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Finishing the Year strong

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As the end year comes to a close, here are a few tips to achieve your membership and education goals:

Increasing Membership:

  • Have an Open House: For more details on open houses go to https://district1toastmasters.org/resources/open-house/
  • Provide incentives (depending on the clubs budget) such as
    • discounts or free club dues
    • 20% off club dues
    • raffle prizes
  • Get more club dues by contacting
    • unpaid members
    • past members and promote how pathways can be of support for them
    • past guests
  • Use Social Media
    • Create a meetup page
    • Promote through Instagram & Twitter
    • Use the Nextdoor Neighborhood app
  • Have a membership drive
    • Encourage existing members to bring 2 members such as a friends and family program
    • Each member provide 3-5 prospective members and contact information “recommend a friend”
    • Have an incentive for members who bring the most guests
  • Give motivational speeches for joining Toastmasters
  • Personal connections outside of Toastmasters
  • Emphasize personal connections beyond Toastmasters
  • Promote Toastmasters all the times (https://district1toastmasters.org/programs/public-relations/)
    • Social media
    • Flyers in many places (breakrooms)
    • Have HR send out flyer (corporate clubs)
    • Table at job fairs and other events
    • Host a Facebook event

Educational goals

  • Hold Speech Marathons
  • Have a member give a presentation from the Successful Club Series
  • Encourage speeches for new members
  • Encourage manual speeches
  • Encourage members to get advanced goals
  • Determine who is close to a CC, CL or Level 1

Additional Resources

Membership Building https://district1toastmasters.org/resources/membership-building/

Educational Resources https://district1toastmasters.org/resources/path-to-dtm/

Finishing the Year Strong Flyer

Congratulations Fox Talkz for Winning the District Video Contest!

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Congratulations to Fox Talkz Toastmasters club for having the most votes for the April – May period of the “Speak About Public Speaking Challenge”. Check out the video with club member Shirah Jacobs at https://youtu.be/C4eZUgHOiLk

Fox Talkz was founded in 2000 and has been a President’s Distinguished Club for 9 years in a row.  Fox Talkz Toastmasters has many amazing members including

The club is located on the Twentieth Century Fox Studios Lot in Century City.  The members invite you to join them every Friday morning at 8:00 AM to find out for yourself why, “Fox Talkz Rockz!”  For more on Fox Talks go to https://foxtalkztoastmasters.com/.

Didn’t get your video posted? Don’t worry we have another round that started June 1st. For more details and to upload your video go to http://district1toastmasters.org/201806-speak-about-public-speaking-challenge/

Another Successful District 1 Spring Conference

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The District 1 Spring 2018 Conference “Soaring to New Heights” on April 28th was a great success with over 275 in attendance and 56 first timers. The conference team lead by Co-Chairs Keith Jackson, DTM and Larry Lee, DTM performed admirably.  Here are the highlights:

The phenomenal set of presenters provided attendees with a great set of educational tips.

  • Leslie Pogue, DTM shared the importance of LEAD (Listen, Empower, Action, Discover)
  • Michael Osur, MBA, DTM, IDG helped us to Discover our Why
  • Dana LaMon, DTM, WCPS, AS reminded us about making Meaningful Experiences

The Evaluation Speech Contest was led by Contest Toastmasters Cary Kellems, DTM and showcased model speaker Zach Latimor.  Congratulations to all of our participants but especially to our winners: 1st Place John Pope, ACB, ALB, 2nd Place Uche Akotaobe, ACB, CL and 3rd Place RC Sawyer, ACS, ALB.

The International Speech Contest was of equal success led by our Contest Toastmasters Carol Otters, DTM.  Congratulations to 1st Place Wendell Jones, CC, 2nd Place Sherwood Jones, ATM and 3rd place Michael Cormier, ACS.

Wendell will be representing District 1 in the International Speech Contest Semi-Finals at 2018 Toastmasters International Convention.  For more details about the convention go to https://www.toastmasters.org/events/2018-international-convention

The day was made extra special by the number of recognitions, honors, and awards presented throughout the day:

  • The Lydia Boyd Award: Sonya Vasquez, DTM, District 1 Public Relations Manager
  • Communication and Leadership Award: Erin Gruwell, teacher, author, founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, and the 2017 Toastmasters International Golden Gavel award recipient
  • Distinguished Toastmasters: Robert Russell, DTM, Jacquelyn Deloatch, DTM, Jacki-Williams Jones, DTM, Cynthia Helene Moore, DTM, Sandra Luisa Wallach, DTM, Ruth Quiachon, DTM

During the Business Meeting, the 2017-2018 District Leaders shared all of this past year’s successes and the 2018-2019 District Leaders were introduced:

  • District Director Evelyn Wooldridge, DTM
  • Program Quality Director Ken Starks, ACS, ALB
  • Club Growth Director Brad Stauffer, DTM
  • Division A Director Steve Evans, ACG/ALB
  • Division B Director Alexander Denk, ACG/ALB
  • Division C Director Melody Mundy, ACB, ALB
  • Division D Director Anna Ziss Patton, DTM
  • Division E Director Michelle King, CC
  • Division F Director Janet Kemp, DTM

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters

Business Class ~ Chevron $1250

Coach Class ~ Sky Zone Federal Credit Union $500

Additional VIP Sponsors

Angela Sayers CPA $350

Girls Club of Los Angeles $250

Rob Mosquera $250

Thank you to the over 50 advertisers in the Conference Program Book!

Honoring a Great Mentor

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What could you see if you closed your eyes to the distractions around you? Since age four years, Dana LaMon has been discovering the answer to this question. He lost his sight after a fall on his head. Looking at his life and his achievements, it is clear that he sees purpose, precision, perfection, and puzzles.

Dana is the seventh of twelve children. His nurturing mother would not allow him to play the blind card. He performed the same household chores as his siblings. That is why today he is a great cook of lasagna and sweet potato pies. Using his sense of touch, he cleans house well. He inherited from his father the drive for precision and perfection. Though not completing the eighth grade, Dana’s dad built the house in which his mother still lives in Compton—from digging the trenches for the foundation to covering the roof. For 33 years Dana has been storing his Braille books on shelves designed and built by his dad.

Like his father, Dana is fascinated with numbers. He tutors math, works on unsolved number theory problems, and works sudoku and kenken puzzles almost daily. He is just as excited about words. He plays Scrabble, works crossword puzzles, and holds intense debates on the meaning of words. If you are going to talk to him, be precise about the words you use.

Whatever you choose to talk to him about, you will find that Dana is a man of integrity. He stands on principles. He listens to all sides when called on to make a judgment. He is rarely intimidated and will not be controlled by anyone. Dana views life’s challenges as puzzles, and as puzzles, he will not quit until he has solved them. I wonder: If Dana had not lost his sight, what would we see in him.

Area F2 Director, Erica Bailey, CC

I have had the privilege of working with World Champion of Public Speaking (WCPS) and Accredited Speaker (AS), Dana Lamon, this past year and I am absolutely convinced that he is the gift that keeps giving. In between inspiring audiences across the country and around the world, he finds time to share his knowledge and experience with members of our Toastmaster community and beyond.

Before this year, I knew Dana as the 1992 WCPS yet I never had the opportunity to discuss matters of public speaking or other topics with him outside a formal setting. When Erica Bailey became the Area F2 Director, she brought her mentor (Dana Lamon) with her. I selfishly seized every opportunity I could to seek advice from Dana on public speaking and leadership. Dana responded with a steady stream of patience and selflessness; I now keep a copy of his book, “The Excellence Book, 104 Principles for Living and Working” in my car that I take with me wherever I go. It reminds me to pursue excellence in every aspect of my life. Dana Lamon has been an incredible resource for Division F. I can’t thank him enough for his service and the support he’s given me, the leaders, and members of Division F this year.

Division F Director. Ken Starks, ACS, ALB

To learn from Dana Lamond, DTM, check out this article The Meaning of Good Mentoring in the recent Toastmasters International Magazine and see him speak at the upcoming District 1 conference district1toastmasters.org/conference/

The Speak About Public Speaking Contest

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Enter the campaign!

What’s the best way to inspire new people to join your Toastmasters Club?

By showing them how the Toastmasters organization is hugely benefiting current members with their speaking and leadership skills.

In an effort to help individual clubs recruit new members, District 1 is launching a district-wide club video contest challenging existing members to share inspirational speech videos about their own public speaking journeys—and how Toastmasters has helped them.

Not only will each video act as a mini Toastmasters “commercial” that can help promote individual clubs to potential new members in social media, but each contest period between April and June the club that receives the most votes will win special recognition on the Toastmasters website/social media and at the Toastmasters awards banquet on August 11th, AND get to participate in a special district Facebook Live event. (At the Banquet, the Best of the Best video of the three monthly winners will be unveiled based on a vote by the 2017-2018 district leadership.)

What the club will do:

Step 1: For each contest period, have at least one club member give an inspirational speech, any length/any format, highlighting their own public speaking journey—and how Toastmasters has helped them. This can be done in a regular club meeting, but doesn’t have to be (i.e., members can video record a speech on their own time as well, and submit on behalf of their club).

Step 2: Video record the speech.

Step 3:  Upload the video to the club’s Facebook Page or YouTube Channel.

Step 4: Link the video link to the District 1 Website

Step 5: Clubs immediately share their contest link in their club’s/members social media pages to request votes (Note: Clubs must share their contest link on the District 1 website, NOT the video on their Facebook/YouTube Page).

Additional Details

  • Participating members may only submit one video per contest period, but clubs are allowed to have multiple members submit a video.
  • District leadership is prohibited from submitting a video.
  • All videos from the previous period can be re-uploaded each for the next period or a new video can be submitted.
  • Clubs are allowed and encouraged to promote the contest link for their video on their website and social media (and are encouraged to have their members share this as well).
  • Votes are not limited to District 1 Members or Toastmasters.

Key Dates

 April – May Period

  • All videos can be submitted between April 1 – May 21 (final submission by 11:59 pm)
  • Voting starts as soon as the video is uploaded and ends on May 27th
  • Announcements will be made on May 28th

June Period

  • All videos must be submitted by June 1-15 (final submission by 11:59 pm)
  • Voting starts as soon as the video is uploaded and ends on June 22
  • Announcements will be made on June 25th

Questions?

Contact District 1 Public Relations Manager Sonya Vasquez at pr.manager@district1toastmasters.org

#SpeakAboutPublicSpeaking

Check out these tips on creating great videos: 
https://www.toastmasters.org/~/media/D9E20A0337C546CCB796E781EC311320.ashx

Saying Goodbye to Wayne H. Miller, ATM-G/CL

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Wayne Miller, ATM-G/CL with daughter Shirah

It is with great sadness that we share that Wayne H. Miller, ATM-G/CL, passed away on Saturday afternoon, March 17, 2018, due to complications from a bacterial infection and pneumonia.  He is survived by his wife Channel, daughter Shirah, sons Michael and Myles, brothers and sisters plus, a very large extended family. 

Wayne was a dedicated father, family man, and member of Toyota Toastmasters Club for over 20 years.  His wit, wisdom, warmth, and guidance will be sorely missed.  

 

Services are being held on  Monday, March 26, 2018 at 11am at Center of Hope, 9550 Crenshaw Boulevard, Inglewood, CA 90305.

The 2nd “Ultimate Open House Planning 101” With Even More Tips

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District 1 Toastmasters held its 2nd “Ultimate Open House Planning 101” on March 7th.  Led by Open House Chair Yuko Oshimo, DTM participants learned the purpose of and best tips on putting on an Open House.

  • Donna Robinson, DTM – Reminded everyone that dues are due and gave an overview of the various Toastmasters International and District membership campaign
  • David Kitchen, DTM, PDG – Shared best practices on how to set up your open house so that your guests are engaged and converted to new members.
  • Sonya Vasquez, DTM – Offered tips on what and how to promote
  • Merle Singer, DTM QS – Provided an overview of the Speakers Bureau including how to request a speaker and how to become a qualified speaker.

To learn more listen to the recording of the webinar, which can be found here.

For more information go to https://district1toastmasters.org/resources/open-house/ or contact Open House Chair, Yuko Oshimo at yukotmd1@gmail.com

Century City Toastmasters Club Celebrates 60 Years

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Developing Self-Confident Speakers and Leaders

Century City Toastmasters announces their 60th anniversary with a private event to be held at the Culver Hotel, March 4, 2018. Century City Toastmasters is one of over 2,000 clubs in the United States, and one of 16,400+ clubs worldwide in Toastmasters International. Founded in 1924, by Ralph C. Smedley, Toastmasters now has more than 352,000 members in 141 countries. Century City Toastmasters was charted January 1, 1958, as the 2,681st club, and currently has about 50 members.

Emerson was “spot on” when he famously stated that in order to become a great speaker you have to be a bad speaker first. Becoming a good speaker takes an understanding of the skills that change a weak presenter into a self-confident communicator and leader.

Since 1958, Century City Toastmasters (CCTM) has helped hundreds of members over the years, overcome their fear of public speaking, become powerful presenters and effective leaders. The club’s high energy, early-morning meetings have proven to be ideal for entrepreneurs, early birds and those who work nearby. CCTM is one of the top clubs in Toastmasters’ Southern California’s “District 1” containing about 175 clubs, spanning from Long Beach to Hollywood, and Santa Monica to I­nglewood. Century City Toastmasters has achieved the top President’s Distinguished Award for at least the past 16 years.

The club is open to new members, who want to become better speakers or leaders. Weekly meetings, led by members in various functional roles, provide opportunities for prepared speeches, as well as impromptu speaking. Each prepared speech is followed with a personal oral evaluation, and written feedback from every attendee. New members can expect a warm and supportive environment, with positive and productive people who are on a path of self-improvement.

“Our members share a common goal…self-improvement and building confidence by engaging in a positive public speaking experience. Century City Toastmasters is the incubator for nurturing public speaking growth.” says Anthony Phills, VP of PR and Marketing.

For more information about Century City Toastmasters, visit centurycitytoastmasters.org, or email centurycitytoastmasters@gmail.com. For more information about Toastmasters International, visit toastmasters.org

Photo by Aurora Meneghello – Design by Anthony Phills

I Love Toastmasters!

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by Victoria Reynolds

People ask me all the time why I’m still in Toastmasters, long after I joined it for learning public speaking. The truth is, Toastmasters is soooo much more than public speaking.
It is a self-improvident program that changes peoples lives and those who move up through leadership are some of the most heart-centered people I’ve had the pleasure to meet and do business with. They volunteer to lead because they want to serve and because it helps to make them better people in every walk of life.
I’ve seen people’s lives dramatically shift, just from learning how to be confident speaking their truth. Effective communication, whether on stage, in person, on social media, in conference calls, effects every person it touches. Great communicators become natural leaders. That’s what Toastmasters is really all about – and you get it all for less than $10 a month.
I don’t need Toastmasters anymore for being comfortable on stage or television. Toastmasters took care of that years ago! Now I stay because it is helping me to become a better leader and to empower others to lead.
What the world needs now, more than anything else, are heart-centered leaders. We need leaders who serve the greater good, rather than to feed their own egos and pocketbooks.
Toastmasters cultivates service leadership and that’s why I love Toastmasters.

Membership Renewals Are Due

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Toastmasters International is now accepting renewal payments for the April 1, 2018 – September 31, 2018 dues period.  To keep your club in good standing, please submit payment by April 1st. Check with your Club Treasurer on what the process is for your club (some clubs only accept checks/cash and others can process credit card payments).  Dues are $45 every six months plus your club dues (which vary by club).

Club Officers – Membership Renewal Instructions

To pay online through Club Central on the Toastmasters International Website follow these steps

  1. Log in and select the Submit Payment option
  2. Select the members you wish to pay for by adding them to your cart
  3. Enter your credit card or debit card information
  4. Follow the prompts to process your payment

For more information about dues renewal go to https://www.toastmasters.org/footer/faq/Renewal%20Dues

Please remember when submitting your payment that the minimum renewal requirement is eight members—three of who must be renewing members from the previous period. This counts for DCP Goal #10.

For more details on current membership building incentives go to https://district1toastmasters.org/programs/incentives/ or contact Club Growth Director, Donna Robinson, DTM at all4tmmembers@gmail.com

For membership building resources go to https://district1toastmasters.org/resources/membership-building/