Well done in navigating through a very tricky time. Many clubs have had to move their meetings onto online with many venues placing restrictions with the use of the venue. In some instances venues had to close.

The state government has now unwound many of the COVID restrictions. This allows most venues to be used without the requirement of vaccination certificates and the use of masks.

This will give many clubs the ability to return to venues and work on engaging members to return and continue to develop their communication skills.

The District has several upcoming events to support our members.

The District Conference starts on Saturday May 14. We have a great line up of keynote speakers and workshop presenters from around the world. These sessions are free for you to attend. Click here to register your ticket today.
The District Contests starts on Sunday May 15 and concludes on May 21. This a great opportunity for you to watch and support the best speakers in our District.. The tickets for these events are free and you can get your tickets by clicking here
Finally now that the Covid restrictions have eased get your tickets to The End of Year Dinner with the Theme of “Power to Connect” here

This is on Saturday 21 May at Tompkins on Swan starting at 6.15pm.

We have the amazing Priya Cooper OAM who in the 9 time gold medallist at the Paralympic Games as our Keynote Speaker. We also have the International Director Lesley Storkey also in attendance
We also present the trophies to the District Contest winners, recognise the DTMs for the year and also award the Toastmaster of the Year Award.

We are entering a time of transition. Many of you will be appointing the new officers to lead your clubs in 2022-23. The district will also be attending to the transition to the new team to lead the 2022-23 year.

The Club President & VPE’s have all received an invitation to join the District Council Meeting on May 14, it is crucial to have your say in voting for the next District Team for 2022-2023. Register for attendance HERE.

District Director Tim Blackburn

Tim Blackburn
District Director 2021-2022
District 17 Toastmasters International

Celebrate our successful district leaders with our International Toastmasters Director (Free Event)

Come to a free evening of inspirational information and information to celebrate the success of your district leaders in what has been challenging year for everyone. With COVID restrictions being relaxed this is a face to face event and a chance to network with your district leaders and find out more about what makes them tick, as well as hearing from our International Director for Region 12, Lesley Storkey (who is here as part of the District Conference activities).

Now you might be thinking, what is an International Director and what is Region 12. Your club is part of District 17, which in turn is part of Region 12, one of 14 regions around the world, and each Region gets a representative who represents us on the Toastmasters International Board.

You will have a chance to here from Lesley, a normal Toastmaster like you, who decided to step outside her comfort zone and take on a leadership role. That first leadership role at her club lead to a District role and then the sky was the limit. Sometimes those small steps can take you a long way but taking that first step can be the biggest challenge, though each step brings rewards.

Event details are listed below.

Date - Thursday, 19 May 2022
Time - 6.30 to 8.30pm including networking from 7.30pm
Location - Subiaco (full details when you register)
Price - FREE

So whether you come to celebrate with your district leaders, to meet new people, to learn more about what leadership opportunities there are or because you can now meet people face to face hopefully we will see you there.

A BIG thanks to the Aspiring Leaders Toastmasters club for helping plan, organise and run this event.

Please register to confirm your spot.

Register HERE

District Director Tim Blackburn

Tim Blackburn
District Director 2021-2022
District 17 Toastmasters International

Conference 2022 starts in ONE week

We want to connect and we have the Power To Connect.

This May's Power to Connect Conference, District 17 Toastmasters offers you the best of both worlds. This event channels the Power to Connect through both worlds; right to the tech device at your fingertips listening to esteemed speakers, and stepping out in style mingling in the real-life presence of fellow toastmasters.

It's an action packed agenda.

Saturday 14 May 2022: Online

Leverage off the experience of our energetic keynote speaker, Charles S. Gates from Virginia, USA
Take your pick of our facilitated online workshops by cherry-picked speakers, covering contemporary topics
What everyone waits all year for the District Council Meeting in virtual style this year

Sunday 15 May 2022: Online

Humorous Contest: Laugh along with our witty finalists
Evaluation Contest: Pick up some pointers from our experienced finalists

Saturday 21 May 2022: Online & In-Person

International contests: Zoom into see the potential next World Champion.
Table Topics Contest: Watch our District finalists at their best with their quick-thinking responses
Wrap up your weekend in style at our Gala Dinner

Lock in these dates in your calendar. To find out more and to book use the following links. Get in before they fly off our virtual-shelves!

EOY Dinner Tickets

Support the contestants from your Division at the District 17 Speech Contests!

Post Content*: 300 words max

The District Contests will be held online as per the following timetable – register now!

15th May, 2022 - Humorous Contest
9:00am Humorous Contest Briefings Commence

Contestants, role players and audience - register at tinyurl.com/D172122H

15th May, 2022 - Evaluation Contest
12:30pm Evaluation Contest Briefings Commence

Contestants, role players and audience - register at tinyurl.com/D172122E

21st May, 2022 - International Contest
9:00am International Contest Briefings Commence

Contestants, role players and audience - register at tinyurl.com/D172122I

21st May, 2022 - Table Topics Contest
12:30pm Table Topics Contest Briefings Commence

Contestants, role players and audience - register at tinyurl.com/D172122TT

Program Quality Director Julie Dall

Julie Dall, DTM
Program Quality Director 2021/22

Calling for leaders & helpers for next year

Dear District 17 members,

Our District senior leadership team will be chosen at the District Council meeting next weekend, and if you have put your hand up for a role, but if not there are plenty of opportunities for you to help you fellow members and the District, while gaining some great skills and experience that are transferrable into your professional and personal life.

Area Director
Administration Manager
Public Relation Manager
Parliamentarian
Logistics Manager
Website & IT Manager
Newsletter Editor
Events Coordinator

Training and support will be provided for ALL roles.

So come on, members. Our District needs you!

Any questions reach out to an experienced member in your club and if cannot help you directly then they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Education

Visit a Club near you

Have you ever visited another Toastmasters club?

Whether you have or not, visiting another Toastmasters club can be a great experience for both you and the club that you visit.

You will certainly learn something new by visiting another club and meet fellow Toastmasters.

Your club might be struggling to attract guest and get them to become members and/or others clubs could be in the same situation, so organising a club visit and inviting them to your club could help you both.

Whether you go an visit another club to confirm your club is the best, to see something different or to meet some new people, I would encourage everyone to get outside your club and visit another club. It might not change your life, but it could and it may change theirs.

Club News

Talk about Art in the City of Wanneroo

Helping others to improve and be able to explain their message brings its own rewards, and Northern Gourmet Toastmasters found this by helping out their local Council.

On Thursday 21^st April, they presented a ninety-minute workshop for artists to speak publicly about their work, as part of the City of Wanneroo’s cultural development program.

The Art TnTs (Talks and Tips) are professional development sessions offered for free to artists who reside within the City of Wanneroo. If you’re curious, more info can be found here: https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/events/event/743/arts_tnt_tips_and_tools .

Angela Burchardt, Kevin Sansome and I shared our Toastmasters experience with the audience and covered topics such as speech structure, controlling your nerves, body language and vocal variety. We provided attendees with the opportunity to practice their skills through introducing each other and a Table Topics session. Kevin concluded our presentation with more information on Toastmasters an invite to visit our club. The session was well received with plenty of questions afterwards.

We are grateful we had the opportunity to share our skills and passion with a group of people who can implement this in their hobbies and professional life. This is the second consecutive year we have been asked by the City of Wanneroo to present as part of the ArtTnTs and we look forward to working with them on future events.

If your club is in the suburbs, I recommend you contact your local council’s Culture and Community Development teams and see if there are any opportunities for you to promote your club at their events.

This is s a great opportunity to put your Toastmasters skills to good use, help others and promote your club. The city staff just wish elected councillors would take up our offer of Toastmasters so council meetings run more efficiently!

Jeremy Del Pino

Northern Gourmet Toastmasters

Successfully held TLI Training Workshop - Leading Your Club to Success and Finding New Members

TLI Training Group held a great workshop last week with two fantastic sessions, one on Leading Your Club To Success, presented by Kevin Sansome, and the second on Finding New Members, presented by Tim Blackburn.

They were followed by a panel discussion led by Barbara Coles where you could get some additional tips.

If you were there then I am sure that you picked up some useful tips to help your club and to grow your own skills.

If you could not make it then I would suggest that you keep you eye out for future workshops, as TLI Training Group regularly runs educational workshops for members and clubs on a wide range of topics. Keep an eye out in the Black Swan newsletter or in the District 17 Facebook Members Group for information on those future sessions.

If you have any questions about TLI Training, you can check out their website, using this link.

TLI Training Group Club Website

Regards,

Leonor Ragan DTM

TLI Training Group VP Public Relations 2021/2022

Education Awards: Recognising our Educational Award Recipients

Congratulations to all our awards winners in April 2022.

We have 11 level ones, 7 level twos, 5 level threes, 1 level fours and 2 level fives submitted this month.

Congratulations all!

Julie Dall, DTM
Program Quality Director 2021-22
District 17, Toastmasters International

Submitting Articles to Black Swan

Want to submit an article next month? If you have any news, stories and tips that would like to share with your fellow Toastmasters within District 17, write to us by the end of the month! Complete the Black Swan Submission Form and email to blackswan@toastmastersd17.org

Articles must have a relevant news category
Articles must be relevant or of clear interest to Toastmaster members.
Articles must reflect the TI core values; Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence.
Length must not exceed 300 words
Please supply images with the best picture quality available
Supply names of people shown in images.

Gavin Hyslop, DTM
Stand In Black Swan Editor
2021-2022

The Official Newsletter of Toastmasters District 17

Contents

District News

Time to connect with members and with other clubs