D47 Sunshiner - April, 2009

April 2009

The Sunshiner www.toastmastersd47.org

On the Home Stretch Greetings District 47, It is my pleasure to communicate to you as your District Governor. I would like to extend a special and heartfelt welcome to every new member who has committed their time and finances and have joined this awesome program, be it as a charter member of a new club

CONTENTS Page SPECIAL NOTICES 2 Dist. Gov. Address 3 LGET Address 7 LGM Address 6 Region Conference District 84 Spring Conference 6 15 From The PRO 17 Webmaster’s Tip 15 Treasurer’s Corner 8 Nominations 9 Spring Conference Proxy FEATURED ARTICLES Spring Conference Naples TM 50th Anniversary Golden Opportunities Sergeant at Arms NEWS! Club Challenge Results Training Records New Clubs!

or a new member of an existing club. Let me tell you; the experiences, knowledge and confidence that you will develop by being a part of this program is unbelievable and indescribable.

We are in the process of planning a very exciting conference scheduled for May 1 – 3 in the beautiful city of Tampa, Florida. This is an event that no District 47 Toastmaster would want to miss you can read more about it in this issue of the Sunshiner or by visiting the District’s website at www.toastmastersd47.org. If you are a Club President or Educational Vice President you are (Continued on page 3)

Antionette Fox, DTM, District 47 Governor

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Publisher - Antionette Fox, DTM PR Officer - Pierre Taschereau, ACS/ALB Sunshiner Editor - Phil Stamatyades, DTM

Paid New Members Clubs

CC’s

AC’s

(Continued from page 2)

responsible to vote at the Business Council meeting being held May 2, 2009. Here you will vote for the District’s 2009/2010 Leaders. Included in this issue you can find the Nominations Committee Report of proposed candidates for the respective positions. We promise you an education driven, fun filled event.

As we come around the bend to take on the home stretch of this Toastmasters year, It is our goal to be a President’s Distinguished District for the 2008/2009 toastmasters year we have three short months to go but as a team we can do it. Please let us know if there is any way in which we can assist you in your membership or educational efforts

SPRING IS IN THE AIR! Fellow Toastmasters, Spring is in the air! Can you feel it? Can you feel the excitement that enters during the contest season; especially this season, as it leads up to the SPRING CONFERENCE! As you have seen and read before, we are thrilled to bring the Spring Conference to Tampa May 1-3, 2009. You can read more about it in this issue of the Sunshiner.

There is still space, but we do expect to sell out. DON’T WAIT! Make your reservation for this event TODAY!! We’ll have the best of the best speakers in attendance. Want to

Kristina Kihlberg, DTM District 47 LGET learn how to salsa? During this event is your chance. We gather in friendship to network, learn, and dance and laugh.

We are also getting closer to the end of the Toastmasters year – June 30. How many Clubs have members that have achieved an educational goal, but it’s not submitted

over the remaining three months of this Toastmaster’s year.

As this Toastmasters year quickly comes to a close, I encourage you to remain focused on your goals that you have set out to achieve and strive to achieve them.

All the best for your continued success in the Toastmasters program.

DTM Antionette Fox District 47 Governor

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...We have three short months to go but as a team we can do it…..

Let’s remain focused! yet? I know of a few... This means most likely that there are many more out there, just waiting to be submitted to TI. DON’T WAIT! Let your members get the credit that they have worked so hard for TODAY!!

Your Area and Division Governors are following closely the HEALTH of each Club.

I’m sure that you are all planning to have at least 4 Competent Communicators and 2 Advanced Communicators, right?

Come join us in Tampa! We will have much to celebrate! That’s Amore!

KRISTINA KIHLBERG, LGET, District 47 ▄

...Has your club reported all its educational awards…?…..

Your Club record tells the world what it has produced!

Club CHALLENGE WINNER: The District offered a challenge to all Clubs to achieve 5 DCP goals before December 31, 2009. There were 33 successful Clubs.

The prize was to be entered into a drawing to win a FREE REGISTRATION to the D47 Spring Conference. The lucky winning Club is:

#3299 Boca Raton Club

Last year, our District 47 was almost double the size it is today.

We split! Remember? Our lovely neighbors to the north are carrying on their own Spring Conference.

Their champion will face our champion at the Region VIII Conference in June, in North Carolina. If you are excited about learning and being in the fellowship of Toastmasters, you may think to attend ―their‖ Conference ―as well‖ as ours. The events are only two weeks apart, and District 84’s Spring Conference is on May 15-17 in Orlando at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near the Orlando Airport.

Plan to attend both!

WHY DID YOU JOIN TOASTMASTERS?

More than ever many are confronted with the opportunity of finding new employment. What Rick Furbush, DTM, LGM better time to invite your friends, who are Did you ever stop to think about that? The faced with a career answer to that question is the answer to change, to join you at booming your club! your next meeting. Regularly As your Lieutenant Governor Marketing I am flexing your responsible for spreading the word about spontaneous muscle will help with the Toastmasters. Having said that, there is no interview process by building self louder voice than an excited confidence."The unprepared speaker has a Toastmaster. Need I say more? right to be afraid." Dr. Ralph C. Smedley "Toastmasters changed my life. They really did. Put me on the stage. I don't know what I would have done without that positive boost." Chris Matthews is a well-known author and journalist who hosts MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Chris Matthews Show.

“For me, it took getting into a formal organization – such as Toastmasters – to understand what total communication is all about.” Peter Coors "Here's a place where you can learn, grow, develop - and where other people are doing and feeling the same thing." Debbi Fields Rose “We are a group of people brought together to do things we could not do alone.” 2006-2007 Toastmasters International President Johnny Uy

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When your meetings are fun the word gets out! "We learn best in moments of enjoyment." Dr. Ralph C. Smedley Where else can you find such a supportive and safe place to practice your communication and leadership skills than with Toastmasters. “Ours is the only organization I know dedicated to the individual.” Dr. Ralph C. Smedley At a kickoff meeting this week a brand new person got up and delivered a table topic.

He caught us off guard with a great analogy that made us laugh but really made the point. “Leaving College after 4 years is like leaving a great party at 10 p.m.”

Toastmasters is one party you don’t have to leave. Pay your Dues today and invite all your friends to come and join the party. ▄

. . .TO OUR NEWEST CLUBS AND MEMBERS since last issue!

Division E Division C Division C Division I Division F Division G

Area Area Area Area Area Area

54 36 30 82 62 73

Ocean Reef Toastmasters, Key Largo Kforce Kommunicators, Tampa SERO Leaders, Tampa RBC Legends, Nassau Herald-Tribune Media Group Advanced Club, Jabil Toastmasters

On the next page you will find the Club Proxy that is valid during the Spring Conference and the voice of all Clubs. Each Club President and VP Education are required to attend the Conference. Should they not be able to do that, please download the proxy, sign it and give it to a paid member of your Club so they can attend the District Council Meeting and vote on your behalf. At the Spring Conference, we vote on the leadership of the District for the coming year. This is your voice. VOTE!

What happens there is particularly intriguing. Our District champion goes up against 7 other District champions from District 84, in North If you believe in learning by Florida, west to Mississippi and north observation and participation, then to Maryland. The Region champion you must attend the Region VIII then advances to the International Conference in Greensboro, North Speech Contest where he or she could Carolina this June. More info will be win the title of World Champion of available at the District website and at Public Speaking. Will you be there? the conference.

Do you enjoy your Toastmaster Conferences?

CHATTER BEFORE MEETINGS, GUESTS BECOME MEMBERS, THEN LET US PARTY

By Tony Santarsieri, ACB/CL Golden opportunities to have your club bursting with new membership and for each member become a better-rounded speaker, are available every week.

Start the Chatter Each meeting your VP Ed painstakingly schedules the meeting. After that information is published the chatter should start.

You know the drill…

Toastmaster of the meeting calls each speaker, master evaluator (ME), table topics master and others; the ME calls the evaluator team – Right? Then evaluators call the speaker they are evaluating for a one-on-one conversation to calm the nerves and find out more about the speech and speaker. The Toastmaster creates a theme to thread all parts of the meeting together. We all talk to each other and the meeting is still days away.

Fantastic!!!!

All roles have hidden opportunities At Palm Harbor Toastmaster meetings, we have everyone in a role, stand to explain their job. All roles have hidden opportunities. This includes Ah counter, Timer, Vote Vounter and SAA. Everyone has an opportunity to practice their role, make it their own, and make it so memorable that members will not forget it for some time. Comments like: I am just an ―Ah Counter‖, or, I am just a ―Timer‖, are cop outs! Have you ever heard the term ―He Stole the Show‖? That is an person who did more with his part then what was required. He was so memorable that he stole the lime light from the star of the show. Always remember, each opportunity we have to make a role our own is an opportunity to create your signature, or draw the portrait you want

members to recognize you by.

Results This process of communication and commitment allows for camaraderie between members. Caring about each other’s success is apparent, and responsibility for a smoothly run meeting is distributed evenly throughout club membership. Quality meetings like the one described have a positive affect on those attending. Most members are more relaxed knowing the hard part of filling roles is over.

Since there is nothing to worry about why not have fun, laugh, and enjoy a well-planned meeting? Sure there will be unfortunate mishaps, but that’s where opportunity to learn something new comes from.

New member possibilities Guests and visitors are usually pleasantly surprised during their first Toastmaster meeting.

Mutual support and positive learning is abundant and it shows.

One student from St Petersburg College attending Palm Harbor Toastmasters said it was nothing like she thought it would be. She was mad at herself for spending too much time being fearful, succumbing to nightmares and worrying about the meeting.

Many visitors and guests love the laid back feeling, camaraderie between members and the organized fashion in which meetings are presented. Do you think they will be back?

Absolutely!!!

Chatter also needs to happen between officers and members of a club and their Area Governor. Both Area Governors Joseph Miller and John Hamerlinck of Division G, believe the more you visit other clubs, the more members respond and are even more successful especially when current and past leadership of the club are present, active and willing to share their wisdom.

Conducting meetings to celebrate success of (Continued on page 14)

Beatriz Williams, Area 73 Governor, has announced her candidacy for Division G Governor for the 2009/2010 Toastmaster year Behind all the chatter between club Reasons to celebrate: members, club officers and Area Governors Joseph Miller was named Division G and the success Toastmasters offers, there is Toastmaster member of the Year during always time to celebrate and have fun. So I Division G’s International Speech Contest. His propose we at Division G have a massive home club, which he is President of, is cookout and invite everyone. Call your Area Donoghue Dunedin.

Governor and arrange the same thing, for your Division.

John Hamerlinck, Area 70 Governor - Clubs in this area will be distinguished or higher. One Tony Santarsieri is already Presidents Distinguished.

Division G Governor ▄ (Continued from page 13)

others makes for great theme meetings and we have some brewing at Division G Toastmaster clubs.

Donoghue Dunedin Club 2166 is celebrating their 35th year, on April 1st, ’09.

St. Petersburg Toastmasters Club 2284 - Is President’s Distinguished by achieving 10 goals and are 50 members strong Brookmasters Club 965840 - Found a new home and is on its way back to health.

Thanks to Area 71 Governor Frank Cain.

Frank has friends in high places at St. Pete College. Through his contacts and persistent phone calls we secured a home at a local St. Pete College campus in Palm Harbor.

Enthusiasm, passion, and drive as a facility manager for Digital Lightwave were key elements which allowed me to present project information to a room full of employees, with nervousness mixed in. That nervousness is why the person I reported to said Tony "You Need Toastmasters". Each toastmaster meeting presented it's own unique opportunity to learn, no matter which role I was responsible for. Since day one; I've continued to learn, I've practiced and I've grown according to my fellow Palm Harbor Toastmasters. Although I no longer work for Digital Lightwave, I am certain my former boss would be proud of what I've accomplished as a communicator and leader.

From the PRO Desk

By Pierre Taschereau, ACS/ALB On Wednesday April 8th, 2009 from 5-6pm, tune in to The Chris Wolfe Show for a special Toastmasters program. A long time Toastmaster himself, Chris will be interviewing several members within District 47 including the current Lieutenant Governor of Education –Kristina Kihlberg.

For those of you living in Dade and Broward Counties, you can listen to the show live on 1360 WKAT or listen live on the internet at www.1360wkat.com . The show will be available to members all over the world at www.88othebiz.com .

of The Voices of Time Gavel Club meeting.

It is a short 6 minute story with slideshow displaying moments of a recent meeting. http://wlrnunderthesun.org/2009/03/all-in -a-days-work-public-speaking-coach-forfelons/ Get the Toastmaster’s EDGE and attend the upcoming District Conference in Tampa, on May 1-3, 2009! I plan to have a special meeting on Saturday for those of you who want to be involved in the development of our new Speaker’s Bureau. Many exciting positions are up for grabs including the next Public Relations Officer position.

See you in Tampa!

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A long time member and Past President of The Miracle Mile Toastmasters Club, Chris Wolfe is currently President of The Voices of Time Gavel Club, a public speaking club that he helped create at the Everglades Correctional Institution. This Gavel Club is designed to help the men there improve their lives by becoming better speakers, listeners and thinkers.

Click on the link below and listen to parts

Treasurer’s Corner

By Treasurer, Jeanine Kinsey, CC/CL All U.S. Clubs are required to file a Form 990-N with the IRS. This is a simple process, but is required for Toastmasters to stay compliant with the U.S. Government. You can get detailed instructions at http:// www.toastmasters.org/irs_990n.aspx. The deadline is May 15, but please don't wait until then to file it. The treasurer or president of the club can take care of this. You are not required to send anything to TI, but they will be notified if you do not do this.

As you near the end of the official year for your

clubs, this is a good time to review your treasury and see if you need to find some way to spend your extra money. Please be sure to refer back to my previous articles to see what you can and cannot do with your club funds.

If for any reason, you have not paid your membership dues as of today, you are not a member in a good standing and you need to take care of this today. If you are not in good standing, that means that you cannot compete in any contest until you have resolved the problem.

If you have any suggestions for future treasurer articles, please forward them to me at treasurer@toastmastersd47.org. ▄

Who’s your Sergeant at Arms?

By Gary Moss, CC/ALS If you said the Sergeant at Arms is the person who bangs the gavel and calls the meeting to order, you are only partially correct.

Who sets up the chairs and tables in preparation for the meeting?

Who sets up the Lectern and Timing Lights?

Who is the one who makes sure any boxes or files needed for your meeting are carried in, set up, and then stored again afterwards?

Who helps set up the video or sound equipment for your Speaker?

And who is that guy (or gal) at the door greeting members as they come in?

Or who is assisting your special guest?

Or introducing a potential new member to the Club President?

Yes…THAT is your Sergeant at Arms.

Listed as the lowest ranking club officer the S@A is in no way unimportant. He helps the meeting run smoothly, because of all that he does ―behind the scenes‖ both before, during, and after the meeting. So if a lot of the things he does seem to go unnoticed….well, then maybe it’s because he’s doing such a good job.

Being an equal member of the Executive Committee, he shares responsibility for helping the club to create and fulfill its Club Success Plan. As the Club Mission statement reads, he is an integral part of providing ―…a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills…‖

As your District 47 Sergeant at Arms, I have similar responsibilities to support and assist the District leadership, as well as all of our members. As our Spring Conference approaches, the ―opportunities‖ for the Sergeant at Arms to ―support and assist‖ are becoming immense and diverse. In fact, it’s much more than one person can do. By the way, let me take this opportunity to especially thank all of those who volunteered in November to help on the Sergeant at Arms Team at our Fall Conference. Once again this May, we will have multiple opportunities open for anyone interested in assisting in Tampa during Spring Conference Weekend.

During each of the contests, the Sergeant at Arms Team is responsible for escorting contestants in and out of the room, monitoring doors during the speeches, assisting contestants with microphones or props or getting on/off the platform. We need people to check meal tickets at the door for the luncheon and dinner meetings, and to keep people from entering until the proper time. Rooms need to be set up or rearranged for the various workshops and district meetings.

And, the most important need of all: we need to be ready to deal with the unexpected change of plans at the last minute. (Oh, you didn’t know that ever happened at the last Conference? I guess it must be that our Sergeant at Arms Team did a pretty good job, then! Thanks, again, Fall Conference Sergeant at Arms Team!!)

If you would like to volunteer to help the Sergeant at Arms Team, at the Spring Conference is May 1-3 in Tampa, for any or all of the functions, please contact me as soon as possible at saa@toasmastersd47.org.

Gary Moss spent four years as a pilot in the United States Air Force. He moved to Florida in 1987, and has been working for what is now Bank of America since 1990.

SOCIAL NETWORKING

By Webmaster, Mark Kinsey, DTM, Social networking refers to a broad class of web sites and services that allow you to connect with friends, family, and colleagues online, as well as meet people with similar interests or hobbies. Many, such as the popular Facebook and MySpace let you create a profile where you can post photos, information about yourself like location, hobbies, and relationship status, and send and receive correspondence with online contacts.

http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-NewFacebook-Group). Invite your members to join and then post photos, updates, and member information. This is just another way to become more relevant to your members. You are invited to join the official District 47 Facebook group by searching for Toastmasters District 47 in Facebook. If you're in the Bahamas, you can join the Division I Toastmaster's Group as well.

Thank you, Matt Kinsey, President matt@mktechgroup.om Www.mktechgroup.com (954) 603-7698 Office (954) 778-0598 Skype matt.kinsey Follow me on Twitter—mattkinsey

Many Toastmasters clubs are now using Facebook and other social networking sites to expand their influence and meet the needs and lifestyles of today's Internet environment. Many people think that social networking is just for kids, but the fastest growing segment for Facebook is people aged 30 – 45.

Setup a Facebook group for your Toastmasters club (if you don't know how to do this, you can use the following website -

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL THE EDITOR? All correspondence to the editor can be sent to: sunshiner@toastmastersd47.org.

Please limit letters to about 100 words & articles to about 500 words.

Deadline is May 15, 2009 for the JUNE 1st issue.

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Matt Kinsey, DTM, is the District 47 webmaster. He has been developing and maintaining websites for the past 13 years. Matt publishes a free newsletter with Technology Tips for Toastmasters. You can join this list at his website, www.opensourcewebpros.com.

He can be reached by email at web@toastmastersd47.org.

DUES ARE PAST DUE! Has your club Treasurer collected all renewal fees and sent them on to Toastmasters International? Paying dues timely is a mark of an organized and productive club. Plus, it is a requirement of the DCP to send in payments on time.

Where else can you get such inexpensive, yet amazingly effective coaching, learning, assistance, and camaraderie? It amounts to about 50 cents per week. Make sure your club’s dues are in and paid up—in full.