Fall Conference Wrap-up
Schedule of Events
First Timers and YOU
Fear & Determination
Joyce Feustel Earns 5th DTM
Communication and Leadership Award
Musings from the Editor
Pass it on!
Let the rest of your club know the December 2013 Dialogue is available.
Attendees gave great praise for the 2013 the D26 Fall Conference that added to the D26 Conference tradition of excellence. From TOASTtalks to Roasts, Contests to 1999 World Champion Craig Valentine, Education and Business Sessions to the Hall of Fame there was plenty of value for the members who spent their time with other D26 Toastmasters!
The Friday Evening buffet gathered all together. After dinner kicked off with the well received, first ever D26 TOASTtalks with 7-minute “TED” style talks and 5 minute fast paced Power Point Presentations by D26 members coordinated by Rich Hopkins of presenters Mark West, Terri Larsen, Stephanie McHugh, Tom Hobbs and Emil Acevedo introduced by talented emcee Andre Simenau.
A Pink flourish began the annual thank you tradition of roasting our Immediate Past District Governor (IPDG). Pink haired Past District Governor John Barnes escorted a surprised IPDG Bea Garcia Macliz on the pink carpet of honor flanked by Past District Governors with their swords raised in salute. Thank you to Past District Governor and International Director Beth Boaz for choreographing such a fun beginning to the roast emceed by LGET Linda Rhea and Area Governor Michael Upchurch in his TALL hat! Many members roasted Bea and recalled the laughter and dignity Bea brought to the district last year as she encouraged all to Travel Beyond!
District Governor Tom Hobbs began Saturday morning with introductions including the Color Guard of D26 members who served our country in the military. This is always a highlight of our Conference held on Veteran’s Day weekend!
Keynote Speaker and 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, Craig Valentine, shared insight on How to Get Remarkable Results in Leadership and Life! Craig inspired everyone with his ability to deliver a moving, action packed address in a leg brace after leg surgery just 2 weeks before. He left no doubt why he is an ever highly respected World Champion of Public Speaking and LIFE!
The Evaluation contest followed led by Contest Toastmaster Beth Boaz and Chief Judge Julia Davis who were flawless in leading a well-orchestrated contest assisted by Contest Co-Chairs Kathy Schneebeck Dulnoan and Marcy Brack. Test Speaker Jason Letman listened as his speech “Hero Worship” was evaluated D26’s 6 Division contest winners. The contestants were:
Craig Valentine followed with an educational session titled Present with Impact and Persuade with Ease. Craig made it look easy (leg brace and all as he jumped from the stage,) as he inspired us again!.. Many were heard to say they wish that more members would come to hear the World Champions. They share such great tips with the members in ways that will work in the next speech! Each conference we hear the attendees say “He was the best yet!” , “I wish more members could benefit from this presentation!” and “I will be here for the next one”! 2000 World Champion and Voice of Toastmaster International Conferences Mark Brown will headline the Spring Conference May 17 & 18, 2014.
Next was the Hall of Fame Luncheon. IPDG Bea Garcia Macliz thanked those who traveled beyond to help during her year as District Governor. Toastmaster of the Year was presented to Kathy Schneebeck Dulnoan, Division Governonr of the Year to Paula Cowen and Area Governors of the Year presented to Joan Janis and Marcy Brack.
The afternoon included Educational Sessions with presenters
The Business Meeting followed the Education sessions and included a review of the budget.
The conference culminated with the banquet and Tall Tales Contest. Buckley Airmen began the evening with the Color Guard and Toastmaster and Ms. Senior Colorado (4th Runnerup in the National Contest too!)Gail Hamilton led us in song. The Tall tales Contest had us guessing what was true and laughing all the time. Congratulations to the contestants:
Sunday Morning Craig Valentine presented Own the Stage with On Stage coaching. Hilary Blair gave us great tips to get the most from our voice. These extra Sunday sessions are always a hit. Those is attendance found great value and believed it was worth many, many times the $30 fee for admission.
Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to produce a quality experience. Paula Cowen and Stacey Williams were magnificent as Conference Chairs and Rheid Schloss kept registration running smoothly. The countless volunteers made the entire production seem seamless. Thank you all!! Make plans now to join us for the Spring Conference May 17 and 18 in Loveland.
BackSee the district calendar for more details
BackI love serving the First Timers at the District Conference. Some people think that First Timers is synonymous with New Toastmasters. I know I had, but First Timers are just that, First Time attendees of a District 26 Conference. There are a variety of people who attended for the first time and at the 2013 Fall Conference. They included:
Most of us joined Toastmasters because we want to stretch ourselves and try, practice or learn something new and going to a Toastmaster Conference for the first time qualifies on all fronts. However walking into a completely new location with no idea what exactly to expect can be a little unsettling for some and make the bravest feel a little unsure.
By creating a supportive environment starting with a Meeting of what to expect at the Conference it is the District's hope that our First Timers are not Only-Timers and from the sounds of the feedback, most of them won’t be.
Here are just a few of the things we have heard.
Thank you to all our First Timers for joining us, we hope to see you again.
Also Thank You to all our Not-First Timers for helping either directly or indirectly. YOUR helpfulness, smiles, kindness, preparedness, manners, “Hello”, conversations, facts and all around support helped our First Timers know what being a part of District 26 Toastmasters really means and how great it is. Read what was said about YOU:
“I never cease to be amazed by how gracious Toastmasters are.”
YOU ALL helped make the First Timer’s conference experience an experience. Thank you!
Spotlight
Robert Satin, member of the Loquacious Lunch Bunch in Boulder, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation earlier this year by his club, in appreciation for the video recording he produces each week for the club. Congratulations, Bob!
Please see the D26 website for a complete list.
BackThe excitement continues to be a leader in District 26 Toastmasters. You need to hear about what I witnessed this past weekend at the fall 2013 Conference. I witnessed awesome growth in leadership, owning the responsibilities of committees and quiet members who began speaking in front of a ballroom full of people.
What was very present was how we allowed each other to be strong and vulnerable on a bigger stage than in our home club. The same safe environment to grow and practice in, just the appearance of a greater risk. My own fears of presiding over the District Council Business meeting was huge. Because of the mentorship and guidance of those I trusted, it was a success.
When your fears come up about Leadership & better Communication skills what is your first reaction? Is it excitement for the opportunity to improve or fear of past results?
This weekend I witnessed the most chilling Toast-A-Monial. A contestant was being interviewed and asked to explain a comment on his biographical information sheet he had provided.
The very Joyful person I had been seeing changed. His face went pale. His chin quivered. And a tear leaked out. He competed in the speech contest and won at his home club, Area, Division and made it to District finals all in less than a year in Toastmasters. With his family in the room he revealed a fear that had kept him from even leaving his house. He thanked Toastmasters for giving him the safe environment to bust through that fear.
Do you face your Fears with Apprehension or Determination? Be the leader that does it with 703 Gallons of enthusiastic Determination.
BackOn September 23, 2013 Distinguished Toastmaster Joyce Feustel earned her fifth DTM award. She is the only Toastmaster of the approximately 3,000 Toastmasters in District 26 to have achieved this distinction.
Joyce earned her first DTM in 2003, her second in 2005, her third in 2007, and her fourth in 2011.
Each DTM requires a Toastmaster to have achieved their Competent Communicator award; Advanced Communicator-Bronze, Advanced Communicator-Silver, and Advanced Communicator-Gold awards, along with the Competent Leadership award, Advanced Leadership-Bronze award and Advanced Leadership-Silver award.
To achieve the DTM means that the Toastmaster has given at least 47 speeches and has served in leadership roles at the club and district level. In addition, the Toastmaster needs to serve another club as one of the following: club sponsor, club mentor or club coach. Plus the Toastmaster needs to have conducted a High Performance Leadership project.
You may wonder why Joyce chose to put in all that effort five times. Here is what she told me when I posed that question to her:
“I believe in serving as role model for other Toastmasters, and I believe in service to others. Since I had served District 26 for five years – as area governor, division governor and then the three years in the district trio – I figured there was no reason not to fulfill the rest of the requirements to match up with each of those years.”
Here are a few factoids that Joyce provided for this article:
Who do you know that Stands Out and encourages people to find their voice and use it within the District 26 Boundaries? Each year District 26 presents an award to a non-toastmaster who is contributing to the community in the areas of Communication and Leadership.
Criteria for the Award include:
Send your nominations to Past International Director and Past District 26 Governor Beth Boaz@aol.com by January 31, 2014. The award will be presented at the Communication and Leadership Luncheon on May 17 at the Spring Conference in Loveland.
BackTwice a year we hold district conferences. They have a number of purposes: recognition, education, entertainment, business, socializing, …
In my humble opinion the most important element is inspiration.
Real motivation comes from inside. You have to have a desire and believe what you want is worth the effort. You joined Toastmasters to accomplish something. Perhaps it was to overcome a fear of public speaking, or perhaps you wanted to become a better leader. Toastmasters provides material and the environment, but how well you do depends on the amount of effort you put into achieving your goal.
Your club members will inspire you, but most clubs don’t have world-class speakers or topnotch leaders as members. That’s where conferences come in. You get to see in action people who have gone beyond the ordinary: the speech contestants who have won their way to district level , the men and women who lead the district, the trainers who have stepped outside the comfort level of the club to pass their knowledge on to you. They show you that what you want to achieve is worth the effort.
Lately our conferences have seen a number of World Champions of Public Speaking, Toastmasters who have competed and won at the International level. They not only inspire with their achievements, but they also inspire with their speeches and the training they provide. We’ll have another World Champion at the spring conference. If the ones who have presented at the past several conferences are any example, Mark Brown will also inspire those who attend.
What will you be doing on May 17 and 18? If you attended this past fall conference, you’re probably already planning on attending. If you missed it, take my advice. Be there. You’ll see what you’ve been missing, and you will be inspired.
BackPublisher / Governor
Tom Hobbs, DTM
Phone: 303-671-0469
Email: dg1314@d26leaders.org
Editor
Gordon S. Savage, DTM
36923 Forest Trail
Elizabeth, CO 80107-8126
Phone: 303-646-0547
Email: gordonsavage@msn.com
Public Relations
Maura Thompson, CC, CL
Email: pro1314@d26leaders.org
Title & Design
Carol A. Harris, ACB
E-mail: thewriteniche@aol.com