Clubs in Southern Maryland - Area 4 & Area 5

I've been asked several times about the various Toastmaster clubs in the southern Maryland area and so for easy reference, here's a list:

1. Talk of the Town, 2nd & 4th Mondays, 1145-1245, Lexington Park Public Library, Conference Room A
2. IPT, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 1130-1230, on base: Building 2272 (IPT)/Room 150.5
3. PAX, 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 1130-1230, on base: Building 2187 Room 2150
4. EMA, every other Tuesday (8/25), EMA Expedition offices off 235, just north of Pax River NAS Gate 1
5. BAH,
6. Chesapeake,

Should you say “Thank You” when you start your speech?

3 Reasons To Say “Thank You” When You Start Your Speech?
November 9, 2009
by John Watkis

Saturday November 14th is District 27 Conference

Be there!

Still need to hear back from Elocution and Patuxent clubs. Please let me know if your president and/or VPE will be attending; if not, who will be the proxy.


Here's a direct link to the proxy form for your convenience: http://d27tm.org/support_files/proxy.asp

Here's some more info on the conference: http://www.d27tm.org/conferences/fall_conference_details.aspx

The District 27 2009 Fall Conference, featuring the Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contests will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfax, VA on Saturday, November 14.

Location:

Hilton Garden Inn

3950 Fair Ridge Drive

Fairfax, VA 22033

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009.

Time: Registration begins at 7:00 AM

First Timers Welcome -- 8:00 AM

Conference starts at 8:30 AM

All day event!

Hope you can make it!

Area E5 Humorous Speech & Table Topics Contest - Fri Oct 9, 5:30 PM, Lexington Park Library, Lex. Park, MD

What: Toastmasters Area E5 Humorous Speech & Table Topics Contest, District 27 Division E
When: 5:30 PM (registration), 5:45 PM (briefings), 6:00 PM (start), 7:00 PM (end)
Where: Lexington Park Library, Conference Room A, Lexington Park, MD

Food: Pizza, Wings, & Soda

Who: (please review and comment with corrections & additions)

1.  Chris R. (PAX) (humorous speech contestant)(table topics contestant)
2. Jim W. (TOTT)(humorous speech contestant)
3. Bob C. (TOTT)(table topics contestant)
4. Theresa F. (TOTT) (backup - humorous speech contestant)
5. Tita H., CC (TOTT) (backup - table topics contestant)
   
6. Jim M. (IPT)(official)
7. Beverly B., DTM (E4 Chesapeake)(official)
8. Sandy D. (EMA)(official)
9. Peggy T. (EMA)(official)
10. Jimmy S. (Elocution)(official)
11. Jim C., DTM (IPT)(official)
12. Linda C. (TOTT) (official)
    
13. Eduardo D. (IPT) (official)
14. Nicole C., CC, CL, Division E Governor (E4 Calvert)(official)
15. Brian S. (Elocution)(official)
16. Katelyn T. (Elocution)(official)
17. Su C. (E4 Calvert)
18. Carol.B.G., ACB, CL, Div E Lt Gov Education and Training
19. Hyrum S., Area E5 Governor (TOTT)(official)
20. Sheena N. (PAX)
21. John H. (TOTT) (official)
22. Javier R. (PAX)
    

Map & directions to the Lexington Park Library



click the map image above for directions and more details

Re: Re: Contests, Dues, & Smedley - HELP NEEDED NOW

HELLO!!!!

Please tell me who from your club is serving on the committee to plan and conduct our area contest.

If I don't get help, I will find whatever place I can find at the last minute. There will be no refreshments and it will not be near as much fun as if a diverse team of dynamic individuals plan it.

I have a chief judge, Johhny S., our immediate past Area Governor, who will secure other judges.

The date is still tentatively scheduled for Friday Oct 2: two weeks from today!

PLEASE HELP!!!

THANK YOU!!!

I appreciate all of you.

Re: Contests, Dues, & Smedley

I hope all is going well with you and your clubs. A few more weeks to get 5 new members for the Smedley award.

Here's an update on our club contests. I need the info ASAP for the missing ones:

Div E: Oct 30 Fri Andrews Air Force Base
Area E5: Oct 2 Fri TBD (I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANY VOLUNTEERS! PLEASE HELP! ASAP!)
PAX: Oct 1 Thu 1140-1240 Patuxent River NAS Building 2187 Room 2150
TOTT: Sep 28 Mon 1145-1245 Lexington Park Library Meeting Room A
EMA: Sep 22 Tue 1145-1245 EMA bldg
BAH: ?
IPT: ?

If you don't get any volunteers to help with our Area E5 contest then please designate someone and have them contact me. We're a couple of weeks out now and need to get some plans going. Any idea's for location? Lex Park Library?

Division E Governor, are you able to grace us with your presence at any of our club and area contests? Will you please extend invitations to the district executive committee? thanks.

Contests, Dues, & Smedley

Now that we have the training season behind us, our next deadline is September 30 which is the deadline that all membership fees are due. Don't miss this deadline as it is another DCP requirement goal. If you have a freetoasthost.info club website try utilizing the Semi-Annual Dues application.

September 30 also marks the end of the Smedley membership contest; you need 5 new members during the months of August and September to earn the Smedley Award.

Finally, you must complete your club contests before October 2 when our Area E5 contest is tentatively scheduled. (date and location to be officially determined by committee yet to be formed). Please let me know as soon as you finalize your club contest plans so that I can get it on my calendar and notify our division governor and district officers.

Here's our contest schedule so far:

Div E: Oct 30 Fri Andrews Air Force Base
Area E5: Oct 2 Fri TBD
PAX: Oct 1 Thu 1140-1240 Patuxent River NAS Building 2187 Room 2150
TOTT: Sep 28 Mon 1145-1245 Lexington Park Library Meeting Room A
BAH: ?
EMA: ?
IPT: ?

I encourage everyone to visit the other clubs contests and especially come out and support your club representatives at our area contest.

Our Division E contest is sure to be a fun evening and a cheap date at that. As it is the day before halloween its a costume party. Contestants should not where a costume during competition. So, invite your significant other and mark it on your calendar. It'll be a blast!

More TLI sessions between now and August 31 - lets gitterdone!!

(originally posted Monday, August 17, 2009; updates through end of TLI season on Aug 31)

Have all of your club officers been trained?

Below are the remaining sessions planned. Believe it or not there are still a few to choose from. I believe the closest, and probably the most convenient for most of us is the supplemental TLI scheduled in at Andrews Air Force Base for Saturday, the 29th.

Check and bookmark http://d27tm.org/training/tli_info.aspx for all the latest and updated training info.

Also check our neighboring districts, 18 and 36, as well. I've included theirs with ours below.

All members are invited to attend. Remember, all club officers need to train their replacements!

---

Monday - Aug 31, 2009
6:30PM - 9:00
Wildewood Retirement Village Club House
23154 Wetstone Ln
California, MD 20619

poc: Nicole A. Culverhouse cell: 240-351-6867

From Rt 5/235 turn onto Wildewood Blvd immediately south of the Wildewood shopping center

Follow this entrance road (approximately 1/2 mile) and it will end at Wildewood Parkway.

Turn right onto the Parkway and proceed approximately 1.3 miles until you get to Wildewood Village Lane.

Turn right, and proceed to the unmanned gate house.

If the gate is down, talk to the attendant through the speaker box. Tell the attendant you are coming to the Toastmasters meeting. The attendant will open the gate. When the gate is open continue until that road ends (approximately 1/8 mile).

Turn left at this intersection and proceed until the road ends at the clubhouse / restaurant.

Parking is available to the left of the building. Our meeting will be on the lower floor. An elevator is available.

Where Can I Find the Area Governor Visit Report?

This is a question I get asked a lot by club presidents. So, I thought, why not blog it for easy reference.

Here is a direct link to the report: http://www.toastmasters.org/ClubVisitRpt.aspx

Here is a link to a page with more information about area club visits conducted by area governors: http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/OfficerResources/AreaClubVisits.aspx

Calvert TLI Report - E5 ruled the roost

We had a great supplementary TLI training session in Chesapeake Beach tonight!

Our area was the most represented with 12 club officers in attendance!

The entire EMA executive committee was there; all seven officers! What a showing. They are the first club in our area, E5, to earn the Golden Toastmaster award during the current Toastmaster year.

The TOTT club had VPM Bob C. and me, VPPR in attendance; thats 5/7 trained for TOTT; that earns one DCP goal. We need our treasurer and seargent-at-arms trained for the Golden Toaster.

PAX had a good showing with VPPR Bernie W., Treas. Sheena N., and Pres Javier R., putting them at 3/7. One more trained before the end of August for completion of a DCP goal.

BAH/Eloctution has 2/7 previously trained, but unfortunately nobody made it tonight. C'mon, two more by the end of the month for that DCP goal.

Unfortunately nobody from the IPT club made it either!

District 27 Governor John L. graced us with his presence and really put the icing on the cake, so to speak.

Division E Governor Nicole C. loved the facility so much that she wants to hold the spring division speech contest there in April. She also told me that she really enjoyed her drive down!

Speech Contest Rulebook and info

Go to http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/MemberExperience/Contests.aspx for the Toastmasters Speech Contest Rulebook and more contest info. This is invaluable for our contest season that is upon us; for planning and conducting your club humorous speech and table topics contests.

For your convenience hard copies will be given out at TLI tonight in Chesapeake Beach, MD at 1800.

Take note that ALL club members are eligible to compete in the fall contests: humorous speech and table topics. The six speech pre-requisite only applies to the spring contests: international and evalutation.

As we get the training season behind us, our focus is now turned to the contest season! The humorous speech contest is one of my favorite aspects of the Toastmasters program. As many of you remember, I participated last year and placed 2nd at the Division E contest! I was standing by at the District competition when the Division winner showed up at the very last minute. I wish I could compete again this year, but I'm prevented from doing so as a district officer. Encourage everyone to take advantage of this great opportunity!

I'm looking forward to attending each of your club contests. Please let me know when your club contest will be held. Also, please remember that we need volunteers to chair and serve on the committee to plan our Area E5 contest with a tentative date of Friday October 2. The PAX club has informed me that their club contest will be held on Thursday October 1. So, if the planning committe wishes to select a different date, it can't be before then. As well, it must be completed by Friday Oct 30, when our Division E contest is sheduled. For a location, I propose the Lexington Park Library; but the committee can make that decision.

By the way, our division contest should be a delight. As it falls on the eve of Halloween, it's fitting that costumes are allowed and encouraged! However, if this isn't your bag of tea, then don't let it deter you from attending. I'm sure there will be plenty that choose not to dress up. It'll be a fun time regardless. For those speaking, it would be great to work in a costume that fits with the theme of the speech. Make it a date! Invite your significant other, or a new found friend to enjoy the evening with you!

Ok, why do my messages always drag on; sorry. It's no surprise, I'm sure, for you to learn that I won the Wind Bag award at the PAX club meeting yesterday. ;)

Cheers,
and I'll see many of you tonight in Chesapeake Beach,
Hyrum

District Governor, DTM John Lesko attending TLI in Chesapeake Beach tonight

Our District Governor, DTM John Lesko will be attending and helping with the training tonight! He is a great guy, full of energy, and I always learn a lot from him. He can't make it to all of the supplemental TLI sessions put on by the divisions, so its a treat to have him at ours.

Chesapeake Beach info for tonights TLI

If you haven't been to Chesapeake Beach, its a fun little town right on the shore of the Chesapeake in northern Calvert county. Come early and enjoy dinner at the Rod-N-Reel or one of the other restaurants along the beach. If your on a tight budget or running a little late, there is a McDonalds on the east side of 261 just south of the community center where TLI will be held.

For more dining info see: http://www.chesapeakebeachresortspa.com/dining.html

For map and directions see: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&cid=0,0,6500691975512665096&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&dq=Northeast+Community+Center+calvert+county+maryland&daddr=4075+Gordon+Stinnett+Ave,+Chesapeake+Beach,+MD+20732&geocode=12538538735373906109,38.692237,-76.535382&ei=s9uOSu7GBcm8lAf2h6ShDA&ll=38.608152,-76.552219&spn=0.120191,0.179386&z=13

TLI on Aug 21

Today I was asked the following questions about the upcoming supplemental TLI training in Calvert:

- Do you have the address of the South County Government Center? I'm driving and would like to have it in my GPS.

- I hope that this training is still on for this coming Friday (21 Aug 2009), Do you have an actual address for this location?

I have not heard otherwise. In fact I have not heard anything. I assume that it is still on and will check with Mary B., Area E4 governor and Calvert club president, who is organizing it, and see if I can find out more details. For now, here are the location details:

Northeast Community Center‎ - more info »

4075 Gordon Stinnett Ave, Chesapeake Beach, MD‎ -(410) 257-2554‎

I hope this helps you find it.

Supplemental TLI officer training announcement; offered by our Division, in Calvert county

I announced this yesterday at the EMA club meeting, but if you haven't heard yet, Mary B., Pres. of Calvert Toastmasters club and Area E4 Governor, has planned a supplemental TLI officer training session to be held at the Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach on August 21st from 6-9pm.

Some of you requested a closer option to receive training and meet you club goals; well, this is it. This will be the closest opportunity this training season.

There may be one more Division E TLI set up to be held most likely at Andrews Air Force base. This is not certain yet; waiting for further word from our Division E Governor, Nicole C. I'll notify you when I hear more info.

In the latter half of the year, I would like for us to plan a TLI to be held in St. Mary's county. Think about some ideas for locations, and candidates to chair and participate in the planning committee; lots of opportunities here to complete CL project requirements.

Toastmaster Leadership Institute (TLI) report

Area E5 of District 27 had a good showing today at district training: Toastmaster Leadership Institute (TLI). It was held at the South Government Center in Alexandria, VA. So, it was a bit of a drive, but not too bad; as it was a Saturday, traffic was light and I made good time. It took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes each way from my home in St. Leonard, Calvert county, Maryland.

We had 2 of our 5 clubs represented; that I know of.

Club Talk of the Town had in attendance VPPR Hyrum S. (me), VPE John H., and secretary hopeful Tita H.

Club Elocution had in attendance VPE Brian S. and and VPPR Carol C.

Linda C., president of Talk of the Town club and Mary B., president of Calvert club were planning to attend, but their plans were usurped by unexpected events. From what I understand, both plan to atten the next district TLI on August 1st.

So, what did I learn?

I attended three sessions:

1. VPM & VPPR combined core training
2. Growing Club Membership
3. Web pages, social marketing & newsletters as ways to recruit and retain members

From these sessions I learned the following:

1. Don't Do Anything Alone!
2. Receive, Read, and Redistribute the quarterly District 27 Newsletter!
3. Participate in seasonal district promotional contests
4. Clubs under 12 members should be assigned a club coach or mentor
5. The Smedley award contest runs during the months of July and August. Any Toastmaster member who recruits 5 new members earns this award.
6. Clubs should set a minimum goal of recruiting one new member a month
7. Our district produces a TV show; we are invited to participate and be featured in a show
8. Surveys can be a useful tool within a club
9. Club websites must be updated with fresh content

Did I get any awards?

Why yes! I received a Certificate of Achievement to frame and put on my wall with the rest of my Toastmaster awards, ribbons, certificates, and trophies! One of the many reasons I love Toastmasters; I'm recognized as a winner. Gosh it's good to be loved!

Welcome To My Toastmaster Blog

And ever the twain shall meet. However, this really isn't the beginning of good relationship.

Well, I suppose this was inevitable.

About three years ago I joined Toastmasters.

Almost two years ago I started my first blog; for myself. To put down my ideas and thoughts; to organize them; make them easily accessible; to me; and for me, to refer others to. It worked nicer than I had thought.

I found that what I had created for myself was a powerful tool for formulating speech material.

I have served as Vice President of Public Relations in my home club "Talk of the Town" in Lexington Park, Maryland, for the past three years. Now, I am also serving as governor for my area, Area E5 in District 27. The Toastmaster new year started July 1, and I'm in deep and learning the ropes. I have found that a lot of email communication and online social networking is done in these leadership circles. I've got emails, newsletters, websites, facebook groups, blogs, tweets, and newsfeeds coming out my ears.

I'm finding myself forwarding emails that I previously sent, repying to all, copying and pasting, resending information, and asking for previously received info more and more. So, I thought, how about organizing my email content, newsfeeds, hyper links, documents, contacts, schedule, etc. in a new blog, exclusive to my Toastmaster realm.

And so, it begins ...

Hi, my name is Hyrum Shewell and I'm a Toastmaster, Club Vice President of Public Relations, and Area Governor.

This blog site is primarily for the owner and author. If anyone else benefits, then that is a bonus; a good one at that.

I welcome your comments. Toastmasters is all about individual improvement through constructive criticism from your community. I will error and stand to be corrected.

Welcome to my Toastmaster blog!