invite 5 Facebook. Facebook (FB) is an excellent way people each, that is 75 invites per meeting!! to reach out to a large number of people and 5. Send an email to your Club members creating an account is both FREE and EASY. (with link to the FB page) inviting Club Lastly members to join the Club’s new page. Here is how easy it can be: Read more here Please be sure to “LIKE” District 26 Facebook page for other ideas on the types of things to 1. Find someone in your Club who is https://www.facebook.com/help/17433 3482624856?sr=4&sid=0I2S8WuEN03 be shared already a regular Facebooker (this helps https://www.facebook.com/D26Toastmaster keeping posts up to date since they are DZtXIp s on anyway). Questions? Go to https://www.facebook.com/help/ Also email me [email protected] an 2. Create a FB account. You can either invite to your Facebook page so I can “LIKE” make it a Group or a Page. The main CONGRATULATIONS!! YOUR CLUB NOW HAS A it. difference is control of who sees what is FACEBOOK PAGE! on the page and who can post to it. Read See you on Facebook! more here Here is the easy invite part https://www.facebook.com/ 1. Always create an Event for your Club help/155275634539412 meetings, include all pertinent
Colorado Springs Toastmasters Leadership Institute
Page 6 Volume 41, Issue 9
EMPHASIZE STRONG V. WEAK WORDS Mitch Krayton, DTM Evening Stars 7448
awkward. conversational voice and chat with each person in the room. Let me give you an example with this simple sentence: "The man and the woman met As you make eye contact during your speech, another couple at a recent conference." you are communicating with that one person for the moment. As you move your eyes to the In normal conversation, we would emphasize next person, you continue your conversation the nouns and verbs. In grammar, (you do with the new person. By the time you finish, remember your grammar?) that would be the you will have related with everyone. And that subject, or the actor; the predicate, or the is why eye contact is so important for action; and the object, the thing or person speakers. acted upon. If you are speaking in your club, you already In presenter mode, the emphasize is oddly know your fellow members. You already have with helper words; the articles, adjectives, conversations when you meet. Just continue conjunctions, prepositions and adverbs. your conversation when you rise to speak. While these are important parts of speech, they generally should not be stressed when If you are speaking to a new group, meet with speaking. as many people as you can before you speak. That way you will have friends in the room Let me highlight words in the above sentence you can make eye contact with and converse to make this clearer. with during your talk. We do that with guests Feedback is a great benefit of our Here is the sentence in conversational mode: to our club, and it works when we are the Toastmasters experience. We learn from our "The man and the woman met another couple guest, too. peers and exchange supporting comments to at a recent conference." If you take out all the Make a considered effort to be yourself. empower us to grow. While listening to others other words, you can still get the message. Connect with people as a speaker in a speak, we discover we share things we do who: man-woman; what: met; whom: couple; natural, conversational speech pattern, just well and identify things that interfere with our where: conference. Man-woman met couple as would on the phone or when sharing a message. This allows us to work on improving conference. drink with a friend. Do not try to be something our presenting style. Here it is again in presenter mode: "The man else. It is inauthentic. As one who loves language and the spoken and the woman met another couple at a Your audience will appreciate that you are work, I find that speakers often get in front of recent conference." communicating with them, not at them. Most a room, and they do a Jekyll & Hyde Take out the other words and you get: the- importantly, your message will be heard and transformation. They go from 'member' mode you will be remembered for your ease and to 'presenter' mode. By that, I mean they stop and-the-another-a-recent. warmth. That cannot be emphasized enough. using their natural, conversational voice and I know you have heard this, I hear it all too put on "the speaker" voice. Their words are often. Which sounds more artificial to you? ————————————————————————————-- noticeably different in tone, rate and pattern. Which conveys a better meaning? Mitch Krayton is a Distinguished Toastmaster To sound more official, or maybe because of If you don't want to sound awkward, formal, and member for more the 26 years. He is nerves, speakers fall into this trap. They, pedantic or weird when you speak, just currently serving as VP PR for Evening Stars place the emphasis on the wrong words, remember that public speaking is just a Advanced Toastmasters Club 7448. He is in syllables and phrases in their text. Instead of conversation between you and a room full of the travel business and has been active in sounding more important, they only sound people, one person at a time. Please use your District 26 since moving to Colorado in 2012. CONTESTS EXPAND EXPERIENCE Linda Rhea, DTM Lt. Governor Education & Training
Even if you do not want to be a contestant we need you Registration and Refreshment team get to meet & greet at Area, Division and District Contests. Here is what is in soooo many people. it for you: Audience gets to hear amazing speeches. Timers get a chance to focus on the speakers from Contact your Area Governor or Linda Rhea to volunteer great seats. for 1 or more contests near you! Counters get the inside scoop as they count ballots. Sergeant-at-Arms helps Table Topics Contestants make I don’t know what your future will be, but I do know those great entrances. of us who will be happy are those who are serving oth- Judges get a chance to study speeches from a different ers, to paraphrase M3 Area Governor Mike Hayden perspective.
District 26 Dialogue Page 7
A TOASTMASTER'S PERSPECTIVE ON AN NSA MEETING: Terri Larsen Speakers’ Bureau Chair
I attended my first National Speakers Regardless of your aspirations, you might circumstances to move people. You must get Association of Colorado (NSAColorado.org) appreciate a few nuggets of wisdom gleaned your audience to feel the down side of the meeting on Friday, 7 Feb 2014. I saw a few from this stimulating meeting. Robert McKee, problem to lift them to the maximum familiar faces, and many new ones. Like who wrote the popular book, "Story" attended exhilaration of your solution. Toastmasters meetings and events, everyone virtually via Skype. Michael Grinder (rhymes was warm and welcoming. Unlike our with tinder) gave us an enthralling lesson, One more nugget of wisdom to share from meetings and gatherings, the focus clearly including activities, in on-stage body this meeting came from Michael Grinder, who characterized personalities as either cats or differed. In this group, speaking means language. income. To these professionals, stage dogs. In short, cats thrive on tension & risk presence, their message, and their delivery Firstly, I must confess my affinity for data. whereas dogs prefer routine & tranquility. Even so, I hear from multiple sources, Each of us identifies more with one or the all matter for their livelihoods. including both of these speakers, that the other; this viewpoint helps us understand our Some Toastmasters may naturally gravitate most effective persuasion comes from audiences better. The dogs in the audience to the NSA as a next step in their professional stories. This meeting added more data points listen without judgment, magnanimously development. With the Winter Olympics to push me even more towards stories. See? I desiring success for us as speakers. It takes getting underway on the date of this meeting, can't help it! I think I will compromise by more to impress the cats; our delivery must an athletic analogy comes to mind. Attending "smuggling data into my speeches," demonstrate intelligence. We can achieve regular toastmasters meetings keeps you in strategically tucking compelling numbers in this through strategic use of pauses shape for public speaking, i.e., thinking on between emotional stories. coordinated with gestures. This will please your feet, preparing presentations, and the cats, and the dogs won't mind that we've Another point firmly emphasized by both conducting meetings. If you aspire to more employed a sophisticated skill. than just fitness, then you will have the speakers at this meeting has to do with the ambition train for competition. Not everyone dichotomy of positive and negative. We all If you consider yourself more of a who trains to compete makes the Olympic recognize the power of positivity in our lives, professional speaker more so than simply team, but they definitely play on higher level, our relationships, and our speeches, right? Of one who stays in speaking shape, I highly and can even make a living as a professional course! This doesn't mean you must eschew recommend attending one of the NSA's athlete. Which best describes you? Fitness all negativity. On the contrary, you cannot monthly events. move an audience with positivity alone. It buff or aspiring olympian? takes a contrast between utopia and tragic
ABSOLUTELY ARTICULATE CELEBRATES FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY Elinora Reynolds, DTM VP Education/Co-Founder Absolutely Articulate
run a successful, diverse business club.” Guest speaker, JOE SABAH, co-founder of the National Speakers Association-Colorado Chapter and 2009 Toastmasters International District 26 “Communication & Leadership Award Recipient” opened the meeting with a brief walk down memory lane concerning Co-Founders & Sisters BETTY FUN- DERBURKE, DTM and ELINORA REYNOLDS, DTM. Notorious for al- ways encouraging others to stand up, speak out and do more, Sabah reminded Toastmasters and guests that we are all children of God and are therefore, powerful beyond measure. Sabah concluded his Speech of Inspiration by using his popular tagline – “You don’t have to be good to start – you have to start to be good!” At the end of this historic meeting, Toastmaster BEATRICE BRUNO dedicated a song and toast to the Absolutely Articulate Club. Beatrice Bruno (also Betty Funderburke, Joe Sabah, and Elinora Reynolds known as “Drill Sergeant Of Life”) is a 15-year Active Duty Army Veter- an, author, mentor, counselor and ordained Gospel Minister. As cov- The Absolutely Articulate Toastmasters Club #1272692 recently cele- ered in her books, Bruno has found that people from all walks of life brated its Year Five Anniversary as a thriving president’s distin- have the same need: to get over self and get out of their own way so guished club at the Garden Plaza of Aurora, 14221 E. Evans. Con- they can get what they want out of life. Toastmaster MONICA BROWN, sistent with their club motto – “Lift As You Climb,” Club President CC was commended for coordinating activities for the club’s anniver- Betty Funderburke stated “Our club is made up of the right people to sary program.
Page 8 Volume 41, Issue 9 SOMETIMES IT’S ABOUT LEARNING… Chris Mortenson, ACS, ALB (still) VP PR, UCCS Toastmasters
shocked to find struggling Toastmasters club Not About Getting Credit on the US Embassy, which was walking What are your Toastmasters goals? How distance. I helped that club as I could for a important is it to you that you reach them? I few months until I was reassigned across used to believe working on goals was critical town. In Canada I hooked up with the oil to moving forward and without them you will company’s brand new closed club. I started not learn or grow. Experience taught me that visiting as a guest, but soon they realized I isn’t always true. had much more experience than they did, so they let me join. I informally mentored them Within my first year I had my CC and CL, and for a year-and-a-half. by 2 ½ years I had my ACS and ALB… then life happened. So in the last 4 ½ years I haven’t moved any closer to my goal of DTM, but so what? I I lived in Colorado working for the US Air stayed involved with Toastmasters helping Force in June ’09 when I was handpicked for clubs and staying active whenever and a 6-month assignment in California. When I however I could. Now I can say I have been a returned home, I was chosen to deploy to Iraq part of clubs in several countries, open clubs for a year; Surprise! Soon after coming home and closed clubs, and new and old clubs. I I retired from the Air Force and landed a job may not have the title DTM but I have grown commuting to Canada weekly as a consultant as a speaker, evaluator, club mentor and as to an oil company. a person. Each of these moves halted any progress When life changes your plans, sometimes you towards my DTM, but I always kept involved have to change your goals and turn obstacles with Toastmasters however I could. In into opportunities. I still want that elusive one… DTM, here I come. If not, I’ll find a local California I found a club on base and visited DTM, but my timeline is flexible. I’m back in club, and I’ll help however I can. as often as possible. I gave evaluations and Colorado now, looking for a local job. If I get spoke a few times too. And in Baghdad I was
ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY Joe Sabah Co-Founder NSA Colorado
years.) her 10th talk to receive her Competent Communicator award. HERE'S HOW SHE When I handed her the telephone, she said, "Not me! I'm afraid of the tele- DID IT! WOW! phone." Debra gave a talk for the Malley Center, a retirement village in Englewood. She Fast forward to 2005 she overcame the gave not a 7 minute talk. But rather 60 fear because I gave her a telephone minutes. And Debra spoke to a standing script which started with "Could you help room audience of 45 people. They paid me please?" her $100.00. For the past 8 years Debra makes over Of course she invited a Toastmaster 1,000 phone calls a year updating my evaluator to evaluate her talk and got databases … And can't wait to make her credit for CC #10. next call. Joe Sabah For over 8 years I have been encourag- 303-722-7200 ing Debra to join Toastmasters. email [email protected] "Yeah, yeah ...one of these days." she www.JoeSabah.com Once upon a time there was a girl name would say. Finally in January 2013 she Debra Johnson Debra. She came into my life on Mother's joined Toastmasters South Suburban 720-922-3458 Day 2004. (I came home from rehab Club AND the rest in history. [email protected] after a stroke. She has helped me for 10 On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 she gave
District 26 Dialogue Page 9
Building Enthusiastic Leaders at the D26 Spring Conference
District 26 is hard at work planning a fabulous Spring Conference set for May 16 & 17 at the beautiful Embassy Suites Conference Center in Loveland, Colorado. Conferences are a great time to recharge those Toastmaster batteries and connect with friends & Toastmasters you've not seen in a while.
Been there, done that... you say? Ahh, not so fast ... I say!
Time honored tradition certainly has its place at the Conference... this year we are infusing special touches to add a bit of Vibrancy. You'll see notices, reminders and "Save The Date" memo's, Please pencil these dates into your calendar, plan ahead... plan early and Plan To Join Us at the D26 Spring Conference.
EVERYTHING you need to know is listed here...
Conference Dates Friday May 16 (5P-9P) A SPECIAL night you're sure to remember! Saturday May 17 (8A-10P) Keynote & training by the inspirational Mark Brown, Two Contests, A Community Leadership Luncheon, Educational Sessions and a beautiful evening Banquet. Of course, there are also a D26 Business Meeting, Awards & NEW District Leadership induction too!
Early Early Bird deadline: *March 20th Early Bird deadline: ENDS May 7th This year you will have 2 opportunities to SAVE $$$ *plan early & save more! You will find ALL the registration details at: www.d26toastmasters.org
The Conference Hotel is offering Special room Rates ... Stay the night and relax!
Speaker Proposals for Educational break-out sessions: OPEN NOW through March 15th*. Download the proposal form from www.d26toastmasters.org : Speaker Tab & follow the instructions
D26 Got Talent? Stage Experience, singer/dancer? Comedian, Impersonator, Magician? Maybe it is your profession, maybe it's your passion... Share your Talent with us!
Drop us a note at: [email protected] through March 15th.
Want to Sponsor an event? Your own Company or the one you work for… We have a program to fit EVERY Budget...
Gain exposure through D26 from Wyoming to Nebraska to the entire State of Colorado!
Support the Silent Auction! We'd love your support this year… This fund raising program provides a FUN way to contribute to the overall success of the event. Members look forward to bidding on items...and pick up their PRIZE with a smile on their face! SO many ways to help... Donate a Gift basket, basket with a special theme: sports, relaxation, food or drink, event tickets, the Sky's the limit! Be creative, be crafty! Prizes awarded for Best Basket, most bids! Watch for more information coming soon…
*District Officer Candidates and District Contest Contestants should not speak at the conference educational sessions.
We look forward to seeing you there! For more conference information or to volunteer contact: Co-Chair Lori High, [email protected] Co-Chair Rhea Thompson, [email protected] Linda Rhea, [email protected]
Page 10 Volume 41, Issue 9
A BOUT T OASTMASTERS D ISTRICT 2 6 , R EGION 1 WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE
Publisher / Governor Tom Hobbs, DTM Phone: 303-671-0469 Email: [email protected] District 26 includes Colorado, the Eastern Slope of Wyoming, and the Nebraska panhandle. It was formed Editor in 1948, with Gordon Merrick serving as its first district governor. Gordon S. Savage, DTM Four past District 26 governors have risen to the international level: 36923 Forest Trail Elizabeth, CO 80107-8126 Don Paape was international director, 1966 - 68 and international president 1972 -73. It was during his Phone: 303-646-0547 term that women were first admitted to Toastmasters International. Watt Pye was district governor from E-mail: [email protected] 1969-70 and international director from 1970 -72; Dorothy Chapman served as district governor, 1989-90 and international director from 1990-92; and Beth Boaz was D26 governor from 1995-96 and internation- Public Relations Officer (PRO) al director, 1997-99. Marilyn Boland served as the first female District 26 governor in 1975 -76. Maura Thompson, CC, CL E-mail: [email protected] In 2000, Ed Tate, a member of Cherry Creek Toastmasters, won the World Championship of Public Speak- ing. Ed is now the principal of a professional development firm that provides keynote and endnote presen- Title & Design tations, workshops, and other training. Carol A. Harris, ACB E-mail: [email protected] In 2007, Rory Vaden, also a member of Cherry Creek Toastmasters, was the first runner-up in the World Championship of Public Speaking. He has since co-founded a multi-million dollar public training company and been featured on Oprah Radio with Dr. Oz and in SUCCESS™ Magazine. Byron Embry of Pikes Peak Toastmasters was a major league baseball pitcher before he became a finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking in 2009. He later founded Closing Remarks and has be- come a keynote speaker and author. Ian J. Humphrey of Simply Speaking was in Toastmasters little more than a year when he progressed to the final round of the World Championship of Public Speaking in 2010. Ian is now an inspirational speaker who reaches out to youth at risk. ▪ VISIT US at d26Toastmasters.org/WP/ M USINGS FROM THE E DITOR Gordon S. Savage, DTM
speeches they had given. The Club Social contest winner received a trophy that they got to keep. Functions The get together was held at a Does your club hold social restaurant that club didn’t functions? If not, you’re normally meet in, and was missing a great opportunity to consistently well attended. Our Mission draw your members together. Another club I belonged to had It doesn’t have to be a murder a regular Christmas get We strive to create a bond mystery. You just need to get together. It featured awards among all the clubs of the together in an informal for accomplishments over the district by sharing our atmosphere. Two of my clubs past year. Members were experiences, resources, and combine business with recognized for everything from knowledge through an pleasure by having a potluck achieving formal interactive media. followed by (or before) a light- communication awards to Our goal is to make every weight meeting. Other clubs bringing in the most guests. In Toastmaster feel empowered, to both learn and pick up CL regularly have a get together fact everyone got an award of credit. appreciated and connected. that is strictly social. How some kind. about an Executive Committee Yes, it takes some planning Whatever you choose to do, it potluck? The whole club and effort, but it’s worth it. I Please send your questions, tips, com- needs an organizer and a ments, and articles to the editor, gordon- should be invited to EC know, there are any number of [email protected], by the 15th of each team to set it up. Guess what, meetings, you know. excuses for not doing it, but month in order to appear in the next the Competent Leadership that’s what they are, excuses. issue. Visit the web site for submission manual has requirements for guidelines. All articles are subject to Back when the Toastmaster of Do you want a strong club or editing to fit allotted space and submis- the Year was tied to a point club special events chairs and not? If you do, stop making sion does not guarantee publication. system, one of my clubs held a workers: “Organization and excuses and start putting six month contest where the Delegation” and “Team together social functions. You District 26 Dialogue © 2014 speakers were based on the Building.” In other words social won’t regret it. events can be an opportunity All rights reserved. points they had earned for the