Toastmasters is for you if you wish to learn about:
• Increasing Self Confidence
• Handling Your Shyness
• Better Thinking
• Better Listening
• Better Speaking
President: Alan Johns. Secretary: Maggie Harris. Treasurer: Rebecca Eayres.
Education: Ian Craigen. Sergeant At Arms: Graham Kaywood. Membership: Marie Marsden. Publicity: Nigel Hopkins.
Firstly our hearty congrats to Graham for achieving the Distinguished Toastmasters Award. The first for our Club and one that Graham has worked hard for and deservedly achieved.
Congrats and thanks to all Club members who assisted in hosting the Area E5 Table Topics and International Speech Contest, held at our venue on Thursday 20th September. Daphne represented our Club in the Table Topics and International Speech and she achieved third placing in the latter contest. Well done Daphne. It is not easy at this level, but you performed superbly. Graham also took part in the International contest, put up a magnificent speech, but could not persuade the judges into placing him in the first three.
There was also a Reading event held at Coastmasters. This is at present, an unofficial club event in our Area, but from what Daphne mentioned at our last Club meeting, it could soon become a regular event. Daphne took part in the contest and was up against the "big guns", but although not placing in the first three, felt she had developed her skills to another level.
A letter received from our S.A.A. (sergeant-at-arms)...
"I was asked to take an officer role for this year and chose to be S.A.A, to have a "soft" job for the period in question. The obvious was the regular committee meetings. No sweat.. Then I ready fully, the manual supplied by Toastmasters International. Still easy.. This suggested that we may possibly have a bit of gear. WE HAVE.. I thought to spend a little time tidying it up. So, I started one club night. To my surprise I found a lot of "rubbish" that is old papers, such as out of date material and agenda copies from a number of previous meetings. Old rosters, ancient newsletters, lots of now unwanted handouts, etc, etc. So they went bit by bit each meeting. But horrors!! Every meeting the piles of papers replaced themselves. Then with the help of the Educational VP, I looked for Success Leadership educational sets. Some are there and others not in existence. So Ian, our E.V.P ordered full sets of both. Hey! This meant setting up folders for each of the sets. (We've got these for our use - anyone who wishes to conduct an educational, please note)
If you have not yet got the picture, it is this. The S.A.A's role is ongoing. Keeping everything we own in good tidy, no rubbish, order, This also means the supper things of permanent nature. Tea, Coffee, left over biscuits, dish washing liquid, etc.
So the role is full ongoing and not the sinecure that I thought it to be?
These
may help to relieve stress..REMEMBER: stressed backwards = desserts
.. I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking too good either.
.. Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
.. Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue.
.. When confronted by a difficult problem, you can solve it more easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?" !!!!!!!
The FIESTA OF FUN! Toastmasters District 72 Convention. November 16 & 17 Hawkes Bay Racing Centre, Hastings.
See our Convention "Junkee" Ian for full details - sounds a very fun filled weekend.
OR check it out on the website
http://www.toastmasters.org.nz/index.cfm/Events/District_Conventions.html
It has been suggested that the Club Xmas get-together be held at the Olive Grove Café , Mahara Mall, Waikanae. The cost of a festive style menu is $22 per head. What do you think???? Have you any other suggestion to wind the year up - Let us know NOW as we have a committee meeting this coming week and will be discussing then.. Look forward to hearing from you..
The Club would like to see another 6 new members to keep the numbers up. Look out for prospective members and invite them along for a "see and taste"
The President has his say.."On Saturday 5th October, Ian, Rebecca, Marie and I attended the Division E Conference held at the Trentham Racecourse facilities. This was the first toastmasters conference I've attended and while it was a long day, it was thoroughly enjoyable and well worth the effort. We saw the division finals of the Evaluation, Table Topics, International and Humorous competitions. There were some first class speeches and some perhaps not quite as commendable. However, watching these 'Division Finalists" made me realise that there is a huge depth of talented speakers here in our own Club, who would not be out of their depth at this level.
We also listened to an interesting guest speaker and a couple of very informative and educational workshops. The next conference is in the Hawkes Bay in November and another in Palmerston North early next year and I urge you all to attend if you possibly can - there is so much to learn and enjoy.
The Christmas function mentioned earlier in the newsletter has been set down for Thursday 12th December at 7pm. The evening will be for Toastmasters and partners and will act as our last meeting for the year. We hope you will be able to attend to make this another successful year for Waikanae Toastmasters. The Club will then take a break until around February in the new year.
Pres. Alan
The WebsiteOh - by the way - We now have our own website. Take a look at http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/icraigen/index.html and you can email us at waikanae@toastmasters.org.nz
But it is a huge thanks to Ian (our computer whizz) who set up the website at what I believe to be no cost to the Club. From a layman's perspective (mine) the job is not just a 5 minute one, it takes a number of hours and needs fine tuning even when it is up and running. This task was another in our goal to achieve a challenge in Toastmasters, called 'Fly the Flag Action Plan'.
The Committee has just about achieved the 17 goals set out to achieve the awards which include a $500 or $250 spend to promote the Club. Of course there will be other Clubs out to achieve these awards as well, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we may be successful.
Well that's it for this month - remember if you would like something included in the newsletter, I would love to receive it, in fact I would welcome your input. Whether it is a little goss on another Club member, or something more of the serious nature, if considered appropriate, it will be printed. My Email address is: nigel.hopkins@xtra.co.nz
We (that is the committee) are also looking forward to your indication on the Xmas function - indicate your preference now.. thanks.
Ed. Inky Thumb
Toastmasters of Waikanae homepage
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/icraigen/index.html