🦃Wednesday, November 6, 2024
What’s Up Wednesday!!
“Whatever your grade or position, if you know how and when to speak, and when to remain silent, your chances of real success are proportionately increased.” -Dr. Ralph C. Smedley
The Road to Distinguished – Update
At the beginning of the year, the District Leaders agreed to lean in, and pursue returning District 50, to Distinguished Status. There are some things that we need to do, to even be in the running. We had to create a District Success Plan, Budget, Communication, and Marketing Plan, all of that has to be submitted by September 30th. We met that goal. Our next goal is simple, we must have 119 clubs that are paid and in good standing as well as 4,742 payments. Along with that, we need our clubs to also become, at a minimum, a Distinguished Club.
This is a screenshot of the performance dashboard on where we are at as a District. We’ve got some work to do. We need clubs who need club coaches, to reach out and ask for one, we want to see you healthy and become thriving again. Members, it is important that we work towards on-time membership dues. And, we need all of our clubs to continue to bring new members into the clubs.
We are so excited for this year and the future of our District. Thank you for your efforts in becoming a Distinguished club and embracing our Toastmasters values of Respect. Integrity. Service. Excellence. We are RISEing as a District, together!
Explore the New Base Camp!
Yesterday, club officers and leaders received a recorded webinar. I wanted to share this with our members to allow transparency and help you explore new features and hear responses to user-submitted questions. Check out the recording of the Explore the New Base Camp Webinar. Whether you’re watching for the first time or revisiting, this session offers valuable insights. To review the 1-hour Base Camp webinar, you can click HERE. You can also take a deeper dive into how to use the system with the Base Camp User Guide and the Base Camp Manager Guide.
Volunteers Needed!
Quality Contest Chair: It’s contest season folks and the Program Quality team is looking for a Quality Contest Chair and team to work with our Area Directors and help our members have an amazing contest experience.
Spring Conference Chair: This is a unique and rewarding experience. Join the Program Quality team through your assistance in planning and coordinating the 2025 Spring Conference. This is a VIP backstage pass to help create an amazing D50 experience through speakers, education sessions, meals, DTM ceremonies, and more. You can also earn Pathways credit for this project and put it towards your DTM!
Please reach out to Program Quality Director, Denise Castille at pqd@d50tm.org and she can fill you in on the details of what we’re looking for.
Contests!
It’s that time! We suggest that clubs start to have their club contests to prepare for the Area and Division contests that are coming in the spring! Don’t wait, start practicing and holding those contests or showcases today for the Tall Tales and International Speeches that are the chosen categories for this year. This is your opportunity to be a raconteur by engaging the audience and those who are judging.
Invite Past Members to Homecoming!
If your club hosts a homecoming and invites 10 prior members and sends the details to Club Growth you will receive $20.00 District 50 Bookstore Bucks. Email CGD@d50tm.org
What’s in a word?
This week’s Word of the Week is Raconteur: Noun. Definition: A person who tells stories and anecdotes in a skillful and entertaining way. In a sentence: “In your next speech, think of yourself as a raconteuring—captivating your audience with stories that bring your message to life and leave a lasting impact.”
Challenge: Toastmasters, bring out your inner raconteur this week! Whether you’re recounting a funny story, a lesson learned, or an inspiring journey, aim to engage your listeners with vivid details and expression.
Go Get ‘Em – 100s of Ideas!!
Here are 5 fresh new ideas that you can use and bring to your club! If any of these work for you, we want to hear about it!
Invite someone you saw as an outside speaker for a panel discussion at your club. Invite their audience to join, or invite your speaker, if they’re not a member of Toastmasters.
Use a meeting theme for an organization or business with a mailing list and invite them to a specific meeting.
Update or develop a website listing your club information. Make it visually appealing and interesting. (NOTE: Toastmasters has specific guidelines regarding websites and branding. Be sure to check this information beforehand.)
Reach out to communities that are not primarily English-speaking. Ask someone to write out a poster in that language. Parents will read it and encourage their children (18+ years old) to join so that someone in their family can communicate fluently and effectively, and so that their children or young adults can get a jump start in their life journey and help them be more polished and lead to their successes.
Invite your family and friends to attend a speech contest.
D50 Cares!
Please help District 50 in celebrating 2 of our members in our Eastern Division. We couldn’t be happier for Jarrett and Marvin as they use many of the skills and experiences in Toastmasters as they grow and evolve in their personal and professional lives.
Jarrett Lofton of 200 Watt Speakers, Club 9682 passed his bar exam and is moving to San Antonio to work with a local law firm. He plans on remaining in Toastmasters after the move. What an accomplishment for you Jarrett! We are cheering you on and are so happy for your success and wish you a safe and successful move to San Antonio.
Marvin Battley of Eagle Club 4819 passed two separate IT certifications (CompTIA Networks+ and Comp TIA Security+); Marvin was initially promoted to an entry-level IT position but has been recently promoted to Data Processing Systems Programmer. He gave a great Toast-imony about how Toastmasters gave him the confidence needed to ace the interview. How many of our members have had similar success and realize how being a member within Toastmasters has helped you?
With Toasty and RISEing regards,
Kimberly Ross, DTM
District 50, District Director
Would you like to share something with us? Remember that D50 Cares.
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