® Twww.toastmasters.orgOASTMASTE AUGUSTR 2013 10 FORMER BLUE ANGELS PILOT CLEARS PATH FOR TRAVELING EXECUTIVES 16 COLLEGE CLUBS IGNITE GROWTH IN BUSINESS MAJORS 26 TIPS FOR NURTURING FUTURE LEADERS A GARDENER’S APPROACH How to use tools to harvest ideas for speeches. Page 22 8.13 Cover_Garden Speaker.FINAL.indd 1 7/8/13 9:36 AM TOASTMASTER® PUBLISHER Daniel Rex VIEWPOINT MANAGING EDITOR Suzanne Frey SENIOR EDITOR Paul Sterman ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mary Nesfield JUNIOR WRITER Jennie Harris OUR THOUGHTS TODAY EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Julie E. Kim ART DIRECTION Susan Campbell BECOME REALITY TOMORROW GRAPHIC DESIGN Deidre Gaffney The month of August is special TI OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS because it is when the Toastmasters Founder Dr. Ralph C. Smedley (1878-1965) International Convention is held. It is 2012-2013 OFFICERS International President John Lau, DTM the time of year when as Toastmasters Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia we have a “family reunion” and get to International President-Elect George Yen, DTM Taipei, Taiwan meet members from around the world First Vice President Mohammed Murad, DTM Dubai, United Arab Emirates and learn first-hand about their journey Second Vice President Jim Kokocki, DTM in Toastmasters. By meeting people from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Immediate Past President Michael Notaro, DTM diverse cultures we also have the opportunity Alameda, California, USA Executive Director Daniel Rex to learn about their cultures. Mission Viejo, California Secretary-Treasurer Sally Newell Cohen I encourage you to travel to Cincinnati, Mission Viejo, California Ohio, August 21–24, to attend the convention. On behalf of the Toastmasters Board of 2012-2013 DIRECTORS Directors, I welcome you to experience this James Sultan, DTM Kristina Kihlberg, DTM Kirkland, Washington Pompano Beach, Florida life-changing event! Assigned to Region 1 Assigned to Region 8 Mike Barsul, DTM Wendy Harding, DTM The first convention I attended was in the year 2000. It was an eye-opening San Francisco, California Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada experience, as I got to meet world leaders, past international presidents and Assigned to Region 2 Assigned to Region 9 David McCallister, DTM Don Griffith, DTM directors, top district leaders and other fellow members. I also met two of Fort Worth, Texas Phoenix, Arizona Assigned to Region 3 Assigned to Region 10 my Toastmasters mentors. Since then, I have attended every convention. Patricia Hannan, DTM George Thomas, DTM Wahoo, Nebraska Doha, Qatar Assigned to Region 4 Assigned to Region 11 Andrew Little, DTM Mike Helm, DTM New Berlin, Wisconsin Perth, Western Australia, Australia If we are confident in our ability to be Assigned to Region 5 Assigned to Region 12 Lori Lococo, DTM Balraj Arunasalam, DTM Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada Colombo, Sri Lanka successful, we will achieve our goals and Assigned to Region 6 Assigned to Region 13 Viki Kinsman, DTM Joseph Gomez, DTM Oakton, Virginia Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia success will follow. Assigned to Region 7 Assigned to Region 14 On a separate note, August is the second month into the 2013–2014 TOASTMASTERS program year. Each year, I set a personal Toastmasters goal. Have you set INTERNATIONAL P.O. Box 9052 • Mission Viejo, CA 92690 U.S.A. your goals for the program year? If you are a club leader, have you worked 949-858-8255 • Fax: 949-858-1207 Voicemail: 949-835-1300 with the members of your club to decide on their educational goals? Set www.toastmasters.org/members achievable goals, and make them measurable, specific and realistic. Evaluate CONTACTING WORLD HEADQUARTERS your progress every month, and always have a contingency plan. For information on joining We share an important responsibility in upholding our Toastmasters values, or building a club, visit: www.toastmasters.org and in sharing the benefits with our friends, co-workers and family members Article submission: [email protected] Letters to the Editor: [email protected] as they learn and grow. As these new members undergo their transformation To change address, log in to: www.toastmasters.org/members process, we as more experienced members serve as role models. Our actions should echo the organization’s vision, mission and core values. The TOASTMASTER Magazine (ISSN 00408263) is published monthly by Toastmasters International, Inc., 23182 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, Our thoughts today will become our reality tomorrow. If we are confident CA 92688, U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Mission Viejo, CA and additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send address change to The TOASTMASTER in our ability to be successful, we will achieve our goals and success will Magazine, P.O. Box 9052, Mission Viejo, CA 92690, U.S.A. Published to promote the ideas and goals of Toastmasters International, a follow. Let us work together in the pursuit of excellence, for the benefit nonprofit educational organization of clubs throughout the worlddedicated to teaching skills in public speaking and leadership. Members’ subscriptions are of our communities. By becoming effective as communicators in society, included in the $36 semi-annual dues. 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JOHN LAU, DTM International President WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE 2 WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE www.toastmasters.org Viewpoint-Aug 13.indd 2 7/8/13 9:37 AM TABLE OF CONTENTS August 2013 Volume 79, No.8 DEPARTMENTS VIEWPOINT: OUR THOUGHTS TODAY 2 BECOME REALITY TOMORROW BY JOHN LAU, DTM International President LETTERS 4 MY TURN: WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS 5 Toastmasters’ founder shares his vision. BY RALPH C. SMEDLEY AROUND THE GLOBE 6 MEMBER PROFILE: DONNIE 22 1 0 COCHRAN, ACB, CL: UP IN THE AIR Former Blue Angels commander soars as a speaker at Coca-Cola. BY JULIE BAWDEN-DAVIS HOW TO: THE RELUCTANT LEADER 26 Rise to the occasion—because someone has to. BY LYNN MARIE CHERRY, CC, CL NEWS FROM TI: IN MEMORY OF 27 HELEN BLANCHARD, 1926–2013 First female International President 16 10 was an inspirational leader. BY PAUL STERMAN ABOUT TI: HELLO, HOW MAY 28 I HELP YOU? FEATURES Member Support team strives to WHEN CLUBS MEAN BUSINESS wow you with their service. 16 Clubs at business schools give students BY JENNIE HARRIS an entrepreneurial edge. FUNNY YOU SHOULD SAY THAT: BY JENNIFER L. BLANCK, DTM 30 POOL RULES Trying to follow them leaves my head swimming. LESSONS FROM A GARDEN SPEAKER Follow the path of a green thumb to reap BY JOHN CADLEY 22 presentation rewards. 31 TRAVELING TOASTMASTER BY COLLEEN PLIMPTON, ACB, CL ARTICLES FROM ACTOR TO TOASTMASTER Since 1924, Toastmasters International has been recognized as the leading How I gained the courage to be me. organization dedicated to communication and leadership skill development. 12 Through its worldwide network of clubs, each week Toastmasters helps more BY JAMES WANTZ, ACS, ALB than a quarter million men and women of every ethnicity, education level and READ IT FOR RICHES profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the 14 How my business benefits from the confidence to lead others. Toastmaster magazine. By regularly giving speeches, gaining feedback, leading teams and guiding BY LESLEY STEPHENSON, ACG, CL others to achieve their goals, leaders emerge. They learn to tell their stories. They listen and answer. They plan and lead. They give feedback—and accept it. GO BACK TO COLLEGE— They find their path to leadership. 20 AS THE TEACHER! Toastmasters International. Where Leaders Are Made. Speak at alumni events to boost your career. AUGUST 2013 BY JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM TOASTMASTER 3 3 TOC 08.13.indd 3 7/8/13 9:38 AM LETTERS TO THE TOASTMASTER AROUND THE GLOBE WHAT’S THE BUZZ? MEMBER MOMENT INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE TIP WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO A VISIT A TOASTMASTERS INTERPRETATIONS EDUCATING YOUNG MEETING, AND B JOIN A CLUB? SAY YES TO SAYING NO PEOPLE WORLDWIDE HUGS MAKE THE WORLD GO ’ROUND Members contributed to the discussion on the Facebook Official Toastmasters Many people find it difficult Mike Douse, who has a Ph.D. in International Members Group: to say no to an invitation education, works with governments “A friend invited me to a ‘bring-a-friend’ night at a local club. What drew me in or request, in spite of their of developing countries, advising them that evening was a humorous speech one member gave about a talking dog—that ever-growing responsibilities on major education projects. During was 23 years ago.” — IAN MURRAY, CC, CL and full schedules. Learn to 2012 alone, he advised on educational ELSTERNWICK TOASTMASTERS, ELSTERNWICK, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA master the delicate skill of planning in Somalia, primary schooling “My girlfriend invited me to visit her club. It was the self-development aspect, saying no by keeping these in Sudan, and literacy and numeracy and the supportive environment, that spurred me to join Toastmasters.” tips in mind: learning in Tanzania. Over the last three — decades, Douse’s work has taken him ROBERT VAN DER MEER • Be polite. Don’t cut off TOASTMASTERS MAASTRICHT CLUB, MAASTRICHT, NETHERLANDS to 64 countries.