Elizabeth Wilson DTM, Past District Governor and Toastmasters superstar, has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours list.

Following is a story and photo published in this week's "Parramatta Sun"...

It's not common for a husband and wife to receive an Order of Australia Medal but it happened in the Wilson household.

Oatlands resident Elizabeth Wilson was awarded a medal for her services to the community through Toastmasters International two years after her husband received his for the same contribution.

"I was very honoured but very surprised," Mrs Wilson said. "I thought one medal in the family was enough.

"When the letter came in the mail I didn't even look at it, I just put it on the table until Gary told me to open it."

The former deputy principal of Tara Anglican School for Girls (1991-94) began her involvement with the public speaking organisation International Toastmistress in 1968.

"Back then there were two separate organisations for men and women but after both sexes wanted to interact the services decided there shouldn't be any discrimination," Mrs Wilson said.

"I went on to become the first female District Governor for NSW and ACT [1987].

"Attending the international convention in the United States in the early '90s was one of the highlights for me as was meeting and working with different people."

Through her involvement with Toastmasters International, the former Carlingford resident, 76, was a trainer in "speechcraft", taught youth leadership at schools, mentored peers and developed education and public relations program for the organisation.

She was also District Toastmaster of the Year in 2010.

Despite battling breast cancer that has spread to her liver and spine, Mrs Wilson continues to contribute to Toastmasters International as its supplies sales officer.

"I hope to continue helping for a long time," she said.
 

May I first add my congratulations to Elizabeth on her OAM? Elizabeth is one of the hardest working and most dedicated Toastmasters I have ever known and to see her recognised in this way is very pleasing indeed.

Together with Gary, she provides our clubs and members with sterling support and has done so for many years, both as one of our strongest and most dynamic leaders and, more latterly, in providing arguably one of the best Toastmasters supplies services in the world.

As I said in my Facebook post, well done, Elizabeth! Very well deserved!!

I'm excited!!

Our new Prime Minister has been getting a bit of stick lately for being positive about the future of our country. But I must say, certainly as far as Toastmasters and District 90 is concerned, I'm with him!

There is no point being negative about the future. As the saying goes, if you think you can't well... you probably won't.

In the first six months of our Toastmasters year, we have seen some wonderful achievements and been part of many very worthwhile activities.

Certainly there have been some big downers, but largely, the balance is very positive. And there is always work to be done to make sure the goal of a positive future is attained.

I am confident we will all continue to prosper in our Toastmasters lives as the year progresses.

I am confident every Toastmaster who applies him or herself diligently to the program will succeed, both within our organisation and in the wider world.

I am confident our very hard-working leaders at every level in our District will see their hard work pay off... primarily in seeing our individual members succeed, our clubs, areas, divisions and the District.

Please take the opportunity of a new year – and a new beginning – to refocus on your goals, and help us extend the Toastmasters opportunity to so many more people.

I wish all District 90 members health, prosperity and success in 2016 (and beyond) in looking forward to a very exciting time!

Bob Kirchner DTM
dd@d90toastmasters.org.au

Most members are aware of the numerous club leadership training sessions scheduled for our District. But there is much more happening as well

CLT sessions have been planned and are being executed by your District leaders and quite a few specialist volunteer helpers, with one aim in mind... to empower club leaders and members in their roles in making the Toastmasters experience as good as it can possibly be.

Check the What's On page on our website for details of sessions. And remember, you don't have to be a current serving officer to attend and benefit from the training.

In the realm of "more exciting activities"... 

Hawkesbury Division Toastmasters have a series of seminars coming up sub-titled Learn Winning Techniques... the first one this Saturday...

The aim is to assist Toastmasters to prepare for upcoming contests and to improve their skills...

• International Speech - World Champions
• Effective Speech Evaluation
• Organise the "Best" Speech Contest and Being a Contest Judge

International Speech - World Champions

Saturday 30 January 2016
10:00am to 4:00pm
Manly Senior Citizens Hall
275 Pittwater Road, Manly (see D90 What's On for googlemaps directions)

Contact: Charmaine Burke, 0401 059 934, email
charmaine@artofcommunicating.com.au

Click here to download flyer

Effective Speech Evaluation

Sunday 7 February 2016
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Balgowlah Uniting Church
122 Condamine Street, Balgowlah (see D90 What's On for googlemaps directions)

Contact: Tony Palechek, 0428 490 733, email palechek@tpg.com.au

Click here to download flyer

Organise the "Best" Speech Contest and Being a Contest Judge

Sunday 14 February 2016
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Dougherty Centre Auditorium,
7 Victor Street Chatswood (see D90 What's On for googlemaps directions)

Contact: Hugh Mulgrew, 0405 450 107, email hugh.mulgrew@optus.com.au


It's Contest season!

Speaking of contests, as most are aware, our second round contest season is well and truly upon us.

Clubs throughout the District are busy organising their International Speech and Evaluation Contests in readiness for Area and Division contests and, ultimately, the District final at the beginning of May.

Members are encouraged to participate in both. The evaluation contest helps us focus on and become better evaluators. The International contest provides an opportunity for all to extend their speaking experience to a whole new level.

And just as a little bonus, if you happen to win your way through to District, and the District final, you will become District 90's first International Speech Champion and be winging your way to Washington in August to participate in the World Championship of Public Speaking semi finals for a chance at the big one!

Will that be you?

If you're not competing, or don't win through to the "next level" – relish the experience and check our District What's On page for details of Area and Division contests, and go along to support your club and area winners.

New club activity

Among the new club activity throughout the District, Hawkesbury Division has plenty going on with demonstration meetings planned for two clubs and the "rebadging" of one. Here are the details...

Gallery Toastmasters. a proposed new "open" club...

Date:  Thursday, 11 February 2016
Time:  6:30pm
Venue:  Mosman Art Gallery
Address:  Art Gallery Way & Myahgah Road Mosman (googlemaps directions on D90 What's On)
Parking:  On street and off street (some "must pay") available

Contact: Tony Palechek, 0428 490 733, email palechek@tpg.com.au

If you have friends or acquaintances in the vicinity who may benefit from the Toastmaster experience please give them detail of this session.

Keynoting Speakers, a proposed new "advanced" club

Date:  Saturday, 20 February 2015
Time:  11:00am
Venue:  to be advised

Contact:  Gill Walker, 0410 449 709, email area10@d90toastmasters.org.au

If you plan to present Keynote Speeches, this club is for you.

Rebadged Club

A currently "closed" club is to become an "open" club. The location, to be confirmed, will be North Sydney.  Its membership aim is for young professionals in the North Sydney area.  Depending on the wishes of members, the meeting time will be either morning (before the working day) or during the lunch hour.

Anyone interested in joining this club, or aware of a young professional who would benefit from Toastmasters training, please lodge your interest with HDiv Director Phil Reed on 0416 241 114, email hdiv@d90toastmasters.org.au

Best wishes, Richard

The best wishes of all in District 90 go to Richard Crisp, Area 15 Director, Eastern Division, who has been going through the wars a bit lately.

Do get well, soon, Richard, we miss you and need you back!

PR Notes

Looking for more members? Now would be a good time to revisit previous members who resigned for work or educational reasons.

If they are over the work crunch or finished the course, get them re-interested in Toastmasters before they find something else to fill their time.
 

"WHY"

Check out this video if you haven’t seen it before: Simon Sinek - Start With WHY

18 minutes TEDTalk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sioZd3AxmnE and re-evaluate your own motivations and think on WHY you re in TM and use that to convince others to join.

Justyn Phillips DTM
prm@d90toastmasters.org.au

More wins for Tom...

District 90 boasts two champion bush poets, Greg North DTM of Springwood Toastmasters in the Blue Mountains and Tom McIlveen CC of Port Macquarie Toastmasters and Hastings Morning Talkers.

Both Greg and Tom have won numerous awards for their poetry, including the prized Bush Laureate Golden Gumleaf trophies.

This year, Tom had a particularly successful year in Tamworth.

He came first in the Original section of the Golden Damper Awards and third in the Blackened Billy Verse Competition with Bobby's Return.

In the Golden Dampers, Tom was also highly commended for two more of his works, The Letter Home and Sealed With A Kiss.

Photo: Tom with some of his previous awards.
 

Club Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following clubs for reaching significant anniversaries...

PARRAMATTA BREAKFAST TOASTMASTERS ..... 20 in January!
MACQUARIE RSL DUBBO TOASTMASTERS ....... 10 in January!
UP UP TOASTMASTERS ..................................... 5 in January!
 

Celebrating the achievements of District 90 Toastmasters!

Distinguished Toastmasters

Jeanette Anderson, Brisbane Water Breakfast Club
Cheryl Brown, Harbord Diggers Daytime
Lynne Harris, Western Lectern
Arora Kamal, Kings Langley Toastmasters
Judy Mason, Summerland Toastmasters
Marianne Moore, Elouera Toastmasters
Sally Morton, Manly Multilingual
Justyn Phillips, Port Macquarie
Mark Renton, Chatswood Speakers & Leaders
Bruce Ronan, Gosford City Council
Carol South, Inverell Breakfast
 

Need supplies for your club? Or for yourself?
Visit Toastmasters Supplies Australia website here.