"C" stands for Challengers in DIVISION C

by Division C Governor, Elon Horsham, ACS

Elon Horsham, ACS

As we approach the end of the first half of the year, Division C, otherwise known as the “Challengers” continue to meet and overcome all challenges put before them.

With one of the district goals for this year in starting new clubs, I am pleased to announce that our division as started 3 new clubs. One has already chartered (Clermont Toastmasters)thanks to the special efforts of Area 31 Governor Marjorie Benjamin, and two more, (Wells Fargo and FAMU Toastmasters) due to be chartered in January.

The success of this division in starting new clubs promises to continue into the New Year. Three more new clubs are already in the pipeline to form with two of them already confirming the dates for their kick off meeting thanks to the efforts of Area 34 Governor Andy Brown.

Division C Area Governors have certainly stepped up to their challenges and they all deserve special thanks for their dedication to the cause of preserving and making this division special.

All Speakers Should Avoid These Groups

by Fred Haley, DTM

Fred Haley, DTM

Your audience wants you to succeed. They want you to do well so that they can be entertained, informed and inspired. Your self-confidence grows. As you become more confident, you build credibility.

Then you are introduced to three groups. You believe they will bring your speeches to a higher level. You expect a stronger connection with your audience.

It is not working, but you don’t notice it at first. You start losing credibility. Before you realize, audiences are enjoying your presentation, but are not convinced. Your message is not connecting. Your confidence is disappearing. You feel that you are regressing.

Looking back, you recognize you were focusing on these three groups too much. Your problem started then. It was subtle. It felt good. It felt right. But it was going all wrong.

What happened?

Groups to Avoid

Can you uncover the reasons? What were those groups? What did they do?

These groups are not organizations, associations or businesses. I am referring to words - categories of phrases that can easily seep into your presentations. You think that they add strength to your message. They do not.

Let me introduce you to: the EXCUSABLES, the CONDITIONALS, and the INCREDIBLES. These phrases and comments are common to many speeches: common, but harmful.

EXCUSABLES: Your first goal as a speaker is get the audience to trust you. They should believe that you believe in your message.

You are excited as you walk to the lectern. You think that, to gain their trust, you should be totally honest. So you tell them the truth, basically saying, “Please excuse me if I don’t meet all your expectations:

• BUT, this is my first time.”
• BUT, I am not an expert.”
• BUT, I am just learning.”
• I may be wrong, but. .”

A few of you might say, “Maybe it’s the blonde in me.”

What did you just say? Essentially, “I am not ready to talk to you.” If you are not ready, then why should we listen to you? Come back when you are ready.

These phrases are often uttered out of nervousness. You make excuses. Your audiences do not want to hear excuses. Sure, they will be polite. They will listen. But they will not accept you or your message.

What should you have said? NOTHING! You do not have to apologize.
EXCUSABLES group. Keep those thoughts and that self-doubt to yourself.

CONDITIONALS: You want your audience to trust in what you say. They must believe that you know your subject, and your information is correct. So why do you begin your report with conditional comments?

• I think that . . .
• In my opinion . . .
• As I understand, . . .

You set provisional stipulations in case you were wrong. You say them because you start do doubt yourself. What if there is an exception? What if you missed something?

What are you saying? “I am not sure if what I am saying is true.” Your audiences do not want to hear that you are not sure what you are talking about. It should be fact. You should convince them that you are certain.

What should you have said? NOTHING EXTRA! You do not need to qualify your comments. Avoid the CONDITIONAL statements. Do your proper research. At least make it sound that you believe what you are saying. Don’t say, “I think that the sky is blue.” Just say, “The sky is blue.” Express full confidence.

INCREDIBLES: You want the audience to accept your message. You are excited. To add emphasis so that the audience will be fully convinced, you make a descriptive commentary to your facts and points, as:

• This is the best (worst) ever . . .
• Absolutely perfect.
• It is unlike any other.

What are you saying? By exaggerating your point to the extreme, the audience automatically starts to question them, and you. You make it harder for the audience to believe you. You have lost credibility.

What should you have said? Be reasonable in your qualifiers. Avoid making your points INCREDIBLE (not credible at all). You can underscore your points without advancing to the superlatives.

Be Prepared

To gain your audience’s trust and confidence in your message, craft your words carefully. Avoid those groups that will erode the connection with your audiences: the EXCUSABLES, the CONDITIONALS, and the INCREDIBLES. Your credibility and your confidence depend on it.

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Fred Haley, DTM, published author and speaker, has been a member of Toastmasters for over 12 years. Fred has earned two Distinguished Toastmasters awards. His home club is Beaches Area Toastmasters, #2862, Jacksonville FL Contact Fred at Fred@Toastmentor.com.

"A" for Adventure

by Division Governor Linton McClain, DTM

Linton McClain, DTM

What is most exciting about Division A is the adventure in the Division. The discovery of a path anew within the Division has been an amazing journey. As we started the new Toastmasters year with ambition and energy, the leadership team within Division A understood their mission. The mission to ensure each Toastmaster was able to receive exactly what they needed from their clubs. We have started with the fundamentals; excitement, fun, education, and opportunities. They seem to work in any situation.

During these next 6 months, Division A is focused on taking each member on their very own “Toastmasters Adventure”. We want our members to get out of their clubs and meet other Toastmasters. We are doing this by utilizing the Club Ambassador Program. With an ample number of participants, we are spreading excitement and energy from club to club and to each Area. Division A wants their members to know that Toastmasters is an adventure they want to experience to the max.

As we have started to spark this adventure, we are keeping our members plugged in with pictures, videos, and slideshow of events happening around the Division. We want to keep our members involved and excited to be a part of something great. This is our main goal. Social Media has helped us out tremendously in this area with the use of Facebook and Youtube. These outlets give each member the opportunity to stay in tune with the buzz in the Division.

To further encourage members to reach higher, we have identified members within Division A willing to assist with professional speaking engagements. After establishing a professional speaker program within the Division, we realize we were able to provide a unique opportunity for our clubs. Having guest speakers come in to any of our clubs was a great way to spice up the agenda and attract new guests and members. We want the city of Jacksonville searching for the excitement Division A has to offer.

We chose this path because we realized our members wanted more from the Toastmasters program. They wanted excitement, enthusiasm, and opportunities. By continuing to encourage, motivate, and challenge our members, we are able to do just that. Providing a fertile environment for growth and development is the mission of any leader and the mission of Division A. We are looking forward taking Division A to the next level in the coming months. Let the adventure begin!

Sixteen Things I Saw, Heard and Felt at First Bahamas Branch Toastmasters Club 1600

by Dr. Lorraine Haataia, DTM

On September 15, I found myself standing in front of a room full of men pounding their fists on tables in a synchronous rhythm, giving me a drumbeat standing ovation before I ever said a word. The audience was alert and electric. As I positioned myself at the lectern, the pounding continued. I was so energized that I began to dance from my shoulders up. It was the best welcome I’ve ever been given as a speaker!

Over the years I’ve been a member of several different Toastmasters clubs in Oregon and Florida, and I’ve visited countless other clubs across the United States. Every time I visit a club, I learn something new. After all these years, I’ve come to expect that I’ll take away one or two unique ideas that I might apply sometime, somewhere. So that’s what I assumed when I when my husband and I visited Club 1600 (www.Club1600.org) on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. Boy was I wrong! I got two ideas in the first two minutes! By the end of the meeting, I had dozens. Rather than write these ideas in a statement form, I felt it would work better to put them in the form of questions that you, my fellow Toastmasters, could share and act upon in your own clubs.

This was our first time in The Bahamas and on this trip my husband and I did a few other things for the first time. When I challenge myself to try new things, not only do I learn, but I sometimes discover amazing things that spark my creativity and interests. That's why I was inspired to speak on the topic of "The Last Time You Did Something for the First Time." Check out this “first time” presentation I gave on that day, and you'll get a sample of the energy that exudes from Club 1600.