Gateway Toastmasters

Transcription

1 Gateway Toastmasters September 2, 2003 In a Nutshell: Members are achieving! New members are finding their feet. Gateway: A Vibrant Club Good times ahead! Gateway rocks! Well, that s what it can seem like: Visitors: * - 'dare I join in? - Can I really share in the confidence, support and friendliness of these people? They are fun to be around.' New (CTM) members: (Working through a carefully structured introductory program.) 'I'm getting the hang of this! 'I think Our Triumphs I can. Maybe I can HEY! I can!! Ooooo! 'Everyone here is learning and practicing!' Experienced members: 'OK... so exactly what skills and capabilities do I want to work on next?' (E.g. Humor, motivation, professional presentations, workshops, leadership...?) (*Guests are welcome... join our training meetings and discover how you can benefit. Visit once or twice and then join us.) Individual Highlights: Area Governor 2 New Members 3 Notebook 4 Targets 5 Contacts 5 Gateway is on track: Toastmasters clubs have basic criteria for effective functioning. Meeting nine of these club criteria in the TM year (July 1 - June 30) qualifies a club as a President's Distinguished Club... an award that Gateway achieved last year. Of course there is a lot more to an effective club than just these criteria, but as with human health and measuring the pulse, the criteria provide us with important basic targets. As a healthy club, Gateway regularly inducts and supports new members (we have an active mentoring program); our officers attend club officer training, we meet a small number of administrative deadlines; we have members at all levels who will achieve measurable progress in the next six and twelve months: Nine CTMs; three ATMs (Advanced Toastmaster Awards); at least three Leadership Awards; one Youth Leadership Program... and more as the year unfolds.! As notches in our belt they are good fun.! As indicators of sound coaching and discernable progress they are extremely motivating.

2 Page 2 of 5 Gateway Toastmasters (5491) Life of One Toastmaster (Jane Wilke) And opportunity I have found. I'm one of the peculiar breed who came to Toastmasters because I enjoy public speaking but had no opportunity to speak And opportunity I have found - not just with speeches but also learning how to lead a meeting, how to give a short improvised talk, and how to give constructive feedback to others... One of the great aspects of TM is that we don't just speak, we improve. The evaluations are an excellent opportunity to find out what we can do to improve and also importantly to find out what we are doing right! I love the 10 easy steps of the CTM, which are 10 graded speeches with a different focus in each speech. Before you know it you are off and away. Another great thing about Toastmasters is the chance to take on and learn leadership skills, in a supportive environment, with clear guidelines about how to fulfill your role. I was asked to take on the role of Sergeant at Arms (a fancy title for the person who welcomes new - comers, makes sure the room is set up, meets everyone's requirements for the evening, and has the important job of setting the initial Newbies Trevor I am finding Toastmasters very helpful, boosting my confidence, being able to speak in public. Thanks Toastmasters for your sincere help. tone of the meeting. So my first leadership role was one that I felt comfortable with and knew that I could do. BUT then I was asked to step into a gap and become the VPE. That means organizing everyone's roles in the meeting and making sure everyone gets a go at each role, catering for specific goals of various club members and... Well I found myself in the thick of it AND to my surprise really enjoyed it. I was making the most of being able to have an input into the direction in which the club was headed and making sure each meeting was an enjoyable time for members and visitors alike. It was a really rewarding time and I actually miss it. Now I'm Area Governor for three clubs! How did that happen? I have been in Toastmasters for 2 years. I have met some great people, improved my leadership and speaking, and have stretched myself and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks Gateway. Jane Wilke CTM, AGW21 Lavinia I first heard of Toastmasters upon approaching a friend to assist me with a presentation that I was requested to do at an AGM back in Fortunately the topic was on

3 Gateway Toastmasters (5491) Page 3 of 5 After a few visits I soon developed not only some new skills but new goals" myself, however I still felt a lack of confidence presenting to an audience of 200, consisting of some the most influential people in Melbourne. In the past I had somehow managed to stumble my way through a few encounters with the media. And although I was never totally satisfied with the outcome, people around me continued to offer lots of support and encouragement. The friend that I approached to assist me had in fact been a member of Toastmasters himself for a number of years. I'd often admired his ability to communicate and the way he was able to capture the attention of an audience. The few skills that he was to equip me with in that short time were invaluable tools for my presentation. Following our move to Perth in February 2003, I decided that this was indeed a time within my life to prioritize some long term aspired personal goals, including joining Toastmasters. In the very short time that I have been a member with Toastmasters I have been given a number of opportunities to further develop my public speaking skills. I have found my fellow members to be so supportive as well wonderful role models, I hold onto an expectation that one-day I too will also be as well as equipped and skilled as they. My short and long term goals are endless as a Toastmaster, at this immediate stage however I desire to overcome my nervousness and speak with confidence as well learn to manage my voice better. I find that my mind is a lot more active now, I'm always on the look out for new ideas to assist me with my topics of presentations which in turn often bring a challenge to my own life. Symon I came to Gateway Toastmasters unexpecting but with a few loose goals: Something about speaking in public a little better; perhaps with a little social contact and interaction with other members. After a few visits I soon developed not only some new skills but new goals. Yes this means perhaps a new direction!? Toastmasters for me, so far has been a positive learning ground, a place to harbour new skills, attitudes and goals. Gateway has given the space and encouragement for personal development; a fabulous formula executed by wonderful people. Deidre The initial reason that I joined Toastmasters was to become confident with Public Speaking. I have now been a member of Gateway Toastmasters at Fremantle for the past three months. The skills I am going to gain will be so much more than Public Speaking.

4 Page 4 of 5 Gateway Toastmasters (5491) setting standards of preparation that challenge us to find out what we too are capable of.. Notebook As I have the choice of being able to evaluate speeches this gives me the opportunity to increase my writing skills. As I also have the choice of being the Toastmaster for the evening - this increases my Leadership skills. I am thoroughly enjoying the experience and wish I had joined months ago!! What is it about Toastmasters? They chuckle and giggle, and jump up and down, and have grandiose labels, and 'evaluate' each other... what a strange bunch! It may take a moment or two to see what is going on: Everyone in the room is practicing some universal skill related to working with other people. Communications Skills in Toastmasters have to do with much more than a speaking performance:! Being a non-distracting speaker. Most of us have mannerisms that simply distract our listeners.! Learning to capture and hold an audience's attention.! Making an event run positively and well. 1. We share the tasks of running the program, generating momentum, and bringing about a constructive working atmosphere. 2. Learning to give feedback that leaves everyone feeling thoroughly supported and enthusiastic about moving forward.! 3. Exploring and choosing attitudes that 'deliver the goods' for us... discovering that we can enjoy planning and rehearsing, participating and caring for ourselves while working in an organization that goes places.! Starting to think about our goals: Toastmasters experience can start to provoke our imaginations. What hadn't we thought of trying? Toastmasters is a little like a playground for those who always would have liked to... Appreciation Mike Ellis has been a Toastmaster for many years, and has held Statelevel office. He quietly acts as a mentor to many Gateway members. Mike shows us how to be lighthearted, while setting standards of preparation that challenge us to find out what we too are capable of. Thanks Mike.

5 Gateway Toastmasters (Club 5491) Venue: Fremantle Bowling Club Ellen Street FREMANTLE WA 6069 Phones: Jeanette Farrar Gigi Boudville Sophy Gotsis Confidence! Gateway Toastmaster s Club is a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member develops and practices communication and leadership skills. This fosters self-confidence and personal growth. The Executive Committee has confirmed our club goals to June 30, next year: Commitment: As Toastmasters: We make a commitment to the Club, and to Toastmasters as a whole. We are here to support each other. Recognition - We recognise each others' accomplishments, and encourage each other to set and achieve even higher goals. Membership: We maintain a minimum of twenty active members through December and July. Opportunities: We schedule regular speaking and leadership opportunities for all members. Workshops: We conduct at least two modules from The Successful Club Series, The Better Speaker Series, or the Leadership Excellence Series by June 30. Personal Goals: We ensure that each Toastmaster has the opportunity to fulfil their personal communication and leadership goals. About Gateway... enjoying another exciting year in The Toastmasters logo employed in this newsletter is the property of Toastmasters International, and is enployed here as authorized in Section VI A 18 of the TMI Policies and Procedures As Club President, I have the opportunity to lead and guide the Club in meeting its standards as a positive and supportive Distinguished Toastmasters Club. If you have any questions please talk with me or any member of the Gateway Executive. As a non-toastmaster... consider joining us in one of our weekly meetings. Come and see how we obtain great benefit from Toastmasters. Jeanette Farrar CTM Gateway Toastmasters: Executive Committee President - Jeanette Farrar VPE - Gigi Boudville VPM - Sophy Gotsis VPPR - Jeff Oliver Secretary - Glen Wright Treasurer - Terry Quinn Sergeant At Arms - Roy Anstey gateway.president@iinet.net.au