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.

Toastmasters International is an organization founded in 1924 to help men during the Great Depression to develop speaking and leadership skills that would enable them to secure employment and opportunities in those dire times. Since that time, men and women all over the world have been learning better communication and leadership skills through Toastmasters membership.

I joined the Gem City Forum Toastmasters Club to do just that, enhance my communication and leadership skills. We have a weekly meeting on Tuesday evening beginning at 5:30 PM SHARP. Members alternate weekly, to fill several active roles during each meeting. These roles provide a learn-by-doing way to enhance skills. In this way, each member has the opportunity to participate and learn each meeting role. Our meetings usually last about one hour fifteen minutes, so we are done around 6:45 PM.

I find the members of Gem City Forum Toastmasters to be friendly, helpful, supportive and genuinely interested in my personal development within the club. This club is open and welcoming to guests and new members in the same manner, each person fostering both their own and others growth and development. We celebrate each member and each success as if it were our own personal achievement.

I have been elected as Vice President, Education, and as such, my job is to help members achieve the goals they have set for themselves. There are various manual guides to help members work through the progressive achievements within Toastmasters International. We work with each member, assigning a mentor to help, tracking progression and providing opportunities for reaching the personal goals each member has set.

I have held many various positions with other organizations, including serving as a member of Organization Board of Directors. I learned and developed skills in each position. I see Toastmasters as a way to grow further, learn more and practice in an atmosphere that is non-judgmental, supportive, providing positive feedback to help me on my way to mastering a skill. It makes sense that the more members in a club, the better the club and the better for each of the members. I am sure that the small investment of time and money that I make as a Toastmaster member reaps rewards for me more than double its value. I develop better speaking, listening, and communication skills; I make more friendships; I feel more confident; I give back to others which also helps me feel good about myself. Being a member of Gem City Toastmasters Club is a ‘no brainer’ for me.

I invite you to come try a meeting or two. I invite you to become / remain a member and participate more often. I invite you to experience the friendship, growth, support and learning for yourself. Come join us on Tuesday night at 5:30 PM in the meeting room at the Fun Factory, Franklin, NC.

Judy Stepp

VP Education
Gem City Forum Toastmasters Club # 296

As the toastmaster for the meeting my thanks go out to Phil Drake and President, Nancy Porter for jumping in with both feet and covering jobs that needed to be filled at the last minute. That’s one of the things that continues to amaze me about our club, there’s always someone prepared to take on a position at the last minute and fill it exceptionally well.

That all tied in perfectly with the theme of “Preparation.”  In light of the earthquake in Virginia earlier in the week and the reports of Hurricane Irene arriving this coming weekend, being prepared for the unexpected is a topic that warranted some attention.

Then it was time for our new members, Mike Chapman and Chad Nichols to give their “Ice Breaker” speeches.

Going first, Mike entertained us with his ‘Work in Progress’ topic about how he’s using the findings from some personality tests to improve and guide his decisions for the future. We learned about some of Mikes’ workplace likes, family loves, and goals both short and long term. Well done Mike, and ‘NO’ we couldn’t hear your knees knocking behind the lectern!

Then Chad moved to the front of the room and presented “C.H.A.D.” a speech based on the acronym derived from his first name. None of us were aware of the many facets to our fellow member and all the world travels that he and his wife have done while in service to their church. We should have suspected because Chad is a policeman who serves everyday to keep the peace in the local community. Although the C.H.A. were admirable social and worldly traits that we admire in Chad, the D. for Dad was the one that Chad feels is the most important. It was enlightening to see how he has placed his newest role with their 5 week old daughter as the epitome of his life’s works and accomplishments.

If you weren’t there, you missed some great presentations! So make it a point to be there next week.

Thanks again to everyone who attended. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

In the words of Hawk from the WWE “What a Rush!”

Jim Alvord  CC  ALB

Gem City Forum Toastmasters Club # 296

Front Row (L to R) Sec/Tres – Cindy Stringer ; VP Public Relations – Barbara Cook ;  President – Nancy Porter ;  VP Education – Judy Stepp  Back Row (L to R) Sergeant at Arms – John Becker ; VP Membership – Mike Kesselring .

A very special “Thank You and Congratulations” to our past officers who guided the club to a “President’s Distinguished Club” award for the past year, This is the highest award for all of Area 11 Toastmaster’s Clubs. An honor that we hope to repeat again in the coming year.

After the elections,  during that same meeting the club voted to change our weekly meeting location starting on July 5th to the newly renovated meeting room in the Fun Factory on 23/441. As you enter the Fun Factory Main Doors, turn left to get to the meeting room. We’re really looking forward to having a permanent home.

We also need to thank the staff at the Macon County Library for allowing us to use there meeting rooms for the past three years. We really appreciate your assistance and we hope that from time to time we will be welcomed back, should some major event cause an overflow at the Fun Factory.

This Tuesday night we have two awesome speakers lined up for our last meeting at the Library, so stop by at 5:30 and see what we’re all about!!

Jim Alvord
Outgoing-’ Area 11 Governor’

Gem City Forum Toastmasters Club 296