Community Blog

Administrator D64 Blog

Really! A Ribbon?

 

By Guest Blogger, Gill Robertson*

I joined toastmasters because I wanted to converse confidently and intelligently with others. To some degree I could do this already; after all I speak and I’m intelligent. However, the pressure to perform and be rewarded with ribbons and stickers is disheartening. It is appropriate to reward an animal with an enticement of food or a stick. It is not, should not and never will feel right to do the same to humans. The days of stickers and ribbons should long since been abandoned along with tassels on banners.

The best motivation is self-motivation, a sense of deep-rooted satisfaction and accomplishment in one’s own achievements. Real self-motivation and a sense of accomplishment are measured not by strips of fabric or bright stickers. This motivation happens when a room full of people or even a single listener who within fifteen seconds of the start of speech are listening, really listening and not only listening, but hearing the words uttered.

Similarly, only saying “good job” is patronizing for all ages. Ribbons and rewards can be just another patronizing pat on the head. “Good job” in any dialect can open up the gateways for competitiveness. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with competition but when it spills over into an assumption one club is greater than another because they have won more prizes, it’s unfair. Perhaps the playing field is uneven. Maybe members have had more years to accumulate prizes or live in the city. We are forgetting the real reasons for being a toastmaster. Individual achievement, personal growth and being part of a community where individuals together build each other up without a physical reward are among the reasons.

Constructive feedback is rewarding, it lasts longer and fuels growth as a speaker. Unlike a ribbon, it is impossible to shove to the back of a drawer. It resides in us as a personal reward. Unlike a physical reward which fades, the colours of true achievement deepen over time.

 

*Gill has been a member of District 64 Toastmasters almost a year.  

Administrator D64 Blog

Honoured – and a little nervous

I am a proud Canadian. I sit on my deck with my red and white flowers, my red and white clothing and a red and white mug. Our shed is also red and white. I have a white car and my husband’s is red. It’s Canada’s 150th birthday, and while I am always honoured to be Canadian, it’s not what’s making me a little nervous today!

The cause of my nervousness is that today, July 1, 2017 I am officially in the role of District Director, Toastmasters International, District 64, 2017-2018. I am honoured to be elected to serve our members and assist our leadership teams. I am nervous because I also represent and simultaneously serve the entire organization.

I am proud to be part of this diverse and inclusive organization. Toastmasters International is in most countries. There are thousands of clubs. There are millions of people who have benefitted from the program and millions more to come. It’s an organization struggling to modernize in a world of rapidly changing types of communication. Increasingly available access to information comes with more languages, cultures and political climates sitting as close as our mobile phones. Yet Toastmasters continues to grow and adapt. It continues to offer members a voice in the form of voting at the club, District and International levels. I am honoured to be part of it all.

As I reflect on my Toastmasters journey however, my best moments have been personal and local: the catch in my throat when my club presented me with my first membership pin, the joy when I completed my first icebreaker, the applause and approval of my club members when I succeeded at my first Table Topics speech, the appreciation shown by my club when I was awarded a Competent Toastmaster certificate (CTM, now a CC) and best of all, the satisfaction I continue to feel when other members succeed at any step in the journey to being better communicators and better leaders.

I have branched out from my home club in the succeeding years but Carillon Toastmasters is still there, supporting me and keeping me grounded. There, I am still just Sheryl. I am still honoured to be a member and still a little nervous when I do a speech.  I will try to remember that while I am representing the world of Toastmasters International, and within it the amazing country of Canada, I also represent my club. I hope I represent them with integrity, respect, service and excellence. I am honoured, but still a little nervous.

Administrator D64 Blog

Slack Community – a New Way to Connect with Toastmasters from Across the World

If you’re in the market for a new way to engage with your club, your District, or Toastmasters from across the globe – sign-up to join the Toastmasters Slack Community today and connect with Toastmasters like never before.

What is Slack?

Slack is a messaging platform built for teams to discuss activities, collaborate on projects, and stay connected from anywhere in the world. Discussions are organized into #channels that you can search.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RJZMSsH7-g?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Download Slack Here

Who is this Community for?

If you’re looking for a place to…

  • ask quick questions from a broad audience…
  • share a cool story…
  • Learn about new ways to communicate and collaborate with your club…
  • Try something different.

As long as you’re a current Toastmaster, you are welcome to join!

What is the Slack Community for?

The objective is to create a network of Toastmasters who enjoy open discussion and sharing their knowledge and experience.  Stop by to discuss the ongoing challenges and successes of your club, learn new tricks and share your own favorite resources.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6sSa5NpqUI?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Additionally, this community is a support group for those interested in adopting Slack (or any other SAAS such as Free2Host, WordPress for Toastmasters) to modernize their club operations. Get support- give support.

If you’re looking for something in between social media and email, please sign-up today!

Administrator D64 Blog

Radio ads

Beginning May 1, 2017 and continuing for the whole month, you may hear a toastmasters radio ad in the rural areas of District 64 and Winnipeg. Check out these stations between 6 and 9 am, drive time! You can thank the Carillon Club’s PR team under the leadership of Mike Poirier for this initiative!

Mix 96 (96.7) Steinbach and most of Winnipeg
CJRB 1220 Brandon
Mix 96.5 Portage
Q104 Kenora
The Eagle 93.5 (Pembina Valley)

Let us know if you hear an ad. We hope they help you to build membership. Ask your guests where they heard about Toastmasters. If you are one of our rural clubs, you have received an email with directions about how to participate.

May and June are Toastmasters Beat the Clock membership contest months. Add five new paid members in May and June and win a prize from Toastmasters International. The prize is a rare banner ribbon and a 10% discount at the TI online shop.

I dont think I need to tell you why building membership is important, do I?

Administrator D64 Blog

Time: Do You Have Enough?

Are you aiming to earn a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster Award)? If so, read on.

Are you aware of the requirements? If so, read on. If not go here:
Application for DTM

How close are you to reaching it? How long do you estimate it will take? One of the requirements takes 12 months to complete and that is the District service (Area Director, for example). Some may take even longer (sponsor a new club or coach a low member existing club).

Here is why Pathways needs to be taken into your long term plans if you have a DTM award as a goal.

The current program is being phased out. CC’s, CL’s, advanced manuals, HPL manuals, all will become passé. They are not simply being updated – they are being replaced with a vibrant, integrated and modern program. The two programs will run at the same time for two years past the day the last region begins Pathways. For District 64 that means you have as little as 2 years, 10 months (depending how it goes in the preceding regions) to finish your goals in the current program. So far as we know, the only projects that carry over are District service, 12 continuous months in a club officer role, club sponsor/mentor/coach, Speechcraft and Youth Leadership Coordinators.

What does this mean to your goal to earn a DTM? It means if you haven’t completed your District service requirement your options are becoming limited. It means if you haven’t completed the sponsor/mentor/coach requirement, time is running out. How do you get involved? Ask your VPE.

By the way, once it’s here, all your new members will only have Pathways. Of course, you could just put aside whatever manuals you are working on and join them! It is so exciting, you may want to do just that.

In the meantime, keep learning from the program we have and grow your communication and leadership skills. As always in Toastmasters, the choice of how much you learn and how far you go is entirely up to you!

More questions? Watch the videos here. Check out the Pathways FAQ’s.

If time management is an issue, please check back in these blog posts and refer to Glenn Watt’s blog on that very topic!