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Fellow Toastmasters, it’s that time of year! As year-end is fast approaching on June 30 there is so much to do! Finish strong by electing new club officers, turning in any educational awards you have completed, and adding new members with a personal invite, holding an open house or Speechcraft. As we elect new club officers for the next year, current club officers pass the torch and set them up for success by mentoring them in their new roles and making sure they know that they need to attend club officer training 2 times a year (Round 1 has already started). If you have completed any Pathway levels that you have not turned in for credit, please make sure you do this before June 30. It is always great to get new members in your club! It’s not too late to do that by personal invitations to friends, co-workers or
family—by having an open house before June 30, or by having a Speechcraft. Pass the magic of Toastmasters to others that you know could benefit.

Important Dates and information:

The new club officer lists need to be submitted to Club Central before June 30. PLEASE do this or you will not be able to get into Club Central on July 1.

Check your Distinguished Club Plan. Have the members of your club been completing Pathways levels? Do you need just one more education award or one more new member to be a Distinguished or better club? Your club deserves to be recognized by Toastmasters International! Make that happen by having 5 or more goals achieved on the Distinguished Club Plan and meeting the membership requirement (20 members or a net growth of plus 3 members from June 1, 2022).

Be ready to start the year off strong by reviewing/setting your Toastmaster’s goals now. It’s not too late to fill out that application to be an Area Director in District 6 next year. You grow the most by challenging yourself! The Area Director role is the best role in the district! Step out of your club and meet awesome Toastmasters in the clubs you will be serving.

The future of District 6 is in good hands! I will be passing the torch on July 1 to District Director Elect DTM Colleen Marie Kelly and the rest of the Trio: Program Quality Director Elect DTM David Schaal and Club Growth Director Elect Alli Tripp. It has been a great year of membership growth and it will be even greater next year. Thank you for letting me serve the members of District 6! It has been an honor and a pleasure.

I won’t be far! As Immediate Past District Director starting July 1, I will still be supporting the members of District 6 in different ways.

With Gratitude,

Deb

The end of the Toastmasters Year is coming, and we should all end the year strong! In a time of transition, where you may be stepping down from an officer role and the club DCP plan will reset, it might feel like you might not want to put your best effort in, someone new will pick up the slack in a couple of weeks. We want to avoid that feeling. What serves us and our fellow Toastmasters is for us to keep being the best speaker, mentor, friend, and leader that we can be all the way until the final day of June. That is what I think of when I hear end the year strong.

I thoroughly endorse the message, but I think the phrase “end the year strong” makes Toastmasters sound like we are running a race. I would like to think of finishing the year complete. What does it mean finishing complete? When something is complete, it is done, finished, whole.

Look forward to the last weeks (as of this writing) of the Toastmasters year. What is there left to do? What can you do? One or two more members for the club? It can be done. An extra speech to complete a level, I bet at least one member of your club is in that position. Maybe that is all your club needs to be Distinguished. Even if it’s not, your club is continuing to move forward, gaining members, completing awards, and growing in their speaking and leadership skills. If your club is already at President’s Distinguished, you can keep going, adding members, earning education awards, and moving forward. When you get to the end of the year, you will know you did your best and can feel satisfied with your efforts, you can be complete.

Look back at your goals for the year. Which ones did you finish? Which ones did you make good progress on? Which ones did you not even start? Be ok with all of it. You contributed to the education of yourself and your fellow Toastmasters. Feel good about that, feel complete.

On June 30th, you can complete this Toastmasters year and look forward to creating the next year with a blank slate!

In Service,

Dave Schaal

Greetings, fellow Toastmasters, enthusiasts and aficionados! I would like to share the amusing journey through my experience as an Area Director. Toastmasters is not just about public speaking; it’s a place where laughter and personal growth go hand in hand. So, settle comfortably, allow yourself to unwind, and prepare to immerse yourself in a delightful voyage filled with mirth and profound self-discovery.

Chapter 1: The Mystery of the Missing Timer

Ah, the joy of running a Toastmasters meeting! As the Area Director, part of my responsibility was to ensure conduct of the Area Contest. Unexpectedly, I encountered a minor hiccup: the Timer went missing! Since it was an online meeting, when contestants were dependent on the timer to show the timer cards, I frantically searched high and low, to find those three colors nearby. Indeed! It served as a valuable reminder to always remain vigilant and attuned to the mischievous nature of our internet connection.

Chapter 2: Table Topics with a Twist

Table Topics, the impromptu speaking segment of a Toastmasters meeting, is always a source of amusement. But during my tenure as Area Director, I decided to add a unique twist. I introduced a secret theme: “Describe your favorite superhero…as a kitchen appliance.” The bewildered expressions and the ensuing creative responses were simply priceless! We had heroes like “Captain Can Opener” to “The Mighty Microwave.” Members proved that our beloved superheroes could find a home in our culinary realms.

Chapter 3: The Quirky Icebreaker Challenge

At Toastmasters, we strive to encourage members to conquer their fears and embrace personal growth. So, I concocted an audacious challenge for our clubs: “The Quirky Icebreaker Challenge.” Each member had to deliver their Icebreaker speech with a peculiar prop or costume. Picture a speaker donning a traffic cone hat or passionately presenting while juggling oranges. The room erupted in laughter, breaking the ice and dissolving nervousness in the most delightful way.

Chapter 4: The Unforgettable Evaluation Blunder

One fine day, a guest unknowingly mistook a regular meeting for an evaluation contest. When the evaluation section arrived, the guest confidently stood up and started critiquing every aspect of the meeting. Amidst initial confusion, we decided to roll with it, transforming the unexpected feedback into an evaluation-turned-comedy routine. It served as a valuable lesson, teaching us the art of embracing unforeseen circumstances with poise and finding humor in the most unanticipated situations.

Epilogue:

My journey as an Area Director in Toastmasters was a delightful adventure brimming with laughter, personal growth, and unexpected escapades. From the elusive timer to the whimsical icebreaker challenge, every experience was a testament to the vibrant spirit of Toastmasters.

So, dear readers, whether you find yourself in a leadership position in Toastmasters or any other organization, remember to embrace the unexpected, infuse humor into your endeavors, and create opportunities for laughter. It is in these moments that connections are forged, individuals grow, and lifelong memories are made.

Shubhani Mittal

Building membership is extremely important to a club’s vitality. That is an obvious statement. But, do you as a loyal club member take time to determine ways in which each person can effectively strengthen the club’s goal of increasing membership? Here are 10 specific and proven ways that work:

1. Use the power of Membership Drives – word of mouth is one of the most successful ways to build your club. Refer to this link: Incentives – District 6 Toastmasters (d6tm.org)

2. Hold open houses or similar events.

3. Conduct Speechcraft sessions. Learn about the program here: Toastmasters International -speechcraft-faq

4. Stay in contact with former members and guests.

5. Advertise your meetings and events, and keep your club information up-to-date.

6. Create a vibrant energetic atmosphere for your meetings – that feeling will be contagious.

7. Create additional incentives if members bring a friend.

8. Wear your Toastmasters pin everywhere – be a walking advertisement for your club.

9. Maintain a presence at community events.

10. Hold meetings in new locations to get additional publicity.

Here is a link to the Club Growth Resources page for additional information.