A Toastmaster quote...

... in an unexpected place.

I received a Christmas card from one of the vendors at work last month and while that is not unusual, the postmark or cancellation of the stamp caught my eye.

The postmark (close-up shown to the right) included a quote by John Adams which seems very appropriate for Toastmasters. It is part of a longer quote...

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak and write." - John Adams

How are you going dare to "read, think, speak and write" in 2009?

How about a High Performance Leadership (HPL) project. Click here for the D53 wiki website about HPL projects.

How about stepping outside your club to promote Toastmasters? There are plenty of opportunities to participate in demonstration meetings, district events and more! Contact Dave Wheeler, D53's LGM, via email at theshot92 [at] gmail.com for info on demo meetings. You can also subscribe to the d53toastmasters Yahoo group for news about district events ... and opportunites !

Quotes or Quotable speeches?

Doug Comstock gave us the following thoughts via the District 53 Yahoo Group ....

A few weeks ago I read the post on the importance of including appropriate quotes as we craft our speech. While I do believe that it can assist one in speech development I do not believe it is always the best way to write a speech.

Here is what I mean....

When I think of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech or Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you"....I wonder if they were more concerned in using the words of
other or creating content that would stand on its own..

I have been a student of speaking for quite sometime and have come to understand that the best speakers are the ones that sit and ask themselves "Is this content quotable". I believe that we as speakers have an opportunity as well as a responsibility to deliver content that is quotable.

As you begin to create your speeches ask yourself "am I creating content worth quoting?". If you aren't then I recommend that you carefully consider excavating your inner voice to truly share all that you are capable of.

In conclusion....

Strive to be the one that others always quote..... rather than being the one that is always quoting others...

See you at the conference....

Doug
Douglas "Clydesdale" Comstock

As campaign speeches are being written (for district officer positions perhaps?) it is important to dig deep... and find what you are most passionate about ... so that you can then communicate ... NO...TRANSFER that enthusiasm to the hearts and souls of your audience.

It may not be comfortable, but you will have much more impact if you can open up, dig deep inside and share what is important to you !

And it is much more likely that you will have a quotable quote of your own!

Did I mention the quote that Doug ended his email with?

"Nothing Great Was Ever Achieved Without Enthusiasm"

Great idea ... and a great quote!

(I think I will use it... unless I come up with something better on my own!)

Points To Ponder ... from Roger Brown, D53 webmaster

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Roger Brown
Date: Jun 15, 2007 7:55 AM
Subject: Table Topics or Points To Ponder

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

The things that come to those who wait ... will be the things left by those who got there first.

JOIN TOASTMASTERS TODAY!

http://www.toastmasters.org/