by Cyndra Melville, DTM, Lieutenant Governor Eduation and Training

We need enthusiastic session presenters for our Winter Training coming up in January.  If you have been an officer and really feel passionate about it, we need you to pass it on.  Contact Cyndra if you would like to accept this challenge.  Also, for Division A, you may contact Randy Neil or Gene Becker; for Division T, Faron Barr, or for Area S3, Jeanetta Chrystie.  Contact information is available at

http://www.toastmasters22.org/.

 

We want our Winter Training to be as helpful and fun as possible.  For that, we need enthusiastic, knowledgeable people.  How about you?

Congratulations, Goal Getters!

By Cyndra Melville, DTM, Lieutenant Governor Education and Training

 

We have three clubs who have earned their Goal Getters awards so far:

Boeing Achievers from Area A-1

Semi-Pro from Area A-3

Cerner's Innovative Toastmasters from Area L-4.

 

Be sure to turn in your paperwork for educational awards and new members by the December 31 deadline.  I will be awarding Club ribbons and individual buttons at our TLIs.  My vision is to present these prestigious awards to 20 clubs with applause and cheers the likes of which have never before been heard in District 22.

 

I've ordered lots of ribbons.  Make it your club goal to earn the first ever D-22 Goal Getter Award by earning 5 Distinguished Club Program points or more by December 31.

 

For more information on the Goal Getter Award, see our District web-site at www.toastmasters22.org .

 

By Annette Rude, DTM, Lieutenant. Governor Marketing

 

 

by Mike Tuttle, District 22 Governor

Just like clubs, Districts are given goals each year and then evaluated against them to determine if that District is distinguished, and whether at Distinguished, Select Distinguished or President's Distinguished level.

 

One of the toughest requirements for districts to become distinguished is membership, and rightly so!  Without our members we are nothing.  

In my mind the biggest challenge of memberships is retention. Keeping the members we have is a huge job and the responsibility of every toastmaster in District 22.

 

While I firmly believe the validity of the previous statement that it's everyone's responsibility to keep existing members, I strongly feel that it is the special purview of the VP Membership of each club. Retaining existing members is just as important and often a greater challenge (and thus a greater reward) than finding ways to attract new members.

 

Right now, our numbers are below where they were at the end of June. Soooo, if any of you know a member that has not yet sent in the October renewal call them and remind them that it is not too late.  After you remind them that it's not too late, please encourage them to take the time and renew that day and certainly not later than the next day. Many times, members simple have overlooked renewing or think that since no one asked them to, their contribution is not valued - what a shame.

 

Now I'd like to speak to the VP's Membership for just a moment. I'd like to ask you to think back to officer training and recall that I visited virtually every one of your training sessions and gave you a mantra to put to use regarding existing members.

Do you recall, "miss 2 VPM try anew"? It means that if you have a member that has missed 2 meetings in a row I would be most appreciative if you would give them a call and treat them just like a brand new member and encourage and invite them to the very next meeting. Since it's holiday time, the possibility for a special meeting and perhaps great food and certainly strong fellowship exist for them.

 

I'm confident that if each of us makes just that small effort to call a missing member and invite them to renew their membership that when the numbers come out in December, Annette Rude Lt. Governor Marketing (which includes membership) can inform me that we have increased our numbers since the end of June and are on track to set a record for the District and make us DISTINGUISHED!!!

 

 

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Here's one idea that a club is working on for promoting membership and excitement for their club. The Yes We Can Toast club in Overland Park will be hosting a "Tastemasters" meeting on Tuesday, November 27 at 12:00.

 

What is a "Tastemasters" meeting?  The club presentations for the day will be centered around preparation of food, which will include live cooking demos and free samples.  The word of the day will be "food-oriented" and table-topics will have a "food-related" theme.

 

But what makes this event special is not the food, or the demonstrations, or anything about the meeting.  What makes it special is the promotional materials that are being forwarded to guests and potential Toastmasters.  Each club member is asked to personally invite at least one co-worker to the club meeting.  Then, when it is time to go to the meeting, they will be asked to go to the person they invited and bring them to the meeting.

 

This process is not "invite and hope they show up" ... not "ask and see if they come" ... not "send an e-mail and hide" ... but actually go get them.  Bring them to the meeting.  Help them find the location. 

 

We will follow up this column in next month's issue with the results.

by Mike Tuttle

District 22 Governor

 

How many of you know who your Division Governor is? The answer to this questions will be a resounding "YES" when your club is the first in its division to get four more new members!

 

Your club can still participate in the Host a Toast contest. The time for the Smedley Award has passed as has the first level of the contest. But it's not too late - when your club is the first in its' Division to grow by 4 new members thus receiving one DCP point and then grows by 4 more new members and qualifies for and additional DCP point a wonderful thing happens.

 

Since you will have fulfilled all the membership DCP points, your very own Division Governor will visit your club and give a toast speech about your club from the Special Occasions Advanced Manual. So far Division A in Wichita has had their first club - the Money Talks club qualifies for their Division Governor visit. Also, Division L in the greater KC area has had their first club qualify, was it your club if you're in Division L? Check with your Division Governor to find out!