Area S3, S4 and S5 Toastmasters Evaluation and Tall Tales Contest
Contest Begins 6pm promptly - be there ahead of time to be admitted!
East Library Community Meeting Room, 5550 Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Google Maps
The Meeting Room is sharply to the Left when entering, down the hallway, on the left.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Toastmasters Dues are in Season
It is that time again!
Twice a year, Toastmasters members pay dues to their clubs. Most or all of the dues go first to Toastmasters International. Some of it comes back to the District to help with the activities that the District provides to the members, such as TLIs.
Some clubs have an additional amount that goes towards the club fund to help finance things like ribbons and banners and more.
If you are the Treasurer of your club, you should be in the process of contacting your members to let the know the amount due and the process or processes available for paying dues.
Other officers of the club should be assisting with the notification and collection!
Some clubs provide an invoice, printed or emailed, as part of the dues process. This helps members know exactly what is expected, and helps them take ownership of getting paid.
Toastmasters International expects payments on or before October. It is much better to get the dues in sooner! This is even more important if the club needs to use fax or postal mail to submit their dues.
There are 2 key things to remember:
Remember to invest some of your time into yourself as well!
Your club needs you to stick around and help keep things going.
Get your dues in! It helps everyone! Thanks!
Twice a year, Toastmasters members pay dues to their clubs. Most or all of the dues go first to Toastmasters International. Some of it comes back to the District to help with the activities that the District provides to the members, such as TLIs.
Some clubs have an additional amount that goes towards the club fund to help finance things like ribbons and banners and more.
If you are the Treasurer of your club, you should be in the process of contacting your members to let the know the amount due and the process or processes available for paying dues.
Other officers of the club should be assisting with the notification and collection!
Some clubs provide an invoice, printed or emailed, as part of the dues process. This helps members know exactly what is expected, and helps them take ownership of getting paid.
Toastmasters International expects payments on or before October. It is much better to get the dues in sooner! This is even more important if the club needs to use fax or postal mail to submit their dues.
There are 2 key things to remember:
- A club needs to have at least 6 members (3+ renewals) paid on time to be counted as a club in good standing - this is important for the DCP (Distinguished Club Planning) goals - however, it is much better to try to get all or most members to pay ahead of time.
- A member needs to be in good standing, in a club in good standing if they are going to continue to progress in the District Contests! Make sure you are being proactive to support your club's contest representation!
Remember to invest some of your time into yourself as well!
Your club needs you to stick around and help keep things going.
Get your dues in! It helps everyone! Thanks!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
D26 Area Contests This Week
Remember, the D26 Southern Division contests start this week!
Area S3, S4 & S5 combined area contest is this THURSDAY September 5th!
Tall Tales & Evaluation Contest!
East Library Community Meeting Room, 5550 Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Here are the clubs that eligible to compete at the contest on Thursday:
Make sure your club sends the contestant information to your area governor - if they were selected by club contest or by nomination. If the Area Governor does not have the information, you will not be able to compete.
If you have not select any contestants and do not have a meeting before the contest, it is still possible to nominate contestants in time!
Contestants - please fill out your Speaker-Certification-and-Originality (Evaluators may skip the bottom Originality portion) and your Speaker Profile! Email or bring them with you -- it save a lot of time when you get there!
Contact your Area Governor with any questions:
Michele Mras, S3 Area Governor S31314-at-d26leaders.org
Bonnie Ann Smith, S4 Area Governor S41314-at-d26leaders.orgMike Pierson, S5 Area Governor S51314-at-d26leaders.org
Audience members welcome!
---
Keep in mind - S1 & S2 combined contest is next week on Wednesday September 11!
Southern Division Contest is on Saturday October 25th
Area S3, S4 & S5 combined area contest is this THURSDAY September 5th!
East Library Community Meeting Room, 5550 Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Here are the clubs that eligible to compete at the contest on Thursday:
| S3 | 3044 | Pikes Peak Toastmasters Club | |
| S3 | 1292321 | CO Motor Mouths | |
| S3 | 5481 | Currently Speaking Toastmasters Club | |
| S3 | 5618 | Colorado Orators League | |
| S4 | 644254 | Toastmasters at Memorial Hospital Club | |
| S4 | 1155833 | TOP CLASS Toastmasters | |
| S4 | 5158 | Downtown Toastmasters Club | |
| S4 | 4829 | UCCS Toastmasters Club | |
| S5 | 555 | Colorado Springs Toastmasters Club | |
| S5 | 5316 | Peterson Toastmasters | |
| S5 | 813975 | Quail Lake Toastmasters Club |
Make sure your club sends the contestant information to your area governor - if they were selected by club contest or by nomination. If the Area Governor does not have the information, you will not be able to compete.
If you have not select any contestants and do not have a meeting before the contest, it is still possible to nominate contestants in time!
Contestants - please fill out your Speaker-Certification-and-Originality (Evaluators may skip the bottom Originality portion) and your Speaker Profile! Email or bring them with you -- it save a lot of time when you get there!
Contact your Area Governor with any questions:
Michele Mras, S3 Area Governor S31314-at-d26leaders.org
Bonnie Ann Smith, S4 Area Governor S41314-at-d26leaders.orgMike Pierson, S5 Area Governor S51314-at-d26leaders.org
Audience members welcome!
---
Keep in mind - S1 & S2 combined contest is next week on Wednesday September 11!
Southern Division Contest is on Saturday October 25th
Monday, September 2, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Black Belt of TM, The Persuit of DTM - A Diagram
The base diagram of the Toastmasters Educational program, shows the key blocks of the educational program as 2 tracks leading to the DTM - featuring all the key educational awards: CC, ACB, ACS, ACG, CL, CLB, CLS and the DTM.
However, most versions do not show the HPL, which has it's own educational award that is part of the track. Other versions do not show that the ALB has a requirement of the CC. And there are lots of sub-tasks that may be hard to grasp without looking through many documents.
I see the DTM - Distinguished Toastmaster Award - as the black belt of Toastmasters.
It wasn't that long ago that I learned that it is possible to be working on a second CC and a second CL, and more, before finishing the first DTM.
It is also important to remember that you can get another CC and CL and more to help your club(s) with their distinguished progress.
Recently I realized that the education program is more like a building. And that there are lots of supports needed to fill out to get to the DTM, however you can be building more than one building at a time!
It is also possible to be working on pieces of a higher level, without completing a lower level. You just may not claim the higher award until you have completed the structure below.
For example, I am currently working on 3 different AC manuals - 2 for ACB, and already started on my ACS while finishing my ACB.
To the end of the building metaphor, I came up with a diagram - a blueprint - that shows all the details related to achieving a DTM.
I have sent a copy to International Headquarters for their review, and to see if they find it valuable to share with members. In the meantime, I am sharing it with you - Toastmasters on the internet:
However, most versions do not show the HPL, which has it's own educational award that is part of the track. Other versions do not show that the ALB has a requirement of the CC. And there are lots of sub-tasks that may be hard to grasp without looking through many documents.
I see the DTM - Distinguished Toastmaster Award - as the black belt of Toastmasters.
It wasn't that long ago that I learned that it is possible to be working on a second CC and a second CL, and more, before finishing the first DTM.
It is also important to remember that you can get another CC and CL and more to help your club(s) with their distinguished progress.
Recently I realized that the education program is more like a building. And that there are lots of supports needed to fill out to get to the DTM, however you can be building more than one building at a time!
It is also possible to be working on pieces of a higher level, without completing a lower level. You just may not claim the higher award until you have completed the structure below.
For example, I am currently working on 3 different AC manuals - 2 for ACB, and already started on my ACS while finishing my ACB.
To the end of the building metaphor, I came up with a diagram - a blueprint - that shows all the details related to achieving a DTM.
I have sent a copy to International Headquarters for their review, and to see if they find it valuable to share with members. In the meantime, I am sharing it with you - Toastmasters on the internet:
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Contest Participation - An Experiment That Worked
"Contests are not for me"
"I'm not ready"
Have you heard these excuses and more?
This contest season, I had some failures and some successes in getting participation.
As leaders, many of us know there are lots of value to contest. The biggest value is that the challenge makes us much better individual speakers and adds lots of value to clubs.
I am guilty of using the excuses myself. Then I wound up going 3 levels in an evaluator contest, just because I took part in my club contest. I took part so that the other person would have a challenge. I was certain the other person was going to win.
I didn't think I was ready to be in a Toastmasters contest.
Most people will never think they are ready.
They need someone to push them into taking on the contest.
If we wait for everyone to decide they are ready on their own, the contests will have very few participants.
As a Division Governor, I am not allowed to be a contestant in the district contests this year. But I know how much members will learn and how much it helps energize the club.
How do we get members to take part in contests?
I've been talking up the contests in meetings for many weeks now.
I have promoted the example Tall Tales videos.
We had an example Tall Tales with details for the keynote speech at the Colorado Springs TLI.
I came up with my own example Tall Tales speech, which I put out on YouTube and have demonstrated in a few meetings.
I've asked and encouraged the other officers in my 2 clubs to help organize and promote the contest.
In both my clubs, the same tactic was taken to try to get members to step-up to be contestants:
An email to the group: "Who wants to be in the contest?"
Can you guess the response? None.
That doesn't have to be a failure. At least it is getting the idea out there more that the club is looking for contest participation.
But you can't stop there!
Having members take part in contests shows that clubs are vital and involved beyond their 4 walls.
Clubs need to make sure they have representatives going to contest.
In my one club, I have talked and emailed directly with a few people who said they were considering it. I offered to help. So far, one person decided they can not do it. Another is still thinking. And another is on the fence, and does not seem to want to have help to get to the next step.
I will continue to encourage, and make sure they club knows the importance of taking part.
In another club, I tried something a little different, with some real success!
Our next meeting didn't have anything scheduled. It was the last chance to have a club contest before the area contest. Our new VP/Ed was not sure which way go with the meeting and the contest.
We sent out an email, and nobody replied wanting to be in the contest.
I was faced with the question: what can we do with a meeting, when nobody has stepped up to be in a club contest?
I had an idea. Clubs do not have to use a contest to send on members to a contest. They are allowed use some other process, and nominate members to go to the contest.
I defined my meeting idea to a couple of the officers, and got their buy-in:
I would run a special meeting with a slightly different flavor.
The order of the meeting:
I was very happily surprised when one of the members who had said that maybe they would do the evaluation contest decided they would take on Tall Tales instead.
Another technique that may work for you as a club officer, is to decide which members you think are comfortable enough speaking in front of the club, and go to them individually. Tell them that you think this would be a good step for them. Tell them that the club needs them to represent the club at the area. Tell them that even though they don't think they are ready, you know they are ready. Make sure they know how much they will learn by doing the contest. Make sure they know, it is still Toastmasters, and it is still a safe place to try things out, and it is still a safe place to make stumbles. A better place than at an interview.
If you are a member, consider these factors:
You are in Toastmasters to learn how to speak outside of Toastmasters.
A contest is one of the best, safest places to find out how you are doing in the process of learning what Toastmaster gives you beyond the club.
You will see how much you have learned, and learn how much more you can still get from Toastmasters and back at your club.
Yes, it will be intense, exciting, nerve-racking, and maybe a bit disappointing if you don't win. Yet, it is an amazing, exciting time that will cause you to grow in ways and at rate that you can never imagine!
One more thing to think about: if you and your club do not show up with contestants at the contest, that allows another club to come in, and maybe not work very hard if there are no other competitors, and walk out with the trophy, just for showing up and making time.
Let the other clubs know that if they want those trophies, they are going to have to work harder than you!
Thank-you to all that have stepped up to be contestants, functionaries and audience at the Toastmasters contests!
See you at the contests!
Keep your Witz About You!
"I'm not ready"
Have you heard these excuses and more?
This contest season, I had some failures and some successes in getting participation.
As leaders, many of us know there are lots of value to contest. The biggest value is that the challenge makes us much better individual speakers and adds lots of value to clubs.
I am guilty of using the excuses myself. Then I wound up going 3 levels in an evaluator contest, just because I took part in my club contest. I took part so that the other person would have a challenge. I was certain the other person was going to win.
I didn't think I was ready to be in a Toastmasters contest.
Most people will never think they are ready.
They need someone to push them into taking on the contest.
If we wait for everyone to decide they are ready on their own, the contests will have very few participants.
As a Division Governor, I am not allowed to be a contestant in the district contests this year. But I know how much members will learn and how much it helps energize the club.
How do we get members to take part in contests?
I've been talking up the contests in meetings for many weeks now.
I have promoted the example Tall Tales videos.
We had an example Tall Tales with details for the keynote speech at the Colorado Springs TLI.
I came up with my own example Tall Tales speech, which I put out on YouTube and have demonstrated in a few meetings.
I've asked and encouraged the other officers in my 2 clubs to help organize and promote the contest.
In both my clubs, the same tactic was taken to try to get members to step-up to be contestants:
An email to the group: "Who wants to be in the contest?"
Can you guess the response? None.
That doesn't have to be a failure. At least it is getting the idea out there more that the club is looking for contest participation.
But you can't stop there!
Having members take part in contests shows that clubs are vital and involved beyond their 4 walls.
Clubs need to make sure they have representatives going to contest.
In my one club, I have talked and emailed directly with a few people who said they were considering it. I offered to help. So far, one person decided they can not do it. Another is still thinking. And another is on the fence, and does not seem to want to have help to get to the next step.
I will continue to encourage, and make sure they club knows the importance of taking part.
In another club, I tried something a little different, with some real success!
Our next meeting didn't have anything scheduled. It was the last chance to have a club contest before the area contest. Our new VP/Ed was not sure which way go with the meeting and the contest.
We sent out an email, and nobody replied wanting to be in the contest.
I was faced with the question: what can we do with a meeting, when nobody has stepped up to be in a club contest?
I had an idea. Clubs do not have to use a contest to send on members to a contest. They are allowed use some other process, and nominate members to go to the contest.
I defined my meeting idea to a couple of the officers, and got their buy-in:
I would run a special meeting with a slightly different flavor.
The order of the meeting:
- Get the meeting started
- Announce the Area contest date. Go around to each member, and ask if they have time to be in the audience at the Area Contest. I noted each name.
- Present that I am giving a speech, and want a panel evaluation
- Have each person give a verbal evaluation from their seat
- Then a special reverse table topics:
- I asked each person to think of a few things, example a favorite place, a toy, a book, etc.
- I had people come up one at a time, and tell me a little about 2-3 of these items, with a few details
- I took turns with another advanced member:
- I called up the couple of extra people who were listed as being able to make the contest, who hadn't volunteered
- At the end of Table Topics, I told each person that they had just been an evaluator, just like at a contest, and that each Table Topic was an example of a Tall Tales speech in a contest.
- I wrote down the names of the people who could make it on a board, and said the club would like to nominate them to go to the contest. I said we could do a ballot to pick order if there were too many for either contest. I asked the interest from the people listed.
From this, we had 3 members going to the contest!
I was very happily surprised when one of the members who had said that maybe they would do the evaluation contest decided they would take on Tall Tales instead.
Another technique that may work for you as a club officer, is to decide which members you think are comfortable enough speaking in front of the club, and go to them individually. Tell them that you think this would be a good step for them. Tell them that the club needs them to represent the club at the area. Tell them that even though they don't think they are ready, you know they are ready. Make sure they know how much they will learn by doing the contest. Make sure they know, it is still Toastmasters, and it is still a safe place to try things out, and it is still a safe place to make stumbles. A better place than at an interview.
If you are a member, consider these factors:
You are in Toastmasters to learn how to speak outside of Toastmasters.
A contest is one of the best, safest places to find out how you are doing in the process of learning what Toastmaster gives you beyond the club.
You will see how much you have learned, and learn how much more you can still get from Toastmasters and back at your club.
Yes, it will be intense, exciting, nerve-racking, and maybe a bit disappointing if you don't win. Yet, it is an amazing, exciting time that will cause you to grow in ways and at rate that you can never imagine!
One more thing to think about: if you and your club do not show up with contestants at the contest, that allows another club to come in, and maybe not work very hard if there are no other competitors, and walk out with the trophy, just for showing up and making time.
Let the other clubs know that if they want those trophies, they are going to have to work harder than you!
Thank-you to all that have stepped up to be contestants, functionaries and audience at the Toastmasters contests!
See you at the contests!
Keep your Witz About You!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Secret in the Subway - Tall Tales
An example speech for Tall Tales Contest
I had this idea rumbling in my head for a few days. This afternoon after the TLI, I decided to try to perform the speech from my head. Not as clean as I would have liked, but a good example for the Contest.
I can not take part as a leader - I hope the speech inspires others to try their hand at the Toastmasters D26 Tall Tales contest!
I had this idea rumbling in my head for a few days. This afternoon after the TLI, I decided to try to perform the speech from my head. Not as clean as I would have liked, but a good example for the Contest.
I can not take part as a leader - I hope the speech inspires others to try their hand at the Toastmasters D26 Tall Tales contest!
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