Working on your CC/AC/CL/AL?

Don’t think you’ll have time to finish all your speeches by the end of the Toastmaster Year?

Well, Division A wants to say “YES you can” and to help you, we are pleased to announce our

Year      End       Super meeting
Speech-a-Thon and Membership Drive

Saturday, May 30^th, 2009 9:00AM to 3:00PM

King of Kings Church
543 Union Ave
New Windsor, NY

The day will consist of two Toastmaster meetings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This will provide an opportunity for up to 12 people (6 each in AM and PM) to give a speech and up to 12 people to serve as Speech Evaluator (for CL). 

Also, up to 10 people (two each role) can serve as Toastmaster, Timer, Grammarian, Ah-Counter, and General Evaluator (for Competent Leader). (Note, there will not be Table Topics, just speeches). Roles will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is open to all Toastmasters and all Toastmasters are invited to bring guests (AKA potential members) as well. Membership information and forms will be available. Agenda is as follows:

9:00AM           Registration/Gathering/social time

9:45AM           Welcome and Introductions

10:00AM         First Meeting starts

12:00PM          Lunch  / Registration for PM Session Only Attendees

1:00PM            Second Meeting starts

3:00PM            Wrap up

There will also be prizes for:   

• Club with most attendees, 
• Club with most guests/visitors attending, 
• Area with most clubs (percentage of total in area) participating, 
• Farthest traveled, and more. 

There will also be a Silent Auction and 50/50 Raffle. 

 COST: Meetings are FREE!!!

 An optional $5.00 pizza lunch will be available at the site or you can go off site

If you’d like to participate, please email  Registration Chairman Andre White at dtxr2001 [at] gmail.com and ask for the applicaiton form.

It will be a lot of fun !  Don't miss it !

How can we encourage more CCs?

On a recent conference call the question was asked,
"How do we encourage members to complete their CC's (Competent Communicator award)?".

Karin von Kaenel, our District Governor, responded with a reference to an article one of our past International Presidents, Dilip A., wrote entitled "Twelve Ways To Encourage Members To Present Manual Speeches".

Please visit his website at http://www.drdilip.com/toastmaster_tips.html and you will see the article there.

Of course, the other option is to run a speech-a-thon which I'm suggesting all AGs try now in January, again in April and in June.

Please let me know if you have any questions, suggestions and, of course, great results!!

Thank you for your help in making sure members are experiencing growth opportunities.

Marsha Kiley

D53 LGET, 2008-9

How can we also boost membership with Speech-a-thons?

• Promote them as special events (which they are) and invite the general public.
• Invite a local politician or celebrity as the keynote speaker (and publicize the event).
• If you can't get someone famous, you could invite one of the senior team to speak. (We are all working on CC's too!)
• Use it as a "Toastmasters rally" for multiple clubs in an area. (The added enthusiasm will pump up all club meetings that follow.)
• Include a manual speech about membership building, mentoring or some other Toastmasters topic so attendees take home some club building information.
• Think of 3 more ways to boost membership through a Speech-a-thon. (I know you can do it!)

Any upcoming special scheduling opportunities?
There are a bunch of clubs that meet on Wednesday nights (either the 1st & 3rd or 2nd & 4th Wed.) and there are months that have FIVE Wednesdays (e.g. April). This means there is an extra meeting opportunity ... or the perfect time for a Speech-a-thon !

How many speechathons can we have on April 29th? It will be the week after the Spring conference and it could be a great time maintain the momentum and excitement from the conference!

Happy Toastmastering in 2009 !

Dave Wheeler
D53 LGM, 2008-9

Be The Change You Want To See!
http://www.district53toastmasters.org/

Yankee Candle Hosts Interclub Speech-a-thon

Subject: Yankee Candle Hosts Interclub Speech-a-thon
Division E - A First Interclub Speechathon
by Bryan Bridges

Tuesday, 11 Nov 2008 -Deerfield, MA -- On Veterans Day about thirty Toastmasters from District 53 gathered at the Yankee Candle Headquarters in South Deerfield MA to enjoy the first interclub Speechathon. Nine speakers from four clubs delivered a variety of manual speeches. Each was evaluated by the audience and by a dedicated speech evaluator and each received a report from a grammarian, an ah counter and a timer. Also nine people, in addition to the evaluators, completed a task from their Competent Leader (CL) manual at the event. Several other people involved in the planning also received CL credit.

Speakers for the Veterans Day 2008 Speech-a-thon.
Front row left to right: Leeanne Herman (YCC), Jim Munro (VEP), Dennis Kunkler (PV), Arden Billings (YCC), Mike Finn (SE), Jim Kagai (SE). Back Row left to right: Davit Khachatryan (SE), Rob Wilson (VEP), Croix Sather (Division E Gov.), Frank Fasano (PV).

[Abbreviations: PV –Pioneer Valley Club, SE –Speakeasy Club, YCC –Yankee Candle express Club, VEP –Veterans Education Project.]

During the breaks folks bought goodies at the bake sale and tickets to the 50-50 raffle and drawing for a Yankee Candle gift basket. The money raised, $89 plus the generous gift of the 50-50 raffle winnings ($25), went to the Veteran Education Project. VEP works with Veterans training them to speak of their experiences to various audiences.

The event was designed to give Toastmasters an opportunity to give manual speeches, earn CL credit and have fun and socialize with other Toastmasters from a variety of clubs.

The next interclub Speechathon –The Fabulous St. Patty's Day Speak and Eat, is scheduled for Saturday the 14th of March 2009.

While it is early in the planning stages we know that you can look forward to a pot luck dinner, food related charities and table topics in addition to the CL and speaking opportunities. We hope to see you there!

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.