D47 Sunshiner - December 2014 by District 47 Sunshiner

DISTRICT 47

THE SUNSHINER Newsletter Title Organization Name

News from Southeast Florida and The Bahamas Volume 1, Issue 1

Newsletter Date

Fre e g i f t s f o r C h r i s t m a s a n d b e yo n d Dear Fellow Toastmasters:

2014-2015 District 47

December 2014 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Club anniversaries Toastmasters across District 47, Pages 8, 9

District Highlights

Lt. Governor Marketing Meet Louis “Lou” Brown, DTM, Page 4

Now you know Meet Hieu Huynh, DTM, Diamond Jubilee Chair. Page 6

Press releases work Public Relations Officer Marlene Bryan offers a tried, trusted tool you can use to promote your club. Page 7

Holiday fun! Toastmasters across District 47 get into the spirit of the season with celebrations. Pages 10,11.

For many people, the period between December 25 and January 1st is simply a holiday season commemorated by acts of love and kindness toward persons near and dear to them. In many instances these acts of kindness are given toward total strangers, particularly those considered to be less fortunate. From a religious standpoint, millions more around the world who believe in the Christian faith, observe December 25 - Christmas Day as the birthday of Jesus. Christmas celebrations may vary somewhat in different parts of the world influenced by cultural norms. Popular events can include special religious services, concerts, plays, TV shows and festivals. Radio stations and many public places like shopping malls will play special Christmas tunes to the delight of shoppers. Many homes and business places are decorated with beautiful ornaments and colorful lights. I love the Christmas season! I can vividly recall the times I took part in Christmas plays put on by my elementary school or my church’s Sunday school. I was never very good at it though! As a child, Christmas to me was all about waking up early on the morning of December 25 to crawl under the beautifully decorated, pine scented Christmas tree in search of wrapped presents bearing my name. Sound familiar? As I grew older I came to the understanding that Christmas is not all about receiving gifts. I realized it is also a season of glad tidings, giving and sharing your blessings with others. It’s a time of celebration and fellowship with family and friends. Whatever this time of year means to each of us, we all have gifts we can give – the gifts we have within us. These gifts were not meant for us to keep to ourselves. They were bestowed upon us, so we can share them with others. There are four special attributes that Toastmasters International encourages us to foster within and to share with our fellow Toastmasters every day. These gifts can be shared freely with our friends and loved ones. They require no online purchasing and no over the counter cash or credit card payments. Here are four gifts that require nothing more than the will to give: RESPECT - It means respecting the opinion of others, even when we disagree. Not interrupting people when they speak. It means not planning your response to a comment or question until you have heard it in its entirety. It means listening attentively to the speaker. Respect means embracing your similarities while respecting your differences. Respect is important to human co-existence. INTEGRITY - It means being truthful, sincere and trustworthy. Say what you mean and mean what you say! Show others that they can depend on you. This is important in business, in Continued on Page 2

MEET #TMD47 THE SUNSHINER Published by Toastmasters International District 47: Southeast Florida and The Islands of The Bahamas. Submit articles, questions and comments to sunshiner@toastmastersd47.org. DISTRICT 47 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE District Governor Anthony "Tony" Longley, DTM Lt. Governor Education and Training Jeanine Kinsey, DTM Lt. Governor Marketing Louis “Lou” Brown, DTM District Public Relations Officer Marlene M. Bryan, DTM District Secretary

Free gifts for Christmas and beyond relationships and in Toastmasters. SERVICE – Leadership is all about service. As leaders in Toastmasters, our role is to serve the needs of our members. When we help them to grow, our clubs grow. When our clubs grow, so will our Areas, Divisions and ultimately our District. The Christmas story teaches us about the importance of service. EXCELLENCE - It is difficult to achieve excellence in isolation. Respect, Integrity and Service are precursors to achieving excellence. Furthermore, for Excellence to be achieved, the preceding 3 values must not only exist, they must work in tandem. Toastmasters are goal setters. We set high standards for ourselves whether as a member, a club officer or a district leader. After all, we understand that quality and professionalism are important keys to success in business, in Toastmasters and in life. This is the pathway to excellence and EXCELLENCE is the road to SUCCESS.

Ruth Field Beck, ACB/CL District Treasurer Laura Thezine, ACS/ALB District Sergeant At Arms Thomas Plant, ACB/ALB Immediate Past District Governor Francis Molina, DTM Division Governors

We have a wonderful opportunity as Toastmasters to share these gifts with our family and friends. We are all in a position of service. We serve as mentors, coaches, teachers, trainers, and motivators. Opportunities are endless for us to share the added gifts of listening, of affection, laughter and friendship. As we observe our various holidays this month by celebrating our special ethnic, religious and cultural events, let’s take time to reflect on the spirit of giving. I encourage you to give unselfishly.

Div. A: Heather Mahoney, ACS/ALB Div. B: Karen Lake, ACB/ALB

OTHER DISTRICT OFFICERS

RESPECT, INTEGRITY, SERVICE, EXCELLENCE - These are the core values of Toastmasters. If we embrace these values and share them with everyone we come in contact with by the way we live, our Christmas will be merry and bright. On behalf of the District Trio and the extended Leadership Team, I trust you will have a wonderful holiday season, and best wishes for a safe, healthy, peaceful, prosperous and productive New Year!

TLI Training Coordinator: Antoinette Fox, DTM

Happy Holidays!

Div. C: Michael Thorn, DTM Div. D: Valerie Johnson, ACB/ALB Div. E: Jason Stewart, ACS/CL Div. F: Deborah Young, DTM Div. I: Delmaro Duncombe, DTM

Contest Coordinator: Indira Sands Fall Conference Chair: Diana Loy, DTM Spring Conference Chair: Lydia Harris, DTM Club Coach & Advocate Chair: Beverly Cordner, DTM Webmaster: Stanley Lloyd, CC Parliamentarian: Matt Kinsey, DTM

Anthony “Tony” Longley, DTM DISTRICT 47 GOVERNOR, 2014-2015

Audit Chair: Glenn Parks, ACS/CL Social Media Chair: Maria Alexandra Sanchez, DTM Sunshiner Editor: Andrea Robinson, ACB/ALB Copy Editor/Proofreader: Hieu Huynh, DTM

Jeanine Kinsey Lieutenant Governor Education & Training District 47 Toastmasters 954-778-0599 (cell) jkinsey@toastmastersd47.org www.toastmastersd47.org

District 47 extends prayers and best-wishes to our Lt. Governor Education & Training as she recuperates from an accident. We know that she will be up and running shortly, and doing the excellent work as always for Toastmasters International and her home district.

The season of celebration on earth, and within our clubs

reetings Fellow Toastmasters,

This is the season of celebrations, a time of joy and happiness, a time to appreciate all we have and to value the spirit of giving. Are you still looking for that perfect gift to give a loved one, a family member, a friend, and/or co-worker? Look no further. Consider giving the gift of selfconfidence and personal growth. Give the gift of a membership in Toastmasters! That’s right. Forget that shirt, fruit basket, electronic gadget, or same old thing you get for folks on your list each year. Give the gift of selfimprovement – a gift that can foster success in both one’s professional and personal life. The ability to lead and communicate effectively is invaluable. After all, the benefits we receive from the Toastmasters program continue to help each of us every day. Let’s share them with others. If you have already completed your holiday shopping, or if you do not partake of gift giving for whatever reason, you can still share the benefits of Toastmasters with others. How? By inviting guests to attend your next club meeting. We have two great membership building campaigns taking place now and in the near future to help you spread the joy that is Toastmasters. Open House Incentive – District 47 Event Taking Place NOW until June 30 Open Houses are a great way to showcase your awesome club and to show potential members how Toastmasters can benefit them. The District is offering up to $25 to offset costs as an incentive for your club to conduct a membership building Open House event. We ask that you please adhere to the following guidelines: Provide me (lbrown@toastmastersd47.org) with information about your Open House at least two weeks prior to the event (the earlier the better), including a copy of your event flyer and your plans for spending the money.  Within two weeks after the event, send me a copy of the sign-in sheet and copy me on any follow-up email communications to your guests.  Also within two weeks after the event, complete and submit a district expense reimbursement form along with your receipts totaling up to $25. 

Talk Up Toastmasters – International Campaign Taking Place from February 1 to March 31 Simply add five new, dual or reinstated members with a join date between February 1 and March 31, and you’ll 4

The season of celebration on earth, and within our clubs receive a special “Talk Up Toastmasters” ribbon to proudly display on your club’s banner. Qualifying clubs can also earn a special discount code for 10% off their next club order. The winning clubs will be revealed online within a few weeks of the contest ending (check out last year’s winners here: https://www.toastmasters.org/LeadershipCentral/Club-Officer-Tools/Membership-Building/~/media/2BC59090AFBA4671BD07DA0E4C9A234F.ashx). As with the Open House program, there are some guidelines: Applications and payments for members with a join date between February 1 and March 31 must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than March 31. The addition of transfer and charter members does not count for “Talk Up Toastmasters” credit. The discount code expires six months from the date of issue and is not valid with any other offer. I encourage you to take advantage of these programs that provide your club with a special gift for sharing the value of Toastmasters with others. A win-win! I wish you all the best in your membership building efforts. District 47 Keeps Growing! Please welcome our newest member of the District 47 family – PwC Digital Toastmasters which chartered on 11/26/2014 in Division A, Area 14. The club was sponsored by Toastmasters Adriana Alcala and Claudia Plata and is currently being mentored by Toastmasters Sheila Bernstein and Thomas Fons. Welcome to the family! Your Marketing team continues to work very hard to enhance your member experience and satisfy the District mission, which is to “build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.” We have some great new marketing tools and training programs in the works. Check out future editions of the Sunshiner for all the exciting details. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season! Yours “In Pursuit of Excellence!” Louis Brown, DTM District 47 Lt. Governor Marketing

Name: Hieu Huynh

THE MORE YOU KNOW

District 47 Office: Diamond Jubilee Chair

LEARN ABOUT YOUR FELLOW TOASTMASTERS

Location (i.e. city of residence): West Palm Beach, Florida Hobbies: Toastmasters! OK, I’m also a bit of a sports enthusiast. And for a new and unusual hobby, I have taken up Robert’s Rules of Order. Through their official website, I have answered questions on parliamentary procedure for members of dog clubs, home owner associations, student government, city councils, church groups... Number of years in Toastmasters International: 8 years Home Club: Sunset Speakers Club 5222 In a sentence, describe how Toastmasters has changed your life: It’s just part of my life now. Who is your mentor in Toastmasters? Why? Diana Loy because of her excitement! She has seen my speeches from icebreaker to DTM and beyond...

Describe your most memorable speech/presentation: I held a one-hour Toastmasters meeting where I was the Toastmaster, speaker, evaluator, Table Topics master, Table Topics speaker, ah counter, grammarian, timer, Best Speaker, Best Evaluator and Best Table Topics Speaker! Advice for a beginning Toastmaster: Jump in!

#D47 Toastmasters, Let us hear from you! We’re expanding this feature to our members, so we can become better acquainted with the people in District 47. Here’s your opportunity. Briefly tell us about your background, location, memorable speech, mentor and advice for a beginning Toastmaster. You could be featured in an upcoming issue! Please send an email with the information to sunshiner@toastmastersd47.org. Please include the name and number of your home club, and, if possible, a candid snapshop of you doing a fun activity.

Share news about your club through press releases!

appy Holidays District 47 Toastmasters.

As you wind down your 2014 year, start thinking of ways to promote your clubs. Using a press release to share members and club achievements, club open houses, special guest speakers are a great way to provide information to the community. You can also write an article that speaks about the benefits of Toastmasters and learning about Public Speaking. Making an announcement about your incoming officers is another great piece of tidbit to share. Did you know Toastmasters International has many resources to help you spread the news about your club? You can find more information and sample press releases on the Toastmasters International site about Public Relations. Here is the link: https:// www.toastmasters.org/Leadership-Central/Public-Relations/SampleNews-Releases. Reach out to your local newspapers, on-line magazines, eZines, television stations, and other media will help to promote your club. You may want to connect with the person to find out his/her preference for receiving the information. Your District 47 Public Relations team highly recommends that you read the Toastmasters International guidelines of engaging the media. It can be found here: https://www.toastmasters.org/~/ media/4961F7BE4B244A12A39426D0C9193CD1.ashx. It is a lot of great information and worth your while to read it.

Marlene M. Bryan, DTM DISTRICT PRO, 2014-2015

We wish you a joyous 2015!

District 47 Public Relations Team

Stanley Lloyd

Andrea Robinson

Maria Alexandra Sanchez, DTM

John Schneyer

Area 55, part of Division E, is a unique and challenging Area. Finding an Area Governor is never easy since visiting one club is a day trip, involving driving a total of 8-9 hours to attend a 1 hour meeting in Key

DIVISION E’s ROAD WARRIOR

West. The club is very appreciative of any Area Governor who does it even once but twice…..they’re ready to be nominated for sainthood! An AG or any District officer who makes that trip always is treated to lunch by the club. Shannon Chamberlain actually made 3 trips but she had a slight advantage….her husband was a pilot. This year’s Area Governor from Homestead, Michael Williams, recently made the trek. He’s shown with President, Alana Thurston, after the meeting and at Turtle Kraals for lunch before the return trip.

Toastmasters Across District 47 HOMESTEAD TOASTMASTERS ON THE GROW While recently visiting his Dad (President of the Homestead

After a 30-year career as a Naval aviator, Karen Baetzel flew through the requirements and recently landed a DTM award for herself and Homestead Toastmasters.

Richard Erschik, president of the

Toastmasters Club) Tim Erschik attended his first Toastmasters meeting. Called upon last, he won Best Table Topics for his heartfelt presentation about what he remembers from past Thanksgiving Day family gatherings. Joining his local Toastmasters Club is now on his near future radar. 8

Homestead Toastmasters Club, delivered more than 350 presentations as a trade show exhibitor educator and small business coach. Today, he shares how Toastmasters would have eliminated some of the communication and leadership challenges he actually lived. He recently received his Competent Leader award.

TM Paul Finkelstein, of West Boca Toastmasters Club, TM Laura Thezine, District Treasurer and DTM Tony Longley, District 47 Governor were among nearly 4000 runners who participated in the 10th annual West Palm Beach Run Fest. They all competed in the half marathon event and successfully completed the grueling 13.1 mile course. Running "In Pursuit of Excellence" Congratulations!

CLUB CHARTER ANNIVERSARIES FOR DECEMBER 2014 Congratulations and Happy Anniversary greetings are extended to the following clubs. Thank you for your contribution to the growth and success of District 47. On behalf of District Governor Tony Longley, the District Executive Committee, and all members across South Florida and Islands of The Bahamas, we wish you a successful, Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Distinguished Year!

Club Name

City

Club #

Area

Division

Charter Date

Years

Treasure Coast

Stuart

3466

12/1/1982

Toast Of The Gold Coast

Oakland Park

4267

12/1/1984

Soaring Eagles

Rock Sound

2888579

12/6/2012

Power-Full Voices

Jupiter

2897690

12/7/2012

Marketing team needs you!

he Marketing Department of Toastmasters District 47 is responsible for all aspects of marketing, clubbuilding, and member- and club-retention efforts within the district. This includes defining an overall marketing strategy for the district, developing outreach and retention efforts with existing community and corporate clubs, and penetrating new markets. Additionally, the marketing area supports challenged clubs and helps them to become Distinguished. The marketing strategy guides the district in meeting membership and club-growth objectives. The team is led by the Lt. Governor Marketing who, with the approval of the District Governor, appoints members to chair marketing committees. The Committee Chairs help the Lt. Governor Marketing design, develop, and implement district marketing projects. Together, the marketing team creates a strong club-building program by appointing club sponsors and mentors for new clubs and club coaches and advocates for existing clubs that are struggling. Our mission is to build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence in the Distinguished Club Program. Introducing Your Marketing Team: Louis Brown, DTM – Lt. Governor Marketing Beverly Cordner, DTM – Club Rescue Chair (Coaches and Advocates) Alejandro Crespo – Division A Coaching Chair Matt Eggersston – Division B Coaching Chair Rhonda Garcia – Division C Coaching Chair Barbara Strasdas, DTM – Division D Coaching Chair LaKeesha Morris – Division E Coaching Chair Elvis Collie – Division F Coaching Chair Leonardo Burrows, DTM – Division I Coaching Chair Michael Schoen – Club Extension Co-Chair (Sponsors and Mentors – South Florida) Vanessa Scott, DTM – Club Extension Co-Chair (Sponsors and Mentors – Bahamas) Rich Otten, DTM – Gavel Club Chair Helping Others Helps Ourselves The marketing team needs you! Several clubs in District 47 are struggling with low membership and need the help of experienced, knowledgeable Toastmasters to survive. Several prospective clubs are in the midst of being formed and need the help of enthusiastic, well-informed Toastmasters to succeed. If you are not yet a DTM, you will need to serve as a club sponsor, mentor or coach in order to satisfy the DTM requirements. If you are a DTM, you will receive enormous satisfaction helping fledgling or struggling clubs succeed in their quest to become Distinguished. Training is required to serve in these roles and will be offered at all upcoming Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) events. Please see the district website – d47.toastmastersdistricts.org – for more information on TLIs, including dates and schedules. Please contact the Lt. Governor Marketing at lbrown@toastmastersd47.org if you have any other questions or need more information. Consider being a club sponsor, mentor, coach or advocate – you won’t regret it. Your help today will positively impact generations of Toastmasters to come! 12

BROWARD-NORTH DADE TLI WAS A ROUSING SUCCESS, WITH A NEW SESSION FOR PRESIDENTS AND VPEs.

Universal Toastmasters recently hosted its club meeting with an eerily spooky flair to celebrate the Halloween season. Toastmaster of the day was Maurice Fuller, DTM, who got into his role and the theme. He did consult with club President Jerrod Clairsaint.

Got News? Please share with The Sunshiner! We want to hear from you! Consider The Sunshiner your source for news and information about the happenings in your club, area, division and across the district. For this to be a successful endeavor, we need your input. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in the events, successes, triumphs and fun in the clubs and in personal feats. This is the place to celebrate club achievements, milestones, and individual accomplishments. Please email your information or ideas to sunshiner@toastmastersd47.org.