District Governor's Report "Team

At Work"

The above theme of our administration has been a real one. District 47 has moved ahead because each of you "Put your shoulder to the wheel."

Even as we change administrations, you are still performing. New clubs are being chartered In fact, there are four new charter on my desk at this time

There are a few per capita's outstanding However, if these clubs come through with their dues to TMI District 47 will have 99 clubs Unofficial records show this to be the largest number of clubs ever in our District

Yo u elected some outstanding toastmasters to run the show in the administrative year 1976-77 These officers have already met and chose as their theme "Education Thru Participation"

Participation on a regular basis is a sure way of acquiring education I am looking forward to another great year for District 47 If leadership is the answer, we have the leaders!

Can you take it?

Do you know what to do with it?

"Speech Evaluation." Constructive Criticism." "Appraisal" - call it what you will - boils down to just one thing: getting the audience reaction to a speech, and letting the speakers know about it in a way that will help them to do better

"Criticism" does not necessarily mean fault-finding It may just as properly mean praise, or commendation, or appreciation Neither praise nor blame is the object of true criticism Justly to discriminate, firmly to establish, wisely to prescribe, and honestly to award - these are the true aims and duties of criticism

Speech evaluation, as practiced in the Toastmasters Club, is a process of revealing to speakers the extend to which a speech has achieved its purpose, convinced the audience, made the "sale," with the reasons on which the evaluators base their judgments Such helpful criticism is always friendly in tone - never harsh, sarcastic, biting, discouraging

The simplest formula for speech evaluation can be stated thus:

• What did I like best about the speech?

• What features in the speech or in its delivery did not appeal to me?

• Did the speaker have a purpose and did he/she make good on it?

• What definite thing should the speaker do to improve in speech?

• Did the speaker "make a sale" to me?

Criticism must be timed as carefully as the speeches. If it becomes careless, stilted, unvaried in form, too much standardized, or too careless of time values, it can be a hindrance, even a nuisance.

There is just one purpose fundamental to the use of criticism in a Toastmasters Club That purpose is to help the speaker improve

A speaker is helped by three lines of comment

First, the strong points are emphasized, and second, the weaknesses and faults are pointed out The inevitable result is seen in suggestions for improvement. These three fundaments should underlie every criticism

All criticism or evaluation given in a Toastmasters Club is friendly, constructive, and helpful It should reflect the honest reactions of the critic, given without any suggestion of unpleasantness or fault-finding Harsh, unkindly, sarcastic criticism will defeat the whole purpose and create lasting animosities

What values may you, as a member, expect to gain from criticism?

Wh y submit yourself to this embarrassing, perhaps distressing experience?

Yo u need to know how you impress people - how they react to you Perhaps some very small mannerisms or habits of speech are hindering you Possibly these same habits keep you from making the best impression on people you meet By correcting them you may be able to change your ways for the better

The critic holds up the mirror for you reflecting the impression you have made If you don't like the reflection, you should take the hint to improve it Critics are not responsible for your speech They merely tell you how they heard it and how it impressed them. Thank them for being honest, and then be as honest in using the suggestions

Yo u should make perceptible growth in character and personality from giving and reeiving critical comments

Yo u will learn to turn the spotlight on your own criticisms on yourself and thus make further improvement

Yo u will learn how to get along with other people - how to make yourself acceptable among others.

When your faults are pointed out, try to correct them Criticism is the common denominator of Toastmasters

We are not experts We will speak our own minds and every person learns from every other one The newest member may give a helpful suggestion to an experienced speaker and vice versa The spirit of helpfulness is characteristic of Toastmasters Each wishes to help the others

Through the exchange of ideas in Speech Evaluation, we help, even as we wish to be helped

Dave Meeks, DTM, Lge District Governor-Elect