Best Practices Archives - Toastmasters, District 42

September 29, 2024September 29, 2024 by Chuck LeBlanc

Staying Engaged During the Pathways Outage Toastmasters International recently announced that its Pathways Learning Experience will be migrating to a new Learning Management System, resulting in Base Camp being temporarily unavailable from October 9th to 25th. While this may seem like an interruption, it presents a unique opportunity for members to stay engaged and continue their personal growth outside of the digital platform. Here are a few tips to keep progressing during the outage: Leverage Previous Evaluations to Improve and …

September 28, 2024 by Eugene Sicat

Distinguished Leaders of 2023/2024 We are beyond delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to several of our past Area Directors and Division Directors who have achieved distinguished status. This prestigious recognition is a testament to their unwavering dedication and remarkable leadership during their time in office. However, we know that such accomplishments are never the result of one person’s efforts alone. It truly takes a village to reach this level of success. These leaders, through their tireless hard work, perseverance, …

September 25, 2024September 25, 2024 by Vesna Ivkovic

How to Submit, Promote, and Publish an Event in District 42 Planning a successful Toastmasters event requires organization and attention to detail. Whether you’re organizing a workshop, a club contest, or a keynote presentation, following the right process to submit, promote, and publish your event can make all the difference. In District 42, we have a streamlined system that helps your event get the attention it deserves. Here’s how you can make sure your event is a hit from start …

September 19, 2024 by Daniel Deck

Become a Better Speaker Are you a speaker? Chances are you are a speaker if you are a student, a parent, a lector, an usher, a catechist, a priest, a religious, a youth minister or someone who says hello to a person on the street. And I know how you can become an even better speaker. I have been giving presentations and speaking to groups of two to more than 500 people for more than 40 years, so I should …

September 16, 2024August 29, 2024 by Daisy Wei

A Message from Your 2024-2025 District Director Dear fellow Toastmasters, Are you ready for a new Toastmasters year?! Serving as your District Director for 2024-2025 is an honour. Toastmasters has been an incredible source of growth and learning for me, and I am excited to give back to the District 42 family. I look forward to working alongside you, learning from you, and growing with you on this amazing journey of personal and professional development. First, I want to acknowledge …

August 28, 2024 by Debbie Stearns

District 42 2023/24 Club Growth Team Honored with Prestigious Award at Hall of Fame Event At the Hall of Fame event during the International Convention, I had the immense honour of accepting the District Club Growth Award on behalf of the entire Club Growth Team for the 2023-2024 term. This recognition is a testament to the collaborative efforts and unwavering dedication of a remarkable group of Toastmasters who worked tirelessly to support and grow District 42. This award is not …

August 27, 2024 by Chuck LeBlanc

Change is Coming Summer will soon be a fading memory. The colour of the leaves will change from green to the rich colours of fall. The season will change. There will also be a change to the colour of Toastmasters this fall. At the recent Toastmasters International Convention in Anaheim California, Toastmasters International Chief Executive Officer Daniel Rex updated members on the exciting change to the Learning Management System which Toastmasters will be rolling out in the near future. The …

May 29, 2024 by Debbie Stearns

Closing the Toastmasters Year with a Bang: Join the Push for Good Standing As the Toastmasters year draws to a close, with June 30 just around the corner, we find ourselves on the cusp of achieving something remarkable. We only need three more clubs to get back into good standing, and with your help, we can do it! This is a call to action for all our clubs: let’s rally together, plan engaging open houses, and bring in potential members. …

May 30, 2024May 29, 2024 by Eugene Sicat

Recognition and appreciation of our members’ contributions Recognition Recognition of people’s efforts and accomplishments is crucial and should never be overlooked or underestimated. Many individuals go to great lengths to support others, often making significant sacrifices in their personal, professional, and family lives to help others reach their goals. Their dedication involves spending countless hours caring, planning, and thinking, efforts that deeply impact our Toastmasters community. We must remember and appreciate these contributions. Recognizing such dedication is not only fair …

May 29, 2024May 28, 2024 by Christina Kruis

An Alliance Impacting Youth This year marked a significant collaboration between District 42 Toastmasters Youth Leadership Facilitators – Marcy Field, Irma Goosen, Geetha Nicodemus, Arobo Ako, and Christina Kruis – and Rotary International Exchange students, resulting in a profound impact on youth development. The facilitators lent their expertise to support Rotary students. Through a series of online sessions and a dedicated workshop during their family orientation weekend in April, the facilitators empowered these students to hone their communication and leadership …

April 30, 2024April 28, 2024 by Daisy Wei

Serving as a Club Officer Serving as a club officer with a Toastmasters Club is an invaluable experience that not only enriches your own life but also positively impacts the lives of those around you. The seven nominated club officer positions are president, vice president education, vice president membership, vice president public relations, sergeant at arms, treasurer and secretary. The responsibilities for each role are specific, though they may overlap or require cooperation between two or more officers. There are …

January 27, 2024 by Eugene Sicat

Legacy and Longevity I recently attended the 10th-anniversary celebration of one of our clubs, the Healthy Living Toastmasters Club, where I had the pleasure of meeting numerous enthusiastic, fun, and dedicated members. During the event, participants were asked to share three words that encapsulated their feelings about the anniversary, and it was quite enjoyable to hear the diverse responses. Some of the words thrown around included “party,” “feast,” “food,” “booze,” “camaraderie,” and “having fun,” reflecting the vibrant and celebratory atmosphere. …

December 27, 2023 by Daisy Wei

Pathways Are Evolving! Pathways, the Toastmasters education program, is designed to help members build public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. Members access educational materials digitally through Base Camp, the online system where Pathways lives. Base Camp, the online system where Pathways is accessed, is moving to a new learning management system (LMS) early next year. This will lay the foundation for many exciting improvements to the Pathways learning experience, including easier platform navigation, more frequent content updates, and a future …

December 28, 2023December 20, 2023 by Christina Kruis

I wish I had joined earlier What if you had joined Toastmasters years ago?What if you possessed Toastmaster skills earlier in your career?Ask most Toastmasters and their response is “I wish I had joined earlier?” What if you could give a young person the opportunity for success academically, socially and professionally earlier and faster? Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program provides a safe environment to learn, practise and improve communication and leadership skills including Speaking spontaneously Developing effective listening skills Organizing and presenting …

December 20, 2023December 15, 2023 by Eugene Sicat

Nurturing Growth and Success In the Next Six Months As we embark on our journey of the next six months, it’s crucial to define our aspirations and set clear objectives for the betterment of our Toastmasters clubs. Here are some key focus areas that could potentially shape the path forward: 1. Grow Membership: Initiating targeted outreach programs to attract new members. Implementing retention strategies to ensure a sustainable increase in our club’s size. 2. Help Members Achieve Personal Goals: Conducting …

January 1, 2024December 11, 2023 by Debbie Walker

Road to Regina Paving the Way https://youtu.be/hq2bavwrTmY?si=sZP6UkAvabraOs91 I am the Education Chair for the District 42 Spring Conference which will be held in Regina, May 3 – 5, 2024 and I (along with the entire conference committee) have been hard at work planning for a fantastic event!In 2022 I attended my first-ever District conference which was in Ontario. When I flew out there my mindset was, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime,” and it proved to be life-changing! By …

November 29, 2023November 28, 2023 by Verge Monton

20 Years In The Making It was one cool December 2004 evening when I had dinner with a university friend. It had been years since we saw each other, and it was an excellent opportunity to reminisce about our school days.One thing that night stuck in my mind; a new strange word I hadn’t heard before. Toastmasters.I started to become curious about what it was about. First, I thought it was a group of people baking and cooking something; like …

October 31, 2023 by Marcy Field

Are you struggling to make the most of LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking platform? With over 500 million members across 200 countries, it can feel overwhelming to stand out and effectively leverage this powerful tool. A professionally crafted LinkedIn profile is more than just an online resume – it’s a branding powerhouse that can open doors to opportunities and networks you never knew existed. But how do you create a profile that truly represents your professional brand and catches …

October 4, 2023September 29, 2023 by Daisy Wei

Embrace Excellence Awards and Incentives Await Your Club’s Triumph District 42 is rolling the red carpet to honor clubs that reach for the stars and achieve the prestigious Club Fitness Award and the inspiring 7 out of 7 Incentive. The Club Fitness Award is your golden ticket to recognition. Clubs that dazzle us by meeting three remarkable requirements before October 31, 2023, will be in for a treat. Update your TMI Roster, Conduct the “Moments of Truth” from the Successful …

August 30, 2023 by Twila Tayfel

SCAM ALERT! Scams are everywhere around us. With the advent of email and social media, scammers have become better and better at deceiving people. How can you avoid being a victim of email scams? 1. Don’t open emails from a person or company you don’t recognize. If you do open these emails, avoid clicking any links. 2. If you recognize the name of the sender and you open the email, check the following Are you addressed personally? If so, is …

August 18, 2023August 14, 2023 by Mary Schoendorfer

Toastmasters is evolving! The DTM Master Mind Group is considering new ways that Speechcraft, can be explored. The next meeting, in September, will introduce a way Speechcraft might support the formation of a new club. The digital Speechcraft Program is a new way of delivering this program. Perhaps it being different can be an opportunity rather than a challenge. We will connect with some members who have run this program, and others from out of District 42 who have leveraged …

August 16, 2023July 3, 2023 by Eugene Sicat

Call for District Leaders Call for Area Director We are still looking for Area Directors to lead some areas in Divisions C, E & F. As Area Director, you serve a vital role in Toastmasters. Of all District leaders, you are the closest to clubs and members and are a direct link between them and the Division and District. It’s a rewarding role with many responsibilities. During your term you will do the following: Visit every club in your area …

August 30, 2023July 3, 2023 by Eugene Sicat

New Beginning Kudos to all our leaders who have taken a new role or are continuing similar positions in our district. We cannot thank you enough for doing this. Some of us could still be wondering, “How can we live up to the expectation?”, or even “Where do we start?” or “How can we keep to this?”.I can share this excerpt below from one of my favourite movies “Forrest Gump” as this has helped me in many of the journeys …

May 28, 2023 by Bev LeBlanc

Celebrating Accomplishments Dear Members, As we approach the end of another remarkable year, it is with great pleasure and a sense of pride that I reflect upon our collective accomplishments and the progress we have made. Together, we have navigated through challenges, embraced opportunities, and achieved remarkable milestones that have shaped our district’s success. Over the past year, our team has exhibited unwavering commitment, resilience, and a shared vision propelling us forward. Collectively, so much was accomplished and I take …

April 7, 2023April 7, 2023 by Christina Kruis

MORE THAN SEX AND MONEY “There are two things people want more than sex and money: recognition and praise.”Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”Mother Teresa HOW do we recognize and appreciate? Ribbons Money Promotion Certificates Cake Prizes Handwritten notes Words of gratitude Pat on the back Announcements Video Awards WHY do we recognize and appreciate? reflects the core values of the organization someone sees …

March 1, 2023March 1, 2023 by Bev LeBlanc

March – Month of Madness March is a month of renewal, growth, and change. As the winter months come to a close, the days become longer (YAHOO!) and the air becomes warmer (sometimes). Spring is on the horizon and with it comes the promise of new beginnings and fresh starts—tulips break ground and the smell of newly-mowed lawn is in the air. This month, take the time to reflect on your goals and aspirations. Make the SMART. Whether you have …

March 22, 2023February 28, 2023 by Eugene Sicat

Status of Club Officer Training Highlights: 46.28% of officers trained See detailed status here. 7 out of 7 incentive We have 6 clubs that have achieved 7 officers trained during the 1st and the 2nd round of training. Congratulations to the exceptional, extraordinary, and excellent work from the following clubs: We are truly proud of you. You set an outstanding example for our district. Worth to mention other clubs that were close to achieving it where they have achieved 7 of 7 during …

January 31, 2023 by Chuck LeBlanc

SHINE THE LIGHT Stories of Inspiration and Success In District 42 we believe that every member has a story to tell. Stories which can bring hope to other members who might be stuck, and inspiration to clubs which may be languishing. District Director Bev LeBlanc wants to leave a legacy of hope and inspiration by collecting these stories and sharing them on our District website. Her goal is to collect and share 200 stories from our members and clubs. We …

January 30, 2023January 29, 2023 by Bev LeBlanc

The Heart Tree The ‘LOVE’ month is upon us. You’ll likely see hearts & flowers everywhere. You may receive Valentine’s notes from many sources. Let me be one of the first to give you one: I find it almost unbelievable that we are more than halfway through our Toastmasters year together. There are fewer than five months left until another team takes the reins. So many members have contributed countless hours & ideas to help make the Toastmasters experience better …

March 22, 2023January 27, 2023 by Eugene Sicat

Time Management Tips That Work There are so many valuable and excellent articles in TI. Here is another one that I read recently on “Tips for Time Management“. It talked about several techniques, from: Creating a Time Audit, Having a Power Hour, Batching similar tasks together, Rating tasks based on importance or difficulty and organizing your day accordingly; Creating routines, Setting time limits to get things done, and Challenging to put a time limit on tasks. I particularly like 3 of …

January 29, 2023January 20, 2023 by Stacey Kaminski

Getting Creative With Public Relations Brave Branding Be familiar with the Toastmasters brand and the core pillars of the organization. In Toastmasters, all members are guided by integrity, respect, service, and excellence. Start thinking outside of the box and be bold with your messaging. Each club is different and unique, don’t be afraid to advertise these quirks! Stats Knowing more about your membership is a great way to research what means most to your members which will help you create a …

January 27, 2023January 19, 2023 by Vesna Ivkovic

Promoting Your Club Event Do you know how to promote your club event? District 42 Event calendar is used mainly for District, Division and Area advertising. Special events such as Club Anniversaries or special guest speaker events might also find their way to our Event Calendar. So where does that leave our clubs? Social media is the answer. Does your club have a Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn page or any other Social Media Platform? This is where you can promote your …

January 1, 2023December 31, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

Leadership Is About Behavior, Not Titles I read this article – Leadership Is About Behavior, Not Titles – last year and have been thinking about it and applying it since then. I wanted to know if I ever fall into the category of being a leader for the title. I never really understood the difference during my early years in leadership at work, but I think I fell more into that category during those years (not easy for me to admit). …

January 1, 2023December 28, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

Holiday Greetings Dear fellow Toastmasters, As we approach the end of another year, it is a time to reflect on all that we have achieved and to look forward to the new opportunities that lie ahead. I am grateful for this opportunity to extend warm holiday greetings to all of you, and to express my deep appreciation for your dedication and commitment to our shared mission. Toastmasters is a wonderful organization that brings people together from all walks of life, …

November 30, 2022October 30, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

Club Fitness Award Recipients At the time we are writing this article, we have identified some of the clubs in our district that have achieved the Club Fitness Award. With the help of our Area Directors, we confirmed that they have completed: Renewing and updating their Club Success Plan Verifying Club Roster Conducting a Moments of Truth Club Roster Administrative tasks aren’t sexy, and there really isn’t anything to show for the effort! But these are the invisible jobs that make a Club run smoothly. …

October 28, 2022October 28, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

A Success Plan for Life Looking at the calendar on my wall, instead of just seeing the days filled with things to do, if I step back a bit, I see we have already ended our first quarter of the year. Who snapped their fingers & made it so? 39 or 39ish. How many of you can guess what this number means? It is the number of days until CHRISTMAS (depending on when you read this article). Again, someone snapped …

September 30, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

Where do We Go From Here? As District Director, I have a vision: It seems I’m asking myself this question almost every week. The District (as in all of us) finishes one round of activities, only to start another. Let’s consider where we are at this moment. As of July 1, we had 101 active clubs. We now have 108 paid clubs. Yahoo! I have no doubt we will soar even more. This is a year of rebuilding as our …

September 29, 2022 by Brian Fegan

Sponsoring a New Club What is a Club Sponsor? A club sponsor is assigned to each new club attempting to charter and plays a fundamental role in successfully creating a new Toastmasters club. The Club Extension Committee assigns club sponsors based on inquiries or applications from members progressing towards the Distinguished Toastmaster accreditation. A club sponsor is an experienced Toastmaster with leadership skills, a passion for Toastmasters, and a strong dedication to helping charter a new club. Each new club …

September 29, 2022September 15, 2022 by Ron MacTavish

Adding value to your Toastmaster club After thirty months of the global pandemic, businesses, government bodies, and volunteer organizations all realize they must deliver more value to their customers and members than they have been able to recently muster. But can a battered Toastmaster club add value? The best way for a club to approach this situation is to do a thorough review of their current strengths as they complete their annual Club Success Plan. Do a SWOT or SOAR …

September 1, 2022August 26, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

Message From D42 District Director We have been blessed with a fabulous summer. A little bit of rain, a little bit of thunder & lightning, a little bit of Toastmasters. District 42 has always had clubs which like to take a respite from their weekly meetings. Other clubs continue without a break. Whichever type your club is, these next few weeks will get all of us back on track to improving our meetings, attracting new members, but not forgetting those …

August 26, 2022August 26, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

The Platinum Rule An article on the Platinum Rule caught my attention recently as it relates to how we serve our members. We are accustomed to the traditional Golden Rule where “we treat other people the way we like to be treated.” This article pointed out that such a golden rule may not be the best way. To serve others in a more efficient, effective, and everlasting way is by applying this – “Treat other people how they want to …

August 26, 2022August 23, 2022 by Brian Fegan

What is a Club Mentor? A Club Mentor is an appointed advisor for a newly formed club. Club Mentors have a great effect on the degree to which a new club succeeds. Who can be a Club Mentor? An experienced Toastmaster in good standing who has completed or is close to completing their first pathway and has been a club officer. What is the Time Commitment for Club Mentor? The assignment term is no less than 6 months to a …

October 27, 2022August 23, 2022 by Christina Kruis

For every imagined goal, a Toastmaster role will lead you to success. Follow the three Leadership Keys and step by step attain your goals. See the attached checklist to get started. Ready Resources Set Team Go! Next Step LEADERSHIP KEYS IN DEMAND Corporations, organizations and communities are hungry for leaders that will propel them into the future successfully. Consider this short list of required qualities and imagine what other skills you can develop through Toastmasters. Relate to others Active listening …

August 26, 2022August 16, 2022 by Mary Schoendorfer

DTM Master Mind The DTM Master Mind Project is up and running! We have many District 42 ADs, DDs and hard-working Toastmasters as part of these groups. Obtaining a DTM award is not everyone’s goal, and is not the reason people usually join Toastmasters, but if it is your goal, or if you just like to take advantage of opportunities that come your way, this is a group we hope you will explore. We heard a presentation from the new …

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

How can I inspire you? Dear District 42 Members How can I inspire you? What do you need to take your Toastmaster membership to the next level? Let’s recap a bit & then look forward. This has been quite the year. We held the first Tall Tales Contest in many years. To say the least, it was fun. Our International Speech Contest winner, Joanne Smith, went to Regional Finals. We had star-studded training, organized by the divisions & the district. …

June 30, 2022June 28, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

Beat the Clock Membership Building Drive We always aim to run meetings on time, finish speeches on time and reach membership goals on time. In essence, we always try to “Beat the Clock”, hence the name given to this period’s incentives. It is indeed an excellent motivator for finishing the year on time and with impressive numbers. The incentive requires adding five new, dual, or reinstated members with a join date between May 1 and June 30. Applications and payments must be …

June 30, 2022June 26, 2022 by Mary Schoendorfer

Lessons Learned Leadership Training I know you go to online meetings all the time and it goes like clockwork! Hah! Nothing goes like clockwork! The difference is whether or not that is obvious! On June 15, the part that did not work was pretty obvious, right off the start! Fortunately, or not, that first big presentation was about leadership, and how we all drop the balls at some point; it is a question of picking them up and getting back …

June 30, 2022June 26, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

Plan for the Upcoming Year “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” -Alan Lakein Reflecting on that quote, we realize that we always get ahead when we plan early. We will likely achieve our goals when we prepare beforehand. We will probably get further ahead when we get started earlier. Here is what our year will look like: We have another exciting year coming. We are keen to have …

June 30, 2022June 21, 2022 by Katrina Aburrow

OTY – Recognizing the Best of the Best District 42 is where Distinguished leaders are made and where we recognize the phenomenal leaders who make our district as successful as it is. We celebrated excellence in leadership at the spring conference with DARE awards for Area Directors and with the District of the Year awards for the leaders who contributed most across our district from 2020 to 2021. The Of the Year awards recognize the best of the best and …

May 1, 2022April 29, 2022 by Katrina Aburrow

You can say YES! We are two short months away from the end of the Toastmaster year for 2021-2022 and it is hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by. I am feeling particularly inspired after our annual conference, and feel energized and ready to support our clubs and leaders to make this year a great success! In addition to celebrating success at our conference, we elected a new District trio and Division Directors who will begin their …

May 1, 2022April 28, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

Planting A Toastmasters Garden Dare we breathe & believe spring has finally sprung? My Mom used to say “Never plant the garden until after the long weekend in May.” Planting a garden takes planning, organization, & follow-through. The type of garden you plant (flowers/vegetables/rocks) is key; size is another important component as is location. Then, you need to decide what plants go beside others (potatoes, beans, beets, carrots, etc.) Ensuring sturdy plant growth means you must continually take out the …

May 1, 2022April 28, 2022 by Mary Schoendorfer

SIDE BY SIDE VIEW Is side-by-side view something you use in your Zoom sessions? The view the viewer sees in Zoom is something the viewer can control. You can manage this by using the VIEW icon (upper right corner on my screen) to change from Gallery to Speaker view. The side-by-side view is another option and is very useful when the presenter is using slides. This view allows me to see the slide and the gallery beside it on the …

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 by Katrina Aburrow

What does success look like? It’s hard to believe we have only three months left to the Toastmaster year! But what a significant three months ahead of us! We have an exciting annual conference to look forward to – Strike the Right Note, the Power of Pathways – from April 28 to 30. We will have a chance to connect online to see the best speakers in the District enthrall us with their evaluations and International speeches, select and elect …

March 31, 2022March 27, 2022 by Ann Nakaska

Strike the Right Note: The Power of Pathways This year’s conference theme is all about striking the right note by using the power of Pathways. Strike the Right Note: Choosing the Right Partner When Bev LeBlanc asked me to chair the D42 virtual conference and told me to choose who I wanted to work with, it was a no-brainer. I immediately contacted Keith Lee to work with me as co-chair. Keith is a past District Director and educator, who works …

April 28, 2022March 27, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

Membership Building and Retention We have shared several articles on membership building and retention. We think we can talk more about it. With all the tips that you have seen and read, there is one thing in common. It is the focus on WIIFM – What’s in it for them (or me in the guests’ viewpoint)? Let us take a few of those tips starting with these below: Welcome guests warmly Schedule educational speeches Welcome guests warmly We know we …

March 30, 2022March 24, 2022 by Harvey Taphorn

Streaming Live to the District YouTube Account For Division Contests Have you ever wondered how to live stream from Zoom to YouTube? Here are the instructions: Print these instructions, have them nearby (i.e. one less screen/tab to have open). Login to the District Zoom Account Join the meeting with the above credentials (you should automatically get Host if not, claim it) Remember the view you are in, is the view that will be live, choose “Speaker View” as soon as …

March 24, 2022March 14, 2022 by Christina Kruis

BENEFITS OF THE AREA DIRECTOR EXPERIENCE Build verbal and non-verbal communications skills. Being able to share information in a clear and efficient way. Learn to keep the lines of communication open with the clubs, either through club visits, Area Council meetings, phone and/or email communications. Area Directors connect with club executives who share all information with club members. Strengthen interpersonal and team-building skills. Ensuring a club remains healthy requires a team effort. Form good relationships with the club executives and …

February 28, 2022February 27, 2022 by Vesna Ivkovic

DCP Go-Getter Award Winners The DCP Go-Getter Award was designed to highlight the importance of Membership growth and retention. Striving to attain the 10 prescribed DCP goals in a Toastmaster year, helps create a dynamic club environment and a quality member experience. Just as members are at the heart of a Club, a quality member experience is at the heart of that Club’s Mission statement. Everyone will want to belong to a club that delivers on that mission of a …

February 28, 2022February 25, 2022 by Katrina Aburrow

What inspires you? One thing that I love about Toastmasters is that it is so flexible that it meets a wide variety of needs with the same program. I like to think it stretches to meet you where you are. If you need help with your career or need to prepare for an interview, we have the Dynamic Leadership path or table topics. If you are feeling a little isolated or lonely and want to meet some new people, come …

February 28, 2022February 24, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

Let’s roar together WOW! Did you see January and February fly by with lightning speed? Where did the time go? Let me give you a brief recap of the past couple of months: 3 Division training sessions with more than 300 officers and members attending At least 12 educational sessions Area & Division Council Meetings Open House Celebrations Planning for Contest Season We have four months left of this Toastmaster year. How are you going to go out—like a lamb …

May 1, 2022February 23, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

Building Membership We have been campaigning for the “Talk Up Toastmasters” award recently. It covers the increase in membership during February and March primarily through spreading the word and bringing guests to your club meeting. We already have one club in our district that has gained five members in February – “Igniters Club.” Here are the tips from Igniters Club. We have two more clubs that are getting there, with three new members in February: “Twin Towers Toastmasters Club” and “Calgary Talking …

February 28, 2022February 19, 2022 by Harvey Taphorn

Speeches on Zoom It’s March 2022, almost two years of Zoom Toastmaster meetings. And right now it’s contest season. Whether you are doing a speech just because or entering a contest, here are a couple of tips. Update your Zoom software (it’s free)https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362233-Upgrading-Zoom-to-the-latest-version One reason for updating is if the Zoom Host asks you to use a new Zoom function, you will be able to do it. Make sure you are not backlit; which is having a window or bright …

February 28, 2022February 16, 2022 by Christina Kruis

ONE NOTE AT A TIME Leadership Training – January 29, 2022 ONE NOTE AT A TIME D42 Leadership Training performed at the Zoom auditorium on Saturday, January 29 to a packed house of over 150 eager and enthusiastic fans! Making a Difference, ONE BOX AT A TIME with Shelter Box was directed by Stephanie Christensen. Please find out how you can help disaster relief assistance in one simple step HERE. Finish the Race ONE KM AT A TIME with Super …

February 28, 2022January 30, 2022 by Twila Tayfel

DID YOU KNOW District 42 Website February 17, 2022 Visit the District 42 website to begin exploring. It is a treasure trove of information. To help with navigation on the District website, there are several tabs to click on: Home, About, Events, Members, Clubs, Districts, Opportunities, Blog, Find a Club and Search. These tabs are located at the top of the home page. If you click on home, you will return to the main page of https://d42tm.org If you’re planning …

February 28, 2022January 25, 2022 by Bev LeBlanc

RE-INVENTING OURSELVES Through Dreaming, Planning & Changing Perhaps you find it interesting, as I do, how quickly time seems to pass when we are adults as opposed to how slowly it seems to go by when we are younger. Remember how Christmas always seemed so far off no matter what month it was. Now in the blink of an eye we are already more than 6 months into our year. Christmas & New Year’s celebrations are behind us. January tends …

February 28, 2022January 24, 2022 by Katrina Aburrow

Are you a Go Getter? I bet you are! I love February, don’t you? The days are getting longer, and the cold snap over Christmas seems like a distant memory. I’ve attended District and Club Leadership training and I feel renewed and re-energized by better weather, fantastic keynotes and what I know our District will accomplish in the last few months of our year. We had many clubs earn a Go Getter award-a District incentive offered to clubs who achieve …

January 29, 2022January 24, 2022 by Eugene Sicat

Membership Building Fellow Toastmasters, we have come a long way. We have had a challenging year, especially with the pandemic and the membership of our clubs is just one of those things that were affected by it. In any case, we have another six months to go in our Toastmasters calendar year. It has been proven that word of mouth is one of the best ways to grow our clubs, which is the basis of the “Talk Up Toastmasters” membership-building …

May 11, 2022January 21, 2022 by Vesna Ivkovic

Visit An Open House Toastmasters District 42 invites you to the following Toastmaster Club open houses to meet members and watch special guest speakers talk about the importance of communication skills for today’s professionals. Toastmasters clubs provide a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to develop their communication and leadership skills,” says Katrina Aburrow, District 42 Director. After hearing from special speakers, members and guests will enjoy a regular Toastmasters meeting that will include prepared speeches, Table …

January 29, 2022January 17, 2022 by Dan Lee Lonechild

Then & Now: Communications Evolution Technology has been evolving for a long time, along with different forms of communication. The most primitive means of communication are cave paintings, which would then lead to hieroglyphics, all the way down to our modern-day equivalents, emojis. The innovations and imagination of humanity are astounding, as it is terrifying. However, one of the innovations that we are continually progressing in, is how we stay in contact with each other, even through the vastness of …

December 31, 2021December 31, 2021 by Katrina Aburrow

WHAT DOES 2022 HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU? WHAT DOES 2022 HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU? WHAT DOES 2022 HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU? What does 2022 have in store for you? I can hardly believe it is January of a new year! It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that it was January of 2021, and I was wondering what 2021 would hold for me. At that time, I was the D42 Club Growth Director, marvelling that …

December 31, 2021December 28, 2021 by Robyn Taphorn

DCP Go-Getter Award The mission of a Toastmasters Club is to provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. What are the goals of your Club? An updated Club Success Plan will list the goals your Club hopes to achieve. Where are you starting from? A Moments of Truth with input from all members, will give a snapshot of where you are. How …

December 31, 2021December 27, 2021 by Susan Faber

Congratulations! Your Club has its own Zoom Account. Now what? You will need to “sign in” with an ID and PW by creating an email address that can be used in the future by the club. A suggestion would be clubnamezoom@gmail.com. This means that this can be transferred at anytime to the member(s) who will be learning the settings and opening meetings. I would highly recommend this info be given to the executives who will open the meeting. Perhaps the …

December 31, 2021December 25, 2021 by Cheri Morrison

Dynamically Speaking Toastmasters Like a beacon of light during this challenging time Dynamically Speaking Toastmasters has fostered communication, connection, and collaboration to its club members. Our diverse membership, of fifty-three participants, range in age from their 20’s to their 70’s andjoin us from five countries and three continents. Currently, we are the second-largest Toastmasters Club in Canada. While we do love the “bragging rights” associated with a large club, this is secondary to the relationships we develop with each of …

November 1, 2022December 20, 2021 by Vesna Ivkovic

Igniters Toastmasters Another year of Igniting Spirits! Igniters Toastmasters like many other clubs had a challenging year. We were able find solutions and energize the members to keep Igniting Spirits! We are proud of being a President’s Distinguished Club for the past 7 years in a row and a place where laughter, learning, and friendship flourished. Mentoring is a cornerstone at our club to help members grow. Our President embraced using Zoom for our meetings. Having technical expertise and being …

November 30, 2021November 25, 2021 by Bev LeBlanc

CREATING A SYMPHONY TOGETHER Wow! What a couple of weeks it’s been. Six Division contests & 27 Area contests. Just WOW! Congratulations to all contestants but especially to the winners. In competitions a judging team selects winners, those who received top honours. We celebrate their giving their best, creating a beautiful rhythm to their words. I believe, however & as trite as it seems, there are no losers. Each person who stood before an audience, presented their speech, & learned …

November 30, 2021November 19, 2021 by Ruby Gunna

You can be a Zoom Master too! Does your club have a Zoom Master for club meetings? Welcome to the new norm-Virtual Toastmaster Club meetings. Over the past year, many of us have been zooming in virtually for club meetings, contests, educational and other Toastmaster events. In the real world, no meeting could run without a Toastmaster. I suggest that all Toastmaster clubs where virtual meetings are held should have a Zoom Master of the Day (ZMOD). In the last …

December 1, 2021November 18, 2021 by Eugene Sicat

Marketing and growing membership of your club. We can all learn from successful clubs in our district and other districts. We heard many talks on these areas, and we could need some more tweaking or adjustments on how we do things. So here are some of those valuable tips we have seen achieved success: Doing more referrals. 80% of the guests who join Toastmasters meetings are through referrals. This is how we use the good old-fashioned word of mouth for …

November 30, 2021October 18, 2021 by Mary Schoendorfer

District Zoom account for club meetings Is your club using a District Zoom account for club meetings? If so, I can relate! We celebrated the support of District 42 when this online world was suddenly our club’s reality. Knowing that the account cost the District and was provided to us free, made the support very real. But we experienced some unexpected issues with meeting on Zoom. Discovering that our meeting was on a shared account helped our understanding tremendously. Recently, …

October 28, 2021October 18, 2021 by Katrina Aburrow

WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS? Message from the District 42 District Director Katrina Aburrow, DTM I heard a quote recently that says, where your focus goes, your energy flows. It really got me thinking about where our focus is now and where our energy is going. We are one of the only Districts in Region 4 to hold fall contests, so I hope your focus has been on Tall Tales and Table Topics contests, whether as a competitor, official or an …

November 30, 2021September 21, 2021 by Katrina Aburrow

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? Message from the District 42 District Director Katrina Aburrow, DTM He who fails to plan is planning to fail. Sir Winston Churchill Most of us are familiar with this quote from Sir Winston Churchill. It means a lot to me because of my experience in planning through Toastmasters. I used to think that I had zero experience in planning and my lack of confidence in strategic planning made job interviews particularly scary. I didn’t realize that …

November 30, 2021September 21, 2021 by Eugene Sicat

SMEDLEY CLUB AWARD Message from Eugene Sicat, District 42 Club Growth Director Big salutes and congratulations to the two clubs in our district, Wascana Club and Dynamically Speaking, who have already added five new members as of September 15, and we are still 15 days before the deadline for the prestigious Smedley Club Award. As of September 15, we have 3 other clubs who are very close to reaching 5 new members. By September 30, we sure hope more clubs …

November 30, 2021September 16, 2021 by Bev LeBlanc

IT’S ALL ABOUT OUR ATTITUDE Making Music Together Message from the D42 Program Quality Director Bev LeBlanc, DTM I was watching a baseball game a couple of days ago. The score was 16 to 4 in the third inning. 16 to 4 in the THIRD inning. That’s a football score! As I was shaking my head, feeling sorry for the underdog, I remembered something I once heard Wayne Gretzky say in an interview: “When you are winning, the game is …

November 30, 2021September 1, 2021 by Lynette Theriault

HYBRID MEETINGS – A WAY FORWARD As our world keeps changing, so too do our Toastmaster meetings. Where we once didn’t think it possible to be 100% virtual, here we are – and many clubs are thriving in this medium! Now we are faced with the opportunity to pivot once again. Do we revert back to strictly in-person meetings? Do we stay online and carry on virtually for the foreseeable future? Or, perhaps, do we consider melding those two worlds …

August 31, 2021August 16, 2021 by Irma Goosen

Toastmasters District 42 Youth Leadership Program Toastmasters International has been invested in the Youth for many years. They’ve put together a training that was implemented successfully over time. However, Christina Kruis, Direct Past District Director for District 42, felt that to connect with younger kids, we had to adapt the program in such a way that we could engage with them. We had a pilot program at the Seton Library Calgary in 2019 run by the current Region 4 PRM, …

November 30, 2021August 3, 2021 by Harvey Taphorn

ZOOM TIDBITS Most, if not every Toastmaster in District 42 (Southern AB & SK) has experienced Zoom. And you can obtain your own account from Zoom, for free. In fact, many people use Zoom this way. Sure it has limitations compared to a paid account, but what you get for free, is an outstanding deal. And it allows you to play around with Zoom, and not break anything You can join someone’s Zoom meeting easily, especially if they send you …

August 31, 2021July 31, 2021 by Vesna Ivkovic

The Calgary Pace Setters Toastmasters Club celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 1, 2021. In honor of the occasion, a special meeting was held virtually on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021. Numerous current and past members along with distinguished Area, Division, and District guests attended the virtual party. The year was 1991-a year filled with many historic moments. The USSR formally dissolved, the first-ever website (titled the World Wide Web) was launched, Silence of the Lambs won the Academy Award for best picture, becoming …

August 12, 2021June 11, 2021 by Vesna Ivkovic

Sonshine Clubs - Southern Alberta and Southern Saskatchewan

Are you looking for a Toastmasters meeting to attend over the summer? Look no further. To register your club as a Sunshine Club, please please submit Club name, meeting days/times, and contact info to D42 PRM. To qualify for the Sunshine Virtual Badge, submissions must be received by June 30, 2021. Any submission received after that date will be listed; however, the club will not receive the Sunshine Club Badge. If you’re interested in attending a meeting during July or …

March 26, 2021March 7, 2021 by Ron MacTavish

A photo of a Zoom meeting with Dynamically Speaking Toastmasters

A year ago, Dynamically Speaking Toastmasters was a Lethbridge based club, with a long record of President’s Distinguished status. In place was a 4-person mentoring team, and 25 members. On average, 17 members and guests graced our meetings. Today Dynamically Speaking is an Alberta based club with international connections. The difference is there is now a 13-person mentoring team and 37 members. Additionally, approximately 32 members and guests magically materialize, Thursdays at 6:45 a.m. (MST) What happened? Nothing more …

November 30, 2021March 6, 2021 by Christina Kruis

High Performance Leadership inspires and guides. Good leaders build an environment where visions are developed. They support a team while goals are achieved. In other words, a leader who motivates others to join them and contribute, is a high performance leader. Practise and grow your skills in real-world situations by doing a High Perfomance Leadership Project. High Performance Leadership (HPL) Projects in District 42 create leaders. These leaders cultivate something new while enhancing valuable leadership wisdom for the future. Effective …

March 1, 2021 by Grant Hanna

Ten area directors began their DARE journey not only to discover and enhance their leadership skills but also to be recognized for their journey. The recognition is the DARE award based on the four aspects of an Area Director journey. Develop (leadership style) Achieve (success plan) Relate (to clubs and members) Encourage (quality clubs) The Journey Continues Although it has been a challenging year, they have journeyed well. The DARE award will recognize the effort which they have made and …

March 3, 2021February 28, 2021 by Randy Maus

If you feel you are ready for a new challenge, don’t step forward in Toastmasters – jump forward! The scariest speech for a Toastmaster to give is their very first ice breaker speech. Subsequently, it may tie your stomach in knots and cause you to perspire more than usual. That fear is a great indicator that you are doing something new and expanding your learning and abilities. As we become experienced Toastmasters and begin to master the 5-7 minute speech. There is …

February 28, 2021February 23, 2021 by Vesna Ivkovic

June 11, 2021February 3, 2021 by Vesna Ivkovic

A computer monitor with a Zoom meeting screen. A coffee cup set beside it.

Toastmasters District 42 invites you to the following Toastmaster Club open houses to meet members and watch special guest speakers talk about the importance of communication skills for today’s professionals. Toastmasters clubs provide a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to develop their communication and leadership skills,” says Christina Kruis, District 42 Director. After hearing from special speakers, members and guests will enjoy a regular Toastmasters meeting that will include prepared speeches, Table Topics™ (impromptu speeches) and …

January 30, 2021 by Vesna Ivkovic

It’s that time of year again – February! Time to Talk Up Toastmasters! Let’s ramp up our membership recruitment efforts for our clubs! Talk Up Open Houses We invited guests to January Open Houses. Or we are going to invite them to our February Open House. Guess what – your club can win a membership recruitment award! That’s right, sign up your guests. Then get them involved as new members in your club from February 1 to …

January 16, 2021January 16, 2021 by Irma Goosen

It was time to move the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program online. Learn what it took to create a pilot program for global implementation.

December 27, 2020December 15, 2020 by Vesna Ivkovic

Long time member survey My club, Literally Speaking, has several members that have been here for many years, ten years or more. Also, the seven club members who have earned the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award. Without a doubt, I realized the participation of these members has been fundamental to my growth. Moreover, they are vital to the success of my club. Therefore, why is it important that these members stay? Obviously, all of these members are unique. Consequently, they all …

December 17, 2020December 7, 2020 by Laura Chambers

Feedback for Division Winners We had six humorous speakers, as well as four of our six Table Topics contestants, all Division winners sharpening their skills to go forward to District on Saturday, Dec 5th. Humorous speakers showcased their speeches. Then, the sharp minds and wit of the Table Topics competitors left us in awe. Honestly! What could possibly be a better, more entertaining way to spend a Friday evening? Frequently, competitors commented about how surprising it was that the feedback …

November 27, 2020November 21, 2020 by Grant Hanna

Toastmasters District 42 has a new award. It recognizes the one-year journey of an Area Director. The DARE award augments the traditional scoreboard performance approach. DARE considers the four elements which yield success as a director. Developing a leadership style reinforces the ‘where leaders are made’ Toastmasters International hashtag. Achieving tasks reinforces the district mission of supporting the clubs. Relating to the executive and members reinforces that areas work as a team. Encouraging clubs to be recognized reinforces the concept …

November 18, 2020November 15, 2020 by Amanda Price

Ilana Herzberg – Brand Strategist at Toastmasters International On October 23rd, 2020 Toastmasters District 42 had a special visitor all the way from Denver, Colorado – Ilana Herzberg, current brand strategist at Toastmasters International. She presented an informative lesson about Toastmasters branding and how it goes beyond the logo. In her words: “It’s easy to get lost in the fonts, colours and logos… but it’s so much more than that – it’s what it represents! A brand is alive; …

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