Are you still "In the pool"?

I read a great blog post today that...

1) Highly recommended Toastmasters (which got it off to a good start) and

2) Presented a bit of wisdom that all Toastmasters could use. (After you read the post, the title of the entry will make more sense.)

Let me know what you think !

Click here to read the post at Scott Ginsberg blog, "HELLO, My Name is...".

Post by Dave Wheeler, Division A Governor, 2006-7

Press Coverage for Marist Toastmasters

David Gavin, Area A5 Governor, forwarded a copy of the following article about Marist Toastmasters that appeared in the Marist College newspaper.

click here to read it !

Note: Marist is already an official Toastmasters club, but they are working on becoming an official school club since that provides additional benefits and could attract more potential members.

Congratulations to David and Marist Toastmasters for getting this PR for their club!

Videos and other links...

WestConn Toastmaster's VP-Education, Croix Sather, forwarded the following links that you might like ....

http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/ Click a speakers profile and get an example of a presentation

http://andydooley.com/Comedy/videos.html
(this looks like a contest speech!)

Ideas for beginning your speech ...

The beginning of your speech is CRITICAL to its success. Either your audience "gets on your bus" or they don't. You have to interrupt their internal dialogue about all the other things going on in their life and get them to engage with you and your speech. Otherwise, they will be planning their shopping list or what to have for lunch and missing at least half of your speech (if not more).

Kathy Sierra posted a great article on her blog that really hits it on the head ...

Check it out by clicking here !

What did you find that you are going to use in your next speech? Is there something that you could even apply to a CONTEST speech? The contest that are coming up in the Spring are the Tall Tales and International Speech contests and they both would benefit from a strong opening!

Enjoy !

Dave Wheeler
Division A Governor, 2006-7

Fall Conference Update ....

Treat yourself to a celebration and conference on communications and leadership. Pay heed to Stephen Covey's 7th habit of highly effective people, namely Sharpen the Saw: Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal." Register for the 50th Anniversary Celebration and the District 53 Fall Conference. Do it Today and save!

What: 50th Anniversary Celebration
When: Friday, November 3, 2006
Join the 50th Anniversary Celebration - District 53's Fiftieth Birthday Bash!
There will be 50's music played throughout the evening, door prizes, continuous video displays of club memorabilia from years gone by, many surprises, and dancing to the hits of the 50's, 60's, and beyond.

Questions? Contact Frank Kane, 50th Anniversary Chair,
Phone: (860) 228-3261
Email: frankk53@sbcglobal.net

http://www.district53toastmasters.org/anniversary.html
http://www.district53toastmasters.org/50thAnniversaryRegistration.pdf

What: District 53 Fall 2006 Conference
When: Saturday, November 4, 2006

* Enhance your Communication or Leadership skills with a choice of 9 outstanding Educational Seminars
* Evaluation Speech Contest (10:00 AM)
* Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon
* District 53 Council Meeting
* Humorous Speech Contest and Dinner Banquet

Where: Holiday Inn Albany-Turf on Wolf Rd, Albany, NY

Stay Overnight: Call the Holiday Inn Turf before October 12 at (518) 458-7250 and mention "Toastmasters International Block" to get a special discounted room rate of only $99.00!
Visit Holiday Inn online at www.hialbanyturf.com/contact.asp

http://www.district53toastmasters.org/conferences.html
http://www.district53toastmasters.org/eduSessionsFall06.html
http://www.district53toastmasters.org/Fall06ConfRegistration.pdf

Conference Co-chairs:
Email: fall53conference@district53toastmasters.org
Jabbar Fagan Phone: (518) 447-8267 (w)
Sandra Buxton Phone: (518) 746-2560 (w)

Registration Chair:
Sarah Gebbie-Measeck
Phone: (518) 747-7390 (h)
Email: sarahgebbie@yahoo.com

Education Program Chair:
Jeff Sobel
Phone: (518) 355-3731 (h) (518) 356-7598 (w)
Email: fall53program@district53toastmasters.org

****** information provided by Rich Couture, DTM ************************

Division A Fall Contest results !

The Division A Evaluation and Humorous Speech Contests were held on October 11th at 7:30pm, hosted bythe WestConn Toastmasters at the Wooster School Library in Danbury, CT.

Humorous Speech Contest Results
1st place - Bruce Goulart, WestConn Toastmasters, Club #599
2nd place - Carole Hurst, Orange County Toastmasters, Club #9315

Evaluation Speech Contest Results
1st place - Patricia "Pat" Hendrickson, Catskill, Club #9542
2nd place - Geoff Crew, IBM Poughkeepsie Speechmakers, Club #315
3rd place - Cynthia Slater, Diversity USA Toastmasters, Club #3401

pictures will be posted soon.

Pictures from Area A1 / A5 Contest !

Area A1 Governor (and ContestMaster), Colleen Yarter with Area A1 Evaluation Winner, Geoff Crew.







ContestMaster Colleen Yarter with Area A5 First Runner-up, Toni Bass, Arlington Rotary Toast (5614), Evaluation Winner, Susan Doyle, Arlington Rotary Toast (5614) and Area A5 Area Governor, David Gavin.






This happy (and very humorous) group includes....
Area A1 Humorous Contest Runner-up, John "Gasbag" Paulus, IBM East Fishkill Speechmakers ( 9977), Area A1 Governor /ContestMaster Colleen Yarter, and "Cursed" Alison Easton, Richard "Changes" Bessner, Area A1 Humorous Contest Winner Adam "Stag Warrior" Izzo, Voices of the Valley ( 4396).

Area A1 / A5 Fall Contest winners !

The winners from Area A5 are:
Area A5 Evaluation :
1st ~ Susan Doyle, Arlington Rotary Toast (5614)
2nd ~ Toni Bass, Arlington Rotary Toast (5614)

The winners from Area A1 are:
Area A1 Evaluation :
1st ~ Geoff Crew, IBM Poughkeepsie Speechmakers ( 0315)
2nd ~ Adam Izzo, Voices of the Valley ( 4396)

Area A1 Humorous
1st ~ Adam Izzo, Voices of the Valley ( 4396)
2nd ~ John Paulus, IBM East Fishkill Speechmakers ( 9977)

Area A2 / A4 Fall Contest Results

Here are the results from the Area A2 / A4 Fall Contest ....

Bruce Goulart, Humorous Winner, Area A4, club 599
Croix Sather, Evaluation Winner, Area A4, club 599

Cynthia Slater, Humorous Winner, Area A2, club 3401
Cynthia Slater, Evaluation Winner, Area A2, club 3401

Reminder: District 53's 50th Anniversary...Reserve your Room & Register

From: Roger Brown
Date: Oct 4, 2006 10:16 AM
Subject: Reminder: Reserve your Room & Register

Celebrate District 53's 50th Anniversary Year

WHEN: Friday, November 3, 2006 from 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM

(The night before the Fall Conference)

WHERE: Holiday Inn

Albany-Turf on Wolf Rd (ARPT)

205 Wolf Road, ALBANY NY 12205

COST: $39.00 per person for evening program and dinner.

URL: http://www.district53toastmasters.org/anniversary.html

There is a choice of 3 Dinner Entrées:

__ Pan Fried Chicken Breast, __ Prime Rib of Beef, or __ Eggplant Parmesan. In addition to the entrée, the dinner includes appetizer, salad, dessert, and coffee/tea.

Stay Overnight: Enjoy the Fall D53 Conference the next day, Saturday, November 4, 2006.

Reserve your room today, call the Holiday Inn Turf before October 12th at (518) 458-7250

and mention "Toastmasters International Block" to get a special discounted room rate of only $99.00!

Hotel parking is free for all attendees. Visit the Holiday Inn Turf online at http://www.hialbanyturf.com/

"IT'S NIFTY TO BE 50"

There will be 50's music presented throughout the evening, door prizes, continuous video displays of club memorabilia from years gone by, many surprises, and dancing to the hits

of the 50's, 60's, and beyond. Music provided by our own District 53 DJ's. Please bring your club banner for display.

Questions? Comments? Contact:

Frank Kane, 50th Anniversary Chair

Phone: (860) 228-3261

Email: frankk53@sbcglobal.net

Area A3 Contest Results !

Area A3 held their Fall Contests on Monday night, Oct. 2nd at the Gardnertown United Methodist Church in Newburgh, NY and everyone in attendence agreed ... it was alot of FUN !

John Capen gave the target speech for the Evaluation Contest entitled "Humor for Health" and the contest was won by Patricia "Pat" Hendrickson (see picture to the right)

The Humorous Speech Contest was won by Carole Hurst who advances, along with Pat, to the Division A Contest on Wed. Oct. 11th at Wooster School Library at 7:00pm. A picture of Carole is shown below.

The Division Contest is hosted by West Conn Toastmasters (www.westconntoastmasters.org) and contestants should arrive at 7pm. Directions are available on the WestConn Toastmaster's web site (see link above).

Hope to see you there !