BeGe's Newsletter August 2016

Why Do We Have a Tall Tales Toastmasters Contest?

When someone asks me about details related to the Tall Tales contest, the question usually involves “Paul Bunyon” in the sentence. “Are we supposed to come up with a ‘Paul Bunyon’ type of fable?”
 
It took me a while to figure out how to answer that question. The answer is yes and no. Yes, in the fact that the objective is to use your imagination and develop and present a story you’ve created that has exaggerations and twists and turns. “No” because there is supposed to be a point to your story.
 
Storytelling is one of the most important aspects of public speaking. Not only do stories keep your audience glued to your message, but the process of creating stories takes time, patience and diligence. Once you become skilled at developing stories and presenting them, you will be much more able to make higher quality presentations at work. Even though you might not use a fictional story when presenting your latest architecture design, you will find that your experience in the Tall Tales competition would help you present the details of your architecture design work to your clients and firm, for example.
 
My point is that you should approach participation in the Tall Tales competition as an opportunity to practice your detailed story development and presentation skills. This opportunity will increase your speaking skills in other types of speeches, not just the next time you tell a humorous, exaggerated, make-believe story.


Gstm. (n.d.). Anatomy of a Winning Tall Tales Toastmasters Contest [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://georgesuttontoastmasters.com/blog/anatomy-of-a-winning-tall-tales-toastmasters-contest.html
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Toastmasters Officer's Training 
Toastmaster's International semi-annual Training was hosted in Lacey mid June with make up sessions throughout District 32 in July.

Mary Morrison President and Joan Newcomb VP Education

Attendees met fellow leaders from all over District 32. At each training,  we learned about: Find Us on Facebook! ‐ Social media professional, Rebecca Reece, presented on how more new Toastmasters find our clubs through Facebook. She showed us how simple it is to create an active and interactive club Facebook page. Facebook  will allow us the opportunity to showcase our club and members. Like our page TacomaBeGesToastmastersClub .
Bonnie Wright  Sargent at Arms

Mentoring Magic ‐ Mentoring is one of the under‐appreciated keys to club success. We listened  about how to develop and implement an effective mentoring program.  If you are a new member you should have a Mentor, speak with an officer after a meeting to be introduced to someone.
Joan Newcomb VP Education and Myles Lasco VP Membership 

Lost on the Internet -  Pathways to the Information our Club Needs. As a Club Officer, we need to learn not only our officer role, but also where to find the information our club needs, and where to submit the data.  We learned which websites to visit depending on what information we need...and where to submit the data to help our club be successful.

Moments of Truth: Guiding Clubs to Excellence ‐  In this discussion we heard about a club's struggle to thrive using Moments of Truth.  Identify your club's strengths and areas for improvement Improve quality and fun of meetings and  Implement best practices to improve common challenges that our clubs face

Information from  District 32 Newsletter The View from 32 June 3, 2016 TLI Edition 
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Treasurer Tidbit
Beginning with the October dues, Toastmasters International dues will be increasing $9 for every 6 months period we pay dues and there will no longer be a grace period. If you don't pay your dues on time, Toastmasters International will not recognize you as a member. In order to ensure that all members are in good standing and dues are paid by October 1, the treasurer will collect dues from August 19 - September 16.    Mel West,  BeGe's Treasurer
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Newsletter Submissions
Contribute to our Blog and Newsletter.  Submit stories, ideas,  articles, and experiences.  Send content to begestm@gmail.com 
Content is needed for next's months newsletter.
Please Submit Content by August 31st. 
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OFFICER ROLES

Ever wonder what goes into making a Toastmasters Club run smoothly? The following are descriptions of the officer roles.

President "C.E.O." of this club, responsible for fulfilling the club's mission.
VP -Education Second ranking club officer, responsible for planning, organizing and directing a club program meeting members' educational needs.
VP – Membership Official Third ranking club officer, responsible for planning, organizing and directing a program ensuring member retention and growth.
VP – Public Relations Fourth ranking club officer, responsible for developing and directing publicity informing members and the public about Toastmasters International.
Secretary Official Fifth ranking club officer, is responsible for club records and correspondence.
Treasurer Official Officer Sixth ranking club officer, responsible for club financial policies, procedures and controls.
Sergeant at Arms Seventh ranking club officer, responsible for club property management, meeting room preparation and hospitality. The sergeant at arms chairs the social and reception committee.

BeGes Newsletter July 2016

A Journey with Many Paths 

Much of what I experience in Toastmasters is like going on a solo journey, with other member as traveling companions. We're not heading to the same destination, yet we help each other get there. We're at different points along the way, yet we provide real-time help at every step.

A Journey With Many Paths - Peterashwoodsmith

 My goal this Toastmaster year is to complete the requirements to be a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). It means I need to give about 15 speeches (not all at BeGes) and put on a couple of special workshops. I can't do it without you: your support in leading meetings, sharing roles, providing feedback. 

In turn, I'd like to help you achieve your goals, and work with the club's executive team to do so. Do you have a skill you'd like to build in Toastmasters, such as getting comfortable with impromptu speaking? Are you looking to compete in a speech contest? Would you like to hone your marketing skills? Does leading a meeting terrify you? 

The club's executive team is here to help us achieve our goals, no matter where we are in our journey. Are you ready to take the next step? We'll be in touch to understand what your destination is, and how we can support you at every step. I'm looking forward to it  Mary Morrison, Club President

Treasurers Report  - Upcoming changes with Toastmasters' dues!

Beginning with the October dues, Toastmasters International dues will be increasing $9 for every 6 months period we pay dues and there will no longer be a grace period. If you don't pay your dues on time, Toastmasters International will not recognize you as a member. In order to ensure that all members are in good standing and dues are paid by October 1, the treasurer will collect dues from August 19 - September 16.    Mel West,  Beges Treasurer

The follow is an opinion piece that was recently published in Forbes. The author is a former Navy SEAL who struggled with public speaking after leaving the service. He provides a few good tips on preparing for a speaking opportunity. There are no shocking revelations, but a reminder of the basics presented from another point of view can be a good thing.  Eric Heller Former BeGes VP Education (Interim), Former BeGes Sergeant at Arms

6 Public Speaking Tips From A Navy Seal 

Whether your goal is to improve your leadership communication abilities, develop your thought leadership in a certain area or become a professional public speaker there are always obstacles to overcome before achieving greatness.

Getting up and speaking in front of an audience regardless of its size can be quite daunting. It requires regularity and practice to become totally comfortable. When I left the SEAL Teams and attended graduate school, we often had group projects that required a final presentation. During one of these presentations my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking. I’m a Navy SEAL combat veteran for crying out loud! It doesn’t matter. This was a totally new fear to overcome. Read more

OFFICER ROLES

Ever wonder what goes into making a Toastmasters Club run smoothly? The following are descriptions of the volunteer service opportunities available. 

President "C.E.O." of this club, responsible for fulfilling the club's mission.
VP -Education Second ranking club officer, responsible for planning, organizing and directing a club program meeting members' educational needs.
VP – Membership Official Third ranking club officer, responsible for planning, organizing and directing a program ensuring member retention and growth.
VP – Public Relations Fourth ranking club officer, responsible for developing and directing publicity informing members and the public about Toastmasters International.
Secretary Official Fifth ranking club officer, is responsible for club records and correspondence.
Treasurer Official Officer Sixth ranking club officer, responsible for club financial policies, procedures and controls.
Sergeant at Arms Seventh ranking club officer, responsible for club property management, meeting room preparation and hospitality. The sergeant at arms chairs the social and reception committee.

OFFICER TRAININGS

Toastmasters holds Officer Trainings twice a year for officers, however all TM members may attend. They are fun and informative! Here are the ones near us in July:

When: Wednesday, July 20
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Where: Northwest Foursquare Church [click for map]
34800 21st Ave SW
Federal Way, WA 98023

When: Saturday, July 30
Time: 8:00am-12:00pm
Where: Poulsbo Fire Station [click for map]
911 NE Liberty Rd
Poulsbo, WA 98370

When: Saturday, July 23
Time: 10:00am-1:00pm
Where: Centralia Timberline Library [click for map]
110 S Silver Street
Centralia, WA 98531

BeGes Newsletter June 2016

"Is It Summer Yet?"

CLUB ELECTIONS

Picture by Steve Garvin

Here are the results of our recent election. Below is the list of the new officers who will take office at the end of June.
President - Mary Morrison
VP Education - Joan Newcomb
VP Membership - Myles Lasco
VP Pub Relations - OPEN - ANYONE INTERESTED? TALK TO MARIO
Secretary - Mario Lorenz
Treasurer - Mel West
Sgt @ Arms - Bonnie Wright
Immediate past Pres - Garrett Leque

Looking Back and Looking Forward
by Mary Morrison (interim President and President-Elect)
It's been nearly a year since I joined BeGes. As I reflect on the year, a few moments stand out that deserve a call out:
1. The opening and closing of the meetings. I was startled the first meeting to hear the 'shave and a haircut, two bits' knock to open and close the meeting. At least those are the words I recall learning. Maybe you have others. It only took one meeting for me to join in, and once I did, I recognized that the call and response from those present adds a sense of belonging that is so important for Toastmasters to work well.
2. Eric and Garrett: kudos for so consistently having the room prepared and the meetings organized. You are the glue that holds the club together, and allow members to have as much fun and grow as we do.
3. Mario's use of the joke of the day and table topics up front. Those meetings, and a few others, kept me thinking about the meetings, how to run them, and what it takes to engage everyone in the meetings. No risk of getting routine and bored in BeGes!
Many other speeches and moments stand out. Too many to recount. Looking forward, I'm confident that the officers for 2016-2017 will do our best to keep the sense of fun, growth, companionship going as we organize special events, membership campaigns, and our weekly meetings. My thanks to those who said yes to serving on the executive team. We'll do our best to uphold the traditions of non-routine, unique actions that makes BeGes...well...BeGes!

MORE ABOUT OUR MEMBERS 

Back in April we published some Members Bios
This time we'd like some different details. Please answer the following questions:

1. Why did you join Toastmasters?

2. What do you hope to achieve by being in Toastmasters?

3. What would you like to experience more of with our Toastmasters' group?

Here are our member's answers, in order of submission!
Raeanne Mitchell
1 As an accountant, my presentation skills to non-accountants were lacking. I needed to train managers and be understood.
2 I hope to continue this leadership journey and share my story.
3 I want everyone in Toastmasters to achieve more than they imagine possible.
(Ed. Note: Raeanne is our District Rep, she is currently recovering from surgery! Best wishes for Speedy Recovery, Raeanne)!

Steve Garvin - current secretary and resident cartoonist
1. To get more comfortable physically speaking in front of groups. I've been speaking in front of large groups (100+) for years, but I've never been comfortable physically with it until much more recently. Greatly facilitated by my time in TM.
2. Good question. Still pondering. Maybe to develop a sense of humor ;-) Seriously, maybe to be more playful in public.
3. Watch and help others develop their speaking ability. Maybe? Spontaneity?

Mel West - Treasurer Elect
1. Why did you join Toastmasters? I joined toastmasters to learn to communicate more effectively. I would like to become a better storyteller and increase my listening skills. My long-term goal is to develop a keynote and to share my message on a larger scale to make a positive impact on business owners lives.
2. What do you hope to achieve by being in Toastmasters? Become a better communicator. I would like to develop my skill to be able to relate and talk to anyone.
3. What would you like to experience more of with our Toastmasters' group? I'm not really sure. I look forward to each Friday. The group is so warm and knowledgeable, I learn from each meeting while having fun.

Sonia Pal
1. Why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined Toastmasters on the encouragement of my father to become confident in business speaking.
2. What do you hope to achieve by being in Toastmasters?
I hope to become more confident in business speaking and being succinct.
3. What would you like to experience more of with our Toastmasters' group?
I would like to get to know everyone better with more social time.

Myles Lasco VP of Membership elect
I joined TM to become a better public speaker in preparation of two upcoming conferences where I have been asked to give talks.
I hope to achieve better confidence when speaking to groups.
I’d like to see more members and as the new VP of Membership, I hope to help out on that front!

David Goodson - current VP of Membership

1. Why did you join Toastmasters?
I have always enjoyed speaking, but realize that without practice I fall into some poor habits. TM makes me aware that every time we speak, we need to strive to have the audience understand.

2. What do you hope to achieve by being in Toastmasters?
Like to advance in the contests to take my speaking ability to a whole new level.

3. What would you like to experience more of with our Toastmasters' group?
I love the group. Like to help people who struggle become proficient speakers

Three Universal Questions
by Mario Lorenz CC, CL , ATM Bronze
Why did I join?
What do I hope to achieve?
What would I like to experience more of?

These questions can and do apply to every organization I have ever considered joining or being a part of.   Although, it is seldom, I take time to think through the real and in depth answers to these most important concepts.
The first reason I joined a club was someone (my wife) suggested that I come for a visit and see for myself. The club I visited was a very active and exciting club filled with a diverse group that all seemed to be very enthusiastic about being at the meeting and improving their lives through speaking presentations, leadership opportunities and speech competitions.   Shortly thereafter I joined that club called the Metropolitan Executive Toastmasters Club in Austin, Texas!   That was back in 1985.  I have been in toastmasters ever since, accept for a short time when I was on the road doing shows.   But even then I would visit clubs around the country when possible.
The reason I joined and the reason I have continued has changed over the years.  At first it was fun, friendly, accommodating, and presented an opportunity for growth.   Then it offered the opportunity to experience leadership.   The most important aspect for me has been the consistent opportunity to stay practiced up and ready for public speaking opportunities whenever  they might arise.   I was given the gift of continuing to develop and grow my confidence, my humor, and develop a serious side to my nature through being a toastmaster.  
Were I to think of what further I might like to accomplish or experience with a toastmasters club it might be finding that perfect speech that would inspire up and coming toastmasters and others to find the center of their being and be able to successfully project it on the wall of life.  

NOT a real photo of baby Leque

Last, but not least:
Garrett Leque President on Parental Leave

Leif was born April 27 at 6:18am at 6 lbs 7 oz. that's all I have to report

UPCOMING EVENT:
Toastmaster Leadership Institute (TLI)
"This is not your Grandfather's Officer Training"
This training is for all Toastmasters, whether brand new or highly experienced. Every club member, not just officers, will find value. Club success is a team effort! Encourage all members to attend. Attendees will also meet their fellow leaders from all over District 32.
Divisions A - D TLI (Washington) | Kyle Hall, Division B Director
When: Saturday, June 11, 2016 | 8:00am-Noon (7:30 registration)
Venue: LCC @ Washington Farm Bureau | 975 Carpenter Rd NE | Lacey, WA 98516 | [click for map]
RSVP: The training is free of charge, but please [RSVP on Eventbright]
BeGes Toastmasters Meetings

BeGes Newsletter: May 2016

BeGes Newsletter: May 2016 

OFFICER ELECTIONS 

Our club's elections are May 13th with terms beginning in July.

Mario is gathering names for the following positions: 

President presides at meetings of the Club, has general supervision of the operations of the Club
Vice President of Education Plans & directs club programs meeting Club members' educational needs. Plans & publishes regular schedules of meeting assignments. Keeps track of member's progress towards goals.
Vice President of Membership Plans and directs programs to retain and increase club membership.
Vice President of Public Relations Develops & directs programs informing members and the public about Toastmasters International and Club activities.
Treasurer Responsible for Club financial policies, procedures and controls. Collects dues and pays dues to Toastmasters International, and maintains records. Makes financial reports to the Club at least quarterly. Receives and disburses, with approval of the Club, all Club funds.
Secretary Responsible for Club records and correspondence. Maintains club roster. Has custody of the Club’s charter, Constitution, Bylaws, and all other records and documents of the club. Keeps an accurate record of the meetings and activities of the Club.
Sergeant at Arms Prepares meeting room for meeting. Maintains Club property, including banner, nametags, and supplies. Greets visitors. Chairs Social and Reception Committees.
Interested in one of these positions? Talk to Mario!

How to Write a Speech in 10 Minutes Workshop

On Thursday, May 5th, Past Toastmasters International President Ted Corcoran came all the way from Ireland to inform, inspire and educate us! He shared how to write a speech in 10 minutes:

The 9 Points of Every Speech (The Aural Signposts)                                      Order you think of it

Opening 1) Get attention - question, story, statistic, etc.                                      8

                 2) WHAT - Subject, theme or Message                                                1

                 3) Tell them what you're going to tell them                                          6

Body        4) Point 1     3 Facts, or What-Where-When, or Past-Present-Future  3

                 5) Point 2     or Problem-Cause-Solution                                              4

                 6) Point 3    These explain and support your purpose                           5

Conclusion 7) Summarize - tell them what you've told them                                7

                   8) WHY - message reflects your purpose                                            2

                   9) Refer back to #1 to complete                                                           9

MEMBER NEWS

Our President is a Papa! In late April, Garrett and his wife Heather became the proud parents of little Leif Bryan Leque ~ we wish the new family much happiness, and sleep!

Member Annaliza Abanes, no doubt emboldened by her short time in our club, left us in March to fly to Cambodia for an extended Yoga Retreat! She shared the following video the start of her journey:

    

 

And, lifted directly from District 32's April Newsletter, something we should all be thinking about:

Membership Recruitment and Retention - 

It is the Little Things

     When we meet someone for the first time the little means a lot.  A kind word brings a smile to our face.  Being the recipient of a smile lifts our spirits.  Have someone acknowledge your contribution to a meeting, event, etc. is encouraging.  Something doesn't have to be major to create a valuable memory or impression.  The same can be said of our Toastmasters clubs - the little things mean a lot.  For example, walking into a club meeting location to a warm welcome, delivering a speech and receiving encouraging and supportive feedback, or positive feedback after serving in a club meeting or club officer role.  These positive impressions and interactions foster the feeling of belonging. 

     As our founder, Ralph Smedley stated, "If we should ever lose the fellowship of personal, friendly relationships, we might easily become just another high grade correspondence school.  The personal touch, in all levels of our work, is one of its distinguishing features.  Our club must work hard to sustain a climate of caring and good fun."  To recruit and retain members we need to look at the little things.  If we were a guest attending our club meeting would we join?  Do we feel a welcome member of the club?

     How well is your club retaining members?  Is there a member whom hasn't been at the club in a while?  Call the member to let them know they are missed at meetings and check in on them.  That personal touch may bring them back if they were contemplating discontinuing their membership.  Looking for ways to add fun to a club meeting?  Perhaps themed meetings would do the trick.  The theme could be woven through the opening remarks, word of the day, and Table Topics.  Don't feel like you are creative enough to come up with themes?  Check out www.tandemtoastmasters.vsgcorp.com/Themes/themes-a-m.html.  The site has a good collection of meeting themes in both alphabetic or date order. 

     Thinking about ways to invite former members back to the club?  Hold an alumni meeting or celebrate your club's anniversary and invite former members to a meeting.  Looking for other ways?  Conduct the Moments of Truth, an evaluation of your club.  Also, review the Area Visit report your Club President receives from your Area Director.  It is an outside perspective of the impressions guests may be forming of your club.  Sometimes taking small actions can make a big difference. 

Warmest regards,

Angela Ritchey, DTM

District Director

angela.ritchey@yahoo.com

APRIL 2016 Newsletter

APRIL's Theme: April Showers!!

Created by Steve Garvin

From Garrett:
April showers are a great time to wash off the bike in the rain in time for national bike month, which is every year in May. Or, if you (tragically) don’t have a bike, consider picking up a cheap one at this year’s Tacoma Bike Swap at University of Puget Sound. Date to be announced but it’s usually early or late May. If you have any questions about how to get back in the saddle talk to Garrett.

Hey Toastmasters, learn how to tie your shoes in just under three minutes during this TED talk. What I like about the speaker is his subtle use of humor.




UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 29-May 1 Spring Conference, LaQuinta Inn, Tacoma
Valuable keynote speakers and education sessions! Boost your Toastmaster's experience - register today: http://d32.toastmastersdistricts.org/SpringConference.html

May 5, 6:30-8:30pm  How to Write a Speech in 10 Minutes! at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 South Tacoma Way. Ted Corcoran, Past International President of Toastmasters, is conducting this interactive workshop. For $10, you'll gain insights on crafting and delivering speeches from a man who has spoken all over the world.


MEMBER BIOS: Here's an opportunity to learn more about our some of our fellow Toastmasters!

Steve
I'm a creative, loving person who enjoys helping others design lives of deep satisfaction. I am a husband, father, artist, writer and teacher. The thing I most want to accomplish is to use up my days in service of my purpose. Along the way creating programs and materials.

Mel West, the Executive Biker. 
I help engage, align and accelerate companies so they can ride the freedom highway. My goal is tochange one person, one team, or one organization at a time to encourage collaboration, energy, and momentum. I joined Toastmasters to improve my speaking skills in a safe and fun environment, where I can make mistakes and learn from them where it doesn't cost me anything but my own humility. I want to have a solid keynote that will compliment my new book that I am writing called "Your Freedom Quest: Riding the Highway to Success in Business and Life" and be ready to hit the main stage, so I can have a larger impact in the World.

Mary
I'd like to share a little of why I'm a member of multiple clubs.
      I joined Toastmasters in 1998, as a favor to a friend during a membership contest. For the next few years, I stayed within the club (Tacoma Bureaucrats), serving as a club officer, attending trainings and contests. One day, someone talked about an 'advanced club' that met monthly. It focused on evaluations. Every speaker received at least four evaluations for each speech. Yikes! It sounded intimidating. It took another year before I had the courage to visit, and I was hooked. Rather than being overwhelmed at receiving so many evaluations, it was very helpful. Each person concentrated on a different aspect of the speech. I felt I really grew as a speaker.
     The most valuable aspect of joining another club was to see the varied ways that meetings were run, and to hear different speakers and how they grew in confidence. Over the years, I've helped form clubs, coach clubs to strength and health, and visited many clubs in Western Washington and in many states. I'm currently a member of three clubs: Tacoma Bureaucrats (Wednesdays, Noon), Sound Advice (monthly, with a focus on leadership) and BeGes. The most recent club I joined was BeGes, in June 2015. I enjoy the members, the meetings, the humor, and the topics people share during speeches. I find being a member of multiple clubs keeps me learning and challenged as a listener and speaker. Let me know if you're interested in hearing more about belonging to multiple clubs.

Garrett
I come for the fun and what I would call diverse inspiration. We have a great club and there is never a Friday where I don't learn something new, either about a subject that was unknown to me, or about one of our members. There is usually a speech, or part of a speech, that gives one pause to reflect on. As far as what I want out of toastmasters, as club president, I want total world domination over all other TM clubs. That's it!

MARCH 2016 - In Like A Lion!

March enters like a lion... You can say it takes courage to come to Toastmasters, to overcome one's fear and step up to speak!

Quotes & Cartoon by Steve Garvin

Aslan: You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are.

~ C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian

I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.
~ John Steinbeck

It’s better to be a free dog than a caged lion.
-Arabian Proverb

I was the shyest human ever invented, but I had a lion inside me that wouldn’t shut up!
-Ingrid Bergman

Fainthearted animals move about in herds. The lion walks alone in the desert. Let the poet always walk thus.
-Alfred Victor Vigny

Don’t ask me who’s influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he’s digested, and I’ve been reading all my life.
-Charles de Gaulle

Be inspired and aspire to the same heights!
But don't be intimidated! Scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter for inspiration for newbies!

The Dreamer Arrives

by Mario Lorenz 

I have been involved with toastmasters for several years.  My wife, before we were married, invited me to a meeting of the Metropolitan Executive Toastmasters Club in Austin, Texas.   Ever since then outside of a couple years when I was on the road with my comedy show I have remained in one club or another and can honestly say that because of the training received in toastmasters it has enabled me to continue to avoid having a day job my entire life.  I have yet to become rich because of it, but I am not dead yet so there is still hope.

For the past 5-7 years I have kept a dream journal and most recently I have begun to try and draw, paint, color, or sketch the images I see in my dreams.  I never thought I was capable of drawing or painting.  I have always thought of myself as a performing artist but never did I think I was really the kind of artist that could draw something adequately.  Having a journal and with the courage to write my dreams down I have realized, with the encouragement of a dear friend, that I can draw or sketch some of the images that I see in my dreams.  They are not great works of art by any means, but in so doing, I have learned to “Remember that there are no mistakes, only the opportunity to overcome fear.”  It has become the same with toastmasters.  If I just have the courage to open my mouth and allow the words to come out.   Somehow they form into an expression of my thoughts.  They are not always insightful, humorous or wise thoughts, but they do come out and they do help me to overcome my fear of speaking.  Often the humor, wisdom and insight of a thought finds me and is then expressed.    

Recently, I became aware of the Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson who often uses this phrase.  “The Separation is in the preparation”.  As a result, I have come up with this formula that helps me when I remember to use it.  It is as if I were coming out of a dream.   1.) Wake up!  2.) Determine direction, 3.) Make preparations and 4.) Take Action.  So keep dreaming my fellow Toastmasters and when you wake up be fearless, confident, and follow that dream.

Toastmaster Magic ~ David Goodson

>
There is a pleasure in watching new members journey from too nervous to speak more than 15 seconds to an accomplished speaker. The progress is great, but the process seems too simple. It boils down to attending meetings, reading 3-4 pages of instructions for a speech, giving a speech, rinse and repeat. Along the way at meetings, taking on a wide variety of roles each of which requires different speaking skills.
So what make this simple process so effective? My belief is that Toastmaster makes you aware of what works and what does not as a speaker. Each meeting is a workshop to observe different techniques and experiment with new ones. The supportive environment encourages taking risks, and everyone who takes a risk becomes a little better. Over time, all those little betters become a much bigger better.

That’s my take and I would love to hear what other member think.

Recommended Reading by Mel West

How To Be A Success At Everything ~ 5 Words And Phrases That Can Transform Your LIfe!

Don't Be Daunted By Jock Elliott!

PUBLIC SPEAKING FOR BEGINNERS (Butterfly Taming 101) by Nikki Elledge Brown

Love & Leadership - February 2016 Newsletter

Tentative Facebook Banner by Secretary Steve - all who think this is awesome say AYE!!

President Garrett Recommends 

Garrett Leque recommends listening to the first 30 seconds of this 3.5 minute TED talk not for the content, but for the following two reasons:
· The intro: the speaker starts with “A few years ago…” instead of “Hi,” “Thank you,” etc.

· The pauses and clarity of the speech. No ahs, ums, etc. Good use of simple clear speech.

Membership VP David 

The Right Way To End An Email To A Client

David Goodson says: This is one of the most valuable email tips I have ever read - already working for me. The concept applies to speaking as well. I encourage everyone to read it, just makes good sense. 

BEFRIEND A GUEST by Mary Morrison 

I think a lot about an effective way to work with guests at BeGes and other Toastmasters meetings. At a recent meeting, I sat next to a guest. I could tell she was very nervous. She told me she was very scared of speaking, and one of her new year resolutions was to address that fear. I knew this was her first ever meeting. Even with all that information, and talking her through some steps after the meeting, I wonder if I missed a step with her.

I know the boundaries of what not to do: don't overwhelm guests like a swarm of bugs, and don't ignore them, as though they are invisible. So how do we let guests know that we welcome them, support them, encourage them so they take the next steps? Here are some suggestions:

1. Meet them where they are. If a guest is scared of public speaking, they are likely feeling that at a gut level. Let them know we can help them learn how to breathe through their fears and trembling and sweaty hands. They may not care about how Toastmasters helps with making a sale, they want to know they'll be safe and survive. On the other hand, a guest who is very comfortable speaking, and wants to hone their skills may love the chance to speak during Table Topics.

2. Assign a member to work with the guest during the meeting. They may have questions, not understand what's going, wonder what's coming next. Any member can befriend a guest, and it's one of our activities in the Competent Leader manual, project #8: Motivation.

3. Refer the guest to an officer, particularly the Vice President Membership, to take the next steps. I don't know all the specifics of what it takes to join BeGes: costs, how to get on the mailing list, how to get on the schedule, etc. The club officers will usually know that, and have the application for membership handy. Once that's filled in, they also know about the handoffs so the guest/new member gets oriented to club culture.

I've found that most people who have the courage to walk through the door to attend a meeting have likely done some research about Toastmasters. They are looking to say yes to membership, providing we pay attention to the cues they share about where they are, and what needs they are looking to meet. In reflecting on my recent experience, next time, I'll find a way to let club members know where the guest is: too scared to breath? ready to jump right in? Doing so can make us a more effective team.


Last but not least - another illustration by our illustrious
Secretary Steve Garvin.
Because who doesn't love a round, brown, kitty kat?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Beges Speech Contest!
March 4th & 11th

Area contests 

March 16 - 26, 2016
Division contests 

April 1 - 9, 2016.

2016 Spring Conference
April 29, 30, and May 1, 2016
LaQuinta Inn in Tacoma, WA.
Fun, exciting, and educational!
Our keynote speakers will be:
Region 1's TM Int.'l Director, Margaret Page
District 2's Omar Rivas!

BeGes Toastmasters Meetings

Fridays, 12-1pm