ToastTalk & eNews Archives
July: Spruce Up Your Website
Internet plays a big
role in attracting prospects to your club. Club websites are “Marketing 101”. Does your club have a FTH 2.0 Website? Does your home page reflect what your club is all about? What makes your club special? What will you offer prospective members? Are the time and location of your meetings easy to find?
- Visit the TI home page and enter your club number on “locate a club”.
- Make sure all the information about your club, it’s meeting time and location are accurate.
- Does the photo of your club reflect your current membership?
- Do visitors on your website know what makes your club unique?
Spruce Up Your Website Contest July 1, 2013 – August 15, 2013 Contest deadline extended to August 31, 2013. There are two categories for the contest. One winning club website from each category will be announced on September 10, 2013.
*Club does not have a current branded website.
*Club has a current website that has been “spruced up.”
Resources:
Free Toast Host 2.0
Easy Speak
To enroll your club’s website in the contest fill out the form. One winning club from each category will be announced on September 10, 2013. Each winning club will be treated to a cookie and lemonade party. Contact: pro@d7toastmasters.org
Finding New Club Leads
Finding new leads is the first step towards starting new clubs. Where do you find new club leads? The answers may be all around you. You can find leads at work, in your community, among friends, and even with your family.
Of the 13,500 clubs around the world, more than half are sponsored by businesses or organizations. Your employer might be the next club sponsor! Check with your HR Department. If HR is not interested, don’t give up. Try talking with your Marketing, Sales, or Customer Service Departments. If you sense an interest, immediately inform our New Club Leads Chair Rodger Cook at newleads@d7toastmasters.org and myself.
Your local community college is another good lead. So is your church or place of worship. Retirement or senior centers are also excellent leads. Other possible leads are large government offices (e.g., Veteran Affairs) and military establishments. Your local YMCA is a potential lead for starting a community club. Remember that Dr. Smedley started Toastmasters in the basement of a YMCA in Santa Ana, California.
In addition to the lead’s complete name (correctly spelled, please!) and contact details, provide as much background information as you can. For example, if you know that your HR Director used to be a Toastmaster in her university days or the VA Administrator is not from the area, mention this information when you forward the lead to us.
And of course, do remain involved until a new club is chartered. Not only will you have the pleasure of helping to start a new club but you’ll also earn D7 Rewards points that you can use at the D7 store.
Start looking around with an eye to spot possible club leads. When you are on the alert, you will find them more readily. Happy searching!
May eNews
Register today to attend Club Officer Training at Wilsonville High School on June 22nd Click to Register today!
Reflecting on the Spring Conference – Communicate Oregon
After each contest, Rose Wellman, our District Governor would challenge herself by quickly writing a mini speach that encapsulated all the speeches she just heard. Her final challenge at the International Speech Contest, using each speech title, was a perfect farewell as she took the stage one last time as District Governor.
“I was driving towards my dream, then one day I realized I was going in the wrong direction.
So I listened to an old friend and made a choice. I joined Toastmasters.
I didn’t set out to make a legacy or become a hero.
I do hope though I said a positive word that sticks.
So as I become accustomed to getting laid off from my job as District Governor.
I shall reflect back through my own portals of discovery and say to myself, “Rose, carry on.”
Rose Wellman, DTM
District Governor
Congratulations – D7 Toastmasters
- 1st Ronda Holdridge
- 2nd Brian Paxton
- 3rd Tahseen Mohammad
- 1st Susan Bender Phelps
- 2nd Shaun McCrea
- 3rd Ann Malcolm
Thank you to our Keynote Speaker, Mike Barsul, all of the conference presenters and Toastmasters for the day; David Jamieson, Syrena Glade (Evaluation Contest) and Eric Winger (International Speech Contest). In addition, Chief Judge, Erik Bergman and Contest Coordinator, Alexis Mason helped to ensure the contests ran smoothly and were in compliance with Toastmaster International’s rules and regulations. Last, but never least, thank you to the D7 conference committee and all of the D7 members that volunteered their time and talents to make the conference a memorable and successful event.
International Speech Contestants
Bruce Rottnik, “Your Legacy”
Tahseen Mohammad, “A True Hero”
John Contreras, “Choices”
Chris Wright, “Driving Towards My Dream”
Don White, “Listening to Old Friends”
Brian Paxton, “When Words Stick”
Jack Standeven, ” Get Laid Off and Start Living Your Life”
Ronda Holdridge, “Carry On”
Steve Papp, “Portals of Discovery”
Save the Date
Start the year strong! Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) is coming to District 7 in June and July. Club officers training will be held in Wilsonville, Oregon on June 22nd at Wilsonville High School (Click to Register), Wilsonville; in Southern Division on July 20th at Jackson County Library, Medford Branch; in Central Division on July 20th; in Corvallis or Eugene; and in Northern Division on July 20th; in Longview, location pending.
Club officers – This is not the same old training you’ve experienced before! Your training will be highly interactive, requiring you to be on your toes and at the top of your game. Training will be led by seasoned club officers who will share the nitty gritty of what worked well – and not so well. Be prepared to participate in a lively round of table topics, with a prize for the best response. Register today
Division and Area Governor training will be held at Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville on June 22nd. Governors please make sure you can attend this training.
Time’s Running Out! Incentive
With only 7 weeks left in the Toastmasters year, don’t delay – make every minute count! Submit unpaid renewals, new membership applications, and educational achievements before June 30th to count towards your club goals this year.
D7’s 2012-2013 Triple Crown Awards
The Triple Crown award recognizes individual Toastmasters who have completed at least three different educational awards [CC, ACB, ACS, ACG, CL, ALB, ALS, DTM] during the Toastmasters year (July 1 – June 30).
D7’s 2012-2013 Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Awards
Congratulations to all 2012-13 recipients of the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. The Distinguished Toastmaster award is the highest our organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills.
April eNews
Register today for the 2013 Spring Conference – Communicate Oregon
Mark your calendar and register now for D7’s Spring Conference on May 3rd and 4th. Keynote Speaker Mike Barsul, DTM, International Director Region 2, joins us for Communicate Oregon: Information to Application. The Northwest’s Premier Communication Conference is being held at the Ambridge Events Center located at 1333 NE MLK Blvd, Portland, OR.
Join your fellow Toastmasters on Friday night, May 3rd for a social hour beginning at 6:15 p.m. and the screening of the inspiring documentary SPEAK: Come Find Your Voice.
Saturday, May 4th begins early with a continental breakfast. The day’s agenda is packed with the Evaluation and International Speech contests, lunch and speakers focused on effective communication.
- Donna Schmid – Communicating with Power, Purpose and Passion
- Denise Lopez Haugen – Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking: Strategies to Address “Fight, Flight and Freeze”
- James Wantz – You Must Pay the Rent
- Rebecca Miller – Make Better Connections Now!
- Charlie Glikey – Good Communication Saves More Time Than it Takes
- Angela Wheeler – Communicating with Confidence: A Different Kind of ABC
- John Rodke – W.I.N the Younger Audience
Yeeeee – Haaww! Moments of Truth Contest Winner
Congratulations to the Toast of Corvallis. They submitted the results of their Moments of Truth program to Scott Alexander on the 20th and were randomly selected from all of the submissions as the winner. The club will receive one free ticket to Communicate Oregon on May 3rd and 4th. Two key things from their feedback, (1) Moments of Truth is worth conducting every year and (2) they can do more in recognizing the achievement of their club members. All clubs are encouraged to conduct a Moments of Truth session each year. Isn’t it time you told the truth?
5% Growth Challenge – Congratulation to Division G
The Northern Division is the winner of the March 5% Growth Incentive and will be receiving a new division banner.
15% Club Growth Contest – March Business Card Winners
- Beachtown Toastmasters
- Coastal Communicators
- New Horizons Toastmasters
- Oregon City Toastmasters
- Swan Island Toastmasters
Spring Renewal Rewarded
D7’s New Facebook Page
District 7 new facebook page is a great way to publize both district and club events. All members are encouraged to like the new page – http://www.facebook.com/
Order your “Be Cool, Be You” t-shirt with the order form. All proceeds from this sale go towards the D7 Prison Scholarship Fund to assist the inmates in our District who cannot afford to pay dues. No monies are used for educational materials.
Banner Stealing – We Double Dare You!
March eNews
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! March 2013 is Officially Toastmasters Month
John A. Kitzhaber, M.D., Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaims March 6-30, 2013 Toastmasters Month.
5% Growth Challenge – Congratulations to Division B
The February winner of the 5% Growth Challenge is Division B who increased membership over their July 1 base by 6.7%. They have earned a portable lectern with new branding, timing lights, or a Division Banner. Clubs still have until the end of March to participate. Find out about the monthly prizes and the big prize for the Division with the most growth.
Sweet Deal – Pay 100% of Club Dues and Earn $50 for Your Club It’s time to pay membership dues for April – September. To say THANK YOU, Phyllis Harmon, Lt. Governor Marketing is offering the following incentives:
- Submit 100% of your club dues to Toastmasters International before March 25, 2013 and earn 100,000 ($50) points for your club!
- Submit 80% of your club dues to Toastmasters International before March 25, 2013, and earn pastries or cookies for one of your club’s meetings in April.
Rules: Membership numbers are based on a 3/2/2013 download of club members from Toastmasters International. To find out what how many members must pay dues to qualify for either incentive, refer to the Membership Sweet Deal Incentives.
Spring Conference – Early Bird $50 Registration Effective Until March 25th
Want a FREE registration to Communicate Oregon?
Conduct a Moments of Truth at your club before March 31st and submit the details to Scott Alexander by April 2nd and be entered into a drawing for a free registration at Communication Oregon. Read more about Moments of truth on the Blog.
Mark your calendar and register now for D7’s Spring Conference on May 3rd and 4th. Keynote Speaker Mike Barsul, DTM, International Director Region 2, joins us for Communicate Oregon: Information to Application. The Northwest’s Premier Communication Conference is being held at the Ambridge Events Center located at 1333 NE MLK Blvd, Portland, OR.
The Spring Conference kicks off Friday night May 3rd with a social hour beginning at 6:15 p.m. and features the screening of the inspiring documentary SPEAK: Come Find Your Voice. Saturday begins early with a continental breakfast, and the day’s agenda is packed with the Evaluation and International Speech contests, lunch, and speakers focused on effective communication. Learn more at www.CommunicateOregon.com. Registration for Saturday is just $50. The Early Bird deal is effictive through March 25th. Register today for the confernece and add Friday night to your registration for only $25 more.
15% Club Growth Contest – February Business Card Winners
Congratulations to February Business Card Winners! The following clubs increased membership by 15% over their July 1 base during the month of February and have earned 500 business cards for their club.
- American Red Cross
- Embracing Cultures
- Flying Toasters
- Sage Beaverton
- Talking Heads
- Transtoasters
- Tualatin Valley Toastmasters
- Tuesday Noon Toastmasters
Challenge: Who can visit the most clubs and travel the most miles between September 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. Read more about the Rules, Restrictions, Contest period, Submission details and Prizes. Pictures must be sent directly to lgm@d7toastmasters.org to be eligible. Pictures posted only on social media will not be entered into the drawing.
1+1 Campaign
Toastmasters International Board Meets On February 21st and 22nd, the Toastmasters International board met. They discussed many items and have shared the minutes of their meeting online. LGET Scott Alexander posted a few key points in the D7 facebook group page.
Order your “Be Cool, Be You” t-shirt with the order form. All proceeds from this sale go towards the D7 Prison Scholarship Fund to assist the inmates in our District who cannot afford to pay dues. No monies are used for educational materials.
Banner Stealing Comes to D7 – Let the Games Begin!
Toastmasters has an informal tradition that states “when 5 or more Toastmasters from one club visit another club the visiting club can steal the banner of the visited club. To get your banner/ribbons back, five or more members from that club must then go to the other club.” Many Districts engage in banner stealing as an exciting way to create friendly competition and interaction between the clubs. District 7 encourages members to visit other clubs to increase personal growth and experience different club cultures. Banner stealing simply adds a layer of fun and frivolity.
Upcoming Events
Judges Training
District Executive Committee (DEC)
Deadline for Club Contest Notifications
Contest Briefing for Functionaires for Southern Oregon Areas – date Tentative
Contest Briefing for Contestants for Southern Oregon Areas – date Tentative
Tentative date: Southern Area Contests
Contest Briefing for Functionaires for Northern D7 Areas – date Tentative
Contest Briefing for Contestants for Northern District 7 Areas – date Tentative
Tentative date for northern D7 Area Contests
Contest Briefing for Functionaires for Southern Oregon Divisions – date Tentative
Contest Briefing for Contestants for Southern Oregon Divisions – date Tentative
Tentative date for Southern Divisions Contest
Contest Briefing for Functionaires for Northern D7 Divisions – date Tentative
Contest Briefing for Contestants for Northern District 7 Divisions – date Tentative
Tentative date for Divisions E, D, and C
