|
Welcome, new Toastmasters!
Welcome to the new and returning Toastmasters who have joined or rejoined a Toastmasters club in District 90 recently. "Ninety News" is a newsletter of District activities and important Toastmasters matters sent regularly to members.
Chris, you did us proud!
 Chris Davitt, District 90’s semi finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking, did us very proud during the Toastmasters International Convention in Washington DC in August.
Chris faced off a formidale roster of eight fellow competitors with his “Too Busy” speech and gave an excellent presentation. He was not to place, however, The semi-final going to Thien Trang Nguyen Phan from District 91 in Southern United Kingdom (first), Vladimir Balabanov from District 2 in Washington state (second) and Joe Shaw from District 84 in Florida (third).
Thien had a similar experience in the World Championship on the Saturday morning, giving an excellent presentation but also not placing.
Darren Tay Wen Jie from District 80 (Singapore) was eventually judged the World Champion with Aaron Beverly from District 18 (Pennsylvania) in second place and Josephine Lee from Founders District (California) third (pictured below from left).
Dual District 90/District 70 member David Griffiths represented District 70 in a different semi-final and placed third to Katina Hunter from District 13 (Pennsylvania) first and Sherrie Sue from District 85 in China second.
Robert Thompson from District 69 gave a commendable presentation in his semi final but was also not placed.
We celebrate Distinguished!
All members of our District in attendance at the Washington Convention had the opportunity to go up on stage and be recognised for our achievement of Distinguished District, and most certainly did as our photo shows.
Our sister District 70 also achieved Distinguished and joined with us to celebrate.
Program Quality Update
 By the end of August, the first round of Club Leadership Training was completed.
My heartfelt thanks to Gill Walker, Chairman of the Leadership Institute, and her team for their contribution to the development of the training and programs which were used in the training of our trainers and club leaders. Also to everyone who was involved in the training and the Division Directors who took particular consideration to ensure that most club leaders were trained.
Thank you also to the club leaders who made the effort to attend training as this would ensure that the clubs continue to provide excellent programs and the ultimate success of clubs.
The second round will begin in November most probably in mid-November, with Train the Trainers sessions. All interested trainers, please pencil in your diary the date. Official training will be conducted December, January and February.
Positions Vacant 2017/2018 for staff officers to serve on the executive team of District 90 in the NEXT Toastmasters year…
Administration Manager (Secretary) – Responsibilities:
- Meeting Minutes
- Documents
- Correspondence
Finance Manager (Treasurer) – Responsibilities:
- Budgeting
- Profit and Loss Statements
- District Assets
- District Finance Training
Public Relations Manager – Responsibilities:
- Communication Plan
- Public Relations and Publicity
- Brand Stewardship
As one of these staff officers, you sit on the senior executive team which helps develop District goals and strategies to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.
Serving as a staff officer is a great responsibility and an exciting opportunity, which will help you further develop your leadership and communication skills. Your term of office is filled with chances for you to renew your perspective, practice teamwork and develop your capacity to translate values and strategies into productive actions.
To show your interest and discuss the positions, please contact me without delay:
Shirley Childs DTM
pqd@d90toastmasters.org.au
Mobile 0403 258 571
Club Growth Update
 From Club Growth Director Phil Reed DTM
nbn Toastmasters is the first club to charter this year. They started with 35 members and meet weekly.
Several more clubs are in the pipeline.
Club Support
One of our aims is to assist clubs to reach Charter Strength (20 members).
Mark Ransom leads the Club Support Team. He visited several clubs in August and gave them information about how to build membership. If your club would like assistance, please contact Mark. Either he, or a member of the Club Support Team, will be able to advise. See contact details at the end of this report.
Smedley Award
Each club that adds five new, dual or reinstated members to the club membership list between August 1 and September 30 receives a “Smedley Award” ribbon for their banner. Membership applications and payments must show a join date between August 1 and September 30. They must be registered with Toastmasters International by September 30.
Several clubs recorded three or four new members in August.
Help sought
We will always appreciate help from members. At the moment we seek:
1. New Club Officers to work with Dianne Sammut
2. Speechcraft Officers (one from each Division) to work with Pauline Gilchrist.
3. Sponsors, Mentors & Coaches to work with Scott Johnston
Please register your interest with Club Growth Director Phil Reed: cgd@d90toastmasters.org.au, mobile 0416 241 114
Speechcraft
Report by Pauline Gilchrist DTM, D90/70 Speechcraft Coordinator
Speechcraft is part of your club growth and it's recommended you plan a course for your clubs at least once each year. The clubs that do this have very few problems with membership.
This year I am recommending a four week Speechcraft course rather than six weeks. Over the last couple of years I have found that a four week course running alongside your meetings has become the most successful way to bring in new members. This is popular both for the club members and those signing up to attend.
WHY? The attendees of the course have committed to that particular night of the week as it is suitable to them - this helps bring them into the club on completion. The course is held one night of the week for four weeks at your usual location. Your club members are only asked to sacrifice two meetings without the usual agenda.
You ask your club members to support the club to gain new members by being there each meeting and evaluating the attendees - here they polish their evaluation skills. Plus the educationals within the course can be delivered by your members enabling them to have intense practice of the leadership path of Toastmasters for that four week period. They also get to know the attendees and this makes for an easy transition into your club.
I would like one person in each Division to be the Speechcraft Officer and if you would like to be that person please contact your Division Director. Until that happens I am always here on the end of the email or phone with responses to any questions and support you may need to plan, prepare and run your Speechcraft course.
Special note from Pauline to clubs listing Speechcraft details on the web: When you have loaded your information for Speechcraft, please send me an email and let me know so I can check the listing and make sure it is uploaded.
Club Growth Team Contacts:
Pauline Gilchrist, Speechcraft: speechcraft@d90toastmasters.org.au
Scott Johnston, Sponsor, Mentor and Coach: publicspeaker@bigpond.com
Mark Ransom, Club Support: clubsupport@d90toastmasters.org.au
Dianne Sammut, New Clubs: clubextn@d90toastmasters.org.au
Semi Annual Update
Come to the 2016 District 90 Semi Annual and Expand  Your Horizons!
Registrations are NOW OPEN for the 2016 Semi Annual Conference to be held at Gosford RSL Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 4, 5 and 6.
Visit the conference website (click here) for costs, available accommodation and direct link to the registration page.
Hope you have put in your diary as we have three amazing and entertaining presenters:
Keynote Speaker - Anna Perdriau
 Anna is the public speaking stylist for government and corporate leaders who seek to connect with and create change in their audience.
In her own leadership journey, Anna overcame a range of barriers to become the youngest female civilian to direct a billion dollar acquisition program. This was within Australia’s largest project management organisation, in the Australian Government. After two decades of achievement, Anna’s combined passions for empowering people and public speaking have since merged into one.
Anna is a World Class Speaking Coach and the author of Speaking to Hearts and Minds: public speaking to engage, energise and elevate your audience.
Anna has an MBA and a Bachelor of Communications.
As well as the keynote on Saturday evening, Anna will conduct a workshop on Sunday morning.
Mark D’Silva, on the "Thali of Confidence"
 Saturday AM - Educational
Mark is three times NSW Public Speaking champion and has represented District 70 at the World Championship of Public Speaking finals held in Canada.
Mark is founder of Speak 2 Peak. He delivers master classes and workshops on strategies to build confidence; how to connect deeply to win audience’s hearts and minds; and how to think, act and speak like a leader.
Mark’s book "Zing! Speak Like A Leader" is now available.
Joseph Boutros, on "Closing the Sale"
 Saturday PM - Educational
Joseph is a successful entrepreneur and has worked in corporations.
For the past five years, Joseph has been a Business Trainer at a prestigious city business college. He has also been coaching clients in crafting speeches and delivering presentations via his privately owned business “Speech Factory” where he conducts Entrepreneurial Business, Sales and Marketing Workshops specifically designed to further enhance the credibility and image of his clients. LinkedIn Profile - www.linkedin.com/in/josephboutros888.
If you have not booked yet for the SAC, don’t hesitate otherwise you will miss these three awesome presenters and extremely entertaining Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests.
You can register here. We look forward to seeing you there!
Excerpts from the Board of Directors Briefing
At the Board of Directors Briefing during just past International Convention, our Chief Executive Dan Rex confirmed that we are in the final months of the development for the new Pathways Program.
 In January 2017, three pilot Districts would begin implementing the program. It was anticipated that by the end of 2017 all districts around the world would be included. For more information please go to our CEO’a report here.
At this briefing, our First Vice President, Balraj Arunasalam, also announced that the Board reviewed and discussed incorporating quarter finals at regional level for the World Championship of Public Speaking, by having the judges review video taped speeches. The details of this process and requirements would be developed and reviewed by the Board. It was anticipated the quarter-finals would be implemented in the year 2018 cycle.
In addition, he also said the Board reviewed and discussed the primary focus of District leaders and believed that their energy could be better spent on building relationships and promoting club growth, not on preparing conferences.
Subsequently, the Board instructed that beginning in 2018, Districts refocus their efforts on leadership and education through Toastmasters Leadership Institutes or other learning opportunities, and discontinue the October/November conferences. More information on this would be forthcoming.
David elected ID
District 90 (and 70) Past District Governor David Fisher was elected outright to the position of Toastmasters International Director Region 12 at the Washington Convention.
David stood against three other candidates and was elected in the first round with a majority of votes.
His term will run until August 2018.
Division Contests set to go
As the last of our Area Humorous Speech & Table Topic Contests are held around the District, the 2016 round of Division Contests gets underway this weekend with Oxley's at Coffs Harbour.
Northern Division is set for the following weekend in Barraba on Saturday with Eastern on Sunday at Argenton.
Western runs on Saturday October 8 with Hawkesbury on Sunday the 9th at Gordon and Macquarie on Saturday the 15th.
Members are encouraged to support their Area contestants at the Division Contests.
Winners at Division will compete in the District finals at the Semi Annual in November.
Parramatta 50th
Parramatta Club celebrated the 50th anniversary of the club's charter on Thursday evening.
Special guests on the night included our new International President Mike Storkey, and Russ Walkington, former President of the then Toastmasters Council of Australia and founder of the club who was voted Australian Toastmaster of the decade in 1970.
Our photos, by Club Photographer Tom Woods, show members present on the night (below) and Mike and Russ giving their presentations. Click on the photos for larger images.
Parramatta Club is the fourth oldest still active club in District 90 following Dynamic North Shore (chartered December 1962), Dee Why RSL (November 1964) and Newcastle (April 1966).
Vale – Krista Greenwood, Norman Priestley
Only a short number of weeks after her husband Denis passed away, Krista Greenwood DTM, also a former Northern and Eastern Division Governor, has died.
Soon after that, one of our longest standing Toastmasters, Norman Priestly DTM, past Area Director and multiple World Championship of Public Speaking semi finalist, also passed away.
We will have tributes to Krista and Norman in the next newsletter.
Toastmasters Supplies Australia news
Two new items are available for use as gifts and for promotion, being
The Toastmasters core values coin and the Toastmasters gavel pencil.
See Supplies page www.toastmasters-supplies.org.au/trophies.htm for details.
Club Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following clubs for reaching significant anniversaries...
Tamworth Toastmasters ........................................................... 50 in September!
Click this link to view educational achievements
in District 90 so far this Toastmasters year
Need supplies for your club? Or for yourself?
Visit Toastmasters Supplies Australia website here.
|
