Black Swan March/April 2012
 |
Black Swan
|
In this issue
Select the link to go to the story
| Editorial Gerry Prewett |
District Governor Report Mark Richards |
Plain Speakers Huntly Cutten |
C3 Contest Ian Pickens |
| Durack Diaries Robyn Lloyd |
Qu and A Sunil Sirkissoon |
S32 Contests David Nicholas |
Beat the Clock Pascale Amberville-Colby |
| Southern Contests David Nicholas |
Editorial
We are now approaching the time where Club Presidents, Area Governors, Divisional Governors and the District Governor start looking at club achievements with renewed interest.
The second round of Area Governor visits should now be reaching completion and as a District we have a pretty good idea of what Distinguished Club Programme goals are in the cross-hairs. From a personal point of view as I have awards due to be registered, I look to see where they will most benefit the Area in which my clubs are based. In some cases it will ensure a Club achieves a President’s Distinguished Award in others a Distinguished award.
The biggest issue for all the clubs I belong to seems to be memberships, whether that is ensuring that members pay their renewals or in getting new members to sign up. As regards renewals I have found that sending members invoices seems to act as a reminder especially when it includes the banking details!
As regards new members the best way to get them to sign up is to have vibrant meetings with lots of energy in the room, something they want to join. I have experienced this first hand at Belmont over the last year. Where previously visitors came and went we now find people asking for membership forms before the end of the meeting.
Take an interest in how your club is fairing with the DCP, these are effectively Key Performance Indicators for your club and give potential members a good guide as to the quality of your club.
1 line separator
Gerry Prewett
Gerry Prewett ACS, ALS
Black Swan Editor
Separator
Sep Back to Menu
Separator
Separator
District Governor Report
Overall performance – At the time of writing this report, April 29th, we have achieved 4 of the 5 goals set by TMI and are just 40 membership payments away from reaching Distinguished District status. We could be the 1st District in the world to reach Distinguished and that would be a magnificent achievement in our inaugural year. At the moment we are ranked 5th District in the world on the points table where points are allocated for new clubs, membership payments, CCs, ACs, Leadership awards, Distinguished Clubs & Distinguished Areas, so please ensure that your Club does all it can to reach at least Distinguished status by June 30th 2012.
Membership Dues – We have almost reached our target of 2327 membership payments for the year with 2287 received so far with only 40 more payments to go. If all clubs can follow up with their members to ensure they have paid their renewals and the Treasurer has paid their renewals to TMI.
We have welcomed 493 new members into District 17 so far this year and it is very pleasing to see that 53 clubs or 86.9% have achieved the first membership goal of 4 new members. Every club has added at least 1 new member into their Toastmaster family.
Area Visits – All Area Governors have been working tirelessly to help each club reach their potential best. Each Area Governor has completed their club visit by now and will lodge their club visit form by the end of May. I would like to acknowledge the fantastic work they have all done this year to bring out the best in all of us.
District Website – The District website is now looking fantastic with the addition of the calendar and the electronic version of our District newsletter, Black Swan. If you have any ideas for improvement or new resources to add to the site, please contact myself or webmaster, David Nicholas.
District 17 Convention – Everything seems to running smoothly as we approach our District convention. There have been 90 registrations lodged with the raffle of a free registration at Division finals being very successful. I think we will meet our target of 150 registrations, please keep promoting the Convention at every chance you get.
Education Awards – We have met all educational goals for the District which is a great achievement. I must encourage those clubs who have not yet lodged a CC or AC for the year to do so. Only 6 Areas have met their CC goal & 10 Areas have met their AC goal. There have been 25 clubs or 41% that have achieved the first CC goal of 2 CCs and 24 clubs or 39% who have achieved the first AC goal. I believe we have the potential to far exceed the goals that have been set for us by TMI so keep encouraging every member to be best they can be.
Distinguished Areas – Congratulations to Areas C1, N23 S31, S32, S33 & S35 for reaching Distinguished status. I will be sending out a list of Area to-dos to all Area Governors soon so you will know where to concentrate your efforts in the next few months we have left. I feel sure we can get every Area to Distinguished with a concerted effort. Well done to Southern Division for achieving Presidents Distinguished status.
New Clubs – Well done to new clubs Applecross (which have attained 10 goals in their first year) and CPA Toastmasters. Healthy Toastmasters is about to charter in the next few weeks and we have 2 other clubs that we hope to charter before the end of this year being BPW Toastmasters and Gourmet Guns n Roses.
[simplerotator width=”450″ height=”300″ align=”centre” cycles=”5″]/wp-content/uploads/P1050669.jpg,/wp-content/uploads/P1050680.jpg,/wp-content/uploads/P1050645.jpg,/wp-content/uploads/P1050653.jpg,/wp-content/uploads/P1050652.jpg[/simplerotator]
Applecross Charter Celebration
Bob Hooey event – What a fantastic day we had with our accredited speaker from Canada, Bob Hooey. There were over 70 Toastmasters who were given hints and tips on how to “Speak for Success” and a lucky few who were given hotseat training on the day. A big thanks to Bob for making himself available for our District’s members. As he put it, “I just want to give back to the organisation that has given me so much”.
Bob with District 17 Executive
Summary – With a concerted effort in the next 2 months we will definitely reach Distinguished District status in our first year. Renewals are a priority for follow up and please concentrate on the KPIs in your Area & Division. I feel sure we can place very high in the world rankings this year which will lay a very strong foundation for the years ahead.
Well done to all Area & Division Governors for running some fantastic contests and I think the standard of our speakers is very high indeed.
Our speechcraft program is the best in the country with all courses filling within a few months of advertising. Well done to Maree Pickens for her professional approach to this program and all the Co-ordinators that have run them.
1 line separator
Sep Mark Richards DTM
Sep District 17 Governor 2011/12
1 line separator
1 line separator
Sep Back to Menu
Separator
Separator
Plain Speakers
WOW!
Spreading the word!
Robyn Lloyd, Central Division Governor and Plain Speakers Toastmaster Club VPE is inspired and enthused by the spirit of fellow members who have created a vibrant, healthy club that oozes the WOW factor.
WOW!
the past six months has seen the club transformed by a growth sprout of 9 members who have embraced all that is toastmasters and the Plain Speakers culture.
Seasoned Toastmaster and ex NZ patriot club VPPR Huntly expressed his thoughts;
“In the two years I have been a member of Plain Speakers it has been challenging and fun. It has been great to see the club grow in member numbers and enthusiasm.
Toastmasters has been invaluable to me as a geology research scientist giving presentations, such as the recent GSWA Open Day where I spoke to an audience of over 200 professionals from the West Australian mining industry.”
1 line separator
Sep Dr Huntly Cutten, DMP
Sep Back to Menu
Separator
Separator
Separator
The C3 Contests
1 line separator
Sep Ian Pickens DTM
1 line separator
1 line separator
Sep Back to Menu
1 line separator
1 line separator
Separator
The Durack Diaries
Not for the faint hearted or late starters Durack members are the die-hard early risers that are up with the chooks and ready to go every Thursday morning at 7.00am in the city Terrace.
Sgt at Arms Gil sets the meeting standard, always there early with an Inspiration, words of wisdom to share with and help energise the audience. A bang of the gavel soon has everyone’s senses alive and attuned with the meetings activities that are well planned and organised by VPE Allen.
January– all refreshed and back from the Christmas Break.
New members Taryn, Josh and Teegan were inducted into the Club.
February –
An Anniversary! Celebration of the Clubs 600th meeting.
This brought together founding members, David and Glenis Nicholas, and Gil who reminisced and recalled the days of old and the first charter meeting. A trip down memory lane!
Apologies were received from past President Mary and other past members, including Jeff.
The club was toasted by David and the special guest delivered a rousing and uplifting speech asking, ‘what’s in a name ‘Durack?’
Current President Robyn followed by posing the question, what’s in store for the future and the next 600th meetings? The answer … plenty!
This was followed by networking and tall tales over refreshments. Current and new members joined in the festivities while camera enthusiasts David and Allen snapped away – as the old saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words. Share the moment with us.
March 8th
The moment of truth when all the stars are out walking the red carpet and the academy comes alive with the annual Oscar Bunny awards. Not to be confused with the movie Oscars the Bunny awards celebrates achievements in public speaking at Durack Toastmasters meeting. A meeting of excitement, high hopes, dashed dreams and daring performances.
Bunny winners this year were
Allen – Best performance and best dressed on the day
Medhat- best table topic – “banks” and a fair deal!
Best Newcomer in any category – Hafiz on phones and technology
Best body language – Eugene – marriage and game theory!
March 29th
Another a great meeting –
And membership consolidated with the support of new members in recent months, Sam, Peter, Hafiz, Bijal and Catherine.
March 27th – C1 Area Contests
First placegetter in the C1 Evaluation contest Gil will represent the club at the Division final on Tuesday 10 April. All the best Gil!
1 line separator
1 line separator
1 line separator
Sep Robyn Lloyd DTM
Sep Central Division Governor
Sep Back to Menu
1 line separator
1 line separator
Separator
Question and Answer
A Question & Answer session with Sunil Sirkissoon
Central Division Governor Robyn Lloyd has pioneered a new feature in our Newsletters. She has prepared a set of questions about Toastmaster experience and invited some members to answer them. Here is the first of a series.
Sunil Sirkissoon is President of Riverside, a club in Area C1 in Central Division.
Read this file which has Sunil’s responses to Robyn’s question.
Sep Sunil Sirkissoon CC ALB
Sep President of Riverside Toastmasters 2011/12
1 line separator
1 line separator
Sep Back to Menu
1 line separator
1 line separator
Separator
The S32 Contests
Victoria Quay hosted the S32 International and Evaluation Area Contests on April 4, 2012.
Sergeant at Arms Christine Bonser opened the meeting and handed over to Toastmaster Greg Lynn
David Nicholas chaired the International Contest which was won by Peter Law from Netmasters, with Carol Raleigh from Rockingham second. Peter will represent S32 in the Southern Division final.
Alan Smith chaired the Evaluation Contest. It was won by Peter Law from Victoria Quay, with Mark Small from Applecross second. Peter will also represent S32 in this Southern Division final.
S32 Area Governor David Fox thanked Victoria Quay and President Neville Simmons for hosting the event and providing the supper, and David Nicholas for organising the Agenda. He thanked all the helpers and particularly the Judges, lead by Chief Judge John Palmer, the S31 Area Governor.
Division Governor Mark Richards congratulated the contestants for the high standard of their performance and urged everybody to attend the Bob Hooey Workshop on Saturday, April 14.
[simplerotator width=”450″ height=”300″ align=”right” cycles=”5″]/wp-content/uploads/S32-Christine.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Greg-1.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-David.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-International-David-Peter-1.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-David-Carol-Raleigh.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Alan.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Evaluation-Alan-Peter.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Alan-Mark-Small.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-David-Fox.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Mark.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Peter-Winner.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Peter-Winner.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/S32-Peter-Winner.jpg[/simplerotator]
The Rotator has photos of almost all
the named people in the story.
Christine
Greg
David
David and Peter
David and Carol
Alan
Alan and Peter
Alan and Mark Small
David Fox
Mark Richards
The winner of both contests
1 line separator
1 line separator
1 line separator
The Southern Division final will be held at the Bullcreek Community Centre on Saturday afternoon, April 28.
Sep David Nicholas DTM
Sep District Webmaster
1 line separator
1 line separator
1 line separator
1 line separator
1 line separator
Separator
Separator
Beat The Clock Toastmasters –
May 1st to June 30th 2012
This is the last membership contest for the Toastmasters year.
Beat the Clock runs from May 1st to June 30th.
- Clubs that add five new, dual or reinstated members during these two months receive a “Beat the Clock” ribbon to display on the club’s banner.
- Clubs also earn a special discount code for 10% off their next club order from Toastmasters International (discount code expires six months from date of issue).
- Membership applications and payment for members who join between May 1 and June 30 must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than June 30.
- Each members join date as listed on the application must be no later than June. Transfer & charter members not included.
Remember to submit your members for the membership in the months of May/June to receive credit and Beat The Clock!
Sep Pascale Amberville-Colby DTM
Sep Lt Governor Marketing
1 line separator
Sep Back to Menu
Separator
Separator
Peter Law triumphs
Peter Law DTM
A week ago Peter Law was awarded his Distinguished Toastmaster – congratulations Peter Law DTM. April was a big month for Peter. Then, on April 28th, it became even bigger at the Southern Division contests for the International and the Evaluation. Peter won both. Again, congratulations Peter.
Here is a brief account of the afternoon’s proceedings. It was held at the Bullcreek Community Centre in Hassell Avenue. Further down this web page there is a Rotator with photos of each of the people mentioned.
Sergeant at Arms Greg Madden opened the session.
He introduced the Toastmaster, Vicky Post, Southern Division Governor. She explained that for each contest the first two placegetters will go forward to the District 17 Contests.
The International Speech Contest Chair, Mark Small, explained the rules.
Gerry Prewett gave an Inspiration. He spoke about Perth Glory almost winning the Soccer premiership and left them with a message – Just keep practising and get lucky.
Mike Palmer and Peter
Then we had the 5 International Speech Contestants
Ian Hart from Area S35 spoke about “Dream a Dream”
Our Peter from Area S32 gave his “The Gift” speech
Marianne Law (yes, Marianne) from S33 shocked some with “Penises in Sudan”
Simon Frayne from S34 spoke about “Vision”
Mike Palmer‘s speech was “Strength and Love”
Peter was first and Mike Palmer was second
After the contest and presentation of participation certificates by Contest chair Mark, John Pawley gave a Convention Update.
Then we had afternoon tea coordinated by Ling Morton from Murdoch Southsiders club.
The Evaluation Contest
Mike Palmer, Jim Stephen and Peter
Ian Pickens was the Contest Chair and after reading the rules he introduced the test speaker, Ray Martin, who asked us “Who are you?”
The five evaluators were
Tom Bielski from S33
Charles Fisher from S35
Mike Palmer from S31
Jim Stephen from S34
Peter Law from S32
The three placegetters were Peter first, Jim second and Mike third. However, because Jim is a presenter at the District Convention he had to choose between that and competing in the Evaluation final. He chose to make the presentation, so third place Mike is our second representative.
After Vicky had thanked the helpers, John and Vicky conducted the Convention draw and a Raffle draw.
Mark Richards
Mark Richards, our District 17 Governor, closed the Contests with a short speech. Of course he urged all those who hadn’t yet registered for the Convention to come along. Besides four Contests – Table Topics, Humorous (Peter is in that too), Evaluation and the International, there is a featured presentation by the current World Champion of Public Speaking, Jock Elliott, several other presentations, the District Council Meeting, the Saturday evening Dinner Dance, the Sunday morning DTM breakfast and many awards.
Mark told us that among the 86 Districts in the world covering a quarter of a million members, our District 17 is currently running fifth. Now that is something exciting for such a new District – we only began last July. We are only 40 member payments short of reaching an important target when we will be Distinguished, and if we can do it quickly enough we will be the first District in the world Distinguished. District 43 is hot on our heels with 80 payments to go – will we be first?
Here is the Rotator with many photos from the afternoon
These are the people in the Rotator
[simplerotator width=”450″ height=”450″ align=”right” cycles=”5″]https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Peter-Law-Int-Eval-Winner-B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Greg-Madden-SAA_B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Vicky-Post-Sth-DivGov-B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Mark-Small-Int-Con-Chair-B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Gerry-Prewett-Inspiration_B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/John-Pawley-Convention-Chair-B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Ian-Pickens-Evaluation-Chair_B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Ray-Martin-Eval-Speaker-B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Peter-Law-Int-Eval-Winner-B.jpg, https://toastmastersd17.org/wp-content/uploads/Peter-Law-Int-Eval-Winner-B.jpg[/simplerotator]
Peter of course
Greg Madden
Vicky Post
Mark Small
Gerry Prewett
John Pawley
Ian Pickens
Ian & Ray Martin
Separator
Separator
Separator
Separator
Separator
Report and Photos by
David Nicholas DTM
Victoria Quay Webmaster
1 line separator
Sep Back to Menu