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District 6 Newsletter     August 2005

Finding New Voices

The word is getting around: Toastmasters is no longer District 6’s best kept secrets. Thanks to a phenomenal publicity blitz in July, many new guests are visiting our clubs to find their voices.

When I say phenomenal, that may be an understatement. The district Public Relations Committee, led by Lonnie Yohannes, is supported by two creative experts, Linda Samens Murphy and Sharon Hanson. This team is finding new ways to let the public know that Toastmasters is alive and well in District 6.

Here is just one example. During the last week of June, Lonnie sent out 108 press releases to State and Community newspapers. The press releases provided information about recent district, division, and area leadership appointments. Over the month of July these notices have shown up in newspaper after newspaper. The Public Relations Team has lots of ideas and knows how to put them into action. I congratulate Lonnie and her team for one of the best publicity launches our district has ever seen!

As club members, we often wonder how to find new club members. Here is a suggestion: let the community near your club know that you exist! Two years ago the “Voice of Leadership” club chartered. Since then, the club has sent the local community newspager Sun Current press releases. This month the newspaper contacted the club to do a feature article celebrating the club’s second anniversary. “Voice of Leadership” was described as a club that creates a positive learning environment. The article featured Linda Larson and Steve Ditschler. By the way, the article ran in the Apple Valley, Rosemount, Burnsville, Eagan, and Lakeville editions on 7/28/05.

People in the community do read the Sun Current. At the early August meeting eight guests attended. Six of those guests joined “Voice of Leadership” at the meeting. Public relations can work for any club that keeps getting the word out.

Has your club sent out a newsworthy article or press release recently? Visit the PRO page at our district website if you need ideas. Now is the time to launch your club’s publicity campaign. When you have guests attend, show them around, make them feel welcome, and most importantly, ask them to join!

As I said at the top, the word is out. I am excited to see the progress we are making. Add some new members to your club during these early months of our new Toastmaster year.  In doing so, your club meetings will take on new life and energy!

Theo W. Black, DTM
theo@d6tm.org

District 6 Governor
Find Your Voice. Serve Your World.

 


Magnificent Seven Saves the Day!

In the classic movie, The Magnificent Seven, a bandit terrorizes a small Mexican farming village each year. Several of the village elders send three of the farmers into the United States to search for men who have the skills to defend them. They end up with 7, each of whom comes for a different reason and with a different set of skills.  Each of the 7 uses his special skill to teach the villagers how to defend themselves.

Is it any wonder we compare our own Magnificent Seven to these men who courageously put their lives on the line for a small village.  Although they were only 7, they fought like 700!

Each year we elect a new slate of club officers (7) who themselves bring different skills to the club and serve for different reasons.  Regardless of the reason, the most critical phase of their success as officers is how well they are trained for the role bestowed upon them.  As a district it is our duty to provide them with the tools to guard their club against the anarchists who refuse to perform manual speeches, fight off those who would discourage new membership, and protect the goals and passions of their loyal members!  Yes! The Magnificent 7 are the everyday heroes of toastmaster clubs everywhere!  Come to the aid of these brave soldiers and encourage them to seek their training for if all 7 become trained great rewards for all could follow their efforts!

Many have already led the charge and taken the oath to honor and defend!  Click on the Mag 7 link on the main page of www.d6tm.org for a list of valiant clubs whose officers have the hearts of warriors.  They shall be recognized and rewarded!

Educational Awards Add Up to Success!

The first coveted, official Toastmaster Calculator is about to be shipped to a lucky toastmaster member who submitted an educational award during the month of July!  Could it be you?  Watch for the winner’s name on www.d6tm.org! If you missed July there are 11 more chances!  Every time you prepare and deliver a manual speech you are one step closer to being a winner.  You win in ways that are nearly immeasurable.  With each speech you build your skills and hone your craft.  With each completed manual you reach another goal and support your club by helping it reach a goal.  The calculator is merely a bonus in appreciation of your constant devotion to the programs that were designed to help you become a better YOU!

I’m always proud to be among dedicated craftsmen who have adopted the ideals and dreams of Dr. Smedley so many years ago.  Each of you helps to keep the dream alive when you strive to achieve your personal toastmaster goals.  What is your goal this year?  How many speeches will you deliver?  What are you learning?  How can I help you reach your goals?

Jeannette Bauch, DTM

Lieutenant Governor Education & Training
lget@d6tm.org


Greetings Toastmaster leaders ~

News Flash!

Toastmasters Booth at the State Fair has a few spots left! Visit d6tm.org today for details and contact Ron Sutliff, State Fair Chair (statefair@d6tm.org) on how to sign up! Don’t miss this valuable opportunity for membership building & fun!

Have you added new members to your club?

Last month we talked about the importance of using the DCP (distinguished club plan) as a tool to add new members to your club.  Have you begun working it yet? Sometimes the hardest step is getting started.  New members are so vital to your club. They have natural curiosity & eagerness to learn public speaking & leadership skills using the Toastmaster program. They invigorate all members & challenge us to continue our own growth. 

Please do the following exercise now & with your club members later!

Write 6 names of people to invite to your next club meeting:

1.__________________________2.__________________________

3._________________________ 4.__________________________

5._________________________ 6.__________________________

Stay with me now…try 6 more names:

7.__________________________8.__________________________

9._________________________10.__________________________

11._________________________12.__________________________

You have 12 warm & live contacts. Now pick up the telephone (not email, please) and call them with a hearty invite to your next meeting. I’ll be watching for your progress!

Smedley Award

Now that you have names & are inviting guests to become members you can reward yourself with the prestigious “Smedley Award”. Register 5 or more new members during August & September & receive the “Smedley Award” (named in honor of our founder Ralph Smedley).  The greatest rewards are the new members (the icing is the award ribbon)! Officers can register your new members online at toastmasters.org (get your password from your club president) or you can use regular mail.

Welcome to the latest class of New Toastmaster Clubs!

They are feeling the infectious energy of chartering their new club. Please welcome the following clubs (their charter birthday is noted) and recognize the commitment of their sponsors & mentors:

   B-Town Toastmasters, Mankato (6/1/05)
   Winona Chamber Toastmasters (6/9/2005)
   Big Wind Toastmasters, Cass Lake (6/14/2005)
  
Vital Toastmasters, Minnetonka (7/15/05)
   Humor-Us, Rochester (8/2/05)

Club Coach Program

Linda Larson & Brian Rohrenbach led a dynamic training session at the last TELI (Toastmasters Education & Leader Institute) that focused on keeping a strong club by having well-planned quality meetings. We are recruiting experienced Toastmasters to serve as Club Coaches for clubs with 12 or fewer members. Training & regular encouragement are provided. Contact Linda & Brian at ClubCoach@d6tm.org.

Thank you to our newly appointed Club Coaches: Jim Fiebke, Anne Sullivan, Mary Swanson, Sherman Kho.

 A favorite quote

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something I can do”                
Edward Everett Hale

Please do one thing for yourself & your club today. Invite others to join your club!

Pat Croal, DTM

Lieutenant Governor Marketing
lgm@d6tm.org

I would love to hear if you have an idea for a new club in District 6!


Making PR Easy

 

Help Others Find Their Voice

You can easily promote your Toastmasters club using the great tools all ready prepared for you. Simply visit the District 6 Web site. The stories on the Testimonials page show how Toastmasters improves lives, use them to spice up a press release.

Note the accomplishments of fellow Toastmasters on the District Public Relations Officer page. We encourage you to use the tools described below to retain, recognize, and recruit Toastmasters members.

Promote Speech Contests

Promote your Club, Area, and Division Tall Tales and Humorous Speech Contests with flyers and articles in your community papers or company websites and flyers.  Recognize your winners in the papers and web.

The District Web editor will post flyers for area and division contest at the following Web pages. Send the flyers to the webeditor@d6tm.org

No More Secrets

This year we have a District 6 PRO Committee to help get the word out about District 6 Toastmasters.  We need your help to do this.  If you know of Toastmasters who are doing great things or an event that Toastmasters are sponsoring, let us know so that we can get the word out.  Contact Lonnie at pro@d6tm.org.

State Fair

The State Fair is almost here!  Have you signed-up for your spot at the Toastmasters booth? You don’t want to miss out on this fun opportunity.  This is a great way to practice your “elevator” speech- What is Toastmasters, What has Toastmasters done for you, and What can it do for others. Here is your chance to go to the Fair and, at the same time, promote your club and your District. Hand out flyers telling about your club while you work a shift. To sign up for your time, click on the website at http://www.d6tm.org/, or contact Ron Sutlift at statefair@d6tm.org. Let’s get together, have fun and celebrate summer in Minnesota.

October is Toastmasters Month

How will your club celebrate Toastmasters month?  Do you know what your Division is planning?  Throughout District 6 plans are being made to celebrate Toastmasters 81st Anniversary.  Let us know what you are planning so we can help to publicize the event! Go to http://www.d6tm.org/District/Leaders/PRO/pro-templates.html for flyer and proclamation templates. I have requested proclamations from the cities of Mpls. and St. Paul, and the State of MN.

Contests

Fall Conference- Theme: Larger Than Life! (District Tall Tales and Humorous Speech Contests and more)

The magnificent colored leaves are awaiting you at Madden’s.Resort on Gull Lake. Sit outside by the cozy warm fire listening to storytelling while enjoying warm, gooey, chocolate, marshmallow smores. Paul Bunyan’s legacy lives on … the art of the tall tale is robust and well within the walls of many Toastmaster clubs. The District 6 Fall Conference will be held at Maddens Resort near Brainerd, October 14-15, 2005. The total package for the conference is $109. Be sure to make your resort reservation before September 14 for the reduced rate of $94.79/per night. To register, use the conference registration form and the resort registration form at www.d6tm.org.  For more information contact Kim Keilholtz at kim@d6tm.org or 612-926-8567.

Club Officer Training

Be recognized as one of the premier clubs in District 6! Get 7 out of 7 officers trained by August 31, 2005 and become eligible for the Magnificent 7 drawing of one free Fall Conference ticket which is valued at $109! Visit the following District 6 Web page for a current listing of training sessions: http://www.d6tm.org/Clubs/OfficerTraining.html.

Annual Public Relations Contests

Clubs can promote themselves and their programs using a variety of media. To encourage each club to design and publish creative promotions, District 6 is sponsoring the following public relations contests: Newsletter/Electronic Newsletter, Web Site and Flyer/Brochure contest. Entries must be received by March 31, 2006.  For more information, go to http://www.d6tm.org/District/Leaders/PRO/pro-index.html.  I would like to see every club enter the contests this year to show off what great things have been happening in your clubs.

 Help Us Help Others

Offer Leads
You can help Toastmasters reach others by providing leads to the District 6 officer team by way of the Associations Form page.

 Toastmasters Testimonials
Has Toastmasters changed your life? Inspire others with your story!

We invite you to share your story at http://www.d6tm.org/forms/SubmitTestimonials.php. It will be posted along with the stories of many other Toastmasters at http://www.d6tm.org/Visitors/Testimonials.html. Each week one Toastmaster’s story will be featured on the District 6 home page. See who’s featured this week at www.d6tm.org.

Encourage your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances to visit the Testimonials page to see how Toastmasters could benefit them.

 Visit www.austindailyherald.com to see how one club received an amazing boost using testimonials for a newspaper article.

 Share the Wealth

Are you a member of a professional association? Tell us about your association. We'd like to let them know what you already know. Toastmasters has a great program for professionals in any field of endeavor. Your information will help generate membership/club leads, advertising possibilities, and speaker bureau opportunities. Go to http://www.d6tm.org/forms/Associations.php to submit your professional/trade/civic organization’s contact information.

 Making News

Toastmasters in the News

It’s been a busy month for District 6 Toastmasters. Several Toastmasters have already appeared in the news. Take a look at what they’ve been doing at http://www.d6tm.org/District/Leaders/PRO/pro-index.html.

 If anyone from your club appears in the news, please contact Lonnie Yohannes, District Public Relations Officer, at pro@d6tm.org. Be sure to include the member’s name, club, newspaper, date, summary of the article, and any other helpful information.

 Tips of the Month

Toastmaster achievements are a great addition to a resume.

 Did you know one of the most effective membership building programs for clubs is Speechcraft? This program is designed to teach leadership and communication skills to small groups of non-Toastmasters over several weeks. If you’d like to learn more about this Success/Leadership workshop, contact the Speechcraft Coordinator at speechcraft@d6tm.org.

Lonnie Yohannes

Public Relations Officer
pro@d6tm.org

 

 

 
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