At the club level, many of the speeches are humdrum. For the most part, the same as true at the Area level, although I'd say as many as 50% are really pretty good. I'm looking forward to my Division contest in a week and a half, since at that level you really start to get a concentration of speaking talent. As far as the District Conference... it's rare to get a mediocre speech at the conference.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Four Area Contests
Sometimes I feel like I am in a Sesame Street episode... as the Count. One... Two.... Three... Four, Four Toastmasters Contests! Ha Ha Ha! Yes, I attended four of my Area's contests this past week, acting as judge in each of them, and as chief judge in two. This Wednesday, I'll be attending the fifth Area contest.
At the club level, many of the speeches are humdrum. For the most part, the same as true at the Area level, although I'd say as many as 50% are really pretty good. I'm looking forward to my Division contest in a week and a half, since at that level you really start to get a concentration of speaking talent. As far as the District Conference... it's rare to get a mediocre speech at the conference.
At the club level, many of the speeches are humdrum. For the most part, the same as true at the Area level, although I'd say as many as 50% are really pretty good. I'm looking forward to my Division contest in a week and a half, since at that level you really start to get a concentration of speaking talent. As far as the District Conference... it's rare to get a mediocre speech at the conference.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Contest Season
It is once again Toastmaster Contest season. We are up against the Fall Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests. Last night, I attended the club contest of Carylina Toastmasters. Next week, four of my five Areas will be holding their contests. The following week is the fifth Area contest. Finally, three weeks from tomorrow (October 10), is the scheduled date for the Division H contest.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Yes yes, yell at me. I haven't been posting on this
blog with any regularity. It's been a stressful 6 months while I was
looking for work. Well, that is coming to an end, since it look's like
I'll be getting the contract with GeoMagic up in RTP/Durham. Tentative
start date is the day after labor day.
Well, I'm the Division H Governor now. I've spent a good chunk of my time in the last two months helping to organize and run both the TLI (East) and the TLI-Lite (East). Now we're getting into the fall Contest season. Clubs are beginning their Humorous Speech and Evaluation contests (BCP's contest is next Thursday, for instance), with Area and Division contests spread over the next couple of months.
I will be attending BCP's contest as a judge. It will also have to be the last meeting of BCP that I attend as a member, since my new job is going to make BCP's 4:30pm meeting time impossible. Well, I knew it was coming.
Moving forward, I hope to post to this blog on a more regular basis... probably weekly.
Well, I'm the Division H Governor now. I've spent a good chunk of my time in the last two months helping to organize and run both the TLI (East) and the TLI-Lite (East). Now we're getting into the fall Contest season. Clubs are beginning their Humorous Speech and Evaluation contests (BCP's contest is next Thursday, for instance), with Area and Division contests spread over the next couple of months.
I will be attending BCP's contest as a judge. It will also have to be the last meeting of BCP that I attend as a member, since my new job is going to make BCP's 4:30pm meeting time impossible. Well, I knew it was coming.
Moving forward, I hope to post to this blog on a more regular basis... probably weekly.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Division Governor and TLI Co-Chair
Long time no post.
Yes, there have been things going on in my life... Toastmaster things. I've been going through some of the process of being invested as the new Division H Governor here in District 37. The official start of my time is July 1, but I'm having to attend various teleconferences, etc. before that time. One of the latest dues has been to call my Area Governor candidates and tell them what they're in form. I think I'll have a full slate... which is a lot better than some of the other Division Governors, some of whom have few or none already proposed.
Also going on is my activities as the TLI-East co-chair. I had hoped to get a double header with this one, making it count as my HPL project, but after looking at the HPL manual, I figure there's no way I can do the HPL justice while doing the job as co-chair. I'll figure out something else to finish that task off.
Currently a member of two clubs: BCP and Carylina. BCP was invited to present a lunchtime DEMO meeting at ABB down the street, and we are planning to do a second special meeting at the ABB site next week (our off week) at the regular time slot. The demo meeting went well, and I'm hoping that the second meeting will as well. BCP is struggling to reach the 20 member goal so we can get a DCP award, and it is possible we could get a lot more than the 2-3 additional members needed to reach 20 from the ABB deal.
Yes, there have been things going on in my life... Toastmaster things. I've been going through some of the process of being invested as the new Division H Governor here in District 37. The official start of my time is July 1, but I'm having to attend various teleconferences, etc. before that time. One of the latest dues has been to call my Area Governor candidates and tell them what they're in form. I think I'll have a full slate... which is a lot better than some of the other Division Governors, some of whom have few or none already proposed.
Also going on is my activities as the TLI-East co-chair. I had hoped to get a double header with this one, making it count as my HPL project, but after looking at the HPL manual, I figure there's no way I can do the HPL justice while doing the job as co-chair. I'll figure out something else to finish that task off.
Currently a member of two clubs: BCP and Carylina. BCP was invited to present a lunchtime DEMO meeting at ABB down the street, and we are planning to do a second special meeting at the ABB site next week (our off week) at the regular time slot. The demo meeting went well, and I'm hoping that the second meeting will as well. BCP is struggling to reach the 20 member goal so we can get a DCP award, and it is possible we could get a lot more than the 2-3 additional members needed to reach 20 from the ABB deal.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
(Two) Week(s) In Review
I really need to keep these blogs up to date when something happens.
Yes, I did go to the District 37 Spring Conference. Had a great time, although I started the weekend with an intestinal bug that made me feel lousy for the first day and a half. Yes, I did win the election to become the Division H Governor elect (really hard... uncontested race). Next week, I expect to attend a meeting with the District Governor and the other local Division Governors to talk about direction, etc.
Last night, attended the Carylina TM meeting, acting as the Table Topics master. I really have to watch the use of some stock phrases...
Yes, I did go to the District 37 Spring Conference. Had a great time, although I started the weekend with an intestinal bug that made me feel lousy for the first day and a half. Yes, I did win the election to become the Division H Governor elect (really hard... uncontested race). Next week, I expect to attend a meeting with the District Governor and the other local Division Governors to talk about direction, etc.
Last night, attended the Carylina TM meeting, acting as the Table Topics master. I really have to watch the use of some stock phrases...
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
It's Official!
No, not anything serious... I have officially (re)joined Carylina Toastmasters. The reason, of course, is that Pam is also getting back to Toastmasters, and Carylina happens to be a club that is convenient for both of us. Of course, at the end of the current year (July), I'll be dropping the BCP membership. It's just not going to be convenient anymore.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
One of THOSE days...
Today was the day for the Area 84 Spring Speech contests. That's my area, and I was the organizer. I spent an hour or so today producing some spiffy agendas. So later, when its time to go to the contest, I dress up in my suit, grab the agendas and go... completely forgetting the contest packages full of forms and the box with the first place trophies.
Yes, one of the DTMs at the contest had some contest forms, so we were able to muddle through... but it was a little embarassing. We got a late start, but since only half of the contestants (possible) attended, we were able to make up the lot time.
Tomorrow, it's onward to Area 83, where I'm only responsible for being a judge, not the whole contest.
Yes, one of the DTMs at the contest had some contest forms, so we were able to muddle through... but it was a little embarassing. We got a late start, but since only half of the contestants (possible) attended, we were able to make up the lot time.
Tomorrow, it's onward to Area 83, where I'm only responsible for being a judge, not the whole contest.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Contest Season
Yes, it's once again contest season. Last night, I stood as chief judge for the spring International Speech and Table Topics contests for Heart of Cary Toastmasters club. I'll be judging at several Area contests, starting tomorrow, and continuing through next week. The Division contests will be later in the month, and of course the District 37 Conference is May 3 - 6, although I don't know if I'll need to judge at the district level.
Last night's contest was held at the Cary Art Center, which used to be the Cary Elementary School, and before that the original Cary High School. Not a bad location, but the air conditioning wasn't working that well in the room we were in... It was 85 when I arrived, and never did get below 82. As chief judge, I had to describe the rules and announce the winners, and I can honestly say that I had a reason to sweat other than nervousness.
Last night's contest was held at the Cary Art Center, which used to be the Cary Elementary School, and before that the original Cary High School. Not a bad location, but the air conditioning wasn't working that well in the room we were in... It was 85 when I arrived, and never did get below 82. As chief judge, I had to describe the rules and announce the winners, and I can honestly say that I had a reason to sweat other than nervousness.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Characteristics of Effective Leaders
Last night, I presented a workshop titled as above to a small group of Toastmasters at one of the local libraries. I wish I'd had a larger group, but it was an interesting program none the less. The workshop content suggests some interesting things about how I can improve my own leadership abilities (and there is a lot to improve).
With this presentation out of the way, I've got everything finished to earn my Advanced Communicator Gold. Next step: AL Silver, and then DTM. Should finish that by August or September.
Also, we held the winter District Executive Committee in Greensboro over the weekend. The list of nominees for the various district officer positions came out, and so far, your truly is the sole contender the the position of District H Governor. Of course, there's always nominations from the floor at the convention, but it bodes well for my aspirations in the District hierarchy.
With this presentation out of the way, I've got everything finished to earn my Advanced Communicator Gold. Next step: AL Silver, and then DTM. Should finish that by August or September.
Also, we held the winter District Executive Committee in Greensboro over the weekend. The list of nominees for the various district officer positions came out, and so far, your truly is the sole contender the the position of District H Governor. Of course, there's always nominations from the floor at the convention, but it bodes well for my aspirations in the District hierarchy.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Spring Club Visits
Yes, its that time again... time for my spring club visits.
One of the duties of a Toastmasters Area Governor is that I make at least two "official" visits to each club in my area, and then report my findings to Toastmasters.org. Last night, I visited Techtalk Toastmasters, the second largest, and arguably the strongest club in Area 84 this year. I try to make it over to Techtalk, located at NetApp in the Triangle, at least once a month. Even though I've been in Toastmasters for nearly five years now, there is still a lot I can learn, and these guys are the kind of club who can do the teaching.
Of course I have already submitted my report for Techtalk. Now I get to look forward to next week when I have my remaining four club visits planned: Carylina Toastmasters, PowerNAAAPsters, Talkers@Cisco, and my home club, BCP Toastmasters.
One of the duties of a Toastmasters Area Governor is that I make at least two "official" visits to each club in my area, and then report my findings to Toastmasters.org. Last night, I visited Techtalk Toastmasters, the second largest, and arguably the strongest club in Area 84 this year. I try to make it over to Techtalk, located at NetApp in the Triangle, at least once a month. Even though I've been in Toastmasters for nearly five years now, there is still a lot I can learn, and these guys are the kind of club who can do the teaching.
Of course I have already submitted my report for Techtalk. Now I get to look forward to next week when I have my remaining four club visits planned: Carylina Toastmasters, PowerNAAAPsters, Talkers@Cisco, and my home club, BCP Toastmasters.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
TLI-East
Yesterday, I spent pretty much the entire day at the District 37 TLI-East in Raliegh. There were a couple of VERY GOOD sessions, including a Moments of Truth presentation, and a session on Advanced Clubs, pressented by immediate past District Governor Sharon Anita Hill. In addition, there was a lot of good information regarding this year's realignment, as well as a wealth of information regarding upcoming dates for various toastmasters events. Glad I was able to attend.
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