Where Leaders Are Made

Toastmasters New Club Incentive extended – Save Hundred$

OPEN A NEW CLUB NOW SAVE HUNDRED$! The Board of Directors has extended the waiver for charter fees and new member fees!! The charter fee ($125) and the new member fees ($20 per member) have been waived for all clubs which charter by June 30, 2021, and pay the current term renewal dues. For a club with 20 new members, this is a total savings of $525! To qualify, new clubs will need to: Fully complete the charter process by June 30, 2021. Pay the prorated dues for the current period; and Pay the $45.00 per member charter membership dues. Each member would pay the following at the time of charter: CHARTER MONTH PRORATED DUES1 CHARTER DUES TOTAL DUES2 February $15.00 + $45.00 = $60.00 March $7.50 + $45.00 = $52.50 April $45.00 + $45.00 = $90.00 May $37.50 + $45.00 = $82.50 June $30.00 + $45.00 = $75.00 1Members who transfer their membership to the new club do not pay the prorated dues. 2For charters in February or March, dues for charter members would be paid through September 2021. Clubs chartered on April 1 or later, members would be paid through March 2022. Interested? Questions? Club Growth Director: Denise Alder Gutherz, [email protected] or Club Extension Chair: Lance McMahan, DTM, [email protected] or (916) 316-0573 for assistance.

Special Message from Toastmasters International President Lark Doley

January 5, 2019 Dear Club Presidents, 2019, the year of the Wow, is upon us…are you ready? I ask you to ‘Wow’ your current and prospective Toastmaster members with the best club experience possible. Welcome to The Wow!Factor Project! The goal of this program is to increase the quality and performance of each club around the world. When you visit a McDonald’s anywhere in the world, do you expect a consistent experience? Toastmaster members and guests have a right to expect a consistent, quality club experience anywhere around the world, too.  Let’s raise the bar of every club across the globe to be more uniform and top-performing. Let’s make this our gold standard! Please start 2019 with a deep analysis of your club. This is the time to be proud of your accomplishments, but also to be realistic about what needs to be improved. Utilize tools, such as the Club Quality checklist and Moments of Truth, to fully assess how your club is performing. Find the gaps and areas of weakness. Then in February and March, I want you to put these vital club findings into a plan of action. Fill in the gaps to become ‘the best club possible.’ Utilize more tools, such as the Open House Flier and new marketing materials, to improve each club experience, to conduct the ‘best meetings possible.’ Publicize and hold Open Houses to recruit new members. Share the benefits of Toastmasters with friends and co-workers. Invite members to think and say “wow!” when they attend a meeting. Be on the lookout for a kick-off video program that will encourage you to send in a video of your club’s unique Wow experience using #wowfactor. By March, your Wow factor should be in full motion and then keep it in motion! Have each member of your club re-assess their individual goals. Re-assess your goals! Continually improve the club experience. Continually publicize when and where your club meets.  Promote the mission of the club to share the benefits of Toastmasters membership. Retain existing members by supporting their personal and professional goals. Is your club the best example of The Wow!Factor Project? Are you personally an example of The Wow!Factor? Show me! Send in your video using #wowfactor! I am excited to embark on this journey with you to show the world how we Wow! Sincerely,     Lark Doley International President 2018–2019 Toastmasters International www.toastmasters.org

Meet District 39’s First Accredited Speaker Donny Crandell

Meet District 39’s First Accredited Speaker Donny Crandell By Kristi Beres On August 26, 2017, at the Toastmasters International Conference in Vancouver, Canada, Donny Crandell became the first speaker from District 39 and one of only 75 Toastmasters to achieve the Accredited Speaker award.  Crandell, a 2016 World Championship of Public Speaking finalist shares his thoughts about his journey on becoming an Accredited Speaker. When did you join Toastmasters? I joined five years ago. My first Club was Placer’s Gold in Auburn, California.  What is the Accredited Speakers Award? Toastmasters recognizes professional speakers with a rare, prestigious designation called, “Accredited Speaker.” Through a rigorous application process and video submission, the candidate must pass level 1. After that, it’s off to level two, speaking at the International Conference Accredited Speaker forum. What is the screening process like? It’s an arduous journey but well worth it. The level one video is judged by five judges and you must receive a 70 % scoring on average. You also have to complete 25 speaking engagements within a three year period. Fifteen of those 25 speeches must include audiences of 20 or more who paid to hear you speak. You also must have five endorsement letters from those fifteen paid engagements. A record of the location and the amount of pay received was submitted with the application. How did you find out about the Accredited Speakers program? I first heard about it through Emma Santa from our district, and later from [AS] Sheryl Roush when she presented a seminar on the subject at a district conference in Stockton. Who helped you refine your Accredited Speakers presentation? I received the best feedback from Jeffrey Purtee and other Toastmasters in the Reno area.  How was preparing for the Accredited Speakers finals similar or different than preparing for the semifinals of the World Champion of Public Speaking? The biggest difference for me was that I didn’t have to memorize this presentation, but I did memorize my International speech. There is far less pressure with the Accredited Speaker’s accreditation because I was not competing against anyone but myself and the judges. And most importantly, you’re not disqualified for going over time. When did you find out you were a finalist? I found out that I passed level 1 on May 19, 2017. The night before I competed in the District 39 International contest in Anderson, California. Who are the judges who judge you and the other Accredited Speakers finalists? There are five anonymous judges at both levels; the video presentation and for the live presentation at the International Conference. What were the highlights of the Toastmasters International convention? Speaking at the Accredited Speaker program and earning the designation.  I also enjoyed a bike ride around Stanley Park and having a late night visit with friends from Sacramento and Reno at the Marriot Pinnacle restaurant.  Now that you are an Accredited Speaker- what do you hope to do next? I want to continue working as a professional speaker, but not yet ready to quit my day jobs. I also plan on competing to be the World Champion of Public Speaking. I will continue speaking as much as possible, in as many venues as possible, to be the best speaker I can possibly be. I still have plenty to learn to be a professional speaker.   Authored by: Kristi Beres, DTM Public Relation Manager District 39, Toastmasters International [email protected]

Special message from International President Mike Storkey

Dear Toastmasters.  Are you looking for more ways to get involved in your club or district? Watch this special video message from International President Mike Storkey, and learn about the many leadership opportunities Toastmasters has to offer. Mike Storkey DTM Message – Clear Here!