Page 37 - 2016 April Voices

Improving through Practice

Feroze Hasan, VP Education

As a Gavellier, I have learned a lot. I My evaluators told
have had the luck to be a member of Future me that, while I had
Stars since the age of 12. Currently I am 16, lots of confidence, I
an avid member, and the Vice President of needed to improve my
Educationof for my club. language skills. I said
‘an’ when I needed to
Ever since I was young I was ‘gifted’ in say ‘a’ and I said “me and my friends.”
a way. I was able to speak my mind when I
wanted to and wherever I wanted to. I would I realized that over time I could improve.
never formulate my ideas. I always said I spoke as often as I could. My Toastmasters
things in English using the wrong words. coaches, Tahseen Mohamed, Eric Winger,
This may have been because English was a and Marc Bettinger, helped me improve my
second language for me. It may also have English exponentially.
been because I did not read many books.
Whatever the reason, I needed to find a I feel as though the Toastmasters program
solution to my problem. has truly helped me to become the great
speaker I am today.
When I first heard about Toastmasters I
thought this would be a waste of time since Future Stars is a group of middle and high
I could speak in front of people very easily. school-aged kids that meet once a week to work on
I tried to convince my father to pull me developing their communication and leadership
out. I begged and pleaded with him that I skills through meetings that include prepared
did not need to be in Future Stars. He told speaking, impromptu speaking, and meeting
me that this would not only improve my facilitation. They applied for and received Gavel
speaking but would be beneficial in other Club status from Toastmasters International in
aspects of my life. I thought my first speech 2015. To learn more about Future Stars and what
was great however I made simple mistakes. they offer, please visit their website.

Club Elections - First Meeting in May

Clubs that meet weekly may elect officers annually or
semiannually. If the club elects semiannually, elections
are held at the first meeting in May and again at the first
meeting in November. Clubs that meet less frequently than
weekly must elect officers annually, with the elections in
May. Annual office terms must run from July 1 through June
30; semiannual terms run from July 1 through December
31 and January 1 through June 30. Holding elections at any
other time is in direct conflict with the Club Constitution
and Bylaws.

A quorum (51 percent of active members) is needed to conduct club business, including
electing officers. Proxies or absentee ballots are not allowed at the club level. Members
must be active and present to vote.

When your club has elected new officers, the current president or secretary should submit
their names and contact information to World Headquarters online through Club Central.

Volume 2 Issue 10 - APRIL 2016 37