Happy(?) Groundhog Day

Roger Brown, past District 53 Governor, reminded me that today (Feb.2nd) is Groundhog Day... which, in turn, reminded me of the Bill Murray movie of the same name.

I always thought that Groundhog Day (the movie, not the "holiday") had a great lesson for life and, besides, I'm a big fan of Bill Murray and can't resist the opportunity to use his movies to make a point.

Unrelated line from the movie:
[to the groundhog who he's holding behind the wheel of the truck he's driving... see picture to the right.]
Don't drive angry. Do not drive angry.

Back to the story ...
In the movie, Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) repeats the same day (Groundhog Day) over and over again. He is in some sort of "time loop" and he can remember everything that happened in the previous days (even though no one else can).

Analogy ... or is it a Metaphor?
Have you ever gotten into a rut where you were running the same "loop" over and over again? ... going to work every day, doing the same thing, day in and day out? And then you realized that a month had passed ... or a year ... or more ... without any progress being made toward the things that were really important in your life?

If so, you could be living in your own, personal "Groundhog Day".

What does Phil Connors do to get out of his Groundhog Day?
At first, he gets depressed and figures life is not worth living... especially since he is a "big city person" trapped in small town Punxsutawney, PA.

Phil: I've been stabbed, shot, poisoned, frozen, hung, electrocuted, and burned.
Rita: Oh, really?
Phil: ...and every morning I wake up without a scratch on me, not a dent in the fender... I am an immortal.

Eventually, Phil realizes that he can become involved in the lives of the people around him and find activities that he enjoys.

He catches a boy who falls out of a tree and he helps 3 old ladies who get a flat tire. He talks to nearly every local person and learns what "makes them tick".

Phil: Nancy, she works in a dress shop... and she makes sounds like a chipmunk when she gets really excited.

He takes up the piano and progresses from a lowly beginner to eventually playing in the band featured at the Groundhog Day celebration.

Piano Teacher: Not bad... Mr. Connors, you say this is your first lesson?
Phil: Yes, but my father was a piano *mover*, so...

And he also finds love. (It is a Hollywood movie after all.)

What about you?
On this Groundhog Day, are you going to make a change? Or are you going to continue in your rut?

The one thing that I learned from watching (and re-watching) Groundhog Day is that "Small changes, done often, can accumulate to produce amazing results!"

What will you have to show for your life next month or next year?

What are going to work into your life?

Find the time. Make the time.

It is your life !

Happy Groundhog Day !


[Side Note to District Conference organizers: I wonder if we could get Bill to speak at one of our District conferences? I think he lives in upstate NY.]

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 !

Fwd: M&M Research (Therapy) for Toastmaster Leaders

Since I've assume role of the new M&M (Marketing & Membership) leader for District 53, it was great to get the following email from Past District Governor, Roger Brown. He said it is based on something he found on the internet back in 2005 and I hope it makes you smile too!

It is also an interesting tie-in for the upcoming Fall contests. (Clubs should have their contests done by Aug.23rd!)

Dave W.

From: Roger H Brown
Subject: Re: M&M Research (Therapy) for Toastmaster Leaders

M&M Evolution

Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels.

Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the "loser," and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round.

I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theatre of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world.

Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment.

When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3x5 card reading, "Please use this M&M for breeding purposes."

This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this "grant money." I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament.

From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion.

There can be only one.

Holidays and meeting themes

From: Roger H Brown
Date: Jul 11, 2008 4:33 PM
Subject: Holidays and meeting themes

Who said there are no holidays in August?

If you have a holiday, you have a topic for a theme meeting!

The Swiss National Day (German: Schweizer Bundesfeier; French: Fête nationale Suisse; Italian: Festa nazionale Svizzera; Romanish: Fiasta naziunala Svizra) is 1 August.

It is celebrated each year at a local, municipality level (though certain events draw nation-wide attention) with town-wide paper lantern parades, bonfires, hanging strings of Swiss flags and fireworks.

The history of Toast....

Roger Brown sent us a link to
the History of Toast....

http://www.toaster.org/tmaster_history.html

Information gathered from Toastmaster, Inc., The Housewares Story by Earl
Lifshey, and other sources.

As a Toast Master, we are sure you will find this fascinating !

(Or at least you can use the information for your next Tall Tales speech!)

Enjoy!

(be careful... it is hot!)

Some Rambling Thoughts on TM Growth

From: Roger Brown, D53 Webmaster and Past District Governor
Subject: Rambling Thoughts on TM Growth

What does it take to "grow" a District? or a Club?

Our District leadership team is asked each year to "grow" the District.

One measure of growth in a District is the steady increase in the number of paid-up Toastmaster Clubs on July 1st. The critical success factors of a Distinguished District ask for 3% growth in number of Clubs.

Another measure of growth in a District is the steady increase in the total number of Toastmaster members within the District on July 1st. WHQ measures Membership growth indirectly by looking at the number of dues payments members make during the district calendar year i.e. total per capita payments. The critical success factors of a Distinguished District ask for 2% growth in total per capita payments.

On the Club level, the Club leadership team is asked to "grow" their Club, which often means attract and add more members to the Club roster. The Club is challenged to add 4 members and then 4 more new members in one year's time; i.e. goals for the Distinguished Club program and Distinguished recognition.

A different facet of growth is measured in the "growth" of the individual member. That is, we (District, Division, Area, and Club) are providing (putting into practice) quality educational programs that allow the members to grow and meet their personal goals. In this case growth would be measured by the number of manual completions, i.e. the number of CCs, ACBs, ACSs, ACGs, CLs, ALBs, ALSs and DTMs.

Any significant measurable growth during your year as an elected District leader will take some leadership skills, a team effort and some luck.

Leadership Skills

* pay attention to the calendar. Follow time management principles.

* people are different. Ask questions and listen.

* Follow-up. Share your enthusiasm. Find ways to remove stumbling blocks or other impediments.

* Keep your eyes and ears open for talented Toastmasters with special talents.

* obtain your own personal mentor or coach; share ideas with a past district governor. Touch base with your International Directors.

* open all channels of communication; phone, email and personal handwritten notes. Keep in touch with your entire team.

* set the vision, growth has its benefits for all, share your values, your goals, and vision of the future.

Team Effort

* You can't do it alone. It is ineffective to try to do it all.

* Delegate authority and followup responsibly.

* Split big problems/tasks into smaller tasks.

* Every District leader, every Area/Division Governor, LGM and LGET can have an impact on growth in the district.

* Get many Toastmasters involved. Delegate some authority, allow your fellow leaders to be creative as long as they share common goals and visions for the future.

Luck

* Be prepared. Have demo teams ready to go. Walk the talk.

* Be prepared. Open your eyes and ears - opportunities will present themselves. Grab it!

* Always share your enthusiasm.

your thoughts?

Roger H Brown

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/

Fwd: New Web Sites

Forwarded From: Roger Brown, District 53 Webmaster
Date: May 14, 2007 12:19 PM
Subject: New TM Web Sites