SHARING MY TOASTMASTERS STORY – (Part II)

SHARING MY TOASTMASTERS STORY – (Part II)
By Sherri Raftery, DTM

“TO LEAD IS TO SERVE”
Dr. Ralph Smedley, Founder of Toastmasters

District Opportunities Come Calling !!

In April 2006, I received a phone call from the District 31 2006-2007 District Governor, Debra Cartier, DTM who asked me if I would be “interested in “Tapping Into Toastmasters” (which was her District theme) and serve as the A-2 Area Governor overseeing five Toastmasters Clubs on the North Shore of Boston”. The clubs included my ”HOME CLUB” - Rumney Marsh Club # 8431, Leading Speakers (Advanced) Club # 7275, North Shore Toastmasters Club
# 3908, The Back Talk Club # 9906, and the Toastmasters Club of Beverly Club # 735541 – (which has redistricted to Area A-1 for the 2007-2008 year).

Deb explained I would be making “Area Visits” to these clubs twice a year, as well as organizing the A-2 Humorous and International Speech Contests. Another plug was that I would be able to complete two advanced manuals from all the speaking opportunities! OK – I enthusiastically agreed to be the A-2 Area Governor and suddenly the Toastmasters Leadership Track began to open up in a bigger way!

On June 30, 2006, I completed the Competent Toastmasters Manual (CTM), now referred to as the Competent Communicator (CC). By completing that book I was now eligible to join an advanced club - Leading Speakers Club – There was a time that I thought I would NEVER be ready for this club – it hosts two bonuses – two past District 31 Governors, Victor Carbone, DTM and Paul Fischer, DTM!!

I created a bi-monthly “A-2 Area Governor Newsletter” – connecting all five of my sibling clubs. I coordinated the A-2 Area Humorous Speech Contest and International Speech Contests events. I attended to my administrative duties and always kept each club informed of the district events, news and announcements. I was starting to get to know other members within the district – While still being a member of my Home Club - I was beginning to move beyond my club and further into District 31!

I co-coordinated with Institution Club Coordinator, George (Mr. Nice Guy) Manoogian, DTM with an eight week speech craft class at the MCI – Cedar Junction Prison in Walpole, MA.

I also Co-Coordinated with the Youth Leadership Coordinator, Victor (Uncle Vic) Carbone, DTM with two eight week Youth Leadership Courses at North Shore Community College in Lynn, MASS.

http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/MemberExperience/SatellitePrograms_1/YouthLeadership.aspx
I assisted many DEMO TEAM meetings with the 2006-2007 Lt. Governor of Marketing, Bo Bennett, DTM as often as I could fit in my already packed schedule.

I was the 2006-2007 “Dues Are Due Coordinator” – reminding clubs to pay their dues on time. (HINT – I also used this as my first High Performance Leadership Project – HPL!)


http://www.toastmasters.org/MainMenuCategories/Shop/ManualsBooksVideosCDs_1/MANUALSBOOKSVIDEOSCDs/TheAdvancedLeadershipProgram.aspx


I was also the Fall 2006 Conference “Speaker Introducer Coordinator” and I also met our Keynote Speaker, the 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, Craig Valentine. (and as a gift I received a copy of Craig’s book The Nuts and Bolts of Public Speaking – (Thank you Deb Cartier) (and Craig for signing it when I attended your 2007 CHAMP CAMP in Phoenix… more on that later!). http://www.craigvalentine.com/resources/view.php?id=2


SHARING MY TOASTMASTERS STORY Part III to follow…

Respectfully Submitted, by
Sherri Raftery, DTM

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FACTS:

“SERVOUS SEVORUM”
Latin for the Servant of servant

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Newsletter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsletter

A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters.[1] Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email (e-Newsletters) have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in general is gaining popularity over printed correspondence.

Many newsletters are published by clubs, churches, societies, associations, and businesses, especially companies, to provide information of interest to their members, customers or employees. Some newsletters are created as money-making ventures and sold directly to subscribers. Sending newsletters to customers and prospects is a common marketing strategy, which can have benefits and drawbacks.

General attributes of newsletters include news and upcoming events of the related organization, as well as contact information for general inquiries.