The Butterfly Effect
Have you ever heard of The Butterfly Effect? The concept was originally used in weather prediction – it metaphorically discusses that a butterfly flapping its wings on one side of the world, could be part of the development of a hurricane on the other side of the world.
The Butterfly Effect has now become a metaphor for the power of unintended consequences and the random occurrences in our lives.
How does The Butterfly Effect and Toastmasters connect? You never know the impact you have in someone’s life…
How many times have you been tired from a hard day at work, had errands to run and a Toastmaster meeting that evening? I know I have. Wouldn’t it be easier to go home, relax and catch up to your TM group next meeting?
If you don’t go to the meeting – you don’t know what you missed – literally. If you go to the meeting – a guest may walk in who has thought about joining Toastmasters for a long time – but has been uneasy with the thought. And there you are – smiling, happy and excited to partner with them to show how the meeting flows, and how much impact Toastmasters has had in your life.
If you missed that meeting – you would have missed the chance to meet that person. And your meeting the guest could have been the single reason they joined your club. That’s The Butterfly Effect.
As a Club Officer – you attend two training events per TM year. I’ve heard some say – “Well – I went last year – I don’t have the time now….” But who knows? At that event – you may meet someone – hear that perfect message that resonates with you – and come back to your club fired up and ready to create an awesome club experience for your members.
As we finish the last half of the 2016-2017 Toastmaster year – remember The Butterfly Effect – and how you have the power to change people’s lives – just by being the Toastmaster you are.
Do you want to talk about this more? Let me know – Cindy
Cindy Laatsch, DTM ✉
District Director
District 35
Dues are Due??
It’s January 2017 – and we are already focused on Toastmaster dues for the 4/1/17 Dues Period.
Did you know that if your club meets two times per month –you only have 6 meetings to collect all of your clubs dues before the 4/1/17 deadline?
Why pay your Toastmasters dues now?
Ask yourself these questions
- Are you a life-long learner?
- Do you value your development – as an individual and a Toastmaster?
- Are you committed to your goals – both your Toastmaster and personal goals?
- Are you planning on being in the upcoming District 35 International and Table Topics contest? To compete – you must be a Member in Good Standing – meaning you have paid your dues.
Value your development and growth. Plan on paying your Toastmasters dues now. In February, check the District 35 Website to see what great incentive we have in place for those clubs that pay their dues!
Questions? Let me know.
Cindy Laatsch, DTM ✉
District Director
District 35
Why Would I Go To A Toastmaster Convention?
District 35 hosts a Fall Conference and Spring Convention every year, yet historically only 10-15% of us attend. If you are part of 85-90% who don’t attend, you might be curious about what happens at a convention. Simply, it’s learning and recognition.
Learning. You will hear inspirational keynote addresses, education sessions to advance your communication and leadership journey, meet new members in clubs from around Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, learn best practices and watch the best speakers in the district compete in a variety of contests.
Recognition. We take some time to recognize those clubs and members who demonstrate the Toastmasters values of Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence. Also, at the spring convention we elect leaders to serve the district for the upcoming year.
Luncheon and Dinner banquets give you a chance to relax and break bread with old friends … or make new friends.
Our next convention is in Marshfield, Wisconsin on May 5-6. It’s a great venue where we held the May 2015 convention and centrally located for easy access to all members in the district. Mark those dates on your calendar and plan to be there.
Free Advanced Communication speech manuals
Your District leadership would like to recognize your communication awards and encourage you to continue with your educational progress.
For the period January – April 2017, all members who achieve an Advanced Communication award (ACB, ACS or ACG) will receive a free Advanced Communication manual.
When you achieve your Advanced Communication award, send the manual number (not manual name, not description), to Keith Cumiskey, Program Quality Director. Keith will place the orders on the 1st of each month.
Keith Cumiskey, DTM ✉
Program Quality Director
Reflect On Your Goals And Commit To Achievement
When you started the Toastmasters year on July 1st, did you write down a Toastmaster goal or goals for the year (or have some in mind)? Have you spent some time since July 1st measuring the progress toward your goals?
At our District Trio training before the International Convention in August, we were asked to write a letter to our future selves with two goals listed in the letter. At our recent mid-year Training, we were given back the letters to review. I was instantly held accountable when I read the two goals and realized while I had made some progress toward those goals, I had not completed those goals. Perhaps the only comfort was that in talking with the other leaders at my table, they had not completed all of their goals either.
We were then asked to select two competencies for our District leader role to focus on for the remaining six months of our term. In selecting these competencies and developing a plan of action for them, the result was to support completion of those goals we originally stated in August, or new goals if those goals had been completed.
We still have almost half of the Toastmasters year left. This is plenty of time to still accomplish those goals you set at the beginning of the year! Now is the time to take action, set milestones for those goals and follow-up at those milestones. Keep in mind that the time will go quickly with TLIs, speech contests and the Spring Convention and June will be here before we know it. You’ll have plenty to celebrate at June 30th if you review your goals and take action to move forward today!
Ed Thelen, DTM ✉
Club Growth Director
MailChimp
Looking to make beautiful emails to grab your members’ or guests’ attention? Try MailChimp! It’s free to send up to 2,000 subscribers. It has countless templates to use making creating gorgeous, eye-catching emails simple. Visit MailChimp.com for more information.
For PR questions or inquiries, feel free to contact me at ChristineAPiela@gmail.com.
Christine Piela, CC ALB ✉
District PR Manager
Where Goals Can Take You
Greetings Fellow Toastmasters from the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland!
I’m here at Disneyland to participate in a 5k and 10K Disney Run event. I’m not the fastest person in the run, in fact I really just walk fast, but for the last two years, I’ve set my goal to participate in these runs, trained for them and ultimately received a finisher medal for completing them. It makes me feel so proud to set a goal, work towards it, and ultimately complete it.
Goal setting is such an important part of what we do as Toastmasters. We do it on a personal level as members and we do it on a club level as club officers.
Each of us needs to plan and then execute against that plan. That’s where being a leader comes in. As President of Southwest Toastmasters #4955, I have been reflecting on how fortunate I have been to have such an awesome board of officers to work with this Toastmaster year. We set our vision and plan by developing our Club Success Plan, we have executed on the plan and we routinely review our plan to make sure we are on track to achieve success, in support of our Member’s Experience.
Recently, I read an article on goal setting and I was struck by a particular statement. “I’ve learned that a goal can actually act as an impediment to further progress if it represents the height of our ambition.” To me – that means that setting and achieving goals is an ongoing process. And it reminds me of why I’m looking forward to attending the upcoming District TLI Training event on 2/4/17 at the Monona Terrace in Madison.
Mark Brown, our keynote speaker, will be providing strategies for goal setting and goal management which are so critical to our continued personal and Toastmaster growth. It helps us avoid goals becoming an impediment to our growth.
Looking forward to seeing all of you at the TLI, February 4th, at the Monona Terrace, Madison Wisconsin.
Registration is now open to all Toastmasters by clicking on the following link:
Brad Laatsch, CC and CL
President Southwest Toastmasters (#4955)
TLI Planning Committee Member
Contest Magic
I joined Toastmasters to not be nervous speaking in front of a room full of others. How about you?
Often times, I see people look down when I announce… “it’s time for a contest.“ Members say they are not ready to try. They aren’t there yet. I said that too. There is something magical about a contest. But really, what is the magic about a contest? The first time I won my club contest, I was so excited! Then I got to go and compete in the Area Contest next. I felt the magic within myself each time I prepared for it. Competing against very talented speakers that live here in my home town, what an honor! I had friends come and support me by being in the audience as they cheered me on.
What is contest magic? I changed from someone who was fearful of speaking to being a competent communicator, an actual public speaker, because I did it. I wasn’t and then I was. The magic isn’t just about the thrill and nervousness I felt as a contestant. The magic is the act of doing so, transformed me to someone who is a do-er. We practice in our clubs just like a beginner musician practices at home, but without the recital, a performance, no one becomes a pro. When we share our talent with others, that is when the magic happens.
I hope this contest season that starts in January, every member who is not a district leader will compete in their clubs Table Topic Contest and give it a try. Embrace your full membership in Toastmasters and become a competitor. A do-er! Only by trying can you capture your own magic that awaits you!
Laura Croft
Central Division Director
Milwaukee Engineer Charter Party at UWM
On Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017, it was a real pleasure welcoming another brand new Toastmasters Club to District 35!
That’s the purpose of a Charter Party. The Milwaukee Engineer Toastmasters Club at UWM, chartered at the end of June 2016.
The Charter Party is planned a few months after the new club is up and running. That is the last responsibility of the New Club Sponsor.
In attendance, was District 35 Director, Cindy Laatsch, DTM, Quality Program Director, Keith Cumiskey, DTM, Club Growth Director, Ed Thelen, DTM, Division “D” Director, Theresa, Flynn, DTM, Area 1 Director, Kimberly Thomas, CC, ALB, Club Sponsors, Laurie Baker, DTM, Greg Bednar, DTM and Club Mentors Kris Pool, ACG, ALB and Paul Freiberg, ACG, ALB. Special guests, Rozaline Janci, ACG, ALB and Azim Siddique also attended.
Members of the Milwaukee Engineer Club conducted an awesome Toastmasters meeting that included two, member speeches. The first was from Club President, Joel Maas where he convinced us to buy a “Plumbas!” Then explained why we all need Toastmasters. The second speech from VP Education, Jonathan Baseheart that provided snippets of all of their past meetings. Everything from the meeting where the fire alarm when off, to thanking Past Int’l Director, Andy Little, DTM for attending and giving his, “Fear Monster” speech. Jonathan’s speech was filled with plenty of wit and humor!
I also want to congratulate Club President, Joel Maas for achieving his CC at the Charter Party. He shared with the group that Toastmasters has made him a better leader.
District 35 Director, Cindy Laatsch delivered a speech, comparing how The Container Store can organize you “stuff,” and Toastmasters can organize your life. She then presented Club President, Joel Maas with the club, “charter.” Then, Cindy and Laurie Baker welcomed each charter member up to the front of the room to receive their special certificate from Toastmasters International.
Before the start of the meeting, the members and guests enjoyed pizza, snacks, and beverages. A special thanks to Jonathan, Baseheart, Lisa McGovern and Joel Mass for leading the Charter Party Committee and planning such a fun event.
Congratulations to all of the members of the Milwaukee Engineer Toasted Toastmasters Club!
Laurie Baker, DTM
Chrome Conversations Charter Party!
On Monday, January 9th, 2017, we celebrated another brand new Toastmasters Club!
Yep, another Charter Party. The Chrome Conversations Toastmasters Club is the 3rd Harley-Davidson Club in Milwaukee and 4th overall. They chartered on June, 21st, 2016. The event was held at The Chancery in Wauwatosa.
The Charter Party is planned a few months after the new club is up and running. That is the last responsibility of the New Club Sponsor.
In attendance, was District 35 Director, Cindy Laatsch, DTM, Quality Program Director, Keith Cumiskey, DTM, Club Growth Director, Ed Thelen, DTM, Division “D” Director, Theresa, Flynn, DTM, Area D2 Director, Kevin Iuliano, ACS, ALB, Club Sponsor, Laurie Baker, DTM, Club Mentors Carol Doleysh, ACB, ALB and Jaki Van Valin, CC, CL.
Members of the Chrome Conversations Club conducted a fun Toastmasters meeting that included an extended Table Topic session with intriguing New Year’s Resolution questions.
District 35 Director, Cindy Laatsch delivered an inspiring speech to her Harley-Davidson friends. (Cindy is also a charter member.) She then presented Club President, Janet O’Rourke with the club, “charter.” Then, Cindy and Jaki Van Valin welcomed each charter member up to the front of the room to receive their special certificate from Toastmasters International.
Prior to the start of the meeting, the members and guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Special thanks to Janet O’Rourke for leading the Charter Party Committee and for planning such a fun event.
Congratulations to all of the members of the Chrome Conversations Toastmasters Club!
Laurie Baker, DTM