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Administrator D64 Blog

Perfect until life changes us…

Originally published January 6, 2015 in the Winnipeg Free Press

Welcome to Toastmasters! Those are the happy words you will hear when you visit one of our clubs. If joining Toastmasters has been one of your goals, or even a New Year´s resolution, there is no better time to visit a club than now.

What you can expect is a friendly, supportive group that will introduce you to what Toastmasters can offer. Need to give a presentation at work? We have a program
for that. Want to meet friendly, interesting people? We have them. Looking for ways to communicate better with friends and family? We can show you how. Long business meetings getting you down? We have the tools to keep them on time. Toastmasters can help you with these items and more.

For a practical example, let me share the story of Dananjaya Hettiarachchi from Sri Lanka who is the 2014 World Champion of Public Speaking with his speech “I see something in you”. It had a basic plot. A young man finds himself in trouble with the law. Through the pain in his mother´s tearful eyes and with the help of a mentor he is given another chance. With the help of Toastmasters and other programs, he finds his voice and wins the ultimate prize, a new life filled with self-confidence, excitement and promise.

The tools he used for his speech covered all of the basics for a good speech. Using gestures, he opened with a beautiful red rose and said that this represented all of us, perfect until life changes us. He then tore petals off the rose. Using vocal Variety, he called out to the audience, ¨How many of you have a mother who would cry for seeing her son behind bars”? He then included us all by saying “My mother is like all of yours put together!” Repeating the phrase, “I see something in you but I don´t know what it is”. This was woven through his story first by his mentor, then by his future wife, and lastly by a Toastmasters member. Humour, he pointed to a spot on the stage that represented his wife and commented that he was so fortunate to find his beautiful wife. Even though she also said “I see something in you, but I don´t know what it is”. Then he said “I couldn’t find a job, but I found a wife”. Picture this with dramatic pauses, exaggerated facial expressions and a shy smile. Using drama, after sharing his journey from delinquent to successful speaker, he paused for a long moment, reached into the bucket on stage and pulled out the perfect red rose. The audience exploded as he ended his speech. I invite you to check it out this speech on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbz2boNSeL0 and I look forward to hearing about you visiting us at a Toastmasters meeting in the near future.

To hear more comments about Toastmasters, please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WStG9TnG0Gw There are Toastmasters meetings every day of the week (day and evening) in Manitoba and North-West Ontario that would welcome you. Go to www.toastmasters. org/findaclub or call 204-338-7401 to find out more. No experience necessary.

Administrator D64 Blog

Toastmasters and your company

Originally published November 18, 2014 in the Winnipeg Free Press

Are you looking for persuasive presentation skills that will give you an edge? Are you
interested in learning to communicate as concisely as possible without creating
misunderstandings? Are you searching for leadership skills that build strong teams? Is
Toastmasters the answer? It can be.

Toastmasters is a non-profit, educational organization that has become the answer for many companies around the world. Meetings are held on company premises, typically during lunch time or off hours. The Toastmasters program gives employees the skills and confidence to progress in their jobs. The result is that the employees deliver stronger presentations, lead more productive staff meetings and relate better with clients and colleagues. Members of corporate clubs say meetings also boost camaraderie and provide opportunities to interact with individuals in other departments.

There are over 20 companies in Winnipeg that have formed Toastmasters Clubs and several others are in the process of forming. How can you go about forming a club at your workplace? The key is gaining the support of a decision maker who can authorize the
creation of a club. Arrange a sample Toastmasters meeting at your workplace that shows how meetings are conducted, demonstrates the advantages of the program and explains the steps required to charter a club with Toastmasters International. If you want more
information on starting a club, email lgm@district64.ca.

To hear more comments about Toastmasters, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZdjoqQrhbU&feature=player_embedded

There are Toastmasters meetings every day of the week (day and evening) in Manitoba and North-West Ontario that would welcome you. Go to www.toastmasters.org/findaclub or call 204-338-7401 to find out more. No experience necessary.

Administrator D64 Blog

Moving your career ahead

Originally published November 4, 2014 in the Winnipeg Free Press

“I wish I would have known about Toastmasters earlier in my career!” is a common comment expressed by Toastmasters. Those who want to advance, take on new positions and build effective working relationships will benefit from the Toastmasters program.

How can Toastmasters boost your career? Toastmasters International is the world’s leading non-profit organization devoted to communication and leadership development. Over the last 90 years, this self-paced program has been streamlined to address key areas
of success in business and career development. Meetings take the form of learn-by-doing workshops where members use positive techniques to help one another gain skills.

Success starts with building self-confidence, poise and comfort in making presentations in front of a group. Practice through speech delivery, critical thinking, time management, mentoring, effective team work, improved thinking, memory retention, listening skills and motivating others with constructive feedback are some of the benefits built into the program. Success culminates in having effective techniques become ‘your’ way of
communicating and leading.

Yes, every benefit is based on techniques! A variety of projects are explained in well-researched manuals. Working through these projects and taking on meeting roles provide the medium for learning. Feedback from others that focuses on the goals of each assignment provides growth points for advancement in skill development. Apply what you learn to your career and move forward!

Build your career with proven techniques! Join the organization ‘Where Leaders are Made.”

To hear more comments about Toastmasters, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZdjoqQrhbU&feature=playe r_embedded
There are Toastmasters meetings every day of the week (day and evening) in Manitoba and North-West Ontario that would welcome you. Go to www.toastmasters.org/findaclub or call 204-338-7401 to find out more. No experience necessary.

Administrator D64 Blog

Toastmasters & Business – a proven partnership

Originally published October 21, 2014 in the Winnipeg Free Press

While Toastmasters is best known for its communication skills, Leadership has also been added to the skill development pool. This provides a special opportunity for companies to benefit by having a Toastmasters club on their premises. When a company sponsors a club, studies have shown that the following areas have been enhanced:
• Teamwork and Leadership Skills are developed through the regular assignments and planning within the meetings,
• Effective meeting facilitation is developed through the practice of rotating the roles in a meeting as well as regular executive meetings, which reinforces good procedure.
• Employee Loyalty and Morale are increased which also reduces turnover. When a company provides support for the learning and skill development that Toastmasters provides, it shows their willingness to to help staff improve their communication and leadership skills and thereby enhance their value to the company.
• Increased Productivity is a result of having all of our events, meetings and presentations timed which strengthens time management skills,
• Through constructive feedback at our meetings, we have found a definite improvement in the performance review process – both for the manager and for the employee.
• Increased self-confidence and communication skills. Employees that are ready to meet challenges.
To quote Ceree Eberly, senior vice president and chief people officer of The Coca-Cola Company who says, “In my role, I see a great value in Toastmasters International’s proven programs for developing great communicators and influential leaders.”
Excerpt from Toastmaster magazine November 2012, CLUB PROFILE
by Mary Nesbitt http://magazines.toastmasters.org/display_article.
php?id=1203839&id_issue=129679
To hear more comments about Toastmasters, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZdjoqQrhbU&feature=player_embedded
There are Toastmasters meetings every day of the week (day and evening) in Manitoba and North-West Ontario that would welcome you. Go to www.toastmasters.org/findaclub or call 204-338-7401 to find out more. No experience necessary.

Administrator D64 Blog

90th Anniversary Open House Month

Originally published October 7, 2014 in the Winnipeg Free Press

Have you ever wanted to sit in on a Toastmaster meeting to see how such a positive  experience could take place in one meeting? Now’s your chance! In celebration of Toastmasters International 90th Anniversary, we are designating the month of October as Open House month. Join us in Manitoba and NW Ontario to hear special speakers, experience impromptu speaking and have tons of fun.

You may be wondering why we are so excited about a 90-year-old organization. Here’s why! Toastmasters International, the global organization devoted to communication and leadership skills development, announced record growth over the past year, with a 7.3 percent increase in membership, a 17.2 percent increase in new clubs and a presence in
126 countries. The results mark 21 consecutive years of growth. That relates to 313,000 members worldwide and more than 1500 members in our area. There are not many volunteer organizations that can show such consistent growth.

“We have a number of initiatives underway, including expanding our presence in corporations and modernizing our education program, that will continue to make us relevant to a new generation of professionals,” says Toastmasters Chief Executive Officer Daniel Rex. “These initiatives are supported by the efforts of leaders all over the world who volunteer their time and expertise.”

As District 64 Governor for 2014-2015 I have seen people join Toastmasters with varying skills. From a young woman who couldn’t say her name without crying, to professional speakers who joined to benefit from the feedback we provide at every meeting, and everyone in-between. All can benefit from this self-directed program, supported by members and given encouragement along the way. To hear more comments about Toastmasters, please go to http://youtu.be/WxAV39ySH2A

There are Toastmasters meetings every day of the week (day and evening) in Manitoba and North-West Ontario that would welcome you. Go to www.toastmasters.org/findaclub or call 204-338-7401 to find out more. No experience necessary.
Dorian Guerard, DTM
DISTRICT 64 GOVERNOR
www.toastmasters.org
Ph. 204-338-7401
facebook.com/toastmastersmb
@D64TM