Toastmasters District 18
Newsletter
April 2024️
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We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence. | |
“The goal of many leaders is to get people to think more highly of the leader. The goal of a great leader is to help people to think more highly of themselves.” — J. Carla Northcutt, Seminary Professor | |
Dear Reader,
What are your thoughts about the Toastmasters International (TI) tagline "Where Leaders are Made"? There will be many opportunities to learn and practice leadership skills this month so the theme of this month's newsletter is "leadership" and I've spent some time reflecting on our tagline...
First and foremost, the communication skills we hone through Toastmasters speaking and listening/evaluation activities are vital to good leadership.
In addition, TI's educational program has always addressed both leadership skills and communication skills. The "legacy" program had a separate set of projects for each and today's Pathways curriculum blends both in every path. Have you noticed that?
Next, our organization would not exist without the thousands of Toastmasters who lead us from their formal positions in our Clubs, Areas, Divisions, Districts, Regions, and Board of Directors. They are volunteers and are Toastmasters just like you. Are you already in a leadership position? If not, have you considered stepping up?
Finally, each and every one of us is a leader within our own club, regardless of whether we hold a formal leadership position. Every time we take a meeting role - whether it's Toastmaster of the Day or Timer - we are providing leadership for the meeting. As we carry out these roles, let's embrace the message from Seminary Professor J. Carla Northcutt that is cited at the top of this newsletter: let's make it our goal to help our fellow Toastmasters (and anyone else who participates in our Toastmasters events) think more highly of themselves - that is a mark of a great leader!
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Hello Distrrict 18 Toastmasters,
It's nearly time to select District 18 leaders for 2024/2025! We will vote on candidates for elected positions at the District 18 Virtual Spring Business Meeting on April 21. In addition to elections, we will conduct other district business. We need all District Council members to register and participate. This means YOU, if you are a Club President, Club Vice President Education, Area Director, Division Director, or other district leader. Everyone else is welcome to register and observe how we get things done in District 18. Additional details about the business meeting are provided here.
We currently have candidates for some district leadership positions, and need many more. Candidates who have been vetted by the District Leadership Committee (DLC) for elected positions are presented on the Candidates Corner web page; you can read the candidates' biographies by clicking on their names on that page. We need additional candidates to run "from the floor" during the elections. We also need candidates for appointed district leadership positions. This may be the right time for YOU to step up to a district leadership position: please see Call for Candidates, below, for additional details.
Whether you are a current district leader, a candidate, or an observer, your participation in the business meeting is sure to be an empowering and meaningful experience. Please register today.
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"This may be the right time for
YOU to step up to a district leadership position"
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Call for Candidates
District 18 originally starting calling for candidates in early December, and we still need candidates for both elected and appointed district leadership positions, as detailed below. Most of the positions are described online here. Please consider how stepping up to one of these leadership positions will both benefit District 18 and contribute to your own growth and fulfillment.
Elected Positions
The District Leadership Committee (DLC) has vetted candidates for the following positions: District Director, Program Quality Director, Club Growth Director, Division A Director, and Division C Director. Those candidates are identified in the Candidates Corner. Additional candidates are needed for the remaining five Division Director positions.
To run from the floor for any elected position, you must be eligible and declare your intent to run by submitting your application package by email to the DLC at least seven days prior to the election (i.e., no later than Sunday, April 14). Please check the eligibility requirements described in Article VII of the District Administrative Bylaws (see, in particular, paragraphs d and e). Eligibility requirements are also included on the Candidate Application form. Please see Application Package, below, for additional details.
All known candidates for elected positions will have the opportunity to participate in a Candidate Showcase during the Spring Conference. At the showcase, candidates will have their own tables where they can chat with voting members (and other interested parties) and provide promotional materials from their campaigns.
Appointed Positions
Candidates are still being accepted for all appointed district positions: Administration Manager, Finance Manager, Public Relations Manager, District Chief Judge, Parliamentarian, TLI Dean, Newsletter Managing Editor, Webmaster, Logistics Manager, Pathways Ambassador, District Leadership Committee Chair, and Area Directors for all 25 areas (note that we currently have one candidate each for Areas 12 and 73). If you are interested in one of these appointed positions, please submit your completed application package no later than Saturday, June 15 to the District Director (me). I will provide them to the incoming district director, who will make the formal appointments.
Application Package
Candidates for both elected and appointed positions should download and complete the following four forms, which can be found on the Candidate Declarations and Nominations web page:
- Candidate Application
- District Leader Nominating Form
- Officer Agreement and Release Statement
- Biographical Information Sheet
Submit your completed application package in accordance with the requirements specified above for the elected or appointed position to which you are applying.
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Recognizing Outstanding Leadership | |
The third quarter of the 2023-2024 Toastmasters Year is now closed and I would like to recognize eight district leaders who demonstrated during the past quarter that they are leading the way toward excellence and distinction through their service to the members of our district. Thank you for your distinguished service!
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District 18 Administration Manager - Athena McCoy
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District 18 Public Relations Manager - Beth May
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District 18 Parliamentarian - Oscar Zalamia, DTM
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District 18 Webmaster - Terri Abramovitz
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Division E Director - Sue Wilson
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Division F Director - Nancy Waring
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Area 33 Director - Craig Delfosse, DTM
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Area 35 Director - Freeman Bagnall, DTM
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Dear District 18 Family,
Many of you may be aware that I traveled from my home in India to Dallas, Texas in January to attend mid-year training conducted by Toastmasters International for district "trios" (district directors, program quality directors, and club growth directors). Unlike my peers, I traveled more than 8,955 miles for the two-day training program. This surprised a lot of friends and fellow Toastmasters, who wondered why I agreed to do it. The reason is that I saw an invaluable opportunity to gain important knowledge, meet my team in person, and network with district officers across Toastmasters International. I am proud to share that my decision turned out to be the correct one!
After returning home, I was planning the next Club Officer Training (COT) session when I found myself inspired to go beyond having another standard education session. Instead, I planned a panel discussion on club growth strategies and membership building. I invited senior district officers from three different districts to participate on the panel. I was the moderator and the panelists provided many innovative ideas. This panel discussion was highly appreciated by all, including Toastmasters from outside our district who emailed me saying that they want to use this panel idea in their districts.
Afterward, as I reflected on lessons from running this event, I realized THE POWER OF NETWORKING. Networking is an invisible but strong tool that expands our reach and exposes us to a broader range of ideas and opportunities. It helps us identify potential clients, investors, partners, and mentors who can contribute to our overall growth. Networking also enhances our visibility within our club, our workplace, and beyond.
By actively participating in networking events (like I did during the mid-year training in Dallas), and by sharing our expertise with each other, we establish ourselves as reliable and trustworthy individuals. This ultimately helps each of us to build our brand and can even help drive new business referrals.
So friends, let's explore more opportunities to network, and make the best use of our networks. Let's learn and grow together!
Finally, I'm excited to share that I will be returning to the U.S. later this month to participate in our district's Spring Conference in Ocean City, Maryland. I look forward to connecting with many of you there, where we can expand our networks for mutual benefit.
Happy networking and happy learning!
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Distinguished Toastmaster Spotlight
Last month, I announced Craig Delfosse's DTM award, and this month I am pleased to present his message. Congratulations, once again, to Craig Delfosse, DTM.
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Becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) was not the reason I joined Toastmasters. It certainly was not on my radar at that time. Being a person who is not motivated by acronyms, I didn’t think it was something that I would pursue. That was five years ago.
Three years ago, I took on a District 18 leadership position as Division C Director, but I still was not thinking about working toward my DTM. Then, I started noticing that a LOT of the people I respected the most in Toastmasters had those three letters behind their names. I started wondering what exactly a DTM was, what it meant to have earned that award, and whether it was worth my energy to strive for it.
What I learned was that being a DTM shows that the person has served in several leadership roles, including club and district level roles. Being a DTM signifies that the person has completed multiple paths in Pathways (or other educational accomplishments in the past). Being a DTM symbolizes that the person has helped a myriad of Toastmasters throughout their journey. Those things struck a chord with me. I wanted to be seen as a member who helps and serves wherever I can. I wanted people to know that the Toastmasters International core values (integrity, respect, service, excellence) are important to me. So, I set my goal to become a DTM.
Now that I have achieved my DTM award, I hope that my actions and service encourage others to seek out those three simple letters: DTM.
Craig Delfosse, DTM
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The Triple Crown Award is one of the most prestigious educational awards in Toastmasters, presented to members who have achieved three or more educational and leadership awards within a program year (July 1 - June 30).
We announced 24 Triple Crown award recipients in newsletters from October through March. This month, we have two more Triple Crown awards to announce. Please help me congratulate and celebrate the recipients:
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Angelique Goudeaux, IP3 (IP2, PM5, IP3)
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B. S. Wilson, EH5 (EH4, EH3, EH5)
Triple Crown recipients will be acknowledged and will receive pins during the Spring Conference.
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Two More Super Seven Awards |
The Super Seven award is given to clubs who had all seven officers trained at both Summer and Winter Club Officer Training sessions. In last month's newsletter, we recognized 24 clubs that had been identified so far as recipients for the "Super Seven" award. At the time, we were still receiving training records and expected more clubs to qualify. It is my pleasure to add two more clubs to the list of clubs receiving this award. Please help me congratulate:
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Club 328 JPMC Toastmasters (Division A)
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Another Level Online Advanced (Division C)
All 26 clubs will receive a set of club officer pins from District 18.
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John C. Maxwell famously said that “teamwork makes the dream work.” With only three months left until the end of the Toastmasters year, it’s time to use teamwork to make our Distinguished Club Program (DCP) dreams work. Will your club finish the year as Distinguished? It can if you step up as a leader! How? I’m glad you asked!
Toastmasters is “where leaders are made.” You and other members of your club can apply the characteristics of an effective leader to motivate your club to finish as a Distinguished Club. As you may know from Level 2 in Pathways, five characteristics of an effective leader are:
- Effective Communicator
- Leads by Example
- Optimistic
- Open-Minded
- Demonstrates Integrity
Every club member can be a leader, not just club officers. How can you be an effective leader? Look up your club's DCP progress on the District 18 dashboard (https://bit.ly/D18-Dash). What does your club need to finish the year as Distinguished? Is it another Pathways level? Is it a few more members? Once you know what your club needs to finish strong, apply the five characteristics of an effective leader. Let your leadership skills shine by helping to lead your club to a solid finish before June 30.
If your club needs help crossing the finish line, please reach out! We are here to support you. Area Directors are always a great resource, as well as Division Directors. You can also email your Club Growth Director at cgd@toastmasters-d18.org.
It’s hard to believe that we’re entering the last few months of the Toastmasters year. Let's make it memorable by finishing strong. We can achieve our goals with teamwork. So let your leadership skills shine this month, and make the dream work. Your club can be Distinguished with your leadership!
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Spring Conference Countdown:
18 Days!
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The District 18 Spring Conference begins on Friday, April 19, at 6pm and ends on Saturday, April 20 at 5pm. Saturday-only tickets are available, along with two-day tickets. There are a limited number of each, so get yours before they sell out.
Find the registration link and other details in the Reminders section below, under the heading District 18 Spring Conference Reminders & Updates.
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International President Morag Mathieson recently released a video message to help Toastmasters understand why attending a district conference can be an exciting and rewarding experience.
Please click on the image below to access the video
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Click here if you are having trouble viewing this video | |
Participate in the Club Banner Parade | |
Calling All Clubs for the 2024 Spring Conference Banner Parade! | |
Greeting Fellow Toastmasters!
One of the fun and unique highlights of our district conference is the Parade of Banners – showcasing the accomplishments of clubs throughout District 18. Join in this Hall of Fame activity by reserving a spot for your club now!
Details:
- The Parade of Banners will start on Saturday, April 20th at 8 AM. (Conference registration and breakfast start at 6:30 AM.)
- Each Club Banner Representative should bring an index card with their club name & number written on it.
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All Banner Parade participants should check in at the designated location (bring your index card) prior to 7:30 AM. (Watch for signs near the Registration table.)
- Banner Parade participants should line up (in alphabetical order based on club names) no later than 7:30 AM.
- Club Banner Representatives are responsible for picking up their club banners before leaving the conference.
Please let me know of your intention to participate in the Parade of Banners, either by email at dedwardwhite93@gmail.com or by text to (443) 784-1344 on or before Friday, April 12.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Dwayne
Dwayne White, DTM
Area 71 Director & District 18 Spring Conference Banner Coordinator
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There are currently more than 270,000 Toastmasters in more than 14,200 clubs in 148 countries, and leadership at every level relies on individual Toastmaster volunteers. No wonder the Toastmasters International tagline is "Where leaders are made"!
At the club level, there are seven elected officer positions. Beyond the club level, there are elected and appointed positions at five levels: Area, Division, District, Region, and the Board of Directors. In addition, there is a relatively small team of paid staff at World Headquarters to support all Toastmasters. For more details, see Toastmasters International's Map of Service to Members.
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Board of Directors Briefing | |
March Briefing Available On Demand, Highlights are Here | |
The Toastmasters International Board of Directors typically provides a briefing to members twice per year: in March and in August. The March briefing was presented online on March 28, and a recording is available for on-demand viewing. The briefing includes reports from the International President, CEO, Strategic Planning Committee, and Board Committees. It also includes information on initiatives related to speech contests, the Pathways learning management system (LMS), and the centennial celebration. Highlights from those initiatives are:
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Speech Contests: Starting in 2024/2025, contests beyond the club level must be conducted in person (the online/hybrid exception was temporary and is being ended). However, a new contest "type" is being introduced: the Online Speech Contest. This will be a new option available for selection by any district.
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Pathways LMS: Testing of the new LMS is well underway and it is "still expected" to be available "within this calendar year." It promises to be easier to use and more visually appealing.
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Centennial Celebration: There are many resources available - see toastmasters.org/100Years. There will be a 1920s theme at the Convention (for the "President's Celebration" formal dinner/dance party), and additional celebration activities will be planned at the club level for October (the actual centennial anniversary is on October 22, 2024).
Additional information about the Board of Directors can be found here.
Please click on the image below to access the video
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Pathways Project Showcase | |
In last month's edition of this newsletter, Nick Deplitch helped kicked off this new monthly feature with an article that touched on the Create a Podcast project. This month, Gerry Stephens dives a little deeper into that project, using his own experience as an example.
Please lead by example by following Nick's and Gerry's lead: share your perspectives, challenges, and successes with a Pathways Project. Email your article for consideration to newseditor@toastmasters-d18.org. You can also use the Provide Feedback button at the bottom of this newsletter to let us know what you think of this new feature.
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Podcasting with Pathways: A Personal Reflection
by Gerry Stephens
I’ve been a Toastmaster for five years. I’ve completed the Innovative Planning path and at the end of last year, I started the Create a Podcast elective as part of my level 4 work om the Presentation Mastery path.
Admittedly, I don’t always go through all of the Pathways training in detail. However, the Create a Podcast project is not one that I merely skimmed. There’s tremendous value in this project. Because podcasting is a completely different medium for me, the basic preparation and structural tidbits felt fresh and gave me the motivation and confidence that I needed to get started. Toastmasters International (TI) avoids getting too technical despite this being a very technical project. The project focuses on content, structure, and delivery, leaving learners to their own independent research to figure out the technical pieces. This was clever of TI, as technology is changing quickly and TI is probably not the best resource for that kind of information, anyway.
The project assignment itself is a little unbalanced in my opinion. It took me far longer to complete this assignment than any other project with the exception of a level 5 leadership project. This project calls for you to publish 60 minutes of airtime. While the average podcast is 30 minutes long, there’s a great deal of variability in duration across different podcasts. I decided to shoot for 15-minute episodes which means I have to do 4 episodes to complete the project. So far, I’ve spent about 2 hours on content generation, 1 hour on technical research, 30 minutes on speech prep, 1 hour recording, and 3 hours on editing. That’s 7.5 hours to crank out the first episode! All told, I think I’ll have put 20 hours of work into this project before it’s done.
There are two ways to approach a podcast. You can spend your time preparing or you can spend your time editing. I chose the Table Topics route where I spent little time preparing and rehearsing which committed me to fixing my errors through editing. Editing takes A LOT OF TIME. If you record a stream of consciousness with little regard for dead air and mulligans as I did, then you’ll quickly realize the value of your Toastmasters training. I have a good bit of experience in editing video and sound, but that experience is no substitute for being a good public speaker. Nonetheless, I feel like It was an extremely inefficient choice to minimize my upfront work expecting that I could make it up in the editing process. As I continue to work on this project, I’ll spend more time in prep, hoping to save time and reduce the amount of content left on the cutting room floor.
So far, I’ve made one 15-minute podcast and designed my entire podcasting platform with intro and outro music, branding, and several seasons' worth of content. By the time I’m done fulfilling the requirements of the Create a Podcast project, I will likely have spent as much time as I did finishing my level 5 project. This is a big lift, but well worth it. I’ve learned a lot and have found the overall experience completely different than giving a speech at a club meeting. Despite the time commitment, I highly recommend the Create a Podcast project.
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Time to Plan Club Elections - Everyone Has a Role!
Club officer elections are held once per year (in May) or twice per year (in May and November), depending on the club's specific Addendum of Standard Club Options which supplements the Club Constitution for Clubs of Toastmasters International. Club officers elected in May begin their term on July 1.
Up to seven club officer positions should be filled by election: President, Vice President Education, Vice President Membership, Vice President Public Relations, Club Secretary, Club Treasurer (or Club Secretary-Treasurer), and Sergeant at Arms. According to the Club Leadership Handbook (linked below), a minimum of three club officers are required: the Club President, a Vice President, and the Club Secretary or Club Secretary-Treasurer; each of these three offices must be held by a different person. Every role is described in detail in the handbook.
The Club President should appoint a Club Leadership Committee (CLC) to nominate club officer candidates. The CLC should be comprised of three members in good standing, one of whom (usually the Immediate Past Club President) serves as the chair.
The committee should present its report with nominations at the club meeting prior to the election, and additional nominations may be made "from the floor" during the election. Elections require a quorum, and election results must be reported to Toastmasters International (TI) by June 30 in order to achieve the second half of the "Administration" goal in the Distinguished Club Program (goal #10) for next year.
There are many good resources from TI for understanding the club officer election process including:
What will your role be in your club's officer election process? Consider nominating yourself for an officer position or serving on the Club Leadership Committee. At a minimum, make a commitment to be present at the election, to help with satisfying the quorum requirement and to cast your vote!
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What It Means to be a Club Officer | |
Informational Meeting to be hosted by GrEAT
The Greater Elkton Area Toastmasters (GrEAT) club is taking the lead in helping District 18 Toastmasters understand what it means to be a club officer. They will host an informational session on Thursday, April 25th at 7pm to discuss the importance of stepping up to be a club officer, what it takes to be an officer, and how you can improve yourself by serving as an officer.
Join in person or online: find the in-person location and the Zoom link in the "Coming Up..." section below.
Put this on your Calendar now! (No registration required)
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Let's "Toast" these Toastmasters Clubs
The anniversary of a Toastmasters club holds significant importance as a symbol of its journey, growth, and accomplishments over the years. Whether it's a young club celebrating its first years or a long-standing club celebrating decades, its anniversary is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the club's dedication and commitment to communication, leadership, and self-improvement.
Happy anniversary to clubs that chartered in April:
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56 years: DESEAA (04/01/1968)
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54 years: Noontimers (04/01/1970)
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20 years: Advancing (04/21/2004)
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18 years: AstraZeneca Toastmasters Delaware (04/11/2006)
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12 years: RMF (04/30/2012)
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9 years: Polished Professionals Advanced (04/30/2015)
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8 years: Element of Success (04/29/2016)
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4 years: DelDot (04/01/2020)
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1 year: Be&Bee (04/01/2023)
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1 year: Thermo Fisher Scientific - Frederick (04/03/2023)
Let's join these clubs in acknowledging and celebrating their anniversaries. As they reflect on their progress, honor their founders and past members, and set new goals, we wish them continued success!
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Note: All times are Eastern Time (ET) | |
April Fools Day: Monday, April 1
Pathways Training
Wednesday, April 3, 7pm - 9pm (Zoom)
No registration required; join here
See details here
Second Monday Speaker Series,
Presented by Northrop Grumman Gavaliers Toastmasters Club
Monday, April 8, 6:30pm - 7:40pm (Zoom)
Topic: "What Did You Say!?!"
Speaker: Maurice DiMino, DTM, AS, a seasoned speaker of 15 years
No registration required; join here (Meeting ID: 84717070575, No Password)
Additional details for this series are available here
Eid al-Fitr: Tuesday, April 9
Deadline to Sign Up for Parade of Banners
Friday, April 12
See details above, under heading "Club Banner Parade"
Tax Day: Monday, April 15
Pathways "Office Hours"
Tuesday, April 16, 1pm - 2pm (Zoom)
No registration required; join here
See details here
District 18 Spring Conference
Friday, April 19 6pm - Saturday April 20 5pm (In-Person)
Carousel Oceanfront Resort, Ocean City, MD
Register here (buy a 2-day ticket or a Saturday-only ticket)
Note: on Friday, the registration desk opens at 5:30pm.
Also see related item in Reminders section, below
District 18 Table Topics Contest
Friday, April 19, ~7:45pm (In-Person Only)
Included in the Friday ticket for the Spring Conference (note: contestants do not require a ticket unless they want to participate in other conference activities)
Contestant briefings will begin ~20 minutes prior to the contest start
District 18 Humorous Speech Contest
Saturday, April 20, 10:15am (In-Person Only)
Included in the Saturday ticket for the Spring Conference (note: contestants do not require a ticket unless they want to participate in other conference activities)
Contestant briefings will begin ~20 minutes prior to the contest start
District 18 International Speech Contest
Saturday, April 20, 3:30pm (In-Person Only)
Included in the Saturday ticket for the Spring Conference (note: contestants do not require a ticket unless they want to participate in other conference activities)
Contestant briefings will begin ~20 minutes prior to the contest start
District 18 Virtual Spring Business Meeting
Sunday, April 21, 2pm - 5pm (Zoom)
Get more information and register: https://www.toastmasters-d18.org/spring-2024-bm-registration-information-meeting-instructions
Also see related item in Reminders section, below.
Passover: Monday, April 22
Earth Day: Monday, April 22
What it Means to be an Officer, hosted by Greater Elkton Area Toastmasters
Thursday, April 25, 7pm (Hybrid)
In Person: Elkton Community Center at 121 Stockton St., Elkton, MD
Zoom: no registration required; join here
POC: Ben Crist, phtgrphrelite@aol.com
Additional details are above, under heading "What it Means to be a Club Officer"
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This section contains reminders for items previously published in prior editions of this newsletter and in separate email blasts | |
District 18 Contests - Update |
Division Contests completed last month, and this month the winners from those contests will compete at the district level, during the Spring Conference. As previously communicated, the Table Topics Contest will be on April 19th and the International Speech Contest will be on April 20th. However, the date for the Humorous Speech contest has changed, as indicated immediately below.
UPDATE: The Humorous Speech Contest is now scheduled for April 20th; details for all three contests can be found in the "Coming Up..." section below.
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District 18 2024 Virtual Spring Business Meeting - Update | |
All club presidents and vice presidents education (VPEs) and District Executive Council (DEC) members are requested to join the Trio (District Director, Program Quality Director, and Club Growth Director) for the District 18 Spring Business Meeting on Sunday, April 21, 2pm-5pm EDT on Zoom. Attendance is important because a quorum is required to conduct district business, so please plan to attend!
Note: you do not need to be a club president, VPE, or DEC member to attend. Any Toastmaster, regardless of officer status, may attend. (Only club presidents, VPEs, and DEC members may make motions and vote.) Participating in the business meeting is a great way to learn about the district and how it conducts business. Perhaps you'll be inspired to run for a DEC position in the future!
UPDATE: The 2024 Virtual Spring Business Meeting web page is now available.
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Conference Basket Raffle
The conference basket raffle is a fun highlight of the conference! This FUNdraiser is an excellent way to showcase your club while helping to defray conference costs.
You can still sign up to donate a basket - click here!
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Conference T-Shirts Cancelled
Due to lack of interest, the conference T-shirt will not be available this year. Refunds are being issued to the few people who had ordered the T-shirt with their conference registrations.
For more information, contact conference@toastmasters-d18.org
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Club Banner Parade
Clubs are invited to participate in the club banner parade during the Spring Conference. Please see details above, under the heading Participate in the Club Banner Parade.
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2024 Toastmasters International Convention | |
We will be celebrating Toastmasters International's centennial at the 2024 Convention, which will be held in the Founders District in California - where it all started! There are many reasons to attend the convention, including the opportunity to see the International Speech Contest Semi-Finals and the World Championship of Public Speaking.
Ready to make milestone magic? This one-minute-and-five-second video will have you excited about the convention!
Click on the image below for more details and to register
(Additional details added in February, hotel reservations opened in March)
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Club Officer Checklist - April | |
All Officers
- Work with club members to build a basket to donate for the Conference Basket Raffle
- Help with planning club officer elections
- Conduct executive committee meeting(s) with each officer reporting on accomplishments, challenges, and plans
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Use the Club Performance Report to review progress against the Club Success Plan goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program
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Use other Toastmasters Club Officer Tools as needed
President
- Appoint a Club Leadership Committee to nominate candidates for club officer elections
- Preside over executive committee meeting(s)
VP Education
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Continue preparing for the Pathways Base Camp transition; help members ensure that their educational achievements are accurately reflected in Base Camp and Club Central (see article "Get Ready for the Pathways Base Camp Transition" in the PQD Corner in the December edition of this newsletter)
- Continue working with members on their educational goals
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Ensure agendas are complete and participants understand their meeting roles
- Reach out to paid/inactive members
VP Public Relations
- Publicize your club's and club members' achievements (e.g., on social media and/or in the District 18 Newsletter)
- Include any club member(s) who are competing in the District 18 contests this month
- Use your club's social networking sites and outreach opportunities to publicize club activities
VP Membership
- Follow up with non-renewing members
- Greet club meeting visitors and distribute guest packets ("blue folders")
- Follow up with prospective members (club meeting visitors and others)
Treasurer
- Ensure that members' dues are submitted to World Headquarters by April 1
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NOTE: for the membership dues portion of DCP Goal #10, your club receives credit when your club’s membership dues accompanied by the names of eight members (at least three of whom must be renewing members) are received by World Headquarters on or before October 1 for October-March OR on or before April 1 for April-September.
- Continue processing dues submissions from new club members
- Continue tracking club expenses against the club's budget
Secretary
- Document meeting minutes at executive committee meeting(s)
Sergeant-at-Arms
- Manage and maintain club equipment and materials
- Set up and break down required materials for each club meeting
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Integrity • Respect • Service • Excellence | | | | |