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In this issue… 

Club Ambassador Update

Congratulations to Kris Pool and Kathy Shine for being the first two Toastmasters to turn in their Club Ambassador form for the 2016-2017 Toastmasters year.  I have seen a lot of forms being signed at various District events which is very encouraging.  Just a reminder that if the Fall Conference is the last event you need to complete on the Ambassador form, please get the signature of our Program Quality Director, Keith Cumiskey or our Fall Conference Co-Chairs Haley Loprieno and Shamaine Schoenherr or let me know that you will be obtaining a signature at the Conference to complete the form.  We want to make sure you get recognized during the Conference!

Please visit the District 35 website for more information on the Club Ambassador program.

Ed Thelen, DTM
Club Growth Director
edmthelen@gmail.com

CC2

In my travels around District 35 – I’ve had people ask about how to use their Toastmasters manuals effectively.  One comment that has come up often is “Well -I already did my Competent Communicator Manual……”

How many of us have done our manuals more than one time?  I know alot of people in the District that have completed their manuals several times – and they have learned something new every time they repeat the process.

I just got my latest Competent Communicator certificate in the mail the other day – I completed my CC manual another time –and believe me – I learned new things about myself along the way.  It’s a fun challenge to give your Ice Breaker when you repeat your CC manual – you need to dig deeper the more times you complete the manual.

I’m asking you to challenge yourself – review your current Educational Status on www.toastmasters.org/My Toastmasters/Education Awards.  How long has it been since you have completed a manual for the first time…….or the 10th?

As we move through this Toastmasters year as an entire District – thousands of people growing, developing and leading – think of the power you’ll receive personally from diving back into the Educational Process.  We’ll all grow and develop as a group as we grow and develop as individuals.

Want to discuss this?   Email me at cindy.laatsch@yahoo.com

Cindy Laatsch, DTM
District Director
District 35 Toastmasters

What’s New in Pathways?

Learn about the details for serving as a Pathways Guide, get a sneak peek into the Navigator and Base Camp, and see a sample of the revised evaluation resources.

Kathy Shine, DTM
Chief Ambassador of Pathways, District 35

Well Toasted Charter Party at GE-Tower Ave

On October 13th, 2016, it was a real pleasure welcoming another brand new Toastmasters Club to District 35!

That’s the purpose of a Charter Party. The 2nd of 3 Toastmasters Clubs at GE-Healthcare, named “Well Toasted,” chartered a few months back.

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 Director, Cindy Laatsch, DTM, Quality Program Director, Keith Cumiskey, DTM, Division Director, Amy Linn-Strosin, ACS, ALB, Area Director, Yvonne Lumsden-Dill, DTM, Area Director, Matt Wuteska, ACS, CL, Club Sponsor, Laurie Baker, DTM, and Club Mentors Rozaline Janci, ACS, ALB and Sireesha Middela, TM.

Also in attendance, were members of the Rok the Talk Toastmasters Club at Rockwell Automation, in Mequon. They came to “Capture the Banner” of the Well Toasted Club. Little did they know that the Well Toasted Club has not received their banner yet. It will be presented to them at the Fall Conference. So they improvised. They created a banner on the flip chart for the Well Toasted Club! It wasn’t an official Capture –but well sure had fun!  See the picture.

Members of the Well Toasted Club, conducted an awesome Toastmasters meeting, including a speech by member, Ed Kamptner Jr. He explained his very complex job at GE with plenty of wit and humor.

District 35 Director, Cindy Laatsch delivered a warm speech, welcoming the club to the District and presented Club President, Suzanne Serwe with the club, “charter.” Then Cindy and Rozaline Janci 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 a delicious buffet lunch. We enjoyed an assortment of desserts at the end of the meeting. A special thanks to Jill Middleman for leading the Charter Party Committee and all of the club members that helped, including Rob Blansett who took pictures at the event.

Congratulations to all of the members of the Well Toasted Toastmasters Club!

Laurie Baker, DTM

Getting to Know Your International Director, Magnus Jansson, DTM

This fall, we are honored to have our International Director, Magnus Jansson, DTM, come and speak as the keynote speaker. Magnus’s address is titled “Racing and Leadership” and will be presenting about the strategic direction of Toastmasters International, and how it applies to us.

Magnus joined Toastmasters in 2007 and is currently active in three clubs, with his home club being Greenwood Woodman Toastmasters in Indianapolis. Throughout the years he has held a variety of high-profile leadership positions and has earned the prestigious Distinguished Toastmaster designation.

Professionally, Magnus has been working as a project engineer for Nestle USA for the last four years, Magnus manages capital investments from approximately $20 thousand to $30 million. Magnus specializes in project management, formulating solutions based on strategic directions. A former engineering manager, he formulated sustainability and growth strategies for the organizations where he worked, and in 10 years he built a respected engineering team from the ground up. During his career, he has worked in countries such as Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Russia before moving to the United States in the fall of 1998.

Magnus’s education is impressive as well as he has a master of business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. Other degrees include a master certificate in project management from the University of Colorado, certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute, and earned a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt through Purdue University. If this was not enough, he also served four years on the board for the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, an organization that focuses on inner-city poverty in Indianapolis.

As you can see our International Director has a lot of experience to bring to us and we are looking forward to the wisdom and knowledge he will be sharing with us during the keynote address. Toastmasters has had a great influence throughout his life as Magnus says, “Toastmasters is an organization that helps me practice and define my communication and leadership philosophies and skills. As a leader, the organization is fundamental for my continuous growth.” We encourage you to register for the Fall Conference and come meet and see your International Director.

See all our information about the Fall Conference!

Tim Bojko
Fall Conference PR Chair

Christine’s PR Tips

Do you ever use images from Google to put on your handouts, post to Facebook, or use for other materials? It’s a great resource, free and easy to use. Did you know that you may not have permission to use the images you choose and could potentially be legally liable?

Luckily, with a few extra clicks you can be sure you are using copyright free or royalty-free images. These images are for public access and use, meaning that you can use them without worry. After you type in a term for the image you’re looking for, click on the “Search Tools” button. From there, click on the “Labeled for reuse” drop down and from there select “Labeled for reuse”.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at christineapiela@gmail.com. Happy promoting!

Christine Piela, CC ALB
District PR Manager

A Symbiotic Relationship between Toastmasters and Schools

Sometimes there is a gap between the skills that members of a Toastmaster club has and their goals. This is where an opportunity can arise for working with local students.

Kristin McCabe, one of our former board members, put together a job description for a Marketing Intern to help our club with marketing efforts. Our VP Public Relations Corey Shebesta happened to have a nephew; Kevin Davis with a degree in marketing who also needed some real world experience to add to his resume. Kevin comes with great school credentials, is one of our newest members and hopefully will be attending the next Toastmaster Conference in November.

Other clubs that also have a skill gap may consider working with local professors (and maybe even having the student get credit).

Some examples may be:

  • Software Engineering or Computer Science – Help with websites
  • Marketing or Business – Help with PR
  • History – Custom workshops on how to research
  • Art – Help with PR or Logos
  • Theater – Help with presentations or advanced manuals

Susan O’Malley-Larson
President, Ozaukee Toastmasters

Membership…Our Work Has Just Begun

Thank you everyone for working hard to get your clubs to submit at least eight members by September 30th.  We dealt with a lot of challenges with the dues increase, the end of the grace periods and issues with the Toastmasters website.  Everyone handled these issues with great aplomb.

Just because we have passed that magic date, doesn’t mean there isn’t still work to do.  I am asking you to do these three things:

  1. Follow up on those members that haven’t paid.  There are always those members who are forgetful with their payment or had to miss a couple meetings that couldn’t pay in September.  Give them a phone call (versus an e-mail) to check up on them to let them know they are missed.  Members that haven’t paid will be listed as “Unpaid” on your roster in Club Central until November 30th.  After that time they will need to be reinstated.
  2. Continue to work on getting those new members.  A Toastmasters club won’t thrive unless you obtain the fresh perspective of new talent within the club.  Each one of us has seen the wonderful improvement in our lives as a result in participating in the program.  We need to share that wonderful journey with others and allow them to benefit from Toastmasters.
  3. Plan ahead for the next dues renewal.  Set up a schedule to make sure you start collecting for the April 1st dues renewal period early.  Give members several club meetings to collect dues.  If your corporation pays members’ dues, make sure you make the request early.  You will be making life easier for yourself and your club.

Member by member we will continue to make District 35 better as we all work toward achieving new goals and greater heights!  Thanks again for making District 35 so awesome!

Ed Thelen, DTM
Club Growth Director

Our First Capture of the Year!

I would like to extend congratulations to the Talkers & Shakers Toastmasters Club for the first capture of the year in this year’s Capture the Banner program!  The Talkers & Shakers visited Toast of Milwaukee and had six members present and member/F1 Area Director Rozaline Janci (who doesn’t count for the capture) at the Toast of Milwaukee meeting.

I am hearing a lot of buzz about clubs planning captures so I look forward to more great pictures and e-mails and/or posts soon!

Please visit the District 35 website for more information on the Capture the Banner program.

Standing row, left to right
Pam Jankowiak, VPR, Talkers & Shakers
Stephen Galleske, Really Awesome Member, Talkers & Shakers
Kathy Glaser-Brown, President Talkers & Shakers
Sue Kohut, President, Toast of Milwaukee
Dennis Berg, Treasurer, Talkers & Shakers
Rozaline Janci, Sergeant-at-Arms, Talkers & Shakers

Kneeling Row, left to right
Tim Griep, VPE, Talkers & Shakers
Bill Finnegan, Immediate Past President, Talkers & Shakers
Barb Leis, Secretary, Talkers & Shakers

Ed Thelen, DTM
Club Growth Director

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