Toastmasters District 54
Friday, August 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Required Club Officer Training Scheduled
Plan NOW for 2010-2011 Required Club Officer Training scheduled:
TLI– South July 10, 2010 Bloomington, IL Dean, Nicole Shake
TLI– West July 17, 2010 Moline, IL Dean, Jeffrey Carl
TLI– North July 31, 2010 Delnor Hospital Dean, Ron Jones
Watch for additional details and registration information on the District 54 website:http://www.toastmastersd54.org/content/club-officer-training
TLI– South July 10, 2010 Bloomington, IL Dean, Nicole Shake
TLI– West July 17, 2010 Moline, IL Dean, Jeffrey Carl
TLI– North July 31, 2010 Delnor Hospital Dean, Ron Jones
Watch for additional details and registration information on the District 54 website:http://www.toastmastersd54.org/content/club-officer-training
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
2010 Spring Conference Photos
Photos from the 2010 District 54 Spring Conference are now online in the District's PicasaWeb photo gallery.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
District 54 Dispatch Now Available
The District 54 Dispatch for April 2010 is now available at the following link:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5929599/2010-03Mar-D54Dispatch.pdf
This issue of the newsletter features information about the upcoming spring conference, April 16-17 in Peoria. Please take a few minutes to read and enjoy!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5929599/2010-03Mar-D54Dispatch.pdf
This issue of the newsletter features information about the upcoming spring conference, April 16-17 in Peoria. Please take a few minutes to read and enjoy!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Speech-a-thon March 31
The Timely Talkers Toastmasters would like to invite all clubs to participate in our Speech-a-Thon to be held March 31, 2010 at the Valley Community Bank, 75 S. Randall Rd, North Aurora from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Any Toastmaster is welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.
A Speech-A-Thon is a night filled with speeches and evaluations only. The best one I attended had 11 speakers from 6 different clubs. You get to hear speakers you may not otherwise here.
Do you have a hard time getting on the schedule to speak? Then come join us. Do you want to step outside your comfort zone and speak before a friendly audience, but a group you've not been in front of before? Then come join us. Do you just like to try new things. Then come join us. Even if you don't want to speak you can be an evaluator, or part of the audience.
We plan to have 8 speakers and I've reserved 4 slots for other clubs. This will be on a first come basis. If you reserve a slot, please make every effort to attend. Last time we started with 8 speakers, but ended with 2. Please limit speeches to 5-10 minutes.
More information is available at http://www.timelytalkers.org/.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Preview Advanced Manuals Online
by Sherri Scott
Have you ever wondered what projects are in the Public Relations Advanced Manual? Or the Specialty Speeches? How about the Technical Presentations or the Speeches by Management? Now you can find out without having to purchase the manual first! As you are close to completing our Competent Communicator or one of the Advanced Communicator designations you will need to choose 2 advanced manuals for your next designation. You are shown a list of 15 titles, but it is hard to tell just what is in each manual from the title alone. When I proposed a project to be placed on the district website to help answer all of these burning questions, I was told I think that there is something like that available now. Martie Ogborn used her keen detective skills to find what I was looking for on District 4’s website. Here's the link: http://www.d4tm.org/Education/manuals_AC.html
Within this link the 15 Advanced Manuals are listed. When you click on the title of a manual, it opens up a list of the projects in that manual. It includes the title of the project, the time frame, and the objectives.
I think this will be an awesome tool to help all of our members make informed decisions. I know it would have helped me when I purchased the Public Relations manual, only to learn it was not what I was thinking it would be. It is a great manual, but not one that I plan to work on anytime soon as it does not fit my needs. Please don’t let this happen to you! Check out this new link and you can choose wisely!
Have you ever wondered what projects are in the Public Relations Advanced Manual? Or the Specialty Speeches? How about the Technical Presentations or the Speeches by Management? Now you can find out without having to purchase the manual first! As you are close to completing our Competent Communicator or one of the Advanced Communicator designations you will need to choose 2 advanced manuals for your next designation. You are shown a list of 15 titles, but it is hard to tell just what is in each manual from the title alone. When I proposed a project to be placed on the district website to help answer all of these burning questions, I was told I think that there is something like that available now. Martie Ogborn used her keen detective skills to find what I was looking for on District 4’s website. Here's the link: http://www.d4tm.org/Education/manuals_AC.html
Within this link the 15 Advanced Manuals are listed. When you click on the title of a manual, it opens up a list of the projects in that manual. It includes the title of the project, the time frame, and the objectives.
I think this will be an awesome tool to help all of our members make informed decisions. I know it would have helped me when I purchased the Public Relations manual, only to learn it was not what I was thinking it would be. It is a great manual, but not one that I plan to work on anytime soon as it does not fit my needs. Please don’t let this happen to you! Check out this new link and you can choose wisely!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Setting YOUR Potential Free!
by Erika Arnhart, Spring Conference Chair
Mark your calendars now! The District 54 2010 Spring Conference will be held April 16-17, 2010 at the Par-a-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria, IL!
Your Conference Committee is excited to bring you Dr. “Chief” Donald Grady, Ph.D., as our Keynote Speaker. Dr. Grady, our Spring 2009 C&L Award recipient, inspired and challenged us in ways that we never imagined during his brief acceptance speech last year. We are fortunate that he has agreed to come back to District 54 to share more of his life story and experiences with us, addressing our theme “Setting Your Potential Free.” Dr. Grady will undoubtedly have much to share, having had a long and impressive career including time in the Army, law enforcement, and most recently, as the Chief of Police and Public Safety at Northern Illinois University.
Rest assured, this is going to be a Conference you will not want to miss! Between the Friday “Game Night for Bragging Rights,” the District Executive Council meeting, the International Speech and Evaluation Contests, and engaging educational sessions, there’s bound to be something of interest for everyone! In addition, the Conference Committee is planning a special first timers’ reception Friday evening and a club attendance promotion! For every club in our district with three or more members in attendance, an entry will be placed into a drawing. The prize will include a pizza gift certificate (from a local pizza establishment) and a gift certificate to the Toastmasters International store. We truly desire everyone from within the District to come to the Conference, but, if this is not the case, this promotion will allow attendees to take back a small part of the event to their local clubs. Five pizza and TI store gift certificates will be given away, one for each Division. We will buy the lunch; you share the story of what you experienced!
As you can see, everything on the weekend’s agenda is being planned with you in mind! It is our sincerest hope that this Conference will help you reach your full potential as a communicator and leader within Toastmasters and your community. Plan now to attend – and bring your family, friends, and guests, as well. Complete event details, including online and mail-in registration information, can be found at potential2010.com.
Clubs and area businesses also have another unique opportunity to be a part of the Conference experience by advertising and/or placing messages in our program. Interested parties can find additional information on the Conference website under the “Sponsors” tab or may contact Laurie Heermance, the Spring Conference Marketing Chair. Deadline for ad submission is March 1 to be included in the program.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Four Steps to Continuous Success
by Joseph Wilhelmi District 54 Sergeant at Arms, Division E Governor
Personal, individual success is what each club is chartered for. That is its mission statement. Each club has the responsibility to create an environment conducive to education. Education is what each of us needs, both in communication and in leadership. It is the responsibility of club leadership to have and further develop the atmosphere in the club, both at the executive committee level, and within the club to exist cohesively to attain that perfect setting to allow individual success.
1. Each Successful club had 5 or more officers trained with all seven trained at the mid term TLI. By successfully training each new officer, whether they have served in that office or not previously is vital for each member to understand fully their responsibility to the club. I have personally seen in failing clubs, each Executive Committee tries to re invent the wheel and re design each role of each officer. Most often these are items that the officers involved see as their weakness, and look to work within their strengths, rather than address their weakness and work to improve.
2. Each club that was in fact successful, with full honors, had separate Executive Committee meetings with reports from each member of that committee. Each report spoke to what they had accomplished, or not…..Then spoke to what they needed to accomplish. I can assure you, when you have an Executive Committee meeting, and you are not able to give a comprehensive report that speaks to the work you have done to insure your contribution is productive, you will be on it for the next month. This is called accountability. Each member is accountable to ourselves.
3. Each club should have a written Club Success Plan. This is the first order of the first meeting in July, as an Executive Committee that should be on the agenda of each club President. If you do not do this you already have a plan to fail. Success is a choice not a dream. Each individual, Club, Area, Division and District must have a plan to succeed.
4. Each club should have a fully functional website from FreeToastHost. Why FreeToastHost? Because it is directly designed to help the individual succeed from offering education to the Duty Roster, which if used properly, each person can schedule their success into their lives. This is done with duty roster meeting dates on the website far into the future to allow personal planning.
Personal, individual success is what each club is chartered for. That is its mission statement. Each club has the responsibility to create an environment conducive to education. Education is what each of us needs, both in communication and in leadership. It is the responsibility of club leadership to have and further develop the atmosphere in the club, both at the executive committee level, and within the club to exist cohesively to attain that perfect setting to allow individual success.
1. Each Successful club had 5 or more officers trained with all seven trained at the mid term TLI. By successfully training each new officer, whether they have served in that office or not previously is vital for each member to understand fully their responsibility to the club. I have personally seen in failing clubs, each Executive Committee tries to re invent the wheel and re design each role of each officer. Most often these are items that the officers involved see as their weakness, and look to work within their strengths, rather than address their weakness and work to improve.
2. Each club that was in fact successful, with full honors, had separate Executive Committee meetings with reports from each member of that committee. Each report spoke to what they had accomplished, or not…..Then spoke to what they needed to accomplish. I can assure you, when you have an Executive Committee meeting, and you are not able to give a comprehensive report that speaks to the work you have done to insure your contribution is productive, you will be on it for the next month. This is called accountability. Each member is accountable to ourselves.
3. Each club should have a written Club Success Plan. This is the first order of the first meeting in July, as an Executive Committee that should be on the agenda of each club President. If you do not do this you already have a plan to fail. Success is a choice not a dream. Each individual, Club, Area, Division and District must have a plan to succeed.
4. Each club should have a fully functional website from FreeToastHost. Why FreeToastHost? Because it is directly designed to help the individual succeed from offering education to the Duty Roster, which if used properly, each person can schedule their success into their lives. This is done with duty roster meeting dates on the website far into the future to allow personal planning.
Also your website page should have as much information as possible about your club, where you meet and times that people are interested in. I have seen many websites, but the most productive are in fact those with less clutter.
For example, in 2005 ,when I began in Real Estate, only 40% of the buyers would visit a website before contacting an agent. When I left Real Estate in August of 2008, 97% of the buyers would surf the web before calling an agent. Also the amount of time spent at each site varied due to the amount of information and ease of use related to that website.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
February Newsletter Now Available
The February, 2010 edition of the District 54 Dispatch is now available at this link (Google docs). Enjoy!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Rock On!
by Karl Herbst
The Toastmasters Leaders and Speakers Forum has announced that Rock On! has been voted the best website of Toastmasters clubs in Illinois and Indiana. See http://www.rockontoastmasters.org
This took teamwork and is a great milestone for the club and the start of many good things to come. Thanks to all who helped make it possible.
The Toastmasters Leaders and Speakers Forum has announced that Rock On! has been voted the best website of Toastmasters clubs in Illinois and Indiana. See http://www.rockontoastmasters.org
This took teamwork and is a great milestone for the club and the start of many good things to come. Thanks to all who helped make it possible.
Educational Goals
by Martie Ogborn, Lt. Governor, Education and Training
Where will you be at the end of this year's Toastmaster season, June 30, 2010? Stay focused on your goals to finish your Toastmaster year strong. Go to http://www.finishstrongmovie.com to watch a 3 minute movie and be inspired. The message turned the switch "on" for the New Orleans Saints at the beginning of their season. The rest, as you probably know, is history! As of February 7, the New Orleans Saints are first-time Super Bowl WINNERS!
Not only do you and your club have goals, so does the district. Please review the table below and keep in mind each one of the numbers represents a life that has been changed. Work with your fellow club officers and Toastmasters, strive for 9 or 10 of your Distinguished Club Program goals, and see your club reach “President’s Distinguished” status no later than June 30, 2010.
Not only do you and your club have goals, so does the district. Please review the table below and keep in mind each one of the numbers represents a life that has been changed. Work with your fellow club officers and Toastmasters, strive for 9 or 10 of your Distinguished Club Program goals, and see your club reach “President’s Distinguished” status no later than June 30, 2010.
|
District Goal
|
Actual
to date |
Year's
goal |
Needs
more |
Percent
complete |
|
Paid clubs
|
76
|
77
|
1
|
98.7%
|
|
Mem payments
|
1583
|
3082
|
1499
|
51.4%
|
|
CC awards
|
48
|
105
|
57
|
45.7%
|
|
AC awards
|
20
|
30
|
10
|
66.7%
|
|
Leadership awards
|
43
|
75
|
32
|
57.3%
|
|
Member retention rate
|
78.5%
|
|||
Elections at Spring Conference
The District's election for 2010-2011 district officers will take place at the spring conference, April 17, at the Par-a-Dice Hotel/Casino in East Peoria, Illinois. For more information about the spring conference, see the spring conference website.
All voting members of the District Executive Council have the opportunity to vote in the annual district elections at the spring conference. Voting members include club presidents, vice presidents education, division governors, area governors, and the district-level officers.
If you are eligible to vote, but cannot attend the election, please make sure that you send your proxy with someone who will be present and able to vote in your place. The proxy is here (42K PDF).
This proxy is only necessary if a voting member of the District Executive Council is not able to vote but wants to assign a proxy.
If you are eligible to vote, but cannot attend the election, please make sure that you send your proxy with someone who will be present and able to vote in your place. The proxy is here (42K PDF).
This proxy is only necessary if a voting member of the District Executive Council is not able to vote but wants to assign a proxy.
Nominations for District Officers
Nominations for District Officers are now open! Please see the following documents (Google docs) for details:
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Club Officer Training - Feb 20, 2010
The last opportunity for club officer training at a Winter Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) is scheduled for Feb 20th in St. Charles, IL at 2 E. Main Street, the St. Charles Municipal Bldg. (link to map on Google)
Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Opening Ceremony 9:00 AM
Required and Optional Training at:
9:30, 10:30, and 11:30
Closing Comments 12:30 pm
For More Information:
Contact TLI Dean: Chuck Stickney
Chuck_Stickney@Toyota.com
C (630) 240-1145
W (630) 353-4747
H (630) 377-6462
Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Opening Ceremony 9:00 AM
Required and Optional Training at:
9:30, 10:30, and 11:30
Closing Comments 12:30 pm
For More Information:
Contact TLI Dean: Chuck Stickney
Chuck_Stickney@Toyota.com
C (630) 240-1145
W (630) 353-4747
H (630) 377-6462
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Leadership Training Jan 30 and Feb 20
Upcoming Winter Toastmasters Leadership Institutes (TLIs) are scheduled for Jan 30th in Moline, and Feb 20th in St. Charles.
Moline
Date: January 30, 2010
Location: Butterworth Center
Street: 1105 8th Street (link to map on Google)
City/Town: Moline, IL
St. Charles
Date: February 20, 2010
Location: St. Charles Municipal Bldg. (link to map on Google)
Street: 2 E. Main St.
City/Town: St. Charles, IL
District 54 Website Temporarily Down
The District 54 website is temporarily out-of-order, so we have redirected traffic here, where we will be posting announcements and critical documents that are needed for district business. We will have the website back up as soon as we are able.
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