It’s a New Toastmasters Year – Do You Want to Make a Difference?

It’s the start of the new Toastmasters year and it’s time for new beginnings and a new Senior Leadership Team. I am pleased to be working with District Director Cindy Hinckley, Program Quality Director Jodie Sanders and Public Relations Manager Mary Walker. I am Chuck Mencke and will be serving as District 25’s Club Growth Director. We have a fantastic team in place that will be helping everyone “Achieve Excellence” in District 25.

My area of focus is growth in members and clubs. I also head up District 25’s Demo Team and recommend club coaches, mentors and sponsors to the District Director. I’ll be chartering new clubs and addressing the needs of clubs that may be challenged and in need of help.

I am asking for your help in making this the best year ever in District 25. First, we’re always looking for dedicated Toastmasters to join our demo team, led by Michael Sheridan. The team conducts abbreviated meetings to show interested companies or groups how a Toastmasters meeting works. We have a wonderful process in place for conducting the meetings, but we need helpers. You can’t put on a play without actors!

Second, I am looking for a Club Support Chair. This detailed-oriented person will monitor existing clubs and help me identify those that are facing challenges and need assistance.

Do you want to make a difference and gain a sense of accomplishment? Then I need YOU to help me grow clubs within District 25. Working together, we can “Achieve Excellence” for our clubs and members.

Chuck Mencke, DTM
Club Growth Director - 2015-2016
District 25 Toastmasters
chuckmencke@d25toastmasters.org

Visit from Region Advisor Linda Williams Inspires D25 to "Finish Strong!"

Linda Williams

District 25 had the honor of a visit from Linda Williams, Region 3 Advisor, last week. A Region Advisor (RA) provides support and advice to district officers, mostly by phone, but also makes one visit in person each year to each district in the region.

It's important to make the most of the RA's time. Organizing the schedule is the responsibility of the Lt. Governor Marketing — that's me. Our Lt Governor Education and Training Cindy Hinckley gave me lots of help. Being a school principal on spring break, Linda was able to arrange a more leisurely visit than the usual jam-packed two day trip. Her husband Tim Williams, DTM, also accompanied her to some events.

Ruth and Steve Bomar, Chuck Mencke
at Panther City demo meeting

We started at noon on Thursday with a demonstration meeting for a new community club in west Fort Worth. Panther City Toastmasters is being spearheaded by Steven Timmons and Steve Bomar, and optimism is high that the club will charter soon because of the enthusiastic response from those who attended. The D25 demo team was in good form.

In the evening, District Governor Marylee Mims joined us on a visit to The Evaluators, an advanced club that specializes in speech evaluations, in Carrollton. Linda and Tim are interested in starting a similar club in their home district so it was fortunate that the monthly meeting was this particular week. Doubly fortunate was that this was the anniversary of the club's chartering, so it was a celebratory occasion, with cake!

Shannon Kingen, Linda and Sonia Lyons
at The Evaluators

On Friday morning, Linda, Cindy and I drove to Waco for the noon meeting of Baylor Orators. We were given a warm reception by the members and Area 41 Governor Louisa Whitehead. Linda got to show off her considerable Table Topics skills.

After the meeting, we were able to talk about a possible future Waco club with one of the members. On the way out of town, we left some Toastmasters materials for a contact at the Greater Waco Chamber. As the Lt Governor Marketing, I am always on the lookout for new club opportunities!

The three of us met Marylee for an early dinner, then we all went on to the Household of Faith Toastmasters meeting in south Arlington, where we enjoyed an excellent meeting and Linda got to practice her speech evaluation skills.

Early on Saturday, we were all at the District Executive Committee meeting and training, where Linda inspired the DEC members with a dynamic keynote about "Finishing Strong." In the afternoon, her presentation "Every Member Counts!" was enlightening, educational and entertaining for the marketing workshop attendees.

This was Linda's last visit to District 25 as RA. We hope for future visits from her — as a friend.

Jodie Sanders

Lt Governor Marketing

Letter from TI about Dues Renewal

Club officers should have received this email from Toastmasters International about dues renewals. If you have any questions about this process, please contact TI as shown below, or Lt Governor Marketing Jodie Sanders at 682-233-2063 or jodiesanders@d25toastmasters.org.

February 26, 2015

Dear Club Officers,

Your club's membership renewal orders will be available February 27, 2015 on the Toastmasters International website.

To submit renewals online, go to www.toastmasters.org/clubcentral and log in using your personal username and password and follow the steps below:

• Click on the club name and number you want to pay renewals for to access the Conduct Club Business menu.
• Click on the option “Pay dues.”
• Select the option of "in the future" and hit submit. All orders with a future membership end date will appear.
• Select the members you wish to pay for and follow the prompts to submit payment. 

Consider these important details when processing membership payments:

• Renewals can be submitted online, by mail or fax. Financial information by email is not secure. 
• Orders can be paid online if using a credit card.  
• For checks, print the Pay dues screen indicating the renewing members and mail it, along with payment, to Toastmasters International. Make checks payable to Toastmasters International. 
• For a club to remain in good standing, it is a requirement that at least eight members must pay dues and three must be renewing. 
• The due date for paying April renewals is April 1, 2015. 

If you have any questions, please contact Member Services by email or call 949-858-8255.

Sincerely,


Toastmasters International
www.toastmasters.org

Planning to Compete in International Speech?

Give yourself an edge on the other contestants!

The Contest Masters are bringing together a lot of experience and expertise in International Speech at this special meeting. You'll get to talk to those who have competed in, judged, organized and attended many, many contests.

Don't miss it!

A Big Step on the Road to DTM: Sponsor, Mentor or Coach?

To be a DTM, you must first be an ALS.

Achieving your Advanced Leader Silver takes some advance planning. It requires: 1) Serving as a district officer, 2) doing a High Performance Leadership project and 3) successfully fulfilling a sponsor, mentor or coach opportunity.

How do you become a sponsor, mentor or coach? These are three very different positions.

The sponsor helps get a new club started. This process may include:

• Coming up with the idea for a new club yourself
• Finding a lead to a group or company that wants a club
• Determining who is the best person to contact or work with at the company
• Getting the information to the Lt Governor Marketing for follow up
• Participating in the demo meeting for the new group
• Assisting with pre-charter meetings
• Assisting the LGM with any other pre-charter tasks
• After chartering, staying in touch with the club and assisting when needed to get it off to a good start
• After chartering, turning in the signed sponsorship letter to get ALS credit.

The mentor is an advisor for a newly formed club. Responsibilities include:

• Showing the club how to conduct quality meetings
• Training the club officers, especially in how to use Club Central
• Helping the members understand and fulfill the mission of the club.
• More details are here: http://www.toastmasters.org/mentoraclub

The coach is an advisor for an existing club facing challenges. Responsibilities include:

• Assisting a low-member club in adopting and executing a plan for membership growth and achievement of Distinguished Club goals
• Guiding the club toward having strong meetings, which include manual speeches, lively Table Topics and strong, positive evaluations
• Attending club meetings whenever possible and remaining with the club until the club achieves Distinguished Club status.

Let me know what your interest is, and your day, time, and geographic availability. I will try to match you with an appropriate opportunity. New opportunities come up often. Here's what's available now.

Mentors needed immediately:

• 1st & 3rd Thursday, noon - Irving, near 114 and 161
• Monday, noon - far north Fort Worth, near 170 and Park Vista Blvd

Mentors likely to be needed in near future:

• Thursday or Friday, noon - downtown Fort Worth
• Day/time not set - downtown Fort Worth

Coaches needed immediately:

• Wednesdays, noon - Irving, northeast of DFW Airport
• 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 2:00 pm - Fort Worth, just south of DFW Airport

Get in touch with me, Jodie Sanders, Lt Governor Marketing at jodiesanders@d25toastmasters.org if you are interested or need more information.

Are you ready to be a club coach?

It's a special opportunity that not all Toastmasters ever get to do.

Club coaches are appointed by the District to assist a low-member club create a plan for quality meetings, membership growth, and achievement of Distinguished Club goals.

You also get the cool little gold pin. That pin cannot be bought. Only club coaches have the privilege of wearing it.

Working with a club while guiding it to success is among the most rewarding assignments in Toastmasters. Read more about it here.

Being a successful club coach meets a requirement for the Advanced Leader Silver, a major stepping stone on the road to being a Distinguished Toastmaster.

Are you ready to commit to giving back to others by serving in this role? Volunteer to become a club coach!

Here is a list of opportunities that are available right now. Others are expected soon.

• Wednesdays, noon - Irving, northeast of DFW Airport
• 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 2:00 pm - Fort Worth, just south of DFW Airport
• Day & time TBA - Irving, near 114 and Loop 12

If you are interested in being a coach, or if your club would like to ask for a coach, please contact Lt Governor Marketing Jodie Sanders at jodiesanders@d25toastmasters.org.

Hit the Road with D25's Newest Specialty Club

Vroom Vroom – Calling all two and three wheelers!

The MotorMouths are coming to town! Harleys, Hondas, Ducatis, Victories, Spyders, we are all in the MotorMouth family. Our club is looking for anyone who wants to ride and speak. No, not at the same time!!! We can cruise to our meeting location, have our meeting, then hit the open road to enjoy Mother Nature.

What are the particulars? Our meetings will be the fourth Saturday of the month beginning August 23, 2014. We will meet from 11 a.m. – 12 noon at the Benbrook Library, 1065 Mercedes, Fort Worth, TX 76126.

Come Ride! Come Speak! Come entertain and be entertained! One Saturday each month. Be a member of the  MotorMouths Toastmasters Club.

Please contact Karen Hagar if you are interested at 817-907-2610 or karenhagar@d25toastmasters.org.