Contest season is underway

The Spring contest season is underway in District 53. Toastmasters in ProSpeakers competed last night in Tall Tales and International Speech contests.

I believe that ProSpeakers is leading the way because most Toastmaster clubs are in the planning phases of club contests. Club contests must be complete by March 21 in District 53.

I am honored to server as Area B2 Governor for 2007/2008. One of my responsibilities is to organize the Area Contests. To fulfill this obligation, I am busy planning Area B2 Contest which will be held on April 1, 2008 at CIGNA in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

When I joined Toastmasters, I did not realize the magnitude and import of contests. I saw a club contest held every once in awhile (I did not realize that we held contests every six months), and then I did not hear about contests until the next club contest came up.

As Area B2 Governor, I have insight into the tremendous planning and leadership opportunities that contests provide. From February through May and from August through November each year Toastmasters from all over the District are planning and holding contests.

As a club member you only see 5% of the contest effects. But the other 95% of leadership opportunity is waiting for anyone who is looking for leadership training. Step up and join us. Volunteer for a club chair position to get credit in your Competent Leader manual. Then become a club officer next year, or Area Governor. (Oh yeah, on a side note, you will experience the pleasure of participating in a well run contest and the 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking may just come from your club).

Division B Club Officer Training - 2/16/2008

We held our second round of Division B Toastmasters Club Officer Training this morning. Great turnout again. Thank you to all club and District officers for making this event so productive.

Tips that we heard today, for club officers who missed this event:
1. Successful Vice Presidents of Education have a spreadsheet of some form to schedule meeting roles in advance.

2. Successful Vice Presidents of Education also have a spreadsheet to track member progress towards Educational Awards. VPE's use this tool to call up members and say something like "Joe, I see that you haven't spoken in 2 months. I miss the humor in your speeches and your vocal variety. We have an opening at our next meeting for a speaker just like you. Can I put you down on the agenda?" To which Joe usually responds "Gulp!! Why sure".

3. Leadership includes sometimes pushing people along when they are distracted and not working towards the goals of the group.

4. Theme meetings are a must. Clubs get bored of the same old, same old meeting format. Some suggestions for your club meetings - April 15, the last day for filing taxes in the USA. A backwards meeting. Start with the General Evaluator and work backwards. My home club had a backwards meeting in Dec 2006 and we are still talking about it.

5. "Don't leave home without it" That is, do not leave home without your Competent Leadership Manual. Get credit for every role that you fill at your Toastmasters Meeting.

6. Have a greeter at the door. Attendees today testified that they joined Toastmasters because someone made them feel welcome before the meeting through a phone call or email, and when they walked into the meeting. Make guests feel welcome, and you have a member. (Remember Maslow's Hierarchy of needs? We are social beings and want to belong to clubs)

In summary, we had a fantastic training session today for District 53 Toastmasters in Hartford, Connecticut. We worked with leaders in all shapes, forms, sizes and backgrounds. Although we are from many countries and cultures we have a common commitment to provide the environments for our club members to find their voice.

Oh yeah, we also practised our public speaking skills again - and I marvel at the improvements made by today's presenters. Toastmasters works. Join your local club.