It Is Official

Yes, Area 1 Toastmasters, it is official....

Area 1 Toastmasters
is a
Distinguished Area

You did it! Everyone in Area 1 had a hand in making this special occasion possible! Everyone who gave a speech, joined a club, reached a goal! This accomplishment is because of you! Area 1 has not been Distinguished in 5 years! So I thank you!

And we have just 10 days to make this a Select Distinguished Area! So lets get working and see how far we can bring Area 1!

Introducing Area 54 (Old Area 1) Governor Elect

Kathy Dyke, ACB, CL
Home Club: West Kendall Toastmasters

Kathy has been a member of West Kendall Toastmasters for almost six years, but got seriously involved over the past four years! She has served as the club secretary and is currently the club president. She is looking forward to the challenge of being the Area Governor for the new Area 54!

An open letter from Area 54 Governor Elect Kathy Dyke:

I am honored and absolutely elated to be the Area Governor Elect for Area 54. It is going to be an exciting year as the organization adjusts to the newly formed areas and districts, and I feel strongly that it will set the stage for significant growth within the organization. Within the next few months I look forward to meeting with each of you and together we will work to ensure that our area remains a distinguished area.

Please feel free to call me at anytime.

I hope to see you at the upcoming training sessions.

Very best regards,

Kathy Dyke

Cell: 305-972-7800

Welcome Area 1's Newest Distinguished Toastmaster

Key West Toastmasters' own
Phyllis May, DTM

Area 1 wishes to congratulate Ms. Phyllis May, DTM! She has just recieved the highest award in Toastmasters, a distinguished toastmaster! Everyone in Area 1 is proud of you!

Congratulations All Area 1 Clubs

Congratulations to all Area 1 Clubs! You Did It! Every single Area 1 Club has renewed and is ready for the next six months in Toastmasters!

All clubs will be receiving a $25.00 or $10.00 (depending on when you renewed) certificate good for anything from Toastmasters. How it works is, just purchase what you need from Toastmasters International. Pay for it using your credit card. When you get the items and the receipt, send them to the district (I will get the address for you) and you will get a check reimbursing your for your purchase, up to your certificate amount!

Again, congratulations!

Area 1 Contest Results

The Area 1 International Speech and Table Topics Contests were held a little over a week ago! It was a great event, with three great competitors. In the Table Topics Contest, Norma Chew, from Miami Advanced, and Jim Bussey, from West Kendall, had to answer the question, "In this world there are 6.6 billion people. I am an individual because..." Both competitors had great questions, but in the end the results were:

Area 1 Table Topics Contest
1st Place: Norma Chew
2nd Place: Jim Bussey

The International Speech Contest was just as competitive, with Joe Russo, from West Kendall, talking about the troubles of trying to get a job, without going online! And Jim Bussey, from Yellow Rose, talking about being cool in school, and getting that thank you every now and then. Norma Chew, from Miami Advanced, told us all that You Can Do It, no matter what "it" is! It was a tough competition but the final results were:

Area 1 International Speech Contest
1st Place: Jim Bussey
2nd Place: Norma Chew
3rd Place: Joe Russo

Congratulations to all competitors and to Jim and Norma, who will be advancing to the Division E contest on March 15 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, at the Improv! Good luck Jim & Norma...let's take Area 1 all the way to the top again!

Congrats to Sunrise Community!

I just found out some fantastic news from one of our very own Area 1 Clubs!

Sunrise Community, Inc. has been selected as an “Exemplary Practice” recipient in the “Launching” category for successfully beginning a new corporate university. This award was presented to Sunrise on Tuesday by Corporate University Exchange as part of their 9^th Annual Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Corporate Learning.

Other recipients of awards this year include MasterCard, UBS, Staples, Unisys, Boeing, and AmTrust Bank. We are proud, as a small not-for-profit organization, to be in such select company.

Congratulations to Sunrise Community and Sunrise Community Toastmasters! Continuing to keep Area 1 a step ahead!

Area 1 Contest - February 21, 2008

Hello all Area 1 Toastmasters! I can now officially announce the Area 1 International Speech & Table Topics Contests!

What: Area 1 Toastmasters International Speech & Table Topics Contest
When: February 21, 2008
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (if you are a contestant or judge please arrive at 6:30 PM)
Where: Elk's Club - South Miami, 6304 SW 78 Street, Miami, FL 33143
Cost: TBA

The contests will be held in the Hut to the side of the actual lodge. It is air conditioned and rustic and will be able to accommodate all of us!

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Did You Make Your Toastmasters Resolutions? (By Phyllis May)

As we begin a new year, it’s the appropriate time to feel pressured…feeling like you’re un-American If you don’t make some pesky resolution. Yet, how many of you make the same, or a variation, resolution every year? Yet, within a short time, most of the resolutions are forgotten until the end of the year when they ceremoniously re-surface.

According to AARP, women are more likely to make a resolution but men are more likely to stick to it.

I am not one of those women. It’s been many years since I made a NYR.

Why? After so many years, I was pretty sure that it was just an exercise in doing what was expected but I was pretty sure I wouldn’t accomplish it.

But, I constantly set goals and I constantly accomplish most goals I set. It doesn’t have to be at New Years but whenever you do it or whatever you call it, there are certain keys to successfully accomplishing your outcome.

• Be realistic and practical. Know that what you’re hoping to achieve is doable and reasonable for you so that you’re not defeated before you start.
• Identify the big goal but you’ll be overwhelmed if you don’t break it down further
• Break down the goal into smaller ones and then break those down even more. The smaller you can break things down, the more likely you will accomplish the big one.

Rory Cohn, author of “Take Ten”, says that only spending 10 minutes a day on your mission is a commitment that will ultimately lead to the completion of your action.

How does all of this affect you as a Toastmaster? Our Toastmaster year is now half over. Our club has set goals so that we will continue to receive the Distinguished Club recognition. Our club goals, however, are dependent on your personal Toastmaster goal(s). We can’t achieve our club goal unless you carry through with what you indicated you would do. Meeting your personal goal give you personal growth…the reason, I assume, that you joined. But meeting your personal goal then helps out club (which helps our area, division and district). Every level has a goal but they all begin with YOU.

How are you doing with your goals?

There are only 12 meetings left for you to finish.

Have a plan. When that clipboard comes around, sign your name in a place that will help you. I, for example, set the goal of completing the CC manual again and another leadership manual. I have 4 more speeches to give and looking on my grid inside my leadership manual, I know exactly what roles I have to do in the next 12 meetings.

I will accomplish my goals. They’re doable, realistic and can be broken down into smaller “chunks”. Checking off the “chunks” will eventually mean I accomplish my goals. Those goals then help the club become a Distinguished Club. Our club’s success helps the area success and on and on. But it started with me setting two personal Toastmaster goals.

What about you?