Consider Serving as a Club Officer: July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009
It will soon be time to elect club officers to the following positions: VP of Education, VP of Public Relations, VP of Membership, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sgt at Arms. This is a great way to get to know other members while polishing leadership skills. The time commitment is small and the rewards are great! Please see any current officer if you would like more information. The new Toastmaster year begins July 1; the listed offices have one year terms that coincide with the Toastmaster year.
Spring Conference: May 2-3, 2008
The District 7 Toastmasters conference will take place on May 2-3 at the Inn at the Seventh Mountain in Bend, Oregon. The conference will include a variety of helpful educational seminars, and it culminates in the District 7 Inspirational Speech contest Saturday evening (May 3rd). Please visit the District 7 website (www.d7toastmasters.org) for more information. Registrations forms will be available through the website. The conference is an amazing opportunity to meet other Toastmasters, learn helpful information to improve speaking and leadership skills, and be inspired in your Toastmaster experience.
On The Web
Need more information? Looking for resources? They are right at your fingertips! Take a look at the District 7 website: www.d7toastmasters.org. Peruse the Toastmaster International website: www.toastmasters.org. On the TI website, we can follow our club's progress in the DCP (Distinguished Club Program) by clicking on the DCP Club Reports link on the right side of the page. Our club number is 8427 (you will need this information to pull up our club's information).
Leadership Manuals and Awards
Toastmasters International has made an exciting change to provide more resources and assistance as members develop leadership skills. This change strengthens leadership training and, through changes in awards designations, makes the award designations in communication and leadership clearer. A new leadership manual is now available. This 10 project resource is called the Competent Leadership Manual. It is now included in all new-member kits (along with the newly renamed Competent Communicator Manual). It is also available for purchase by other members. This change includes the renaming of educational awards so that the two tracks (communication and leadership) are distinct.
The following awards can be earned in the communication track: Competent Communicator (CC), Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB), Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) and Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG). The following awards will be available in the leadership track: Competent Leader (CL), Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB), and Advanced Leader Silver (ALS). It is anticipated that an Advanced Communicator Gold (ALG) will be available in the future. The DTM continues to be the highest recognition a member may receive. The changes incorporate a two year grace period for members currently working toward a CL. Additional information is available; please contact a club officer or visit www.toastmasters.org.
Youth Leadership Programs
Several members of the Noontime Nomads have coordinated Youth Leadership programs with various classes in the Tigard, Beaverton and West Linn areas. Lowell Slick, Linda Rutledge, and Harry Aldrich each dedicated time during the week to work with the students in our local schools.
What is the Youth Leadership Program?
It is an informal course in the arts of communication and leadership. The students learn speaking and leadership skills that they will be able to use for the rest of their life. As with Toastmasters for adults, the students learn to:
Overcome nervousness when asked to speak before an audience.
Organize and present ideas logically and convincingly.
Listen carefully to others' ideas.
Offer helpful advice that will help others improve their speaking and leadership skills.
Participate in - and even lead - group discussions or meetings.
How does the program work?
The Youth Leadership class will generally meet eight times, with each session lasting one to two hours. It is suggested that the sessions be held weekly, although you can schedule them closer if needed. You will coordinate each meeting either alone or with an assistant, but each meeting will be conducted by the participants themselves.
Program includes support materials. There is a co-ordinator's guide with suggestions as to how to run the meeting, when to direct the students to their handbooks, and which activities should be done that session. The students will have an opportunity to prepare two 4 - 6 minute speeches as well as take part in evaluations, topics, and club elections.
During the final week, the students and the coordinator plan a special event for relatives, community members, or even our own club to showcase their new skills. Over the past years, the Noontime Nomads have sponsored a "Graduation Luncheon" for the different classes. For those of you who remember the last few graduation parties, you can see the pride that these students take in their final presentations.
Why should I get involved in Youth Leadership?
Coordinating a Youth Leadership program is extremely fulfilling and satisfying. The students who participate in a Youth Leadership course have increased self-confidence. Each teacher who has had a class involved in Youth Leadership has commented that the students participate more in class discussions. They are also more supportive of other's ideas. Oral presentations are usually much better organized and contain more substance. The Oregon Certificate of Mastery requires that the student be able to verbally debate their ideas. What better practice than Table Topics!
Youth Leadership Programs are Fun!
There is another reason to get involved in Youth Leadership. You will have fun! The students you will meet eventually look forward to this part of their week. That's right, I said eventually. This is very new for them and they are a little unsure as to how to participate. Your confidence will help them through quickly enough. Not only will the students grow in confidence, but you will too! You will practice your speaking and leadership skills as well.
The Children are our Future
Let me close with a quote from a song recorded by Whitney Houston. "I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be."
Volunteer!
Volunteer to be a coordinator. It's fun, it's easy, it's rewarding. You will see things you never thought possible, and the kids will think you are the greatest! And you are! The children are our future - be a part of theirs.
