Page 12 - aprl 2017 Voices
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FROM THE DESK




                                        The Power of Gratitude!




                                        by John Rodke, DTM—Club Growth Director (and Dragon in Spirit)




                                           Gratitude is an    d7toastmasters.org
                                       essential element          A huge shout out to Area 74 Director Cindy
                                       of our lives that      Eastman for submitting all of her club visit
                                       allows us to enjoy     reports!
       and appreciate this wonderful world we                     A helpful hint: Before you visit, send the club
       experience. On Friday, our Toastmaster,                officers the previous visit report and any others
       Joseph Alfano, had us introduce ourselves by
       expressing gratitude towards one of the other          you have access to. This will show the progres-
       members in the room. The heartfelt care, joy,          sion of the club, and remove 90% of the research
       and appreciation was powerful. The presenter           time. Check the status of the club based on their
       and recipient were deeply moved. I know this           goals and how they have done historically. This
       message and idea can continue to ripple outward        helps the club know where they are in relation
       to create more positivity, appreciation for life,      to their Fall goals. This paperwork also helps the
       and service to others. I encourage you to try          District to help clubs. It is worth a few minutes
       this during your next meeting’s introductions.         to see where your club is, and what can be done
          Here is a quick exercise for you to find and        to help it thrive!
       appreciate the good in your life. In the morning,
       write down three things you are grateful for.
       Simple, effective, and powerful. Here are three
       of mine:
          1.  District 7 Toastmasters, thank you
       for adding value to our clubs by leading,                                                                                                                                                            Documentation Changes People
       volunteering, sharing, and supporting the
       growth of our members.
          2.  Our Area and Division Directors, Club
       Sponsors, Mentors, Coaches, and Officers. They
       devote themselves to you, me, and the vision of
       our organization.
          3.  My mentors, seeing potential, encouraging
       it to shine, and challenging me to grow.                   Are you using your Division Speech
          We have successfully made it through another        Contest as a membership drive? This is an
       dues cycle. A few clubs are finishing up getting
       their payments in. You can DUE it! Thank you           excellent opportunity to show prospective
       for the efforts of Treasurers and Officers for         members the communication and leader-
       making this a success.                                 ship benefits of Toastmasters. The more the
          New clubs are chartering like crazy! If you         merrier at the contests!
       have the desire to start a new club please let me          I am grateful for the growth of our
       know! cgd@d7toastmasters.org                           District in ability, members, and experi-
          Club Coaches have been on a roll. If you            ences. Thank you for adding value to my
       are interested in stepping into this rewarding         life and to the lives of our community.
       role, please email Allison Bennett at: coaches@





         12                                                                    VOLUME 3 ISSUE 10 APRIL, 2017
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