We started our Club Improvement Day program this morning. Donna was the Toastmaster and she presented the "Beginning Your Speech" module from the "Better Speaker Series". For our club members who could not make it to our meeting this morning, here is a quick recap on the "Beginning Your Speech" educational module:
1. Criteria for a successful speech openings:
- Get the attention of the audience
- Introduce the topic
- Establish rapport
- Take less than five to 10 percent of the entire speech time.
2. Some opening techniques:
- State the importance of your topic
- Make a startling statement
- Arouse suspense or curiosity
- Tell a story or anecdote
- Ask a rhetorical question
- Begin with a quotation
- Reference the occasion
It was a good educational module for our new members and a good refresher for the seasoned Toastmasters as well. We tend to select a few opening techniques that work best for us and kept using them. Over time, this had become a habit and we had forgotten to try out some other techniques that we are not familiar with.
Donna did an excellent job this morning. She presented the information in a very concise way, easy to grasp and easy to understand. She also managed the time very well as a Toastmasters: we had two longer speeches this morning and with all the information presented, we still ended the meeting on time.
Our "Club Improvement Day" is still under evaluation (and scrutinization). It seems to work well this morning with Donna as our Toastmaster. Maybe Donna is an experienced Toastmaster and that's why it turned out right. We do not know yet. We will continue to monitor the progress in the meantime and make adjustment if it is necessary. If any of you have any comment or suggestions, please feel free to let us know.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS TO RANDALL MERRIOTT (TALL TALE CONTEST WINNER) AND RUSS PETIT (EVALUATION CONTEST WINNER) !!
If you can make it, please come out and support Randall and Russ on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Area 61 Speech Contests to be held at the LP&L Operational Unit on 404 Municipal Drive at 9:30am. This building is right across from MacKenzie Park. Link for the map.
The contests should last about 2 hours. Plus, it will give you a chance to hear, meet, and greet other Toastmasters from around Lubbock. It should be a lot of fun…
If you can make it, please come out and support Randall and Russ on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Area 61 Speech Contests to be held at the LP&L Operational Unit on 404 Municipal Drive at 9:30am. This building is right across from MacKenzie Park. Link for the map.
The contests should last about 2 hours. Plus, it will give you a chance to hear, meet, and greet other Toastmasters from around Lubbock. It should be a lot of fun…
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tall Tale and Evaluation Contest
Siva and Pelin are chairing the Fall 2008 Tall Tale and Evaluation Contest. The club level contest will be on September 23rd, 2008 during club meeting. There is no specific eligibility concern for this contest. As long as you are a paid member in a club with good standing, you are eligible to participate.
Tall Tale is a three to five minute speech on something outlandish and funny. Evaluation is two to three minute, evaluating a target speaker. Winner from our club will proceed to Area level contest, which will be on October 4th, 2008, 9.30 a.m. in LP&L Operation Center in Lubbock.
All members are encouraged to participate. Please inform Siva or Pelin as soon as you have decided. Guests are welcome to attend the contest as well.
Tall Tale is a three to five minute speech on something outlandish and funny. Evaluation is two to three minute, evaluating a target speaker. Winner from our club will proceed to Area level contest, which will be on October 4th, 2008, 9.30 a.m. in LP&L Operation Center in Lubbock.
All members are encouraged to participate. Please inform Siva or Pelin as soon as you have decided. Guests are welcome to attend the contest as well.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Area 61 Governer Visit
Our Area 61 Governer, Ms. Lacy Stone visited our club this morning. She presented a speech on our club new alliance and a hands-on exercise to help club members remember where we are in our new Division. Once our President got the feedback on the performance, it will be posted here.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Officer Meeting Report
The officers of Club 884 had an officer meeting on September 8th, 6pm at J&B Coffee House. 83.33% of the officers attended the meeting. Following is a summary of the decisions made during meeting:
1. Encourage all members to purchase and wear nametag during the meeting.
2. Create a guest package for our guests.
3. Revive the mentor-mentee program for new members. Assign a mentor for all new members.
4. Encourage all members to review the details/duties of each meeting roles as stated in the CC manual and actively perform all the duties noted in the manual.
5. Club 884 official meeting time is 6.30 a.m. to 7.45 a.m. Toastmaster is responsible to ensure that each meeting ends on time.
6. The first Tuesday of each month is designated as the "Club Improvement Day". The Toastmaster for that meeting is responsible to conduct a manual from Successful Club/Better Speaker/Leadership Excellence series as the theme for the day. Any member who is interested in presenting and obtaining credit for ALB and ACS, please contact the VPE to get scheduled. If no volunteer, the VPE will assign members that are qualify to conduct such series.
7. Members that are working on advanced manual should contact VPE if the speech project requires more than 15 minutes presentation time.
8. Purchase Successful Club Series for club members' use. The Successful Club Series will remain in the club cabinet. Members can check out the material from the Sargeant at Arms.
9. Purchase a computer projector for club use. Members that wish to use the projector should contact the Sargeant at Arms before hand to have the projector set up before the meeting. Also, members will need to bring his/her own notebook computer for that purpose.
10. Members are highly encouraged to organize social events for the club.
1. Encourage all members to purchase and wear nametag during the meeting.
2. Create a guest package for our guests.
3. Revive the mentor-mentee program for new members. Assign a mentor for all new members.
4. Encourage all members to review the details/duties of each meeting roles as stated in the CC manual and actively perform all the duties noted in the manual.
5. Club 884 official meeting time is 6.30 a.m. to 7.45 a.m. Toastmaster is responsible to ensure that each meeting ends on time.
6. The first Tuesday of each month is designated as the "Club Improvement Day". The Toastmaster for that meeting is responsible to conduct a manual from Successful Club/Better Speaker/Leadership Excellence series as the theme for the day. Any member who is interested in presenting and obtaining credit for ALB and ACS, please contact the VPE to get scheduled. If no volunteer, the VPE will assign members that are qualify to conduct such series.
7. Members that are working on advanced manual should contact VPE if the speech project requires more than 15 minutes presentation time.
8. Purchase Successful Club Series for club members' use. The Successful Club Series will remain in the club cabinet. Members can check out the material from the Sargeant at Arms.
9. Purchase a computer projector for club use. Members that wish to use the projector should contact the Sargeant at Arms before hand to have the projector set up before the meeting. Also, members will need to bring his/her own notebook computer for that purpose.
10. Members are highly encouraged to organize social events for the club.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Moments of Truth (II)
Our VP Education, Ms Wiki Aguas completed the Moments of (second half) Truth on August 19th. Members of the club were split into three groups; each group evaluates two areas that TI deems as crucial in influencing members and potential members.
The ratings on each of the six critical areas that influence our members or potential members are:
1. First impressions - 4 over 6
2. Membership orientation - 4 over 6
3. Fellowship, variety and communication - 5.5 over 6
4. Program planning and meeting organization - 5.5 over 6
5. Membership strength - 4 over 6
6. Achievement recognition - 6 over 6
The minimum ratings for each of the six critical areas are 4 out of 6 for our club, as evaluated by our members. Based on this evaluation, our club is in a good standing according to the Moments of Truth manual. However, given that we are evaluating ourselves, there is a high possibility of bias and rating leniency. We should probably give ourselves a pat on the shoulder, then move on to the recommendations that our club members suggested. Following are a few highlights that the club officers had decided to implement:
1. End on time.
2. Every first Tuesday of the month, Toastmaster presents a program from The Better Speaker Series/Better Club Series/Leadership Excellence Series. This is to provide more opportunities for members to enhance their speaking skills beyond the basic manuals and evaluations.
3. Notes and phone calls made to visitors and prospective members (standardize this practice).
For the detail of the standard rating and recommendations by our members, please click on the link.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Moments of Truth (I)
Wiki Aguas conducted half of the Moments of Truth (or Moments of Half Truth??) Module from the Successful Club Series this morning. Moments of Truth Module can be conducted in two separate sessions: first part is a speech on the conduct of a club's regular meeting and the influence on members and potential members, second part is an honest and objective evaluation by all the attending members to assess the club's strengths and weaknesses that our club needs to address.
From the Moments of Truth Module, the Moments of Truth as applied to our club specifically is defined as "A Moment of Truth is an episode when a prospective member or Toastmaster comes in contact with any aspect of the Toastmasters experience and forms an impression of a Club's quality and service."
The six critical areas that influence our members or potential members are:
1. First impressions
2. Membership orientation
3. Fellowship, variety and communication
4. Program planning and meeting organization
5. Membership strength
6. Achievement recognition
For those members who missed the meeting morning, Wiki Aguas will be conducting the second half of the Moments of Truth on August 19th. All members are encouraged to attend and provide his/her evaluation as this will help the club greatly.
From the Moments of Truth Module, the Moments of Truth as applied to our club specifically is defined as "A Moment of Truth is an episode when a prospective member or Toastmaster comes in contact with any aspect of the Toastmasters experience and forms an impression of a Club's quality and service."
The six critical areas that influence our members or potential members are:
1. First impressions
2. Membership orientation
3. Fellowship, variety and communication
4. Program planning and meeting organization
5. Membership strength
6. Achievement recognition
For those members who missed the meeting morning, Wiki Aguas will be conducting the second half of the Moments of Truth on August 19th. All members are encouraged to attend and provide his/her evaluation as this will help the club greatly.
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