Monday, May 6, 2013

Keeping Meetings Fun


It’s always gratifying to hear new guests and members say how much fun they had attending a Boise Club 61 Toastmasters meeting.

Toastmasters attend meetings to learn and to continually try to better our speaking and leadership abilities but having fun and getting energized are bonus benefits of attending.

Mixing a little silliness in with the serious task of learning helps to keep meetings fun.

Keep the fun alive!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Membership Building Contest



Through-out the year, Toastmasters International offers multiple membership-building contests.  

The Talk Up Toastmasters contest runs from February 1st to March 31st.   If Boise Club can add five new, dual or reinstated members to our roster within the contest dates, the club will receive an award.

All Toastmasters clubs need new members. Even though Boise Club currently enjoys a healthy membership base, a few months from now that could change as members move, change jobs or reach their objectives.

By introducing new members to our club, everyone in the club benefits through:
  • Increased meeting participation
  • Broader ideas and perspectives base increases chances to learn and hone new skills 
  • Increased energy in meetings as new member excitement is contagious
Bring a guest to Toastmasters and let them see for themselves what a rewarding experience joining a Toastmasters Club can be.


Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Boise Club 61 Contests

Boise Club 61 Speech Contest
Last night Boise Club 61 held its Humorous Speech and Evaluation contests.  Jamie Parker finished 1st in the Humorous Speech, while Mark Kniep placed second.  In the Evaluation Contest, George Jolley placed 1st and Bruce Schober finished in second place.

Please wish out contestants luck as the proceed to the Area A2 contest next month.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Officer Elections Results

Boise Club 61
Boise Club 61, after several elections, finally has a full slate of officers for the 2012-2013 year.

President: Brett Kennedy
Vice President of Education: Carolyn Stogdill
Vice President of Membership: Brian Vetter
Vice President of Public Relations: Carin Pluto
Secretary: Jamie Parker
Treasurer: Adam Bland
Sergeant at Arms: Dave Manning

These officers will lead us into the next year and hopefully to another President's Distinguished Club again.

Congratulations folks!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Election Day!

It is that time of year when we have to select new Boise Club 61 officers to lead us through the next Toastmaster year.

Annette Manning, who was recently elected District 15 President, headed up the nomination committee for tonight's elections.  If you've already thrown your name in the ring, thank you for volunteering.  If you haven't, but wish you did, never fear because we do accept nominations from the floor.

It is never too late to step up and help lead the Club!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Speeches Outside the Club

Procedure for recording an outside speech
One of my jobs as Vice President of Education (VPE) is to help record member's speeches as they progress through the manuals.  During normal club meetings it isn't a problem, and if your club is using easy-Speak that task is automated so you don't need to even do that small amount of work.

If you happen to give a speech outside of your normal club you have to let the VPE know about it so it can get recorded properly.  If your club uses easy-Speak the process isn't nearly as straight-forward as other speeches are.

Because these "outside" speeches don't happen very often, it is easy for them to get missed.  I gave an "outside" speech today and wouldn't you know it was difficult for me to remember how to record it in easy-Speak.

The first step is requesting a speech in easy-Speak.  If you don't know how to do that you can read this entry.

 Once the speech is in as a request, all you need to do is go over to your speeches page, which is My Participation > View My Speech Progress.
View my Speech Progress

That will take you to your speeches page, which looks like it is entitled My Communicator Progress, even though it should list all the manuals you have started.

At the top will be a box showing Requested Speeches.  All the speeches you have requested but not recorded as given will be in that box.  The slightly confusing part is that off to the right of your requested speeches is a little rather unremarkable arrow.  If you mouse-over this arrow you'll get a tool-tip that reads, "Speech was presented at an external event".  Clicking on this will bring up the needed pop-up window that lets you mark this speech as given.
My Communicator Progress

That's it!


Monday, April 9, 2012

Club Officer Elections Coming Sooner than you Might Think!

It may seem early, but now is the time to start thinking about club leadership positions for the upcoming Toastmasters year which starts July 1st.

Why now?

Elections are just over a month away and now is the time that a nomination committee is being formed to find those that would like to run for office in this upcoming year.  If you really don't want to hold an office then maybe you'd like to help Annette finding those who do.

"They" say the best offense is a good defense, but I say the opposite hold true as well.  If you don't want to hold an office the best way to not get questioned frequently is to help Annette find those who do!