Club 4743 U, Japan Toastmasters Council (JTC)
March 24, 1998, Vol. 2, Issue 4

Editor:
Tom Davis, davis@vtt.co.jp

WELCOME NEW MEMBER!

RUIKO TAKEDA, we're glad you're joining us for better speaking, listening, and evaluating !

Emiko HIGUCHI will be your mentor as you learn the roles you can play in meetings.

FAREWELL to our FOUNDER

Shigeru SHINOHARA, CTM, has been the heart and soul of our club, a club pioneer and embodiment of the model communicator and leader.

Mr. Shinohara is retiring from Cathay Pacific Airways. He will return to his family and begin a new career back in his hometown of Fukuoka.

Mr. Shinohara, we are sorry to see you go! We appreciate the Club you founded and nurtured for all of us Pioneers. Pioneers can maintain contact with you via Fukuoka Toastmasters Club. Mr. Shinohara, "Happy Trails" for your new career and life in Fukuoka!

MEMBER GRADUATES !!!

Mr. Tsuyoshi YAMANE is graduating from Hokkaido University this spring. Congratulations, Mr. Yamane!

ANNOUNCING PIONEERS 'FIRST STEP CLUB'

Education Committee members Megumi YAMADA and Tom DAVIS assign a mentor to each new member. The mentor program is an opportunity for new members to learn quickly, and for experienced members to play a leadership role. Talk with either Ms. Yamada or Mr. Davis to volunteer as a mentor!

The Education Commitee will now give due recognition to our new members who deliver their first Toastmasters speech. When a new mentor completes his or her "Icebreaker" speech, we shall award a certificate marking his or her entry into our "First Step Club".

YOUR SPECIAL DATES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Contact Tom Davis, Newspage editor, and let him know what's going on that is important to you!!!

Use davis@vtt.co.jp or phone (011)717-6660.

ASSIGNMENTS: March 25

Kaderu Hall 6F: Josei Plaza

Toastmaster: T. Yamane
Table Topics: N. Takase
General Evaluator: Steve F.

Speaker #1: Atsuko Konishi, Evaluator #1: Tomoe Arisaka

Speaker #2: Megumi Yamada, Evaluator #2: Yasuko Osaki

Speaker #3: Tom Davis,
Evaluator #3: Steve Fylypchuk

Opening Thought: N. Komachi, Timer: Mr. Hiroshi Tsukada, Ah Counter: Ms. Ruiko Takeda, Grammarian: Tomiko Andou.

Hot Seat: M. Hayashi, Peter Firkola, Emiko Higuchi, Xiao Bei Wu, Masako Takeda

- by Tomiko Andou

WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING LATELY . . .

March 11 saw one of our best performances. Club President Steve FYLYPCHUK convened the meeting at 7:00pm. He offered his own personal motto as the Opening Thought:

"You Achieve in Proportion to What You Attempt."

Steve called on fellow members to aim high in their endeavors. Noboru TAKASE conducted the meeting as first-time, congenial Toastmaster of the Evening.

Naomi KOMACHI, having enjoyed the Nagano Olympics, gave a timely speech, called "Sports and Me". Her message was her experience that having fun and enjoying oneself is the best attitude toward sports.

Tomiko ANDOU gave an informative speech in which she encouraged the audience to learn Hokkaido's Ainu heritage. Ms. Andou's description of Ainu clothes could be a new speech!

Best Topics Speaker Steve FYLYPCHUK argued for a family recreational facility during our group discussion and consensus decision about what a 'Family Institute' can do to help strengthen families in Sapporo.

Finally, Shigeru SHINOHARA, CTM, announced that it was the last day for him to attend our meetings as a member. Mr. Shinohara, we are looking forward to seeing you again, and wish you good luck in Fukuoka.

Spring is the season in Japan to try new things. We hope more people are interested in our club. Let us advertise our club to friends & acquaintances.

- by Emiko Higuchi

ANOTHER NEW MEMBER!

MASAKO TAKEDA, welcome aboard! You are the newest member in our circle to improve communication skills!

Megumi YAMADA will be your mentor as you learn the roles to play and write a speech.

BUILD YOUR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Many thanks to web page gurus Steve Fylypchuk and Noboru Takase for your advice in preparing our new page.

Contributing writers include our President (President's Podium), the Secretary (Last Meeting's Notes), the VP Education, and, hopefully, you!

Any ideas, stories, or questions? Please write the Newspage. Use davis@vtt.co.jp or phone (011)717-6660.

AMERICAN ADVENTURES

Masami NISHIMORI has taken her first trip abroad as part of her university English studies program. She spent several weeks abroad and we look forward to hearing her stories!

Member Emiko HIGUCHI is accompanying her husband to a conference in the United States and will return to the club in April.

CLUB MEETING TIP #9803: How to Keep a Lively Pace

Here are 5 tips to help your meeting gallop at a lively pace:

1. Start on time...End on time. Start the meeting right on time to set a lively pace early.

2. Save your announcements. Wait to announce club business until the end of the meeting.

3. Count votes as we go along. Count the best speaker votes as soon as possible. This way, the Toastmaster can avoid waiting at the podium for the results.

4. The Dancing Toastmaster. When you are Toastmaster, prepare entertaining comments for the meeting. If you do so, during slow moments in the meeting (when you wait for Best Speaker ballot results) you are ready with a "song and dance" to entertain your audience.

5. "Brevity is the soul of wit." Cogent speakers convince.

- by Tom Davis