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District 33 Toastmasters
WestWord
The Official Newsletter for District 33 Toastmasters
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March 2024 | Vol. 52, Issue 1 | | |
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A message from our
District Director:
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Spring Brings New Beginnings
Happy Spring District 33 Toastmasters!
No matter where you are located in District 33, it has been a beautiful year. Many of us have received much-needed rain from the winter showers, and in return, Mother Nature has rewarded us with the beauty of blooming flowers, lush green grass, and majestic purple mountains at sunsets. Many of you have been progressing toward your goals since the new year.
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With spring comes new beginnings. March is a perfect time to assess your growth and measure how far you’ve come since the start of the year. Celebrate your success and realize that YOU DID IT! Continue the beautiful momentum and create new goals.
There may be new challenges as you work towards your new goals; you are setting yourself up for a memorable Toastmasters year, personal pride, and self-fulfillment.
Renew for you.
Tan Pham, DTM
2023-2024 District 33 Director
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Exciting Times Ahead: Our District 33 Annual Conference! | |
Dear Fellow Toastmasters,
Come for a celebration of excellence and camaraderie at our upcoming Hybrid District 33 Annual Conference! I'm thrilled to bring you the latest updates and highlights for this much-anticipated event.
Save the Dates:
Thursday, April 25, 2024: (Online only) Annual Business Meeting featuring District reports and the election of our 2024-2025 District Leaders. Please visit www.d33tm.org\events for the registration links.
Friday, April 26, 2024: (In-person only) Engage in activities with Richard Peck, DTM, PIP. Please visit www.d33tm.org\events for more information.
Saturday, April 27, 2024: (Hybrid) Join us at the Courtyard by Marriott, 600 E Esplanade Dr, Oxnard, CA 93036, to celebrate our achievements, share insights, and foster personal and professional growth.
Exclusive rates are available for District 33 attendees. Book your stay by calling (805)-988-3600 and request the "District 33 Toastmasters Annual Conference room block" before April 4, 2024. The guest room inventory is limited, so please book early while supplies last.
Virtual and In-Person Options: Given the current circumstances, we offer virtual and in-person attendance options. Please choose the format that suits you best and join us for an enriching experience.
Registration Details: Take advantage of this incredible opportunity! You can secure your spot by registering here or going to www.d33tm.org..
Conference Theme: Celebrating 100 Years of Toastmasters. This year's theme, Celebrating 100 Years of Toastmasters, embodies the spirit of unity, resilience, and empowerment. Prepare to be inspired by thought-provoking speeches and engaging workshops.
Keynote Speakers: We are honored to have Toastmasters' Past International President, Richard E. Peck, DTM, and guest education speaker David H. Lehman, NASA Solar System Ambassador. Their expertise will elevate our understanding of leadership, communication, and the Toastmasters journey.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow Toastmasters from across the district! We will engage in meaningful conversations during our networking sessions, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships.
Recognition and Awards: Celebrate the achievements of outstanding Toastmasters who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill. Join the applause as we honor excellence in communication and leadership.
More Conference Highlights:
Host Division B: Welcome address and presentation showcasing what Oxnard, Camarillo, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Ventura Toastmasters Clubs offer.
Memoriam:
We will honor our dear Toastmasters who passed away this year, 2023-2024.
District Speech Contest:
Witness the best District 33 speakers battling it out for the first-place award. As Jim Rohn said, "Small efforts do not win big trophies." Our contestants are putting in the hard work and making personal sacrifices to inspire us all.
Special Events:
Stay tuned for exciting activities, a silent auction, and surprises that will add a touch of fun and excitement to our conference experience. There's something for everyone!
Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the conference date. We look forward to celebrating, learning, and growing together at our District 33 Annual Conference!
To your continued success,
Nico Martin, DTM
2023-2024 District 33 Program Quality Director
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Invest in your personal and professional growth by renewing your membership in Toastmasters.
Toastmasters is a community that provides its members with a sense of inclusion, collaboration, support, and shared values.
Members feel connected not only to their club but also to members from all around the world. This bond allows them to benefit from the strengths and experiences of others and contribute their unique perspectives and insights.
Overall, Toastmasters is an excellent way to develop new skills, build friendships, and achieve personal growth.
Toastmasters is an organization that helps you develop the skills and
confidence required to communicate effectively in any situation. It is an
efficient, supportive, enjoyable, and affordable way to improve
communication skills. By learning to formulate and express your ideas
effectively, you can open up a whole new world of possibilities. You can
improve your interpersonal communication, become more persuasive, and
gain confidence. Toastmasters can help you achieve your personal
and professional goals.
Talk Up Toastmasters is a membership program that takes place from
February 1st to March 31st. As a Toastmaster, you can use this program to
encourage your members to invite guests to a special meeting where they
can learn about the benefits of Toastmasters. If you add five new, dual, or
reinstated members with a join date between February 1st and March 31st,
your club will receive a special Talk Up Toastmasters ribbon to display on
your banner. Additionally, qualifying clubs can earn a special discount code
for 10% off their next club order. Please note that the discount code expires
six months from the issue date and is not valid with any other offer.
It is important to remember that applications and payments for members
with a joining date between February 1st and March 31st must be received
at World Headquarters or online no later than March 31st. Please note that
the addition of transfer and charter members does not count toward Talk
Up Toastmasters credit.
Winning clubs will be announced online within a few weeks of the
submission deadline. If your club is in the United States, you should
allow up to 10 business days to receive your award. If your club is located
outside the United States, please allow up to 21 business days to
receive your award.
Sincerely,
Darnell Evans, DTM
2023-2024 District 33 Club Growth Director
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Share your Toastmasters Experience, Club Events, and successes with others!
Could you post in our District 33 Facebook group?
District 33 Facebook Group
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Leaders and Volunteers:
Thank You for your Service to Toastmasters
We know you have a busy schedule. Time is precious.
District 33 appreciated every moment of your time. We hope you enjoy and learn from your experience.
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Book Your Seat:
District 33
Conference
April 25 - 27, 2024 Oxnard, CA
Volunteers are needed for this great event.
Contact: Program Quality Director Nico Martin, DTM
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Invite Friends and
Co-Workers to your
next meeting.
Speech Contests:
It's time to get ready for the funniest grammarians. "Don't get your knickers in a bunch" is part of the Toastmasters ' speech contest season.
First, regarding the current speech contest rulebook, could you know the rules as you prepare to speak and act as a judge, contest chair, or other contest official?
All speech contests at the Area, Division, and District levels will be conducted in a hybrid format (in-person and online) for the 2023-2024 speech contest cycle. For more information and resources, visit https://d33tm.org/speech-contests/
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Let's put a pin in the release of the new Pathways Educational landing platform. According to Toastmasters International's educational department, there has yet to be a release date for the highly expected new educational landing platform. According to Toastmasters International, it will be at the end of this 2023-2024 calendar year, as previously announced. They are looking to launch in the 2024-2025 Toastmasters International year. Members can look for an email from Toastmasters International announcing the launch dates, when all the bugs have been worked out, and when it's decided. And that's the word from the Big Guys.
While we wait for the announcement, let's focus on the Centennial celebration. Toastmasters International offers anniversary swag, including 100-year pin keychains, pins, ribbons, and T-shirts.
Considering the convention will be in our backyard, we should be decked out and ready to party. The once-in-a-lifetime convention will be in Anaheim, CA, August 14-17, 2024.
By Annie Hall, DTM
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MEETUP WORKS! ( TO GET THE WORD OUT)
I am with the Goleta Valley Toastmasters (GVTM) Club and have attended the District 33 Meetup Committee Meetings since its inception. I see that our persistence has paid off, and meetups are contributing to the increase in Toastmasters membership. Our club has struggled to find new members for the past few years. Since attending the District 33 Meetup Friday evening meetings, it became apparent through our discussions that it would be beneficial to have our club start its meetup site to add to the District 33 Meetup. The reason was to attract people living in our immediate area.
On November 1st, the officers in our club decided to pay for our Meetup site for six months, an investment of $77. Immediately, we started having people contact our club. On 2/16/24, we had 33 people join our GVTM Toastmasters Meetup site. Of the 33 people who joined, 11 attended our meeting as guests. Eight of these 11 guests came through the District 33 meetup site or directly from our Meetup site with Goleta Valley Toastmasters. It is difficult to determine as our club is listed on the District meetup site. The other three guests said they googled for a club.
We have three new members, and we need one more to reach our Distinguished Club goal, and two more are planning to join.
1. The District Meetup attracts people - to date, there are 150+ members with District 33 meetup.
2. People are directed to our individual clubs through the District Meetup site or by a club setting up their meetup site.
3. If our club isn't fit, we direct them to another club, which we have done.
Great Networking! Also, one woman googled community service, and our Toastmasters club showed up for her. As we know, it is all intertwined through the web.
Thank you, District 33, for supporting this trial run with Meetup. It has benefited our club, Goleta Valley Toastmasters, and has also helped other clubs in the District.
Linda Folk, VP of Public Relations - GVTM club
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April Fools' Day—occurring on April 1 each year—has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, though its exact origins remain a mystery. Even though it is not an official holiday, April Fools' Day remains pranksters' favorite worldwide. April Fools' Day traditions include playing hoaxes or practical jokes on others, often yelling "April Fools!" at the end to clue in the subject of the April Fools' Day prank.
While its history is shrouded in mystery, the embrace of April Fools' Day jokes by the media and major brands has ensured the unofficial holiday's long life. April Fools' Day Pranks.
In modern times, people have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools' Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations, and websites have participated in the April 1st tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims that have fooled their audiences.
In 1957, the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop and showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees. In 1985, Sports Illustrated writer George Plimpton tricked many readers by running a made-up article about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch, who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour.
In 1992, National Public Radio ran a spot with former President Richard Nixon saying he was running for president again… only it was an actor, not Nixon, and the segment was all an April Fools' Day prank that caught the country by surprise.
In 1996, the fast-food restaurant chain, Taco Bell duped people when it announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia 's Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell.
In 1998, after Burger King advertised a "Left-Handed Whopper," scores of clueless customers requested the fake sandwich. Google notoriously hosts an annual April Fools' Day prank that has included everything from "telepathic search" to the ability to play Pac-Man on Google Maps.
For the average trickster, there is always the classic April Fools' Day prank of covering the toilet with plastic wrap or swapping the contents of sugar and salt containers.
Sources
A Brief, Totally Sincere History of April Fools' Day.
Washington Post.
History's Greatest April Fools' Jokes.
National Geographic.
Some of the greatest April Fools' pranks of all time. CNN.
15 Best April Fools' Day Hoaxes. CBS.
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WORD Of The Day
Terms that favor leadership.
There are various terms that are relevant to leadership. Commonly used words are many. Our
Division director from District 33, Dr. Angelina Dickey, suggested “cooperation versus collaboration.”
Are these words similar or dissimilar?
Co-operation is a noun and is used as such. The Oxford English Dictionary states that it is “ the process
of working together to the same end.” In a sentence-, let’s say, “They worked in close cooperation
with the AAA.” Synonyms are assistance, helpfulness, help, working together, etc. There is also the idea of compliance that goes with it. “We would like to ask for your cooperation in the survey.” The idea is the act of working together. In economics, the idea of “cooperatives” is also
derived from this word.
Etymology- Borrowed from Latin- Etymons: Latin” cooperat,” “cooperari”
Collaboration is also a noun, and it has similar roots. Quoting from the Oxford Dictionary, I found that it means 1. The action of working with someone to produce or create something. Sentence: He wrote a critique on local art and architecture in collaboration with Frank Lloyd Wright.
He produced something new, in other words.
In a negative sense, we can say, in a sentence – that he joined enemy hands, and, therefore, he was tried for traitorous collaboration.
Synonyms are – cooperation, alliance, fraternizing, fraternization, etc.
Etymology- Latin “collaboratus,” past participle of” collaborate” – to labor(Merriam Webster
Dictionary) Collaboration is a sister of cooperation, with slightly varied results.
Leadership requires “integrity” – a noun, The Oxford Dictionary says—the state of honesty, strong moral principles, and uprightness.
Sentence—She is a leader known for her integrity. Everyone loves to work with such a leader, and she lives up to her standards.
Synonyms- fairness, responsible, honesty, conscience
Root- Evolved from Latin, it means integer whole or complete. (quoted from The Oxford English Dictionary)
Nandita Das, DTM
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Samaritan Village Toastmasters Club is Now a Book Club:
And We Want You to Join!
The Samaritan Village Toastmasters Club (#652890) convenes every Wednesday at noon (12:00-1:00) Pacific time as a virtual book club.
If interested, you may join the club using the Zoom link below and the accompanying Meeting ID and Passcode. A link to your local number is also provided.
Meeting Details:
Zoom link: Zoom Link for the Meeting or https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86436846033?pwd=fks0baJfqeIdsDN81na9cFQUgbUOqp.1
Meeting ID: 864 3684 6033
Passcode: 946893
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kJoIitbim
Membership in this Toastmasters club allows one to read good books, be in
good company, and access plentiful personal development opportunities. The club
offers a chance to have fun while making new acquaintances.
The Business Optimizer team has enumerated six reasons why joining a book club is beneficial. Firstly, it is an excellent way to socialize and interact with new people.
Secondly, it fosters a lasting habit of reading by setting a deadline to finish a book weekly or monthly. Thirdly, it enhances one's debating skills and confidence in
group discussions. Fourthly, it improves conversational skills and teaches one to
converse more productively. Fifthly, it broadens perspectives and trains one to think
outside narrow boundaries. Lastly, attending a book club while writing a book can help
writers understand reader's preferences.
In conclusion, the advantages of joining a book club are diverse and enriching. We
look forward to your participation and are excited to share our love for books. Your copy should address three key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call to action)?
Sincerely,
Darnell Evans, DTM
Club Vice President Membership
2023-2024 District 33 Club Growth Director
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Let's Build the WestWord!
Would you like to see a topic or
matter in an upcoming Newsletter or Blog?
Would a regular section work for you? If there is something you are interested in reading about, chances are you are one of many!
Please drop us a note, or better yet, join the Newsletter TEAM!
Volunteers are needed to contribute.
Newsletter Team:
Editors: Flora Turner, DTM, PDD; Roberta Nadler, CC; Annie Hall, DTM; Carolyn Moore, DTM; Nandita Das, DTM,
Would you like us to visit a topic or matter in an upcoming newsletter or Blog? Would a regular section work for you? If there is something you are interested in reading about, chances are you are one of many!
Please send us a note or join the TE newsletter.
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