The Sunshiner- Spring Into Action

Issue No. 8

March 2021

The Sunshiner DISTRICT 47'S OFFICIAL NEWS DESK

Into HALL OF FAME

DIVISION IN C REDIBLE

PATHWAYS JOURNEY OF SELF REFLE C TIONS

T A B L E

O F

CONTENTS Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ― William James

Page 3 Save The Date - Conference 2021 Laughter is the Best Medicine - Marlene Smith Page 4 Find Yourself on Stage- Abby Martinez Pathways- A Journey of Self Reflection - Malaqui Geibel Page 5 Frequent Frequency- Dudley Turnquest Toastmasters Contest- Poem- Marlene Smith New District Initiatives Page 6 Districts First's Hybrid Event- Hall of Fame - Luiz Bravim Upcoming District 47 Events & Celebrations Page 7 Micro Steps Lead to Big Changes- Shveta Kumar Call for Nominations Page 8 & 9 Division I Highlight• DIVISION INCREDIBLE Page 10 •Happy Anniversary to our Toastmaster Clubs!

Page 11 •Credits & Notifications Page

Save The Date

APRIL 28TH- MAY 1ST The dynamic duo of Distinguished Toastmasters Deandra Dorsette and Darren Kennedy, your conference co-chairs, want to take you backstage; we’ve been extremely busy over the past six months preparing to bring to you an exhilarating District 47 conference.

Now that the conference is going to be virtual, rest assured that we are committed to bringing you an exciting experience like no other conference you’ve attended before. So you might ask yourself, “What’s in it for me?” or “Why should I attend?” And the answer is simple: EVERYTHING IS IN IT FOR YOU! In addition to educational opportunities, it’s your chance to network with old friends while gaining new ones as well as engage in exciting activities to keep you entertained. You will not want to miss it! It is our sincere desire that you will be talking about this experience for years to come.

Please stay tuned for many more details to follow. For now, though, we need you to save the date, bring the enthusiasm, and get ready for an unforgettable virtual experience.

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

MARLENE SMITH

Laughter is the best medicine. And I know medicines! I am a retired family physician.

Humor and laughter connect us, de-escalate tensions, and bring the mind and soul to a great place. Humor helps us look at the 3 sides of the coin, the heads, the tails, and the edge—rolling into a good belly laugh while doing so.

Humor starts by laughing at yourself and having the confidence to share your funny stories. Everyone can relate to a humorous, personal story. You cannot change the data but you can change the story, location, and circumstances to enhance and add humor to the story. Exaggerate to get more chuckles.

Finding humor during this past year had been very challenging. However, I was not going to be defeated by Papa Pandemic and Cousin Covid. So here’s my funny twist on the pandemic!

I call my husband, Gordon, the OICSS, Officer in Charge of Scary Stuff or, in this instance, Officer in Charge of Sneaky Snakes. “Hey, OICSS, there is a snake in the driveway.” “How big” was his response. Do I say that it is really 1 foot long or stretch the snake to a good 4 feet long? How fast do I want the response? How high the chuckle meter?

When life seems to be getting too serious, meditate, go for a walk, have a cup of tea, change your outlook, and find that humor. I consciously, many times, have to flip my attitude to practice gratitude. Putting a positive spin on life will help you to live longer, happier, and healthier. A medical fact.

Toastmasters is the place to gain confidence and practice your humor. Like this: Why did the Thanksgiving turkey cross the road? It wanted everyone to think it was a chicken! Now wasn’t that good medicine?

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ABBY MARTINEZ

Toastmasters District 47 TLI Virtual Conference

“Keep speaking, keep improving, keep moving forward,” announced Aaron Beverly on February 13th at the Toastmasters District 47 TLI Conference. Over 121 participants switched back and forth between the interactive officer trainings and the main room, all landing in the main room for the main and final speaker, Aaron Beverly, the 2019 World Champion of Public Speaking. Beverly emphasized the importance of growth by seeking help from mentors. “Don’t let your ego and pride hold you back.” He advised all to seek out someone 1) of a higher competency in public speaking, 2) is personally and stylistically compatible, 3) who preaches and practices strong fundamentals, and 4) who never insists that their way is the only way. This person will let you be yourself.

“Find yourself on stage.” Beverly told the audience not to hide behind the stereotype of an introvert or having glossophobia, a fear of public speaking. He also encouraged the audience to identify the fear they feel, whether it be fear of judgement, embarrassment, or freezing and instead conquer the fear and practice the speech with a mentor. Lastly, Beverly shared the final missing piece when preparing for a competition: avoid “competition mode” where you perform for judges and not your audience. “The original purpose of a contest was to showcase your growth and the skills you have learned at Toastmasters.” We must ask ourselves: what story do we want to tell and what skill do we want to focus on?

Other distinguished speakers included Lana McFarlane, DTM and PRA, who launched the virtual conference with her presentation titled, “Are you willing to lead?” and Godalys Reina, DTM and RA, who highlighted “Critical Thinking” and Roy Ganga, DTM and ID, who championed “The Importance of Mentor/Protégé Relationship.”

Pathways – A Journey of Self Reflection

MALAQUI GEIBEL

In June 2019 I received my Distinguished Toastmasters Award on the legacy system. In those last months, I found myself having to call around to find manuals that I needed because Toastmasters International was no longer publishing them.

After the congratulations on my DTM award were complete, my club’s Vice President of Education encouraged me to get started on Pathways. The transition to Pathways was not easy. You see, I like things to be on paper. I just couldn’t see how it could be done without the manuals.

In 2020 I took the leap and enrolled in the Dynamic Leadership Path.

I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying it. The lessons were laid out in a logical step-by-step manner, which I felt held me accountable for learning each step. I especially appreciated the opportunity to reflect on each of the projects through the before and after evaluations as I complete them.

Professionally I am a realtor, and communication is paramount in my business. The Pathways unit on communication styles was a huge eye opener for me. I started noticing the language that a client was using and immediately had a sense of what was important to them, based on what I’d learned in Pathways. My communication improved immediately as a result of these simple but important insights.

In the Pathways unit on leadership styles, I had an opportunity to do an assessment that asked me to reflect on myself as a leader. This was so much more than just preparing and delivering a speech. It had a profound effect on me to take account of the person I really am based on the characteristics of how I communicate and lead. Thus empowered with more choices and insights on leadership, I stepped up to become the president of one of my clubs.

So much more than just public speaking, Pathways points us to selfreflection, helping us become better communicators, leaders, and simply better people.

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MARLENE SMITH

The time has now come Contest briefing begun Contestant papers signed Order picked and defined.

DUDLEY TURNQUEST

By now, most of us have failed in maintaining our New Year’s resolutions.

It’s okay to admit it and raise your hand; most of the class is raising theirs with you.

Now is not the time to be stuck on the past though. On the contrary, now’s the perfect time to make up for it by starting a new habit.

It could be something small, like ten jumping jacks or reading five pages out of a book a day. The point isn’t to do something to change the world or reinvent the wheel; the point is to do something that you know you can dedicate time to doing every day at around the same time.

Now if you’ll excuse me, class, it’s time for me to do my newfound daily exercise of doing two squats into my chair before settling to eat dinner.

Video conferencing on Zoom Technology of breakout room Objectives read out loud Not recorded on the cloud Many words spoken, the rules Using the Toastmaster tools Timer’s welcoming words Speakers posed to be heard Can you hear and timer see?

Happy with frame around me?

Table Topics interesting Audience alert and listening Speeches of inspiration About life’s situations Ballots and judges did score Winners cheered with a roar Next month Division contest Speakers advance, the best Contest over, we all sigh Toastmasters, Farewell and Goodbye

NEW INCENTIVE ALERT WILL YOUR CLUB MAKE THE LIST FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR???

We are excited to celebrate the Top 10 clubs with the highest education awards per 7/1 base membership as of 12 / 31 / 2020.

The presidents of these clubs will be receiving from the District (in the mail) a box filled with Toastmasters “goodies” that we know will support them in continuing their successful journey.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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District 47’s First Hybrid Event

Celebrates Hall of Fame Excellence

LUIZ BRAVIM On a rainy Saturday evening this past February 6th, District 47 honored hundreds of Toastmasters in its Hall of Fame Celebration, conducted as an in-person and virtual event simultaneously. For many Toastmasters as well as district officers, it was the first time they had seen each other since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown began last March.

While there were too many award-winning Toastmasters to list, this ceremony is noteworthy as proof that in-person Toastmasters events are possible with social distancing, masks, and limited seating without excluding anyone with health conditions or travel concerns. Meanwhile, the virtual audience saw the same ceremony; indeed, many more joined from Zoom at home than were able to make the event hosted by the Westin Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Among the most distinguished awards offered at the Hall of Fame was the triple crown, which honors those Toastmasters who achieve at least three educational awards in one year. Distinguished Toastmasters were pinned, and many past district officers (some of whom finished their terms virtually) were honored for their service. Further information on award winners and event photos can be found in the District 47 Facebook group.

• Divisions' Table Topics and International Speech Contests: March 1st – April 15th • District Goal of Dues Renewal Clubs : March 15th • Area Director and all appointed District Leader positions open for application: Deadline March 15th

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MICRO

BIGChanges

Steps Lead To

SHVETA KUMAR

The Covid-19 pandemic is in its second year; these are trying times for the human race especially because of the uncertainty and fear this virus brings. Yet we must move forward with our lives because we’re in this for the long haul, and the virus is not going away any time soon.

The question is what we should do. The first step is to have an idea about what we want and then set some goals. When trying to achieve goals, many of us are probably facing the following challenges: - We don’t have the money - Our motivation to get started is nowhere to be found - Our inner critic is overactive There is, however, some good news: all these challenges can be overcome by taking micro-steps. And the way to do it is to set micro-goals, each attainable through micro-progression by adopting micro-habits. All of us who have been with Toastmasters for even a few months can confidently say that this strategy works.

We are better speakers and leaders now than when we started. Every little thing helped, from attending the weekly meetings to giving our first speeches and evaluations to taking up different roles and even freezing up! We are all the better for it.

Let’s apply the same strategy in other areas of our lives. Want to lose weight? Don’t order fries with that burger. Want to run a 5k? Start by walking for 10 minutes then increase the length gradually. Want to save money? Put a dollar aside every day and then increase that amount gradually as well. In the long run, microhabits like these can change your life.

According to a study from Duke University, around 45 percent of our everyday actions are made up of habits. Our habits, then, are a fundamental reflection of who we are. As Aristotle put it, “Habit’s but a long practice” that “becomes men’s nature in the end.”

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Happy Anniversary Toastmaster Clubs!

District 47 celebrates all of our amazing clubs who have celebrated the dates of their founding between February 4th, 2021 and March 8th, 2021!!

YAY to our Annual Anniversary Club:

ModMed Toastmasters Club #7742409 of Division C, Area 30 turned 1 year old on February 10th!

YAY to our Triennial Anniversary Clubs:

Club Carmichael Toastmasters #6724527 of Division I, Area 91 turned 3 years old on February 27th!

TSSC Toasters Toastmasters Club #6886205 of Division B, Area 24 turned 3 years old on March 6th!

B.U.T. Abaco Trail Blazers Toastmasters Club #6847742 of Division I, Area 90 turned 3 years old on February 15th!

YAY to our Quadrennial Anniversary Clubs:

305 Speaks Toastmasters Club #6098434 of Division E, Area 50 turned 4 years old on March 1st!

BFM Diplomats Toastmasters Club #5922881 of Division I, Area 91 turned 4 years old on March 6th!

YAY to our Sexennial Anniversary Club:

Miami-Wynwood Toastmasters Club #4486222 of Division E, Area 50 turned 6 years old on February 9th!

YAY to our Septennial Anniversary Club:

Broward College Toastmasters Chapter Club #3532365 of Division A, Area 11 turned 7 years old on February 27th!

YAY to our Octennial Anniversary Club:

Latamasters Toastmasters Club #3043022 of Division B, Area 25 turned 8 years old on March 1st!

YAY to our Orchid Anniversary Club:

First Edition Toastmasters Club #639107 of Division B, Area 22 turned 17 years old on March 2nd!

YAY to our Silver Jubilee Anniversary Club:

Freddy's Forum Toastmasters Club #5173 of Division D, Area 45 turned 25 years old on March 1st!

YAY to our Pearl Anniversary Club:

Universal Toastmasters Club #7653 of Division A, Area 12 turned 31 years old on March 1st!

YAY to our Coral Anniversary Clubs:

Weston Area Toastmasters Club #5758 of Division A, Area 10 turned 36 years old on March 1st!

Daybreak Toastmasters Club #5754 of Division A, Area 15 turned 36 years old on March 1st!

YAY to our Blue Sapphire Jubilee Anniversary Club:

Action for Achievement Toastmasters Club #3596 of Division F, Area 60 turned 67 years old on February 13th!

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The Sunshiner Team

Newsletter

Editions are published every 4th day of the incoming month

Newscast Tidbits News Casts are published every 14th day of the incoming month

DTM Ernesto G. Williams – Editor-In-Chief DTM Glenisha Albury – Design Editor TM Ryan S. Kelly II – Copy Editor TM Abby Martinez – Writer TM Luiz Bravim – Writer TM Shveta Kumar – Columnist TM Dudley O. A. Turnquest – Columnist TM Taimak Saunders – Production Editor TM L. Robert Knowles – Video Editor TM Irwinique Storr – News Anchor DTM Antionette Fox – News Cast Writer

Send all submissions, thoughts and suggestions to sunshiner@toastmastersd47.org