Want to challenge and improve your communication skills? ... even more than TableTopics?

Have you ever thought how sales skills could expand your career options? Have you ever wondered what it is like to Sell?

Well, you have your chance to find out ... in a supportive Toastmasters environment.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4th, there will be a workshop called...

"Sales Communication Skills for Toastmasters" !

It will be held from 9am-12noon at Marist College, in the Lowell Thomas Communications Center, rm.125
3399 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

Anyone who is interested should send me an email to sign up.

What is the workshop going to cover? Click here to find out.

What is the agenda? click here.

If you would like to move beyond TableTopics, perhaps it is time that you stepped up to Sales Communication Skills !

If you want to be more persuasive in business ... or in your personal life... this is for you!

There are less than 20 spaces and they will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Send me an email now. If you are on the Yahoo Group... do not "reply all". Send the email directly to me at the address below.

See you there !

Dave Wheeler

D53 LGM, 2008-9

Be The Change You Want To See !

email: theshot92@gmail.com

P.S. Please pass this along to anyone with our district who might like to attend.

Fwd: Speak up or maybe sink down

From: Roger Brown
Date: Oct 31, 2008 8:15 AM
Subject: Speak up or maybe sink down

Speak up or maybe sink down
Verbal skills, confidence are major career assets, and they can be learned.
By Laura Raines

For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/print/content/printedition/2008/10/19/jobsspeaking.html

Check it out !

Happy 84th Birthday Toastmasters International

From: Cavanaugh, Brian
Date: Oct 22, 2008 9:22 AM
Subject: Happy 84th Birthday Toastmasters International

Greetings District 53,

Happy 84^th Birthday Toastmasters International!

On Wed. Oct. 22, 1924, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley founded Toastmasters
at the YMCA in Santa Ana, CA.

Veterans Day Speech-a-thon at Yankee Candle HQ

Subject: Veterans Day Speech-a-thon
Where: Yankee Candle HQ

There will be an interclub Speech-a-thon at 6:30 pm on 11 November, 2008.

The event will be at 16 Yankee Candle Way in South Deerfield MA (that is the Yankee HQ and the site of the YCC Express Toastmasters Club.)

The HQ is about a mile and a half north of the flagship store. YankeeCandle has given folks who come a coupon for use that day so come early and start your Christmas shopping with a bargain at the second largest tourist attraction in Massachusetts*.

There will be (toastmaster) celebrity speakers and newbies. A diverse group of speakers indeed. We still have a few slots for speakers and a lot of need for functionaries (here is your chance to get two or three of your CL manual tasks completed.)

There will also be a wonderful bake sale. Come and enjoy an evening of speaking, some goodies and a good time with Toastmasters from around the district.

For more information contact Bryan Bridges at:
writerbryanb [at] yahoo.com

* I was not sure where this claim came from ... it kind of makes you wonder, "What is the 1st largest tourist attraction in MA?"... I found the following online:

“Boston Duck Tours was the 8th largest tourist Attraction in
Massachusetts based on 2004 visitors, the only attractions that saw more guests were (in order), Faneuil Hall Marketplace, The Freedom trail, The Museum of Science, The New England Aquarium, The Museum of Fine Arts, Minute Man National Historic Park and Old North Church.
- Boston Business Journal’s - Book of Lists, January 2006

A little more research led me to this where the Yankee Candle Director of store planning, Hugh Hall, said they were second behind The Freedom Trail.

Quick Quote

"If I went back to college again, I'd concentrate on two areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively." - Gerald R. Ford

Source: http://www.famousquotes.com/

Media Mixer Meeting concept

I was reading an interesting book called "Can We Do That?! Outrageous PR Stunts That Work--And Why Your Company Needs Them" by Peter Shankman and it gave me an idea to help promote Toastmasters ...

In the book, Peter talks about "adding value" and "being a resource" for a reporter before you ask them to write an article about you or your client.

One of the ways that he suggests to do that is to offer your expertise.

He has a great letter in the book where he states all the different things that he or his clients have done to show the scope of connections that he has and how it might be of value to a reporter.

Here is the idea for Toastmasters.... What if the VP-PR for a Toastmasters club invited a specific reporter (or other media contacts) to a "Media Mixer" event (i.e. a Toastmasters meeting) where the theme of the meeting is designed to showcase the experience and interests of all the Toastmasters members?

Obviously the reporter would see a Toastmasters meeting in action but they would also be introduced to a wide range of very interesting people who could give them material for many, many articles in the future.


The side benefit... Toastmasters would likely be mentioned in any of the stories that were printed or aired.

It probably would not hurt to have some good food and other incentives (like a REAL nice invitation with a personal follow up telephone call) to get the reporter(s) to the meeting, but it could plant some good publicity seeds... plus it would create personal connections between the Toastmasters club and someone in the media.

What do you think?

Leave a comment below !