It's About Time!
Well, here it is at last! After fiddling around for weeks with fancy layouts (which I had problems with)  I've decided to produce a very simple Bulletin - for the time being anyway, until I learn a bit more about formatting. I intend to produce a quarterly Bulletin -  Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn. But if I keep it simple and there are enough contributions, I just might be able to do it more often.

Suggestions and /or material for our next Bulletin will be very welcome. eg news items, quotes, jokes, photos,  tips (specially related to speaking / communicating) - anything that fellow Toastmasters might find interesting.
Marlene

Message from Area 8 Governor

So far, my role as Area Governor has been an exciting challenge. I have had the opportunity to visit all the Clubs in Area 8, Bribie, Murrumba, Peninsula, Islander Sandgate and Caboolture in my official capacity and all I can say is what a rewarding experience. It has given me an opportunity to put faces to the many names of members in these clubs. We are very fortunate indeed to have such a wealth of experienced members in the Area who can pass on their knowledge to newer members. I am looking extremely forward to the Area 8 Conference and Speech Contests on Sunday 7th October at Pendicup Place and take this opportunity in wishing John and Maurie every success. Penne Bowles Area 8 Governor

Changeover Dinner
We were joined by Bribie, Murrumba and Peninsula clubs on June 26 for a combined Change Over Dinner. New Club officers were inducted by outgoing Area 8 Governor Laurie Smith.
Guest Speaker was Bribie Toastmaster Mark Hunter.

Trish Springsteen was presented with our Sandgate “Best Toastmaster” award, while Kim Roach was awarded “Most Improved” Toastmaster. Congratulations, Trish and Kim!
 
 

Meet our new Executive Team  President Monica VP Education Trish  VP Membership Kellie  VP Public Relations David  Treasurer Kim Secretary Caroline Sergeant-at-Arms Penne * Immed Past President John Bulletin Editor Marlene *Penne is also our new Area Governor

Back:  Penne, Marlene Trish Kim, Caroline Front: David, Monica. Centre Inset: Kellie.

Message from our Club President
Most people join Toastmasters to become better communicators.
There are no experts in Toastmasters. We are a group of individuals working together to improve our communication skills.

Each individual member of the club has something special to contribute, simply by being who they are. You are important, we learn from you. We learn from your speaking presentation, your evaluation, your strive for excellence. We get caught up in your enthusiasm and your progress is our encouragement to do the same.

Never underestimate your importance as a member of the club.  The diversity of individual input is what makes our club successful. We learn from each other, we depend on each other.   Best of all we have fun doing so.
Monica

Competitions
Our Competition nights were enjoyable as well as challenging as members  took part  Evaluation, Table topics, Humorous and Internatiional speech Competitions.

John Scouller won both Evaluation and Table Topics competitions and Maurie O'Sullivan won the Humorous and International Speech Competitions. Our congratulations and best wishes to John and Maurie as they represent our club at the Area Conference next month.

An excerpt from Maurie's International Speech
"I believe that we create our own reality. Through our thoughts we open or close the doors in the world we live.....
It is often said "the human mind is like a parachute...it works best when it's open."
 

Einbunpin Festival
Our community celebrates it's Einbunpin Festival in July each year. It is held in the area around the Einbunpin Lagoon in the heart of Sandgate. There is entertainment all day and numerous organisations conduct stalls around the perimeter. For several years, our Toastmasters Club has participated by handing out information about Toastmasters to passers by and inviting them to attend our meetings. This is the second year that Toastmasters acted as M.C. for the whole event. 
Maurie reports: 
"Our stall was very successful. We had a good position on the carpark side this year and the stall carried a lot of pamphlets etc. which were gladly recieved by the public. Interest was high and we have had a number of visitors come to meetings since.
We again performed the M.C. duties with myself and Penne Bowles and we recieved rave reviews from councillor Victoria Newton and were asked to do the duties again next year."

Congratulations Maurie and Penne for a wonderful effort and thanks to all the other Toastmasters who helped to present Toastmasters to the public! 

Toastmasters Education Day
Report by Trish

Penne, Narda and Trish  represented Sandgate Club at the Education day on Sunday, 23 September 2001.

The Sessions included:

Evaluation Workshop – Rose Chant Immediate Past District Governor
Rose presented an excellent presentation that provided the basics of evaluation.  Practice was obtained by evaluating a short speech given by Jane Taylor District Sgt at Arms.

Great Ways to deliver the TM Successful Club and Better Speaker Series Modules – Dee Douglas District Success Leadership Co-ordinator & Suzy Winkleman-Molloy

Dee and Suzy presented possible different ways to present the Successful Club and Better Speaker Series to make them more relevant and entertaining to club members. Of interest where the different ways to title an educational to create an atmosphere of mystery and anticipation.

For example:

“Take the Terror out of Talking” could be “A Walk Through Jurassic Park” or “Take the Suspense out of the Suspenders”

“Closing the Sale” could be retitled “Who wants to be a Millionaire”

“Creating the Best Club Climate” becomes “From icy cold to boiling hot in 25 minutes”.

Effective Use of the Microphone – Kevin Ryan

Kevin entertained us with the special techniques required to successfully use a microphone.  He presented excellent advice on the use of the different microphones: fixed, hand held or lapel.  Ladies beware lapel microphones present unique difficulties for ladies due to dress and jewellery items.

Leadership Toastmaster Style – Rose Chant

Rose gave a brief run down on the five new Leadership modules just released by World Headquarters.

Visionary Leadership – developing a vision and formulating a vision statement.
 Developing a Mission – forming and conveying mission statements
 Values in Leadership
 Goal Setting & Planning
 Delegate to Empower – helping others to develop skills.
These modules are much the same format as the Better Club and can easily be presented in the Club.

Judging Workshop – Rose Chant “Chief Judge” and Trish Springsteen “Assistant Chief Judge”

An interactive workshop covering the difference between judging versus evaluation, barriers to objectivity and providing an opportunity to evaluate three of the top speakers in a past District 69 Evaluation Contest. 

One size does not fit all – Rose Chant

Rose focussed on tips to tailor the Toastmaster programme to maximise individual achievements.  Note it was highlighted that members are able to work through advance manuals at the same time as completing the Communication and Leadership Manual.  Never waste a speech!!

Two other workshops presented as alternatives to the above were:

Humour Workshop – Kevin Ryan
and
Public Relations Workshop – Heather Rhead Past District Governor

It was an excellent day providing something for everyone and we all came away filled with enthusiasm and tips and tricks.  Future educational days are highly recommended.
Trish Springsteen ATM-S CL
VPE

Sales people, 
who are they and how do they do it, can you do it too?
from a presentation by Trish at a recent SWAP meeting.
What are the Techniques?
* Don’t wait, initiate * Build relationships * preparation * Bigger is not better, start small * Find the decision maker * Issues - heart of the matter * persistence wins * No rules in the sales game - nothing always works.

Check point for sales techniques
YOU - * Neat * Smile sincerely * Recognition
CARING - *Be sincere * Use a greeting that requires a positive response 
* Focus on customer and merchandise * Emphasise a desire
LISTENING - * Message behind the words * Customer's body language
MERCHANDISE _ * Know your product
BENEFITS / FEATURES - * What does the customer consider the benefits or features * Sell benefits with the features
SELLING - * Demonstrate using a 'you' attitude * Differentiate between excuses and objections * Positive questions to close a sale
KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER - AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action) 
* LEAR (listening, empathising, asking questions, responding) * Use 'what' questions

Personal skills
* Service is tied to self belief * Attitude * Listening *Friendly * Your image * Reputation * Humour * Own the problem * Never stop learning
 
 

A quote or two: Be at peace and see a clear pattern and plan running through all your lives.  Nothing is by chance. Eileen Caddy Experience is determined by yourself - not the circumstances of your life.  Gita Bellin. Both taken from A Guide for the advanced Soul by Susan Hayward. (Submitted by Trish)

See you all at the  Area 8 Conference at Pendicup Place Samsonvale Rd Joyner Sunday Oct 7 2001 Come and Support John and Maurie

Smile Awhile
"We are here today to eulogize the recently departed  Toastmaster Freddy Jones", says the club president.  "Freddy was only a member for less than than three months, but was one of the most enthusiastic Toastmasters that I've ever known. Freddy lived and breathed Toastmasters. He was on the fast-track to becoming a CTM - having just given his 8th C&L speech on the night he died."
"I talked with the investigating officer of the accident in which Freddy was killed.  Seems that Freddy ran a red signal light and was broadsided.
According to the officer, witnesses reported that Freddy's last words were,...

..."I thought that I had 30 seconds left when the red light came on!"

And another...
A certain gentleman who was invited to speak at a meeting was placed last on the list of speakers. The audience was tired out by the time the chairman eventually introduced him by saying,
“Mr. Jones will now give us his address.”

“My address,” said Mr. Jones, “is 563 Park Avenue, and I wish you all a goodnight."

Taxi Driver
A taxi passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question.The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the footpath, and stopped centimetres from a shop window. For a second everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, "Look mate, don't ever do that again. You scared the daylights out of me!" 

The passenger apologized and said, "I didn't realize that a little tap would scare you so much." The driver replied, "Sorry, it's not really your fault. Today is my first day as a cab driver - I've been driving a funeral van for the last 25 years." 

Irish Dictionary
The Washington Post recently published a contest for readers in which they were asked to supply alternate meanings for various words. The following were some of the winning entries: 

Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk. 

Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent 

Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained. 

Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightie. 

Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp. 

Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline. 

Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified demeanor assumed by a Proctologist immediately before he examines you. 

Frisbatarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck there. 

We are on the web!  Check out our new developing site at http://www.oocities.org/sgatetm/
 
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