What a great start we have had for the 2012-2013 Toastmasters year! January 1st marks the halfway point through our District officer terms. Let’s have some fireworks to celebrate the successes we have met along the way and to light the way to future successes!
Our year began with our Toastmasters Leadership Institute season, with a whopping 92% of clubs sending 4 or more officers to be trained! And 46% of our clubs earned the Super Seven ribbon for having all seven officers trained. In addition, well-attended elective classes featured communications and leadership skills beyond basics. Thanks to all who organized the training, to the eloquent presenters who gave of their time and expertise, and to all who attended, making these events a resounding success!
Fall saw an array of Area and Division Contests, each with talented speakers, Contest Chairs, and Toastmasters. We chuckled, giggled, and even guffawed at the Humorous Speech contests and admired the analytical skills of our Speech Evaluation contestants. We cheered the contestants enthusiastically, munched on great food and found fellowship with our Toastmaster friends. Lots of coordination allowed our Area Contests to be held over a period of four weeks instead of seven. Thanks to all who planned and attended these events!
Our Fall Conference truly was remarkable! Conference Chair Cindy Hinckley led a fantastic team to realize her dream of a conference that would feature excellent educational sessions, record-breaking attendance, an International guest, and lots of fun under the Big Top. Thanks to Cindy, her team, and all who attended for making our conference The Greatest Show on Earth!
Our Marketing Team has been busy chartering new clubs, stimulating clubs to maintain membership and to add new members, assigning Club Coaches, assisting clubs in getting dues paid, setting up our new Helping Hands program, and hosting Marketing Workshops to promote best practices at club meetings. Whew! That’s a lot of work! We are excited about our three new clubs! Welcome to The Voice, NEC Toastmasters, and Panda Style! My thanks to each member who has reached out to help a new or existing club succeed.
Looking forward, we have already hosted one Winter TLI and have more in the planning stages. We want every officer to attend training in order to give clubs the greatest chance for success. Our spring contest season is shaping up nicely. Our Spring Conference planning is well under way as we gather presenters to join us on our mission, To Boldly Go, taking us to infinity and beyond as we explore the possibilities in Toastmasters.
Thanks to Lt. Governors Dean Lampman and Marylee Mims for their hard work in making the first half of our Toastmasters year one to remember! Thanks also to our excellent Area and Division Governors, District officers and staff for all that you do. We look forward to marking our midway point in the Toastmasters year on January 1st. Won’t you join us in working to make this our best Toastmasters year ever?
Bonne Stroman
District Governor