🦃Wednesday, November 20, 2024
What’s Up Wednesday!!
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous
Why do you Toastmaster?
So many clubs and members continue to look at how to build culture, membership, and a safe place for growth and learning. The below story, highlights the determination, care, and importance of one District 50 Toastmaster, who never gave up. Please take the time to read this story in its entirety. If you have the opportunity to participate in a Texas Dragon Speechcraft, say YES!!! If you ever see a gap and a need where you know that a group of people or individuals could benefit, show them your why!
Highlights include:
Speechcraft – it works!! Read to see how
Someone who chartered 3 clubs and didn’t quit
Making a difference for those who have English as a second language and underscoring the value of what Toastmasters can bring to a person and group of people
Grace Tyler, was born and raised in Hong Kong, coming to Texas for Graduate School. For years, she faced cultural and language challenges. When you cannot express your thoughts, she said that a person can feel 4’ tall… even having an MBA. Many people including Pauline Shirley, Russ Hicks, and Regan Smith… helped Grace go from feeling 4’ tall to feeling 7’ tall. It all started with a Speechcraft program that Pauline and Regan conducted where she had her first job. She didn’t feel comfortable speaking up, and hated making a fool of herself in front of coworkers and her subordinates.
After the Speechcraft program, Grace was introduced to TNT Toastmasters Club. Everyone there was patient, kind and supportive. A slower learner than many, they did not give up on Grace. In short, It took her a long time to be comfortable with public speaking.
Working at Texas Instruments (TI), she served as the Chair of the Chinese Communication Support Group, and observed many Chinese engineers having the same problems with language and cultural barriers that held them back from career advancement. These engineers were brilliant, hardworking and had Ph. D, degrees. Grace decided to form a Toastmasters club for Texas Instruments, and for Asians who used English as a 2nd language. Russ Hicks and she worked hard and chartered the TI Word Wranglers in 1993, which is still an active and thriving club in District 50, today. After a year or so, more native-speaking TI-ers joined the club and gradually the Chinese-speaking TI-ers did not feel comfortable and left. Knowing how critical being able to feel confident and having a voice was, Grace decided to charter another Toastmasters Club, TI Center Orators with about 10 Chinese TI members in 1996, and yet again, only a few months later, most of these Chinese members quit.
Grace knew that there was a need for a club that had the majority members being Chinese/Asian, so they could feel comfortable, and have a safe space to learn and grow.
Speechcraft!! It works!
Grace formed 2 Speechcraft classes that ran for 8-weeks at Texas Instruments. She offered 2-time slots on the same day to ensure people could commit and attend. At the end of the 8 weeks, she had 17 Speechcafters who wanted to join Toastmasters. Knowing that it takes 20 people to start a club and determined to form an Asian Club to help with a need, she hosted 2 more classes. Another 8-week Speechcraft session that offered 2 time slots. JACKPOT!! SUCCESS!!! At the end of the 8 weeks, they had 30+ people and formed the now-known first Asian Toastmasters club in June 1997, named Texas Dragon Toastmasters.
In the past 8 weeks, Texas Dragons Toastmasters hosted their annual Speechcraft class and gained 9 new members, one of whom was the spouse of a Speechcrafter!
Most members have families in China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. Texas Dragon becomes their family. They support each other when someone is sick, celebrate them when they have achievements and everything in between.
Grace highlighted these key Toastmasters and specifically thanked Nancy Bateman, Rick Rose, Mark Wolfe, Pauline Shirley, and many more who supported the four 8-week Speechcraft. They provided many great evaluations to nervous, uncomfortable, and terrified English as a second language Speechcrafters. She dubbed them “the heroes” who helped charter the first Asian Toastmasters.
For many Texas Dragons, this is not just a club. They are a community supporting each other to be better people, speakers, and leaders. Grace is a testament that once you get better, you will have new members. The culture of paying forward is the key to sustaining performance and excellence. With performance and excellence, every member wins.
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
Winter TLI dates have been released. This means Club Officers can now plan their schedule to get a minimum of 4 officers trained and capture that DCP point (if 4 officers are trained at Summer TLI) The dates are as follows:
Tuesday, December 10th, 7:00 PM – 8:50 PM, Jump Start Zoom TLI
Saturday, January 18th, 9:00 AM – 11:50 AM, Kick Off TLI at UTD
Saturday, January 25th, 9:00 AM – 12:50 PM, Eastern TLI at TJC West *Possible keynote speaker
Tuesday, February 4th, 11:00 AM – 1:50 PM, Mid-Day Zoom TLI
Saturday, February 15th, 9:00 AM – 11:50 AM, Last Chance Zoom TLI
Way to Go Team!
As a District, we currently have submitted 79% of all of our club reports to Toastmasters International. We are in a good position to get 100% of our reports completed. Our Division and Area Directors set a goal to complete 100% of their reports before Thanksgiving, November 22nd. We’re quite close!
Please help cheer them on, to achieve their goal!
Plains 100% Complete
Division Director Cle Kimball, TC5, MS3
Assistant Division Director: Siva Prabakar, EC5
Area 41 Director Archana Banubakode, LD4
Area 42 Director Kristen Dong, LD1
Area 43 Director Debra Cadet, PI
Area 44 Director Shakina Walker MS3
Town North 100% Complete
Division Director: David Haney, EC5
Assistant Division Director: Akash Navneeth
Area 61 Director Ezekiel Stene, DL3
Assistant Area 61 Director Riddha Mathur, DL1
Area 62 Director Michelle Campbell, CC
Assistant Area 62 Director Praneetha Meka, TM
Area 63 Director Nadum Charles, VC2
Assistant Area 63 Director Karan Santra, TM
Area 64 Director Ken Miller, DTM
Assistant Area 64 Director Lawrence Whaley, TM
Area 65 Director Avik Kohli, PM5a buck! Yo
Assistant Area 65 Director Shreya Mekala, TM
Eastern 100% Complete
Division Director: Herb Kulp
Assistant Division Director: Nancy Manning, DTM
Area 11 Director Hazel Cotton, DTM
Area 12 Director Naomi Lawler, DTM
Area 13 Director Greg Muckelroy, VC3
Area 14 Director Jade Bridges, LD3
Area 15 Director Sally Mathews, EH1
Frontier
Area 21 Director Prakash Acharya, IP4
Area 12 Director Venkat Parsumarthi, TC4
Metro
Area 31 John Mottram, PM5
Area 32 Director Norman Lum-Hee, EC3, IP2
Area 34 Freddy Berrum, TM
Southern
Area 54 Director Dr. Veera Dasari, DL5, EC4
What’s in a word?
This week’s Word of the Week is Evoke: Verb. Definition: To bring a feeling, memory, or image to mind. In a sentence: “Her speech about childhood summers evoked vivid memories of playing outside until sunset.” Important Note: Don’t confuse “evoke” with “invoke”! While evoke means to call something to mind, invoke means to call on something, like a law, rule, or higher power for help or support. Challenge: Toastmasters, incorporate “evoke” into your speeches or Table Topics this week! Whether you’re painting a picture with your words or stirring emotions, let your language inspire.
More Ideas to Bring Visitors!
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!
Press release announcing your local Mayor’s Toastmasters Week Proclamation (if you don’t have one, arrange to get one)!
Press release about your club’s open house meeting.
Press release about a guest speaker coming to your club.
Press release about your club’s speech contest winner at the Area, Division, District or International level.
Invite local official or well-known personality outside the club to present awards at the Club event
With thanks and gratitude,
Kimberly Ross, DTM
District 50, District Director
Would you like to share something with us? Remember that D50 Cares.
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