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