SPBC Toastmasters, 649145
NEWSLETTER
December 2014, Volume 5, Issue 2
A Message From Our President
Dear SPBC Toastmasters and Friends,
I can't believe that we are already at the half-year mark of this
Toastmasters year and what an exciting six months it has
been! As we plan to end the year at the distinguished mark,
here are a few things to keep in mind.
Editor
Linda Kennedy
1. Continue to volunteer for speaking and leadership roles to
complete those manuals and earn your awards. Bring your
manuals and have your role and/or speech evaluated. Being
able to look back on what you did well and where improvement is needed is a sure guarantee to your growth.
[email protected]
Assistant Editor
Kimberly Matthews
[email protected]
~~~~
President
Linda Kennedy
Vice President Education
Alfreda Page-Garner
Vice President Membership
Antionette Irving
Vice President Public
Relations
Charlene Heyward
Treasurer
Carolyse Andrews
Secretary
Vacant
Sergeant-at-Arms
Sam Earl
2. Bring a guest to the meeting. Inviting more than one person will more likely result in at least one person joining our club. We need just one more new member to
earn a DCP point.
3. Become an officer. Being an officer helps to hone your leadership skills and gives
you hands-on input in the direction of our club. As a club officer, you will help ensure that each club member feels his or her Toastmasters experience is worthwhile.
4. As an officer, attend the officers training provided by District 66. Training helps
you better understand your role and provides you the tools to fulfill your responsibilities, all of which leads to a quality club experience and increased member retention.
5. Volunteer to chair or serve on a committee. In addition to fulfilling a leadership
goal, chairing a committee allows you to organize an exciting event and lead a team
towards a common goal. Speech contests, membership contests, open house events,
celebration events, and special projects are great opportunities to chair a committee.
None of these are a one-man show and you have the full support of your officers and
members.
(Continued on page 2)
Inside this Edition
President’s Message ................................................. 1
Trunk or Treat ............................................................ 2
Educational Awards.................................................. 3
Member Spotlight—Sam Earl ............................... 3
District 66 2015 Spring Conference .................. 5
Traveling Toastmaster ............................................ 7
District 66, Division B
Cutting Out Filler Words ...................................................... 8
2015 Annual Christmas Party ......................................... 10
DCP Status ............................................................................... 11
Celebrations / Calendar ..................................................... 12
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Message From the President cont’d
Trunk or Treat!
The Trunk or Treat on October 31st was a
great success for the church and a lot of fun
for us. We sincerely appreciate that you were
able to come out and support the church and
SPBC Toastmasters. Uh oh – some hands
were caught in the cookie jar .
6. Attend meetings. When a member is assigned a role and
doesn't show up, it puts undue burden on the attending members. As Toastmasters, we learn to manage under various circumstances; however, by letting the Toastmaster know of your
absence makes planning so much easier.
At the district conference, keynote speaker Dana Lamon spoke
about excellence and said to think of excellence as a process instead of a destination. A commitment to excel is a promise you
make to yourself. Once you commit to excellence, you touch
your soul and the soul of others, be it your fellow Toastmasters
members, your colleagues or your family. Let SPBC toastmasters
guide you along that path of excellence.
Read on in the newsletter how SPBC toastmasters includes excellence in all we do.
Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Linda Kennedy, DTM
President
Happy 90th Birthday Toastmasters International!
The first official Toastmasters meeting was held in October
1924 in Santa Ana, California. Why not celebrate the organization's milestone with a themed club meeting devoted to Toastmasters' history? Check out the 90th Anniversary webpage for
fun resources to use throughout the anniversary year
District 66, Division B
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
AWARDS
Member Awards
Congratulations to Dot Ware for
earning her Advanced Communicator Gold Award!
ACG (Advanced Communicator Gold) Requirements
After completing two Advanced Communications Manuals not used for any previous
awards, you complete the following:
1) Mentor/coach a new member for their
first 3 speeches.
2) Conduct one program from the Success/
Leadership Series, Success/ Communication Series, or present the Youth Leadership Program.
Club Awards
Congratulations! SBPC Toastmasters met the
Half-by-Half Challenge by acquiring five
points towards the Distinguished Club Program. Thank you, our members, for helping
to make this happen. We still have another
six months to complete the points for President’s Distinguished status. With your help, I
have no doubt that we can make this happen.
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Member Spotlight — Sam Earl
Q: When and why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined Toastmasters in June 2012 because
I needed to improve my public speaking
skills and I knew that Toastmasters would
help me do that.
Q: What do you do for a living?
I work as a Claims Reviewer for BrownGreer PLC , a mass
claims litigation law firm. At the moment I am evaluating
claims for the BP Oil Spill Settlement.
Q: How do you use communication skills in your daily life?
On a daily basis I am asked to evaluate documentation submitted by claimants and explain why I believe the documents are
or aren't sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Settlement. Toastmasters has helped me to organize my thoughts
quickly and develop well supported arguments for my positions.
Q: What do you like best about our club?
The first thing I noticed about our club was just how welcoming
everyone was. Since then I have been impressed with how everyone continues to encourage each other and is interested in
helping each member succeed.
Q: What have you done in Toastmasters to gain leadership experience?
I am currently Sergeant At Arms but believe that holding other
positions within meetings, particularly Toastmaster, has helped
me gain valuable leadership experience.
Q: What surprised you the most about Toastmasters?
Officer Training
Club Officers—Mark your calendars! The
2015 Winter Leadership Institute will be
held on February 7, 2015 for the second
round of training. The locations are still
being determined and the time is 8:30am1pm for both dates. Identify which date
you will be attending, email your training
date to your club president. I strongly
encourage all seven officers to be trained.
Training is vital to a successful club!
District 66, Division B
I was surprised at how many people join Toastmasters that are
already very good speakers but continue to hone their communication skills during their time in Toastmasters.
Q: What is the most important thing you would tell your friends
and family about Toastmasters?
I would tell them that everyone can benefit from Toastmasters.
Even if you have many natural talents by participating in meetings, taking on leadership roles, and seeking out opportunities
to speak you can improve your communication skills and become a better leader.
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(Continued on page 4)
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
TIDBITS
Word Of The Day
ACRIMONIOUS / \ˌakrəˈmoneəs\ (adjective)
1: Bitter and sharp in language or tone; rancorous
2: angry and bitter
Synonyms: bitter, angry, rancorous, caustic,
acerbic, scathing, sarcastic, acid, harsh, sharp,
cutting
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Member Spotlight cont’d
Q: How would you encourage new or potential Toastmasters
members to get involved with SPBC Toastmasters?
If you want to join an encouraging friendly environment with
members who value your goals and will work with you to
make sure you achieve them then you should join SPBC Toastmasters.
Q: Where are you from and what’s interesting about it?
“An acrimonious debate between the two
candidates.”
I am from Newport News, VA the home of Newport News Shipbuilding. Newport News Shipbuilding is the only shipyard
which builds aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy.
Funny Moments
Q: What was your fondest memory growing up?
I always loved going camping at Sherando Lake with my grandparents. On those trips my Grandpa Sam and Grandma Joan
taught me a lot about valuing nature and finding opportunities
to spend time with the people you love away from TV and other modern distractions.
Q: What’s important to you?
It's very important that I give my daughter a strong foundation
so that she will be a happy successful adult and be strong
enough to determine for herself what it means to be "happy"
and "successful".
Q: What do you like?
Quote Of The Day
You were born to be significant. This life is
your one opportunity to shape the world in
which you live. The earlier you begin to live
meaningfully, the greater the impact you
make on your world.
~Dana LaMon
District 66, Division B
I really like that finding a solution to complicated problem and
using that solution to help people. Recently at work I was able
to find a workaround for a technical issue we were experiencing which has allowed hundreds of claims to be submitted that
would have otherwise been delayed.
Q: What do you dislike?
I dislike how most political discourse today seems oriented
toward making someone on the other side upset rather than
even attempting to provide a well supported argument for a
position in which you believe. There have always been personal and partisan attacks in our culture becomes more polarized
it seems to be getting worse.
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
District 66, Division B
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December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Championship Club Building Webinar Series
District 66 is hosting 3 webinars on ‘Championship Club Building’ with guest presenter Lance Miller. All webinars are scheduled on Mondays from 8-9pm EST. Participants may register for the webinars from the links below. Questions may be directed to Area 43 Governor Naomi Lewis at [email protected]
Monday April 6, 2015: How to Promote and Market a Club. Click here to register
International Speech Contest
We will hold our International Speech and Table Topics contests in the month of
February. Remember that contests are an opportunity to challenge yourself,
grow your skills and have fun. Be on the lookout for more information from our
Vice President Education, Alfreda Page-Garner. Please be prepared to volunteer, participate and have fun!
District 66, Division B
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Traveling Toastmaster
This is a program to encourage members to visit other clubs and participate in district events. This program runs
from July 1, 2014 - April 30, 2015.
Download Flyer
Submit Visit
How the program works
When a member visits another club or Toastmasters
event, they will receive points toward their contest total.
To receive credit, a form needs to be submitted to the
program coordinator, David Edmondson, Jr. Go to http://
eSurv.org?u=travelingtoastmasters2014 to submit your
visit.
Visiting Leng Kee Advanced Toastmasters Club
Singapore
Points will also be staggered based on what level the event is:
Club Level: Earns 1 point
Area Level: Earns 2 points
Division Level: Earns 3 points
District Level: Earns 4 points
Events that Count
Any visit to a meeting or special event at the club, area, division or district level earns points. This includes meetings, contests, open houses, and training. If you have a question about what might count, or questions in general,
please contact David Edmondson Jr. by emailing [email protected].
Travel outside the District
If you visit a club, or attend a speech contest in another district, then you would earn the amount of points based
on what level it is, club, area, etc. plus you would earn a bonus point for being outside the district. (On the submission form, under additional comments, please list which district you were visiting.)
Determining Winners
There will be 4 awards. The individual with the most points will win the INDIVIDUAL prize. The club with the
most points, adding points from all participating members will win the CLUB prize. The area with the most points
adding its clubs will win the AREA prize. The division with the most points adding its area's totals will win the
DIVISION prize. All prizes will be awarded at the District 66 Spring Conference in May 2014.
Prizes Awarded
The individual prize is a PAID registration for the Fall 2015 conference. The club prize is $50 gift certificate to the
Toastmasters Website. The area prize is a trophy. The division prize is a plaque.
Happy traveling!
District 66, Division B
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Cutting Out Filler Words
In December 2008, Caroline Kennedy – daughter of the late United States President John F.
Kennedy – gave an interview that helped decide the future of her U.S. Senate campaign.
One of the frontrunners for the senate seat in New York, Kennedy had been criticized for
avoiding media questions, so she finally sat down for a televised interview. The result was
a disaster.
Her performance was almost universally disparaged, in part because her speech was cluttered with filler words –
“ums,” “ahs” and “you knows.” One listener counted 27 “ums” and 38 “you knows” in the space of five minutes.
A few weeks after giving the interview, Kennedy ended her Senate campaign.
The example shows how filler words can be more than dead space – they can be deadly. “Using excessive fillers is
the most irritating speech habit,” Susan Ward, a speech specialist, told the Wall Street Journal when the newspaper wrote about Kennedy’s media debacle. “They distract your listener often to the point that he doesn’t hear anything you say. Your message is entirely lost.”
Fortunately, filler words can be trimmed from speeches, as all Toastmasters know. Here is how you can learn to
cut down on these verbal tics – so that you can open your mouth and not say “ah.”
Building Confidence
Most beginning speakers are afraid of pauses. They believe their audience will think they are inarticulate if they
pause to think of what to say next, so they use filler words to avoid the silence. However, a pause is actually more
impressive than a filler word. Listeners know that the speaker is thinking, trying to find the right word. They respect this. Sometimes a pause can actually improve a speech, as when an actor uses a dramatic pause to rivet the
attention of his audience. A speaker shouldn’t be afraid to pause occasionally during a speech; it shows selfconfidence.
Because speakers overuse filler words when they are nervous, it is important for a Toastmasters club to help
speakers feel at ease. Clubs should immediately make it clear to new members that when they speak, no one will
interfere. Bob Chikos of the Crystal Lakes Toastmasters in Crystal Lake, Illinois, finds knowing this is very helpful.
“I remind myself that I have the floor and that nobody is going to interrupt me,” he says. “I also tell myself that it’s
okay to be silent. When I’m collecting my thoughts, I believe I appear more cerebral and deep in thought if I remain silent for a second or two. And I tell myself that what seems like a long pause to me is probably a short
pause to those in the audience.”
Brittany Hoff Gill of the Eagle Toastmasters in Eagle, Idaho, believes the way a speaker views the situation also
affects the “ah” quotient. “Filler words generally come in when you don’t view the presentation as a conversation,” she says. “This makes you nervous and tense, and then you have a tendency to use filler words.”
Another key to building confidence is being prepared. If you know your topic thoroughly and have rehearsed your
speech until it is second nature, delivery in front of an audience will go more smoothly. This certainly proved true
for Nadia Moffett, a member of Express Yourself Toastmasters in Tobaccoville, North Carolina.
“I was one of those speakers who used an array of filler words,” she says. “I eventually realized that, for me, filler
words were simply a byproduct of not being fully prepared or of not being confident in my credibility or the delivery of my topic. This would make me distracted and uneasy, and the filler words would take on a life of their
own.”
To cut out filler words, it also helps if you believe in the importance of what you are saying. Just listen to someone
being interviewed on TV or radio. Often they give a poor performance on questions they care little about, casting
about for something to say and using lots of filler words. Then they get a question on a topic they are passionate
(Continued on page 9)
District 66, Division B
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Cutting Out Filler Words cont’d.
about – what a difference in the way they talk! Suddenly the filler words are gone and instead they offer an animated, forceful response, coming from the heart as well as the mind.
Practice Makes Perfect
Many times at business meetings or public forums, unexpected questions will come up that weren’t anticipated or
prepared for in advance. This is when filler words are particularly prone to crop up. Table Topics are great training for these types of situations. You learn the skill of thinking on your feet, gathering facts from the corners of
your mind and putting them together coherently. Just like learning a new sport, it takes practice to become adept
at impromptu speaking. When Nadia Moffett became aware of her filler-word problem, she took action.
“I asked my Toastmasters club to be tough on me,” she recalls. “I said, ‘Always call
on me for Table Topics and always give me feedback.’” It worked.
You can also do drills at home for extra practice on impromptu speaking. Ward recommends playing the “Tell-Me Game.” A week in advance, make a list of 20 topics
for impromptu speeches and seal them in an envelope so you can’t look at them
again. At the appointed time give the list to a partner, who will read topics and
count the filler words during your responses. Start with two-minute responses and
increase the times until you can deliver a five-minute impromptu speech with nary
an “um” or “ah.”
UM
The Wizard of Ahs
You cannot correct a problem unless you know you have one. Filler words are insidious because they are invisible
to the speaker, but not to the listener. To help members become aware of this verbal clutter, Toastmasters clubs
designate an Ah-Counter, who tracks filler words used by all speakers during a meeting and then discloses the
results at the end.
“This is really important for a new member,” says Eric Jahn of The Talk of Lincolnshire club in Lincolnshire, Illinois. “They are often not aware that they are using filler words in their vocabulary, since nobody ever counted
them.”
Speech evaluators may also comment on overuse of filler words, but all critiques should be presented in a constructive, non-threatening manner – a “building up,” not “tearing down,” process.
When it comes to the Ah-Counter’s role, different clubs have different styles. The London Athenian Speakers in
London, England, doesn’t have the Ah-Counter announce how many times each speaker used filler words. “We
have found that a more positive approach is for mentors to discuss any filler words, ums and ahs with the speaker
after the meeting,” says member Jessica Bass.
Other clubs not only report the filler-word infractions, but go a step beyond and fine their members a nickel or a
dime per word, depositing the proceeds into a piggy bank for the coffee fund. To avoid bankrupting a member, an
upper limit is placed on the total penalty for the session – say, fifty cents. The guilty party may exonerate himself:
Each time he uses the Word of the Day, he is forgiven one filler word.
Does “Ah” Ring a Bell?
In addition to the Ah-Counter’s report at the end of the meeting, many clubs give their members instant feedback.
Some have the Ah-Counter ring a bell when he hears a filler word. In other clubs, the Ah-Counter drops a nail into
a bucket when he hears a “clinker.”
Some groups encourage listeners to tap their glasses with silverware at the sound of an ah. Brittany Hoff Gill says
when she was a member of the Chehalis-Centralia club in Centralia, Washington, several years ago, the club had a
novel approach to the problem. “Our grammarians were hilarious,” she recalls. “Whenever someone messed up on
(Continued on page 10)
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
Annual Christmas Party
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Cutting Out Filler Words cont’d.
a filler word during a speech they would hold up the ‘Jaw
of Teeth,’ one of those gag props that you can make chatter on a table by pushing a lever. The whole club would
laugh.”
Reminders such as these should be used with care, since
some speakers feel uncomfortable with them. Rattled,
they use more filler words, causing more bell ringing and
glass tapping, causing still more filler words. Different
speakers have different personalities, and a club needs to
be aware of this and tailor the reminders to the speaker.
“I think instant reminders can be a good idea, but only in
an advanced club,” says Nga Nguyen, DTM, of the Harris
SpeakEZ club in Melbourne, Florida. “My club has lots of
new members and I think this practice would cause them
to shy away.”
Melanie Ghazarian, DTM, a member of several clubs, including the Conejo Valley Toastmasters in Thousand Oaks,
California, believes that modern technology supplies the
most helpful reminder for a member seeking to cut the
ahs. “One of my clubs video-records the speeches and
gives the speakers a copy,” she says. “This is the best feedback for a speaker – to see yourself in action.”
A Success Story
As the 2009 winner of the Mrs.
New Jersey beauty pageant,
Ceylone Boothe-Grooms attends many charity functions,
often hosting such programs
herself. A member of the AT&T
club in Middletown, New Jersey, she once co-hosted a cotillion for inner-city girls in
Plainfield, New Jersey, an event attended by 300 guests,
including local dignitaries and media figures. Just before
the event was scheduled to start, Boothe-Grooms learned
that the program’s script had not arrived. She would have
to ad-lib everything – introductions and interviews – for
the better part of two hours!
After the initial shock faded, she felt her confidence returning. “I thought to myself, ‘Well, now my Toastmasters
training will come in handy,’” Boothe-Grooms recalls.
“And it did. I had maybe five ‘ums’ in two hours. No one in
the audience noticed anything was wrong.”
About the author
William H. Stevenson, III, is a freelance writer in Huntsville, Alabama. He was formerly a member of three Toastmasters clubs in the Huntsville area. Contact him at
[email protected].
District 66, Division B
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
SPBC—Distinguished Club Status
The purpose of a Toastmasters club is to provide an environment in which members learn communication and
leadership skills.
The Distinguished Club Program and Club Success Plan helps clubs promote quality, ensure productive meetings, provide structure and guidance and increase the enthusiasm of the club.
Every year, high-performing clubs are recognized, and may proudly display a Distinguished, Select Distinguished
or President’s Distinguished ribbon on their club banner.
President's Distinguished Club - the highest level of recognition available. Thanks to you, our members, SPBC
Toastmasters met the membership prerequisite and achieved at least nine of the 10 goals—10 years in a row!
2004-2005
2009-2010
2005-2006
2010-2011
2006-2007
2011-2012
2007-2008
2012-2013
2008-2009
2013-2014
2013-2014
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SPBC Toastmasters, Club # 649145
Celebrations
Birthdays
January
Pia Guerin
Kimberly Matthews
February
Paula Adams
Dot Ware
March
Paula Freeman
Linda Kennedy
December 2014, Volume #5, Issue #2
Put It In The Calendar
Upcoming Events for
SPBC Toastmasters
Toastmasters Anniversaries
February
Paula Freeman —2011
Happy New Year —January 1, 2015
Officers Training II —February 7, 2015
SPBC Contests —February 25, 2015
Open House —March 11, 2015
Area 23 Contests —March TBD, 2015
Division B Contest —April 18, 2015
Fast Track —March 11, 2015
District 66 Conference —May 8-9, 2015
Annual Year End Cookout —June 24, 2015
Resources
SPBC Toastmasters
http://spbctoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/64259806813/
Contribute
The essence of a club newsletter should basically consist of contributions from its members. Your ideas,
comments, stories (personal or otherwise) are welcome. Additionally, if you are interested in helping out
with editing and/or the publication of the newsletter
or if you have a contribution (addition) to the newsletter, send an email to Linda Kennedy ( [email protected]) or Kimberly Matthews
([email protected])
District 66
http://district66.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/District-66Toastmasters/102193149929043
Toastmasters International
http://www.toastmasters.org
Saint Paul’s Baptist Church
www,myspbc.org
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