PRESIDENT – Nancy Porter, Incumbent – not running
As president, you are responsible for providing the supportive club environment members need to fulfill their self-development goals, for making sure that members benefit from the Toastmasters educational program, and that the club recruits new members and retains current ones.

VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION – Judy Stepp, Incumbent – not running
As vice president education, you are responsible for providing and maintaining the positive environment and the programs through which members can learn and grow. If you do your job well, your club will have satisfied members and will continue to grow.

VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP – Mike Kesselring, Incumbent
As vice president membership, you are responsible for building membership and ensuring a strong membership base by satisfying the needs of all members. Your job is vital to the growth and success of the club.

VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC RELATIONS – Loretta Newton, Incumbent
As vice president public relations, you are responsible for coordinating an active public relations and publicity program. Your efforts help to attract new members. Your job is vital to the growth and success of the club, your efforts help attract new members.

SECRETARY – Cindi Stringer, Incumbent
As secretary, you are responsible for keeping clear and accurate records of club business, including membership records and correspondence with Toastmasters International’s World Headquarters and others.

TREASURER – Cindi Stringer, Incumbent
As treasurer, you are responsible for keeping clear and accurate financial records of club business and for seeing that the club remains financially stable.

SERGEANT AT ARMS – None currently
As the sergeant at arms, you are responsible for maintaining club properties, arranging the meeting room and welcoming members and guests at each meeting. Open the meeting and introduce the Toastmaster.

As you see, there are many opportunities to serve the Club and to help fulfill requirements for your Competent Leader award. You may contact Nancy Porter at nporter@drakesoftware.com or myself at Judy.Stepp@DrakeSoftware.com for more information, or to let us know of your intent to run for office. Please consider helping to serve your club and our members as an officer.

For more detailed information on Officers Roles download the “Club Leadership Handbook” #1310 from the Toastmasters.org website in PDF format after May 17, 2012. The hardcopy and PDF version are currently in revision status and unavailable.

By

Judy Stepp, CC
Vice President Education

Up until last week, I hadn’t been able to get to a meeting since my last speech in January, which completed my Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB). So I finally snuck (I can’t believe spellcheck doesn’t know that word!) into a meeting and realized again how much I’ve really missed it!

My first observation was that we were missing more than half the regulars! Oh yeah – Tax Season!

As the meeting got under way, my second rememberance hit me – these are the most giving and sharing people that you could ever want to share a planet with! I’ve seen it at every club I visited as the former Area 11 Governor of Dist. 37 as well, so I know that it’s a Toastmasters wide phenomina not just our local Gem City Forum club. I still question, is it Toastmasters that fosters this personality trait or just that the people with this unselfishly giving nature are drawn to Toastmasters?

The people in attendance were volunteering to take on roles for their fellow members who for one reason or another couldn’t make it, and without hesitation! If you’re a business owner with an open position and you have a Toastmaster applicant in the bunch – HIRE THEM – you’ll have a gem to lead and teach by example all the people they work with. Toastmasters are leaders!!

Our two speakers for the evening were awesome. The two Judys entertained, educated, and demonstrated magnanimously some of the lessons that we learn about preparing, practicing, and presenting.

Judy Stepp gave us part two of her previous month’s presentation, this time with powerpoint style backup as she completed her CC program required final speech using Audio/Visuals to augment her presentation. Toastmasters is truely a preparation for the real world and Judy was a true professional, in spite of some equipment challenges at the beginning, (not that they ever happen in real life – LOL) she kept her composure and worked through her presentation without showing any signs of anxiety. She relied on prior lessons learned and used her facial and body gestures along with vocal variety to carry her through the trouble spots and delivered an excellent presentation.

Our second Judy, Judy Chapman was working on vocal projection and getting to the point as her next step in the 10 speech series towards her CC as well. Judy presented us with a very well organized and fact laced speech on the gross injustices and senseless costs involved with the Transportation Security Administration, TSA. You may know them as the RUBES at the airports who stay in the headlines for their absolute STUPIDITY in the decision process of senselessly humiliating the elderly and the handicapped while letting multiple instances of true threats pass unfettered. She also informed us of spending aspects and waste numbers that were appalling on a cost per apprehention basis!

The information gathered and presented was so well done that by the end of her speech ‘this member of the audience’ was extremely internally enraged that our current administration is supporting this organization and not shutting it down to save MULTIPLE MILLIONS in uselessly spent tax dollars!

Enough on the politics!

It was a great meeting that made me sad to think of all the other meetings I’ve missed and all the facinating information that passed me by.

Toastmasters, as promised, is an organization that provides superior presentation and organizational leadership training and skills building guidelines! But that’s only the tip of what is the Total Toastmasters Experience. The knowledge gained from the thousands of topics and speeches presented puts a college education to shame for lack of sheer usefull information about past – present – and future subjects that can be gleened about limitless topics.

To watch the results of these step-by-step personal challenges or lessons, be overcome and assimilated into the members daily lives and see the confidence and self esteem build from working through them is the true reward of membership. Supporting and seeing the results of our fellow Toastmasters as they progress is truely inspirational. To have the FUN doing it, that’s TOASTMASTERS!

Jim Alvord, ACB ALB
Gem City Forum Toastmaster Club # 296

I’ve attended a TLI and can vouch for the exceptionally high level of training and camaraderie that is offered, not just for officers but open to all Toastmasters members that want to attend. You will meet some of the nicest and most giving people who want to learn and share their experiences and ideas. Their only hope is that it will benefit each individual in moving forward in their life and both personal and work experiences. If you can make it to one of these high level training opportunities – Do It! You’ll be glad you did! – Jim Alvord, CC ALB

As many of you know, clubs who are working on the Distinguished Club Program are required to have at least four officers trained in both the Summer and Winter sessions.  Our Winter sessions will be held at the following dates:

TLI-West, January 14th, The Cannon School, 5801 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC
(James Edgar/Tracy Threatt, co-chairs)

More detailed information is available on our website at: www.toastmasters-nc.org with the schedule of available classes. You may register on-line via this link http://toastmasters-nc.org/events/tli/register.

Please note that this year we are trying several new things to make the TLI experience more enjoyable and productive.  Here are some of the major new features and changes:

• A morning and an afternoon session will be available.  You can attend one or both sessions for $5.00/session at the early bird rate.  That’s only $10.00 if you decide to attend a full day of training!  Registration at the door is $10.00/session.  Please register in advance on our website to take advantage of the better pricing! 
• The officer roles have been split between the first and second hour of training.  In most cases, if you are serving in a dual role within a club or two roles between clubs, this will give you an opportunity to be trained in both roles.
• An officer integration session will be offered to allow all the club officers to discuss their interaction as leaders.  We encourage clubs to have all your officers attend either the AM or PM session as it’s important to have all your officers involved in this facilitated session.
• In preparation for speech contests, Judges Training will be offered.
• A facilitated discussion of Advanced Club Best Practices will also be offered for the first time.  For Toastmasters who have been attending TLIs for many years, this is your opportunity to share some ideas with your fellow Toastmasters on an advanced level. 
• Lunch is an option for an additional $10.00/box lunch at the early bird rate.  Since we are having a morning and an afternoon session, lunch time is a great way to network with your fellow Toastmasters.  Roast Beef, Turkey and Vegetarian options will be available.  If you would like to have lunch, please include that in your registration.  We cannot guarantee lunch if you do not pre-register.  If there are any remaining lunches available, those will be at $15.00/box lunch at the door. 
• Our bookstore will have an area to ask questions about the upcoming FreeToastHost changes.   We will also have a handout upon check-in for you to review.
• The District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting for Area Governors, Division Governors and District Leaders will be held in the afternoon.  If you are currently serving in one of these roles, please attend the morning session for your training.   (DEC members’ and speakers’ lunches will be provided by the District.)

Please be patient with your coordinators and volunteers at this upcoming TLI event.  As you can see, this is a completely new schedule from TLIs in the past, and we will be working hard to make this an event to remember. 

Thank you for your dedication to District 37 Toastmasters and see you in January!” 

Cheers,

        Naomi Takeuchi

Emily is remembered by many of her fellow members:

What a fine person and role model, she will hold a special place in my heart.

Nancy P.

Mine too, she is the reason Danny and I joined Toastmasters.

Kathy C.

I knew Emily almost 20 years. She has been an inspiration  to both Tim and me. Emily was more than an accomplished businesswoman, author, talented homemaker, community leader, and excellent speaker. She was a loyal friend, loving mom/wife/grandmother, and woman of God. Her life counted as a life well-lived. I praise God for her and pray our Lord will comfort and surround her family and friends.

Michele H.