Publish or Perish
Schedule of Events
News & Notes – Toastmasters Facts
Be a better presenter through Pageantry
Coming Soon—Spring Conference
LGMs Get Their Feet Wet at Midyear Training
Don’t Wait Two Weeks
New Clubs
District 26 Upcoming Events
Location, Location, Location, …
Musings - Club Operations
Pass it on!
Let the rest of your club know the February 2014 Dialogue is available.
Publish or Perish: "If it Ain’t Written, it Ain't Real."
Ralph C. Smedley & the Beginnings of Toastmasters
In the early 1900s, Bloomington, Ill,Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, Educational Director of the "YMCA" discovered that the boys needed speech training. So, he designed a "Toastmasters" speech club.
For the next 24 years or so,Dr. Smedley started several clubs in different cities. The problem was each club would perish when he went to the next town. WHY? (Answer below.)
Eventually, in 1922,Dr. Smedley moved to Santa Ana and helped an Anaheim group form a Toastmasters Club. The Toastmasters Club idea spread to LA, Long Beach, and other SoCal cities.Soon, club representatives officially organized Toastmasters International. (Until then, Toastmasters Club was an educational arm of the YMCA.)
In 1928, Finally… The Birth of Documentation!
To save time in replying to letters and inquiries, Dr. Smedley published his first documentation called: Ten Lessons In Public Speaking and Manual of Instructions.
Dr. Smedley’s documentation stabilized the clubs… he no longer had to be there all the time!
Today,Toastmasters International has "tons" of documentation to help you and your club grow and prosper. Still,I’ve noticed that many individual clubs haven't written their own documentation.
Since each club is different,it would be impossible for Toastmasters International to write and maintain individual "Club Operations Manuals" for its thousands of Toastmaster clubs.
Therefore…
To stabilize your club,I recommend that you take the time to document your club’s key business processes in how-to checklist format, such as:
You ask, "Why do this? We already know how to do everything!" Of course. But, that’s the problem. If your club operations are not documented, you’re operating off "tribal knowledge." This means, no one can inherit that position without essentially starting over.
For example,if the SAA leaves, no one else knows how to set up the room – unless it’s documented.In other words, Publish or Perish!
Live Deliberately!
Mike Hayden, M3 Area Governor, (303) 585-1945
"I don't know what your destiny will be. But one thing I know. The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
– Dr. Albert Schweitzer
BackFeb 22 – Foothills Make Up TLI
Feb 23 – Colorado Springs Make Up TLI
Feb 24 – Downtown Denver Mid-Week Make Up TLI
Feb 25 – DTC MORNING Midweek Make Up TLI
Feb 28 – Last day to complete Club Officer Training
Feb 28 – South Metro Midweek Make Up TLI
See the district calendar for more details
BackTalk Up Toastmasters: Club officers add 5 new Toastmasters to your clubs from 1 February to 31 March to earn the Talk Up Toastmasters Ribbon.
8 Is The New 6: To remain an active Toastmasters club, we now need a minimum of 8 club members. Toastmasters recently announce the change from 6 to 8 members. During the April renewal period, club officers will need to submit at least 8 payments to achieve the Distinguish Club goal credit. If your club membership is below 8, then you have one additional payment period to bring membership up to the monument to stay an active club with rights to use Toastmasters tools and materials.
District 26 Clubs: We have 166 paid clubs currently. During the last 6 months, 4 clubs decided to close though formal suspension, 7 clubs will be suspended in April for missing 2 payment periods, 7 clubs have 6 or 7 members, and 37 clubs have between 8-12 members.
If you are a member of a club with 12 or fewer members, ask your club President to request a Club Coach though Club Coach Chair Mark West. Also, you can ask your VP of Membership if you could lead a marketing campaign for Competent Leader credit. Hold open houses bring in 5 members earn the Talk Up Toastmasters award, and increase your clubs overall membership. By doing these things your can help your cherished Toastmaster club stay an active vibrant club.
Please see the D26 website for a complete list.
BackThe long lasting way to learn a new concept is to help teach it to someone else. As a dance instructor when I taught the ladies’ moves, I became a better leader of the Man’s moves. Craig Valentine & Darren LaCroix both told District 26 this past year to teach their Coaching methods and we would become betters Speakers. It does work very well.
A long time Toastmaster friend in Canada told me how his club has taught young ladies to be better speakers and their confidence grew in awesome amounts. They have come back and thanked them years later for this. They provide a Speech Craft 6 week program for a regional pageant program for young ladies. They build skills and their confidence is showcased by a speech contest at the end. Sorel beams each time he tells me about a 16 year old girl that grew about 10 feet during the program.
Who do you know that is worthy of growing their confidence by 10 feet? Your local Scouts? 4H kids? Church Youth Group? Or Beauty Queens in the making? These are our future leaders. Shouldn’t we help them now?
You or your club can sponsor a Youth Leadership or Speechcraft program. Improve the community and likely add members to your club. You can get manuals from Niki Moore, our bookstore manager, or at Toastmasters.org. I have helped with 4 youth programs and my skills grew because of it.
I challenge you to teach what you have learned in Toastmasters. You will become a better presenter and leader. You and your club will improve because of this.
Back1995 World Champion of Public Speaking MARK BROWN will Keynote at the District 26 Spring Conference May 16 & 17 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, CO. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Brown immigrated to the United States at 18 – with $40 in his pocket and a dream of a better life. He has dedicated his career to delivering uplifting messages to people all over the world He uses a unique combination of humor and poignancy to reach the most diverse audiences, and he is committed to continually inspiring people from all walks of life with his "tell it like it is approach". His purpose is threefold: to touch your head and make you think, to touch your heart and make you feel, to touch your hands and make you act.
In 1999, his presentation in the Maine PBS television special "Words Count with Mark Brown" was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Educational/Instructional Program. He makes over 200 presentations each year at conferences, school assemblies, symposiums, conventions and corporate meetings, an is in high demand by adult and youth audiences throughout North America.
Spring Conference Registration forms and details will be on the District Website soon. The conference includes: District Table Topics Contest and International Speech Contest, Business meeting which includes club realignment and election of District officers for the 2014-2015 year.
Each club has 2 votes to be voted by the Club President and Vice President of Education or they can send another club member with their proxy. Proxies are now posted on D26Toastmsters.org.
Join us at the Spring conference for fun, education and sharing ideas with your peers.
BackIn early January, as Lt. Gov. Marketing (LGM) I attended the midyear TRIO training along with Linda Rhea, Lt. Gov. Education & Training, and Tom Hobbs, District Governor. The day we left Denver International Airport the weather was cold from a recent snow storm. Arriving in Salt Lake City, we were met by another snow storm. From above the city it was hard to distinguish between the white snow on the ground, and the white clouds which reached down to touch the white snow base.
As our shuttle drove through town to the hotel, I realized that the weather in Salt Lake City was much like the weather in Denver, or Grand Junction or Cheyenne. Commonalities, we find them all around us, if we just look.
During the next couple of days at TRIO training, I learned to look for the commonalties. I found many other Toastmaster Districts experience the same joys and frustrations as we in District 26. We all had large and small clubs. We were all holding contests, conferences, leadership training, building new clubs and saying good-bye to closing clubs. Many of the Districts are geographically disperse just like District 26.
During the LGM breakout, we discussed creating new clubs, and encouraging leaders of struggling clubs. The second half of the LGM breakout session was after lunch. As we gathered back for class, our instructor Eric Vaughn, Region 1 Advisor, said we were going on a secret LGM excursion. We secured our computers and blindly followed Eric. He took us pool side for an LGM group picture. After the picture, Eric told us to spread out evenly around the pool for a team building exercise. No one knew quite what to expect but we followed the directions, trusting Eric. Then we heard; yet, could not quite believe. Eric had asked the LGMs to sit down, take off our shoes and socks, and roll up our pant legs. We did as instructed, giggling like school children. We sat around the pool, feet in the warm water, talking about our experiences as LGM. We literally discussed how we got our feet wet during the first 6 months as LGM.
Eventually, the time came for us to say goodbye to fellow leaders from other districts. We boarded the shuttle heading back to the Salt Lake City Airport. At the airport, we hurried through security and scampered to the correct gate only to wait for a late plane to arrive. After boarding our plane, we taxied out away from the terminal and played the waiting game again. Then I saw the large truck approach. I leaned forward to ask Tom Hobbs why a truck was a stone’s throw away from the plane. He looked and explained. For the first time in my life, I sat on a plane waiting for a large truck to de-ice the aircraft. I had my apprehensions, but I trusted the ground team. After de-icing, we lifted off and minutes later landed safely in Denver.
Overall, the midyear training was exceptionally good. I learned to look for commonalities, to feel comfortable with getting my feet wet, and to trust the team. When we look for success, take actionable steps toward goals, and work with a terrific team, WE WIN!
If your club hasn’t already started preparing, the International Speech and Table Topics Contests are just around the corner. Opportunities abound. Head up a team to organize and run your club contest — get credit for a Competent Leader requirement. Or volunteer to head up an area or division contest (these go fast) and work from the High Performance Leadership manual — get credit toward your Advance Leader Silver. Or prepare for and enter the contests (Yes, you can compete in both). How far will you go?
BackWas it just me or was Lance Miller at the Toastmaster Leadership Institute AWESOME?
I was fortunate enough to lead the VP of PR breakout sessions in Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs where I asked "What one thing that Lance said struck you the most?" and there were three that repeated in every break out:
Every club is different because each has a different personality, different demographics so everything Lance talked about won't work at every club but here are the things mentioned in the VP of PR breakout sessions that will:
We also discussed Lance’s ideas for getting new members
In Denver we had the opportunity to discuss ideas to help Corporate Clubs
My personal favorite Lance-ism: Don’t let the Rules interfere with Results
So many times we think something is a rule but it is merely the way we have always done it. I challenged the VP of PR sessions, and I challenge you all, to look outside the box for ways to get GUESTS, ways to KEEP your current members, ways to SERVE your club and most importantly, ways to make your club FUN because as Lance shared with us FUN is #1!
BackDistrict 26 Toastmasters let’s welcome our newest clubs.
Daniel Hill, M-5 Area Governor, and his team chartered USB Tower Toastmasters on 12/3/13. USB is an abbreviation for US Bank. US Bank has multiple Toastmasters clubs/programs around the globe. The company has monthly and quarterly Toastmasters calls (meetings) to discuss the progress of each club. At US Bank Toastmasters network for business and communication. Thank you, US Bank, for building one more Toastmasters club.
Paul Collanton and his team chartered SREV Toastmasters on 1/13/14. SREV is the stock exchange symbol for Services Source, a reoccurring revenue management firm and the sponsoring company for the new club. SREV Toastmasters is located in downtown Denver, but assigned to area N-4 with Area Governor Janice Haldi. Now you might be wondering: Why N-4? Northern Division Gov. Kathy Schneebeck-Dulnoan works within blocks of the new club, supported the club pre-charter, and found the club’s mentors at her own company sponsored club, Anadarko Toastmasters.
In January, Jacobs Engineering held their kickoff meeting on the sixteenth. Jacobs Engineering has decided to move forward to charter the club. Stay tuned for updates.
A few other potential clubs on the horizon are clubs sponsored by Metropolitan State University students, Department of Energy, Allo Source, Fidelity Finance, Colorado State University graduate students, Northern Colorado University students, Jones International University and others. If you would like to help at the kickoff meeting demonstrations, be sure to email LGM1314@D26Leaders.org asking to be added to the email distribution list for demonstrations.
Thank you District 26 Toastmasters for continuing to market Toastmasters within your communities!
BackUpcoming club officer training (TLI) open to all!
Check D26Toastmasters.org for updates before event!
Foothills Make-Up TLI
Saturday, February 22, 2014 1:30 PM
Lakewood Library
10200 W. 20th Ave.,
Lakewood, CO 80215
Contact: J. David Lampe
david@metrodenverluxuryhomes.com
Colorado Springs Make-Up TLI
Sunday, February 23, 2014 2:30 PM
North Library
5555 N Union Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Contact: Keith Horowitz
DivS@D26Leaders.org
Downtown Midweek Make-Up TLI
Monday, February 24, 2014 5:00 PM
1670 Broadway 33rd floor
Check D26 calendar for entry details
Contact: Dana Shankle
D71314@D26Leaders.org
Jeffrey Smith jsmith@tiaa-cref.org
DTC MORNING Midweek Make-Up TLI
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 8:30 AM
Statera, 6501 E Belleview, Suite 300
Englewood, CO 80111
Contact: Linda Rhea
LGET1314@D26Leaders.org 303-667-9956
South Metro Midweek Make-Up TLI
Friday, February 28, 2013 6:30 PM
Eastridge Recreational Center
9568 South University
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Contact: Joe Fleenor
joehandymanjoe@yahoo.com
Alamosa, Durango, Gillette, Pueblo & La Junta TLIs — To Be Announced
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~International Speech & Table Topics Contests
Keynote Speaker: World Champion Mark Brown
May 16-17, 2014
Embassy Suites Conference Center
4705 Clydesdale Parkway
Loveland, Colorado
Details at D26Toastmasters.org in February
Do you have a Location, Location, Location … ?
One of the most frequent challenges clubs and areas face in Toastmasters is Location, Location, Location.
Toastmaster clubs need a location that presents a professional atmosphere conducive to learning at the perfect price ----free.
Area and Division Contests also need a professional atmosphere free of charge.
What locations do you know that may help this cause in District 26? If your Toastmasters Club or any other group you meet with has a great location, would you be willing to share the information?????
We are compiling a list of all the facilities that may be available to Toastmasters. It would help to have
Some ideas are libraries, recreation centers, Office buildings, charities (Salvation Army, Red Cross), Auto dealers, business with training rooms, community colleges, schools, restaurants (think Perkins, etc with a private room)
Thank you for searching your memory bank and sharing. Send the details of the location to Linda Rhea, LGET1314@D26Toastmasters.org.
We will keep the list available for all to reference.
Back"Publish or Perish," the article that started off this issue, was the feature article in the Area M3 newsletter. In it Area Governor Mike Hayden discussed the importance of documenting the club’s corporate memory. There are a lot more aspects to a club than can be covered by a one-size-fits-all officers’ manual. Think about it, what responsibilities in your club aren’t covered by the Club Leadership Handbook? For instance, Gates to Excellence meets on the second and fourth Thursdays – except in November when they meet on the first and third. The Sergeant-at-Arms needs to know this when he or she schedules the meeting space.
Or how does your club conduct a new member orientation? The Club Leadership Handbook says, "New members receive an orientation to the Toastmasters program, focused on what they want to achieve." That’s it. Does your club have a procedure in place to handle orientations? Is it written down or is the current VP Education expected to pass it on to his successor? Most likely, each successive VPE has to reinvent the program. Wouldn’t a written set of instructions make better sense?
Mike is continuing to work on this concept. His goal is to provide a plan for developing a club’s documentation. He is already working on a list of basic components and the associated sections overview. He plans to follow that with a detailed description of the sections. He has in mind to create a model Club Operations Manual that each club can use as a starting point.
While he is working on that , your club can be collecting a detailed description of how you do business. Who does what? What tasks are done differently or not at all? What other tasks are done? What tasks need a clearer description?
OK, now write it down!
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