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District Governor Message to District 33 Members

Members of Wonderful District 33 Toastmasters,

As we each push to end the 2014-2015 year with an eye on our goals, it is a time to reflect on the accomplishments this year. As of the end of May, we have already surpassed our membership from last year more opportunities for community members to articulate and pursue personal and professional goals.

We completed our (District) second set of Contests which began at the club level in January, and completed in Modesto, CA on May 2. It was awesome to hear nine tall tales and nine international speeches, knowing the effort that went into each of the presentations. The experience of preparing a special speech, to share with the larger audience, and be judged, can bring members to a new level of clear thought, of vulnerability, of connection. But wait, there is more! Our International Speech Contest Winner, Marisa Shadrick, will represent us at the International Convention in Las Vegas. Please join me on August 12 - 15 to cheer her on!

Thank you to Division F and all the folks who created the Modesto Conference. In particular, Id like to recognize Ilene Worthington, Jackie Alford, Phyllis Tribby, Steve Goldstein, Lorrie Linnert- Dunford, Tim Mullins and Jim Daniel who worked most of the conference. We had five educational and inspirational speakers this time, including Past International President Michael Notaro, DTM, who has become an honorary member of District 33 for his coaching, mentoring and support of our members for the last two years. We appreciate our members, Lisa Mazza, DTM and Kay Collis, DTM, PDG and PRA who both informed and inspired. Many other members grabbed an oar and helped make this conference successful, and Im grateful to all. Congratulations to our Sparkplug of the Year, Lorrie Linnert Dunford, DTM and our Toastmaster of the Year, Ken Smith, DTM. Survey results are posted on our District Website, if youd like to read comments about the event. Here is an update on our District 33 numerical Goals we are focused on a repeat of the Select

Distinguished performance from last year, busily working to bring the last few non-paid clubs up to date, and help the Charterlings to Charter. We joked at the District Conference that when Kathy Choate lead us to the achievement last year, it was the first time in 27 years; if we can do it this year, it will be the first time in One year. You can find our current status on the Toastmasters International websites Dashboard. A reminder for membership and clubs, 3% growth is Distinguished, 5% is Select Distinguished and 8% is Presidents Distinguished. For Distinguished Clubs, the percentages are 40%, 45% and 50% respectively.

1) Membership is on target to be 7 to 8% higher than last year! Terrific! We have had consistent growth all year, thanks to each of you, inviting, updating websites.

2) We started at 202 clubs, and as of today we are again at 202 clubs. With a month to go, we have 8 more clubs to renew, and 3 new clubs with paperwork submitted. Our most recent new club is: Hanford Toastmasters, in Division G. The three Charterlings that have submitted their paperwork are: Lunchtime Talkers and BDG in Division C and BREAKAWAY Toastmasters Club in Division G. Welcome!!

3) We currently have an even 50 Distinguished Clubs. Congratulations to the first 13 Presidents Distinguished, 18 Select Distinguished and 19 Distinguished Clubs! We are proud to have clubs that have completed all the requirements, with a month to go! The District target by June 30 for Select Distinguished is at least 91 clubs. This is the time to finish strong!

Finally, I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to serve you as your last District Governor. I so appreciate the team of Debby Baker, Jamuna Ramnath, Guy Dawson, Kathy Choate, Brenda Fenner, Ken Smith, Steve Goldstein and Herb Nowlin who were part of each DEC and District Conference this year, and worked tirelessly all year long. Each person who contributed to this amazing year should be smiling as we stand on the shoulders of success, to finish this year strong, vibrant and joyful. Lets jump in our hot air balloons and bi-planes and take one last flight before we begin the next adventure. In Service,

The

WestWord

Summer 2015

District 33 News & Events

Katy Porter, DTM District 33 Governor

2014-2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Governors Message 1 Charlottes Web 10 Lt Governors Messages 2 PR Pointers 12 District Spotlight 3-4 2015 International Convention 14 Remembrances 5 New DTMs 15 Speaker Spotlight 6 Technology/Education Corner 16 Website Consultant 8 Ask Dana 16

Division Governors Messages 7, 9, 11, 13, 15

Check out the District 33 website D33.toastmastersdistricts.org

District 33 PRO Guy Dawson, DTM

Westword Newsletter Editor

Dana Wall-Oakley, DTM

Contributing Writers District Officers Guy Dawson, DTM Tim Mullins, DTM Dana Wall-Oakley, DTM Sheryl Greenblat, ACS/ALB Charlotte Bentley, CC/ALB

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District 33 Lieutenant Governor of Education & Training Deborah Baker, DTM

Wow!! District 33 we are sprinting toward the finish line and are well on our way towards a Distinguished District. I couldnt be more proud of all of you as we are truly working together as a team to become distinguished for the second year in a row. We want to celebrate together on the stage in Las Vegas at the International conference as we receive our award from President Murad for our efforts this year. As we are completing our year end goals please keep in mind that we are not quite there yet. We have worked so hard up to this point and we want to finish strong. Many of our clubs need one or two more members or perhaps one more educational goal to become distinguished. When our clubs are successful in reaching their goals it rolls all the way up to the District. As of this writing we need about 20 more distinguished clubs. Our Toastmaster program is sometimes a well kept secret and it does not have to be. Start spreading the word to your friends and acquaintances. By doing so your club will be enriched with a plethora of new stories and that new member may very well be on their way to a life changing experience. Its a win-win for everyone. My fellow Toastmasters seize the moment and take advantage of every opportunity to tell someone about Toastmasters this month. Lets finish the race we started as a Distinguished District. Additionally, I want to remind you of the wonderful leadership opportunities we have available within our District. There has never been a better time to step into a leadership role. As we look forward to the challenges ahead it is an exciting time to be a part of the District leadership team. If you have any questions please contact us we are here for you. District 33 together we can do this!!

District 33 Lieutenant Governor of Marketing Jamuna Ramnath, DTM We are at the finish line for the Toastmaster year 2014-2015! This is a new era for District 33! We inherited a Selected Distinguished District and we will leave a legacy of Distinguished or more again this year!! Welcome to the 10 new clubs that joined District 33 this year. Congratulations to the leaders of Divisions C, D, F, G and H for their exceptional perseverance and commitment with ten new charters. I would also like to acknowledge the exceptional performances of Divisions C & G. They have chartered three new clubs each this term.

I appreciate Division A and D Governors for their successful year, especially as they took over the position in December 2014. Division A is well on its way to becoming Select Distinguished! A shout out to Eric Riddle and Tim Chedester is in order for their impressive leadership! It has been a great pleasure working with our core District Leadership Team including Division Governors, Area Governor and the Club Extension Chair. I am pleased with the New Clubs Sponsors and Mentors and Club Coaches for their service and dedication to launch new clubs and to help thriving clubs to achieve success. We are currently just 4 clubs and 43 members short of becoming distinguished! I am positive that with our strong district leadership team, we will celebrate the joy of making it to Select Distinguished one more time at the International Convention!

Cheers District 33!!!

New Clubs Division Area

Sands Expo Toastmasters D 3

Z'Toasters H 4

Action Toastmasters C 2

Wyndham Harradise Toastmasters C 5

BREAKAWAY Toastmasters Club G 1

Exeter Toastmasters G 4

Aces of Inspiration Green D 5

CSA Crusaders Toastmasters F 2

Lunchtime Talkers C 1

Hanford Toastmasters G 4

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Spring Conference 2015 by Guy Dawson, DTM, District PR Officer

The speakers and leaders of District 33 gathered in Modesto, California on May 1 & 2 for Spring Conference 2015. It was an exciting weekend that climaxed with the election of a new slate of officers and two thrilling speech contests. The district theme of Rise to the Opportunity has set a high bar of achievement and the conference was a testimonial to our commitment to excellence in everything we do.

From the spectacular opening ceremony and banner parade to the crowning of the International speech champion, Spring Conference 2015 gave its attendees far more than they could have bargained for. Past International President Michael Notaro challenged us to earn trust and believe in the values of Toastmasters in his electrifying keynote speech and asked us to use our communication skills to build strong relationships and honor our commitments. Thought provoking workshops taught us the value of developing strong marketing systems within our clubs and the importance of recognizing and celebrating different personality types. First time conference attendees were welcomed with a special breakfast and introduced to our district leaders while participating in a fun-filled scavenger hunt. The conference also gave us an opportunity to build new friendships and reunite with the good friends that we had made at past events. An air of happiness and togetherness emanated among our members throughout the weekend. New officers were elected to represent our district in 2015/2016. Our gracious conference hostess and District Governor Katy Porter, DTM will be handing the reigns of leading our district over to current Lieutenant Governor of Education and Training Debby Baker, DTM. Debby is an accomplished leader with a heart of gold who will continue to guide us toward greater heights of achievement. Congratulations are in order for the Tall Tales and International speech contest winners Bill Brown, ACG, ALB, and Marisa Shadrick ACB, ALB. Marisa will grace the stage in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada in August as our representative in the World Championship of public speaking. We will be there to support her as the host district of the 2015 Toastmasters International Convention. Another conference has come and gone and our district has a lot to be proud of. I cant wait to get together with you all again in Santa Maria, CA for our Fall Conference on November 6 & 7.

District Spotlight

Debby Baker and Katy Porter with the District 33 Toastmaster of the Year, Kenneth Smith

and Sparkplug of the Year, Lorrie Linnert-Dunford

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A great selection of photos of Amazing

People from the District 33 Spring Conference

Contest Winners: Pictured with Katy Porter and Debby Baker for Tall Tales

Top to Bottom: 1st Place Bill Brown, 2nd Place Melva Jean Nyberg & 3rd Place Rasika Mathur (with Tall Tale Toastmaster Rosemary Lato)

Contest Winners: Pictured with Katy Porter and Debby Baker & Michael Notaro for the District International Contest

Top to Bottom: 1st Place Marisa Shadrick, 2nd Place Shelley Ehler & 3rd Place Laquita Dukes

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District 33 wishes to extend their condolences to the friends and family of Garland

Barnes from San Joaquin Valley in California.

An honorable, enthusiastic, warm hearted Toastmaster went to be with his Lord on April 7, 2015, at the age of 67. Garland Barnes, CC, was a well-respected and beloved member and officer of several Toastmasters clubs in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California. Garland will be remembered for his infectious smile, twinkling eyes and big bear hugs. He was a humble precious friend who aspired to become a professional motivational speaker who would someday appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show. With his goal in mind, Garland honed his speaking skills and competed in numerous Toastmasters Speech Contests at the Club, Area and Division levels. Garland often quoted Dont let what you cant do prevent you from doing what you can do! Garland Barnes was born in Mecklenbury County, Virginia, on December 10, 1947. He was the fifth of ten children born to his tobacco sharecropping parents. One of Garlands most memorable speeches focused on the proudest accomplishment of his lifetime; finally being able to save enough money to purchase a home for his mother, thus fulfilling her lifelong dream of owning her own home. He was near tears as he explained how he felt on that magnificent day. Garland was a United States Air Force veteran for more than ten years, many of which were spent in Europe where he developed his boxing skills and fought in a military wide championship boxing match. Garland transformed his actual boxing experiences into a humorous memorable Tall Tales competitive speech that many of us still remember fondly. After Garlands military career, he settled in Merced County. He became a contractor who owned his own repair and handyman business. Because of his honesty, integrity and strong work ethic, Garlands business thrived. Being a lifter of spirits and an avid encourager of everyone, Garland provided employment for men in need of motivation and a second chance at living self-sufficient , productive lives in recovery from homelessness as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Garland made it his business to seek out and nurture the potential in others, regardless of the mistakes they had made. Garland Barnes was a first rate ambassador for Toastmasters. Through Toastmasters, Garlands speaking skills, self-confidence, leadership skills and eagerness to share his lifes stories grew. He took his love and appreciation of Toastmasters wherever he went. Because of his warm, affirming personality and authenticity, people were drawn to him and he drew them to Toastmasters meetings where they, too, would have the opportunity to learn and grow into the people they could become. Those of us who knew and loved Garland Barnes will miss him and remember him fondly throughout the years to come. We are grateful for having had the opportunity to know Garland and to have called him our dear friend. He was a treasured Toastmaster who left a legacy of humility, encouragement and an indomitable spirit. Karen Mous, ACB. ALB District 33 / Area F1 Governor

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very uncomfortable. I joined Toastmasters to get my feet wet. It was very intimidating at first and it actually took me a long time to do my ice breaker speech. Once I joined, I stayed with it because I realized how great the curriculum is and how much there is to learn. I moved to Vegas in November of this year and scrambled to find a club so I could compete. I found Saturday Morning Live, met with Steve Goldstein, and filled out paperwork. I was introduced as a member the day of the contest. Where did you get the idea for your speech, "Chip"? I was having a pity party day. I was washing the dishes and noticed that my husband had broken our butter dish. I had just bought the set and gotten ridden of the hand me downs. I felt the chip in the dish, couldn't even see it. I even grabbed a magnifying glass to get a closer look and saw that it was chipped and glued back together. I was so incredibly upset and I couldn't figure out why. Then I had an aha moment. I had always felt chipped inside, broken. Like I had a chip in my heart that no one could see. Then I realized, look how much I've been able to overcome despite my chip. I used the analogy in one of my blog posts and so many people commented on it. I visited a writing summit back East and had to talk about an experience, so I talked about the butter dish. Everyone got the message. We all feel broken inside. You are more than a chip. You can look back and see how far you've come, often because of that chip. When I said that, people told me how encouraged they were. My whole heart is to encourage people. The speech has a piece of a lot of toastmasters in it. No one wins on their own. I can't take full credit, it's a collaborative effort. I'm very thankful for the evaluations and the feedback I've received. What do you do when you aren't Toastmastering? I write a Christian inspirational blog called "Find Your Brave" - Embracing Childlike Faith for God Sized Living. I was in traditional ministry for many years, but I wanted to work outside the church. I wanted to put words on paper. I went back to school to learn to write, learn social media, platform building and speaking. After a 10 year journey, I'm finally putting a book proposal together. I'm doing a test run of a presentation in July at a conference to prepare for a conference next spring. What is your favorite part of Toastmasters? I didn't realize what a blessing Toastmasters would be going into it. I didn't realize how much I would receive, the friends I would make. I'm surrounded by strong believers in personal growth. We never stop growing and learning. I love to learn. For people that are intentionally pursuing self improvement, you can't find a better group of people.

Member

Spotlight

Speakers in the Spotlight Marisa Shadrick, ACS/CL By Sheryl Greenblat, ACS/ALB Marisa Shadrick is a member of Saturday Morning Live, Windjammers and Innuendo Toastmasters AND winner of the District 33 International Speech Contest. She will compete at the International Convention in Las Vegas this summer. How did you get into Toastmasters? I've been in Toastmasters since late 2007. I joined because I knew I needed to develop my speaking skills. I was starting to write, going to writers conferences, and learning about building a platform. I could get up and talk in front of people, but it was raw. I had done a little bit of public speaking in church, but I was

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Division A Governor Eric Riddle, DTM

The Home Stretch

The 2014-2015 Toastmasters Year is coming to a close as I write these words. We are in the home stretch and it is time to recognize the hard work put forth by everyone year to date.

Division A has three clubs that are Presidents Distinguished: 644417 Ridgecrest Possibilitarians in Area A2, 1227591 Broads and Beaus in Area A3, and 4177 Talents Unlimited in Area A4. Division A has four clubs that are Select Distinguished: 543 Plane Talk in Area A4, 8238 Shop Talk in Area A4, 3470 Gift of Gab in Area A5, and 7374 Downtown Toastmasters in Area A5. Division A has one club that is Distinguished: 1371020 Aera Toastmasters in Area A5. Congratulations!

The above numbers mean that Area A4 is Distinguished and Area A5 is Select Distinguished. Congratulations to Area A4 Governor Brenda Yardeen and Area A5 Governor Eleanor Smith!

Other clubs in Division A are also quite close to being Distinguished or better before the year is over. The members in those clubs and their respective Area Governors are working hard to make that a reality by June 30th.

Toastmasters is about the member. It is the members who have put in the hard work giving speeches, working on projects, and more to earn the educational awards that help the clubs reach their Distinguished Club Program goals. The members of Division A have completed 91 educational awards so far this year! Thank you for your efforts.

Many people throughout Division A have helped make it a success. My heartfelt thanks go to you! I know you will continue to help incoming Division A Director Vanessa Thomas as she assumes the leadership role on July 1st.

In Toastmasters, as in life, we get out of it what we put into it. I challenge you to set your personal goals high for 2015-2016. Your success will lead to success for your Club, Area, Division, and District 33. Your ongoing help and support make each day a great day in Division A!

Division B Governor

Martha Navarrette, ACG, ALB

Division B is finishing the year in a high note! The end of the Toastmasters year is fast approaching and Division B is looking to finish the year in a very STRONG note! STRONG representation with great results at the District 33 Conference: Ken Smith, DTM District 33, 2014-2015 Toastmaster of the Year Award Recipient Shelly Ehler, Second Place International Contest Winner Rasika Mathur, Third Place, Tall Tales Contest Winner STRONG Membership: Division B renewed all its 23 clubs and we added 176 new Toastmasters to our membership. More than half of our membership base. Just one of our clubs, Point Mugu Toastmasters, added 16 new members! STRONG Educational goals achieved by THRIVING Clubs: several clubs already achieved President Distinguished. Followed very closely by other Select Distinguished Clubs with 7-8 DCP points, and not to far behind are the Distinguished Clubs with 5 DCP points. The rest of our clubs members are looking at their DCP points and are helping their clubs get the recognition it deserves. Last but not least, it gives me great pleasure to announce our new 2015-2016 Division B Director Elect: Alan Mann, DTM and the 2015-2016 Area Directors Team:

* George Youseff (B1) * Lydia Cruz-Machlitt (B2) * Teresa Alejandrino (B3) * Rebecca Shank (B4)

Committed Toastmasters make STRONG Clubs that provide positive learning environments where ALL members GROW and THRIVE!

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IS YOUR CLUB ?

By Tim Mullins, DTM District Club Website Consultant toastmaster.tim@gmail.com

Amazing, Astonishing and Awesome! What, you might ask, would cause such a reaction? As I sit here and write this article and reflect on District 33s

Distinguished Club Website Program (DCWP)

Im impressed by the fact that District 33 has:

30 clubs that have achieved Presidents Distinguished

(9 or 10 Goals) (~14.4% of D33 clubs)

22 clubs that have achieved Select Distinguished

(7 or 8 Goals) (~10.5% of D33 clubs)

67 clubs that have achieved Distinguished

(5 or 6 Goals) (~32.1% of D33 clubs)

That is an amazing 57% of our District 33 clubs that have websites that are Distinguished or better. Congratulations to all of our astonishing D33 clubs for Rising to the Opportunity. I am awe-struck!!! But District 33 also has:

33 clubs that are only 1 point away (4 Goals) (~15.8% of D33 clubs)

This brings the percentage of our Distinguished clubs and also-rans to 72.8% (AMAZING) If this is the first you are hearing about the (DCWP) then I obviously didnt fulfill my responsibilities as well as I should or could have. (Ill try harder next year) If you want to learn more about this Club Website Excellence Program then please visit the following District 33 website webpages: ABOUT THE DCWP PROGRAM: http://d33.toastmastersdistricts.org/District_33_Distinguished_Club_Website_Program.html INDIVIDUAL CLUB WEBSITE STATUS: http://d33.toastmastersdistricts.org/D33_Distinguished_Club_Website_Program_Status.html We are rapidly approaching the end of yet another Toastmaster year. Where did the time go? But the more important question is did you achieve your personal Toastmaster goals? Did your club achieve its DCP Goals? Did your club website achieve its DCWP Goal? If you did then all I can say is thats AMAZING, ASTONISHING AND AWESOME!

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Division C Governor Gene Dunford, DTM

This has been a great year for this Division C Governor. I had the opportunity to work with six of the finest Toastmasters as Area Governors. They worked very well together. For me it was a learning experience, learning how to communicate with a variety different communication methods. Tweets, Google+, phone, email, messenger; I learned very soon not to combine several subjects in an email. I learned that my favorite method of communication is emails at 3:05 AM; I could not expect a response before 8:05 AM. My team became club-chartering masters. Division C chartered Action Toastmasters, Wyndham Harradise, and Lunchtime Talkers. Prospective clubs still linger on the horizon; City of Henderson is a work in progress planned for Area C-4. We are in the process of setting the kickoff meeting date and filling out the Application to Charter. BDG Toastmasters is at 19 soon to charter for Michael Campbell. A veterans group is working with Sol Lee to create a new club. I am looking forward to turning over the reigns over to the capable hands of our first Division C Director Kristina Greer, I wonder if she minds 3 am emails? I am going to continue asking everyone I meet, What do you know about Toastmasters?

Division D Governor Tim Chedester, ACG/CL

Fellow Toastmasters of District 33, With the end of the 14-15 cycle nearly complete, looking out across the Division D landscape leaves me with a feeling of great pride. Many challenges existed over the course of the year, and as the interim Division Governor, I witnessed some of the very best of what Toastmasters has to offer. It was inspiring to witness leaders stepping up and filling in when it was needed. Tirelessly dedicating themselves to something bigger, and supporting the clubs, areas, and District. Without equivocation, this fine group of leaders and communicators has been at the core of the success of the Division, and without their help, I could not have completed this journey. I feel a strong sense of honor and privilege to have shared the adventure! I am eternally grateful! Tim Chedester ACG, CL

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Charlottes Web By Charlotte Bentley, CC/ALB VP Ed Saturday Morning Live Toastmasters Club #2470

Leader Spotlight: Lydia Boyd Leader in the Limelight Taken from stage lighting once used in theatres, the term "in the limelight" now refers to anyone we want to shine a spotlight on. In this issue, we are featuring Lydia Boyd, DTM, PDG, PID, as our Leader in the Limelight. In the introductions of dignitaries at Toastmaster events, Lydia is often introduced first as a Past International Director. While we have several PIDs in District 33, we believe Lydia Boyd is the one and only in Southern Nevada. Lydia became a Toastmaster in May of 1974, less than one year after they allowed women to join. She was also one of the very first and few women of color in the early days of female Toastmasters. It was a struggle at times, to be involved in Toastmasters while raising a son and a daughter as a single mother, but she credits her Toastmaster family as helping her through those years. As the District Governor for District One in 1986, her district was the #1 district in TMI, an accomplishment she credits to all the outstanding members. As an International Director in 1987-89, she traveled to many districts in the Western United States and served as a member of the Board of Directors for TMI. Lydia still has Toastmaster friends world-wide. Now, at 81 years young, Lydia often introduces herself at a Toastmaster meeting as "happy to be here - in fact, happy to be anywhere." Lydia fondly remembers Helen Blanchard, the first female president of TMI who is often quoted as saying that if you get out of Toastmasters all you can get out of Toastmasters you won't ever get out of Toastmasters. Lydia lives by this. Even though Lydia has done it all - after all, she's been to hundreds of club meetings, contests, and conferences - probably thousands by now, and served in every capacity many times over, she still serves whenever asked. She is frequently asked to mentor others as they make their way through Toastmasters. She mentored me when I began a little over 3 years ago - she first made me feel welcome at my very first meeting, and told me after my first speech - you are better than you know, and at my first TLI training she said you belong up there on stage with the leaders. I have since heard her encourage and inspire others in much this same way. It is truly a legacy to have an award named for you while you are still alive. In addition to the District 15 Lydia Boyd Excellence Award, District One has just implemented the Lydia Boyd Communication and Leadership Award; its first recipient will be announced this month. Lydia says her life is blessed by all the great people she has met through Toastmasters over the years. In District 33, we all say our lives and our Toastmaster's journeys have been blessed by her presence.

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Division E Governor Julie Boyce, ACS, CL

Rising to the Opportunity

I would like to address the opportunity for me to serve Division E along with six (6) Area Governors in guiding the progress of its Clubs and Memberships. There were hurdles to cross, decisions to make and goals to accomplish. I am fortunate to have six (6) Lady Area Governors to give support in doing my job as Division Governor. One of the hurdles we crossed was the cancellation of the venue on the Friday night prior to our North County Area Contests which were to be held the next day. The North County Area Governors went above and beyond; first to notify all clubs in their Areas by Telephone and e-mail also revise the flyer to CANCELLATION. We Found a replacement Venue and suitable date to hold the Area Contests and revise the Flyer again with the New Information. . South County Area Governors also offered suggestions of places to research such as Community Public Buildings etc. It all went well and the Contests were held. The Area Governors participated in my monthly Telephone Conferences for one (1) hour once a month, they conducted their Club Visits, and completed Officer Trainings and participated in various contests as a strong support team. As far as I am concerned they all ROSE TO THE OPPORTUNITY and it was and is great working with these ladies: (North County Contingent) Faye Lundberg Area E1, Maria Millsaps Area E2 and Lugdy Cueva Area E5. : (South County Contingent) Mary Jo Alburger Area E3, Sara Wingate Area E4 and Martina Young Area E6. Sincerely, Julie Boyce ACG, CL. Division E Governor

Division F Governor Monty Shindler, ACS, ALB

Division F advances into the New Year with a sense of resolve and commitment where the focus of 2015-2016 will be Enabling Dreams, led by Division Director, Sondra Ahln! Special thanks to our four Area Governors: F1-Karen Mous, F2-Sondra Ahln, F3-Jim Daniel and F4-Sylvia Kisling and to Division Secretary-Jackie Alford, Division PRO-Maria Azevedo, and Division Ambassador-Michael Weinapple. These leaders with others, created unity among clubs across area lines to build a strong foundation that will ensure future growth. Warm regards to John and June Rogers for their hospitality over the many years of hosting the Division F TLI in their home. The June 27, 2015 TLI is relocating to a new venue that will accommodate the phenomenal growth we are now experiencing. Bravo to District 33 Spring Conference Chair, Ilene Worthington, whose exemplary leadership harnessed the power of Division F to create a memorable conference experience for speakers, attendees and volunteers at the Modesto Double Tree Inn. Division F is also pleased to have captured the Milo Graham Award for the third time in three and one half years. REO Speech Train-F2, sponsored our newest chartered club, CSA Crusaders Toastmasters. This corporate club is within Stanislaus County government, located in the Community Services Agency. Division F is on track with eight Distinguished clubs, to become a Presidents Distinguished Division by June 30th. As Karen Mous is famous for saying, Its not over until its over! Congratulations to all who have worked so hard to earn the awards, to attend the TLIs, speech contests, area conference trainings and worked behind the scenes at our events. Thank you for working the DCP to make Division F the best we can be as we get down to the business of Enabling Dreams in 2015-2016! In Service, Monty Shindler ACS, ALB Governor, Division F

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PR POINTERS

By Guy Dawson, DTM Expose Your Club to the Community with Regular Open House Events

People are drawn to Toastmaster clubs that host fun and exciting meetings. Hosting open house events on a regular basis can be an extremely effective way to recruit new members and show your amazing club off to the community. Here are few pointers that will add pizazz to your next open house meeting. Be creative in planning your theme. There are an endless number of interesting themes that your club can incorporate into its open house meeting schedule. Find the theme that best fits your club culture and use it as a promotional tool to encourage visitors to attend. Dont be shy, invite everyone. We all know what a life-changing experience joining a Toastmaster club can be. Dont be shy about inviting your friends, family and anyone you know to attend your open house. The person you invite could potentially become the next Toastmasters International President or World Champion of Public Speaking. Kick your enthusiasm up a notch. Enthusiasm is infectious and the potential members who attend an open house will rise to the energy that your club projects. Clap often, laugh and recognize your fellow members throughout the event and the attendees will want what you have. Become the ultimate Toastmaster ambassador. Be honest and sincere when you share your Toastmasters experiences with the open house guests. Talk to them about the programs we offer and how they can improve their lives by becoming members. We are all walking testimonials of the benefits of Toastmaster membership. Success is in the follow up. Staying in contact with attendees who dont join on the day of the open house is critical. Your clubs VP of Membership should follow up with the attendees within 48 hours. A call or a thank you card will let them know that they are important to you. Encourage them to come to another meeting and join your club when they are ready.

In an age of rapid technological advancement, the age old practice of hosting an open house to attract potential Toastmasters members is still unbelievably useful. Host open house events regularly and share the merits of your club with your community.

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Division G Governor

Jose Salazar, ACS, CL

Changing of the Guard As with every adventure or journey, there is an ending. The same is true when stepping down from a position in Toastmasters. Soon I will known as a Past Division Governor of Division G. However, I would like to say a few words related to my journey in this position. I will say that my military training in leadership was useful. Our District Governor gave me a yearly schedule as to what requirements ere needed in fulfilling my tasks as Division Governor. I took the advice of another Division Governor who recommended that I create a Division Council comprised of volunteer members who became my specialists in their areas of expertise. These areas were: education and training; marketing new clubs; protocol officer; webmaster and secretary. These so-called specialists became my advisors in assisting me with any problems within the Division. My decision to create the council turned out to be one of my best decisions in moving the division forward. Fortunately, we succeeded in overcoming past animosities and obstacles. y team was comprised of the division council and the area governors. together we sparked new life into some lubs and members. this new life energized the members in assisting the division team in whatever way the could help. through these combined efforts we created two new clubs and two other clubs are pending to be chartered. we also got a new DTM,. trained judges, has an increase in great contestants and thanks to our area G3 governor, Robert Nevarez, received recognition from the Fresno Bee newspaper. With these outstanding results I wrote letters as required by Toastmasters International, to help my council receive educational credits for the year. With certainty our division has moved forward. With the closing phase of my tenure comes a great feeling of success.

Division H Governor Ken Richardson, ACG, ALB

Its hard to believe a year has come and gone. That proves the old adage that Time Flies When Youre Having Fun. Its been a truly amazing year. I have so many people to thank, I dont know where to begin. Ive learned more than I ever expected and Ive made lots and lots of new friends. I confess there were times I cursed and complained and wished Id never agreed to be the Division Governor. Nevertheless, I now find that Im going to miss it. Along the way, Ive had plenty of help. First, the Division H Area Governors Jeanne Cardin, Kristina Greer, Stany Larsen and Donna Castricone have all been amazing to work with. Id call them Kens Angels but that sounds paternalistic at best or at worst, misogynistic. Let me just say I couldnt have survived the year without their support and encouragement. I am especially proud to note that Stany and Kristina are moving up the leadership ladder to serve as Division Directors for the 2015-2016 year. I am confident they will lead their respective Divisions to great heights. My fellow Southern Nevada Division Governors, Gene Dunford, Linda Bown, and Tim Chedester have been exceedingly generous with their time and expertise; as have the members of my clubs, Early Risers Toastmasters and Bon Apetit Toastmasters. Serving as Division Governor isnt really work when you are surrounded by so many wonderful people willing to help out when you need them. It has been terrific working with Guy Dawson, Jesse and Dana Oakley, III and our District Leaders, Katy, Debby, and Jamuna. Their guidance and wisdom is very much appreciated. A special thanks to my wife Jan. She has been wonderfully supportive. Her addiction to yard sales and her uncanny ability to find bargains made the opportunity drawings at the Division contests hugely successful. If Ive forgotten anyone, please accept my sincere apologies. The success the Division has enjoyed this past year is due to the aforementioned Toastmasters. Any shortcomings are entirely my own making. Thank you for a wonderful year!

14

2015 International Convention

by International Convention District Host Chairs Jesse Oakley III, DTM,PDG & Dana Wall-Oakley, DTM

District 33 is hosting next International Convention in Fabulous Las Vegas If you hadnt heard yet, our very own District will be playing host to the entire world for the

2015 International Convention. On behalf of Toastmasters international President, Mohammed Murad, DTM, we cordially invite you to attend. It will take place August 12-15, 2015 at Caesars Palace in the heart of the Las Vegas strip. As the Host District, it is up to all the members of District 33 to make this convention one of the best International Conventions ever! We are currently recruiting volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for one or more of the events, please contact us at jesoak3@gmail.com or penguinlady1@cox.net or visit our website at www.lvtmconv2015.com .

Feel free to visit the District 33 Convention website at : http://d33.toastmastersdistricts.org/2015_Toastmasters_International_Convention.html

If you have never been to a Toastmasters International Convention, this is your golden opportunity to be a part of something big. We are looking forward to working with you and seeing you at Caesars Palace in August 2015. Not only will you hobnob with Toastmasters from around the world, you will have a fantastic and rewarding experience. Please volunteer, its worth it!

To the members of District 33, do not miss the opportunity to attend the International Convention which has been brought right to your doorstep. It will be an eye-opener for many of us who have never attended a Toastmasters International event at the world level. Imagine the number of fellow Toastmasters you will be meeting and interacting with at this Convention. The friendships you will develop with Toastmasters from all over the world are beyond priceless.

In addition to this, you will no longer "just hear" about the World Championship of Public Speaking or watch the video you can witness the birth of a NEW World Champion of Public Speaking!!! The Educational sessions will be another great learning experience. And, dont miss the chance to attend the Golden Gavel Award event and the Presidents Inauguration and Celebration!!!

Register to attend the convention at www.Toastmasters.org then visit our

Volunteer Website at www.lvtmconv2015.com to register as a volunteer. You can receive a $100 refund on your registration after your duties have been fulfilled.

Dont forget to mark your calendar: August 12th to 15th, 2015 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada!!! We hope to see you there!!! Take care and thank you for your time and attention!!! Sincerely, Jesse Oakley III DTM, PDG & Dana Wall-Oakley, DTM Host District Chairs, 84th Toastmasters International Convention

15

Division J Governor Daniel Waldman, ACS, ALB

As my term as Division J Governor draws to a close I reflect back on the year and self-evaluate. Were there things I could improve or do differently? Absolutely, there is always a better way. As I look back on my year as Division Governor, I see many things I could have done differently. Most importantly, I would have become a division governor immediately after I was an area governor, rather than waiting several years. In Spring, I hosted the Division J International and Tall Tales Contests. The winner of both contests was Sarah Kahn, a member of Madera Toastmasters. This was a small personal triumph for me. I had been brought in to coach Madera back to life from a slight 4 members. I helped accomplish Distinguished Status. Madera Toastmaster is proud to be the home club of a double winner who represented Division J at the Spring District Conference. Finally, part of any leaders duty is to inspire and educate our replacements and the future leaders of Toastmasters. I hope I wasnt delinquent in this area. I was lucky to have people who truly share my love for Toastmasters. Many of those in subordinate positions already held a high level of desire to learn and devote themselves to the continued growth of Toastmasters. Long live Toastmasters!

New DTM's

Feb 2015 June 2015

California & Nevada

Marjorie A Hamon Leon Lato Templeton, CA Las Vegas, NV Dirk H. Mous Michele W. Shafe Merced, CA Las Vegas, NV

16

Technology Corner

District #33 in Region 2 Central California Southern Nevada

Getting the word out - Technologically Is your club LinkedIn? Facebooked? FreeToastHosted? Googled? In this age of technology, one of the best ways to get the word out about your club is to be on the web. What does your club website look like? Do you even have one? I cant count the number of times we ask a guest how they found our club and they say on the web. The first step is to assign a webmaster, a member of your club that is familiar with all aspects of the Internet. Have your webmaster ensure that your clubs information is correct on the Toasmaster.org website. The next important step is to have a FreeToastHost website for your club. Go to www.toastmastersclubs.org - scroll down and follow the instructions to set up a new website. Another way to get connected is to have a Facebook page, a YouTube Channel, a Twitter page and a LinkedIn page. This will connect your club to millions of people. Once you have your other web pages set up, you can put a link to them on your FreeToastHost website.

www.Facebook.com You can set up a group page on Facebook. www.Youtube.com Here is where you can make a YouTube channel for your clubs videos. www.linkedin.com This is a great place to connect with Toastmasters around the world. www.twitter.com Have members Tweet about your clubs current events. www.google.com Set up a gmail account for your club, and then add a Google+ page.

Take a survey of your guests, how did they find your club? If they said, from the website (either Toastmasters or your own club website) you will see how valuable it is for your club to have a web presence. Join the technological revolution and plug in today.

Education Corner

Resources from Toastmasters International

There are a plethora of free resources available at Toastmasters.org. Visit this website and click Resources. The links listed will help you find anything you might be looking for from Toastmasters International. Many of these resources are downloadable. Toastmasters International also has a podcast.

If you are interested in starting a new club, this link will help. Its the New Club E-toolkit: http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/OfficerResources/ClubOfficerResources/NewClubEtoolkit.aspx

This link will help your club with Membership Building: http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/MembershipBuilding.aspx

If you prefer to watch videos, this link will give you video resources http://www.toastmasters.org/MainMenuCategories/FreeResources/ToastmastersTimeTestedCommunicationTipsonVideo.aspx

Many of the educational materials available in the shop are downloadable, search for manuals, flyers, and other pamphlets at this link http://www.toastmasters.org/MainMenuCategories/Shop/ManualsBooksVideosCDs_1.aspx

Visit Toastmasters.org for resources - Educational Materials, District & Division reports, Membership Materials, etc. to help build membership and educate your club members.

Ask Dana By Dana Wall-Oakley, DTM / CGW (Computer Guru/Webmaster)

What else can I find at Toastmasters.org? The new revamped Toastmasters.org is amazing. There are many resources not only for members of clubs, but for guests as well. These are the options available under the Membership tab. A Toastmaster's Journey New Member Experience Welcome New Members Member Testimonials Facts for First Timers Community Based Programs How to Start a New Club Sponsor a Club The Club Experience Club Meeting Roles How to Join. Any of these links have numerous selections for a guest to peruse to find out more about what Toastmasters is, how it can help them and how to join a club. There are also options for existing members to retain existing members, find guests and convert guests to members. Visiting Toastmasters website is fun for you and your guests. Enjoy all the information it has to offer. Use it find new members, keep existing members and create fun amazing meetings for all!