Changes are subject to approval by the District Executive Committee and the District Council, which will convene on April 26 at the District Conference in Mission, Kansas.  The Club President and VP Education are voting members of this Council.  They may designate a proxy voter if they cannot attend.  Approved changes will take effect on July 1, 2008.

This year we are submitting extensive changes to address a number of challenges. 

·         Adding a new Division R.

·         Re-drawing Division boundaries.

·         Renumbering Areas so that each area number is unique.

We invite you to review the proposal which can be found online by clicking here  or http://www.tm22.org/pdf_files/D22_Proposed_Realignment_2008_9.pdf .  It presents goals, maps, boundary descriptions and club lists. 

Discuss it with you club members and area governor or contact me at Annette.rude.d22@sbcglobal.net.

I hope we will see you at the District Council meeting.

By Teresa Wallace, AC-S, AL-B

2007-2008 has been a wonderful year for Area A3 and for me as the area governor.  I learned much about myself as a leader.  I left my comfort zone of only speaking at my current clubs of Beechmasters and Semi Pro.  I learned that I can motivate people within my community to work hard in Toastmasters to explore their potential by expanding their roles and reaching for new goals.

I began my duties in June, 2007, by assisting for the first time with the TLI Officers Training.  I drew Sergeant-At-Arms.  I explained their duties but also explained that, no matter what your duty may require, you should always attend meetings and greet everyone especially guests with enthusiasm.

My first task from the District 22 leadership was to work within Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) to save Beechmasters from loosing their charter.  Mike Tuttle and I approached Nin George to be the President.  Nin and I worked together to form new officers and begin rebuilding Beechmasters.  We approached the Senior Leadership within the company and received their backing and assistance to plan a kickoff meeting that coincided with Beechmasters 34th Anniversary on August 2, 2007.  Our attendance had to be cutoff after receiving over 170 e-mails wanting to participate.  Steve Gridley, Area A1 Governor and Linda Shinogle came to HBC and spoke at the meeting.  We did receive 8 new members from the event.

Then I realized the time and started visiting the clubs in Area A3.  Each club greeted me with enthusiasm and listened to my comments.  I even managed to meet with most of the officers on the first visit.  I entered my visits on the very last day, causing me great stress.

Then came the fall Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest. I had never chaired a contest.  I was so uncomfortable but fuddled my way through the event.  I did receive excellent and effective feed back from some wonderful Toastmasters.  This helped to prepare me for the Area A3 Spring International Speech and Table Topics Contest which, by the way, was well attended.  My confidence had improved significantly.

This spring when I did the Area visits, I even managed to give an inspirational speech that incorporated our District Governor Mike Tuttle's vision "Stellar Training and Resilient Speakers", titled "I am a Resilient Speaker".  After finding the meaning of resilient, I discovered that I am a truly resilient speaker; I fainted during my first public speaking event.  Now I am a confident speaker who looks for opportunities to speak to others. My personal goal for the spring visits was to complete and enter before the end of January.

As I wrap up my final months as the Area A3 Governor, I challenge each of you to look inside yourself and think about how you might grow from this unique opportunity as Area Governor.  You can grow as a leader, listener and speaker.  I have personally taken all I have learned and incorporated many into my daily routine as a manager here at Hawker Beechcraft Corporation.