Toast Notes

Today's Toastmaster meeting theme was "Music From Our Youth."

Ages of the members span from late 20s to people in their 50s. Here is today's takeaways. 

Sharon shared the word of the day: Respect.

Our first speaker was our past President and a Distinguished Toastmaster, Marcy Eckoff-Wagner. Her introduction posed the question, "Have you ever been faced with a situation or challenge that you feel is unsurmountable?" She then shared about laughter. Laughter has been used as a healer for years and she shared some eye-opening examples on the medicinal effects. Did you know that laughter increases endorphins and provides balance for our bodys' emotional and mental state. It also can improve physical health from expanding our capillaries that allows us to breathe better.

Marcy, a cancer survivor and recent stroke victim "personifies improved health." Her evaluator, John shared his observation watching her recovery from her recent health issues. 

Here were some additional tidbits of the truth on laughter: - As soon as a baby is born, he smiles.- At three months or so, a baby starts to laugh.- An average five year old laughs 400 times a day.- An average adult laughs 15 times a day. 

Marcy also shared a couple of jokes with us to get us laughing. This was one: "Why did the elephant have red nails?... He was trying to hide in a strawberry bush." 

The next speaker was invited to speak without any preparation. Charlie approached the lectern proudly, without hesitation and shared with us about his life as a farmer. He graduated from Purdue 10 years ago and has been learning more about the changing marketplace of the agriculture industry. The global market, including the fluctuations in other countries' economies, the competition and significant weather changes have had a serious impact on the elevation of prices on beans, corn and eggs.  

Charlie's evaluator, Greg spoke for the entire club when he said that he would be interested in learning much more about the agriculture industry and is fascinated by documentaries like King Corn and more. Greg also said he enjoys Charlie's approach to his presentations as he seems to always have a coffee mug in hand, "its very folksy." 

Table topics were led by Marianne Peters and she lightened the room with laughter as she selected a song and invited an audience member to share. Here were the songs:

Tom Petty's Waiting is Hardest Part
KC and the Sunshine Band's I'm the Boogie Man, Boogie Man, Turn Me On
Gonna Take a Sentimental Journey

Do you know what you would speak about for two to three minutes if you had been put on the spot? Table Topics are a great way to help you be agile as a speaker.

Teressa was the meeting's general evaluator and she reminded the members to sign up for roles ahead of time.

Also, she encouraged each speaker evaluator to include feedback and not to just share the positive parts of a speech. This allows for improvement and we all want to grow and improve. 

Officer Meeting Recap

Following the meeting, the officers met for their monthly meeting. Here is a quick snapshot that took place during that meeting. 

We shared our takeaways from our experience from training that took place a couple of weeks ago. Here were some of the comments:

- Our club had a strong core and representation compared to other clubs in the area. 

- Some ideas to help membership grow were discussed including, (1.) Assigned Hosts and (2.) Personal Notes. Planning is underway on these ideas and is being led by Jan and Lisa! More details will be shared soon!

Lastly, we shared about our own roles as officers and how we can apply our responsibilities towards our theme: PROFESSIONALISM. More on this later. 

Reminders:

Dues are due no later than September 30th. 

Please make a payment, checks may be written to Wythougan Toastmasters and may be given to our treasurer, Teressa. 

Registration for Fall Conference is due Monday.

Please send your individual registration including the payment for your meal selection. Registration form may be printed and is available here >>> 

About Toast Notes
Toast Notes is an ongoing review of the Wythougan Toastmaster's weekly meetings located in Plymouth, Indiana on Friday mornings. The purpose of the Toast Notes is to help readers better understand the many benefits Toastmaster clubs can offer, including entertainment, networking, community and professional development opportunities. 

About Wythougan Toastmasters Club
The Wythougan Toastmasters Club meets weekly at 6:45 a.m. on Friday at Christo's Family Restaurant in Plymouth, Indiana. Club members represent a variety of professional backgrounds and personal interests and share one common goal: To speak well. 

Weekly meetings provide members and guests a supportive forum to share speeches and receive constructive feedback. The club support and the Toastmaster resources help individuals refine individuals with a focus on public speaking, leadership qualities and overall professional development skills. Guests are welcome to visit and experience the many benefits Toastmasters provides each Friday at Christo’s Family Dining, 2227 North Michigan Street in Plymouth from 6:45 – 7:45 a.m.  

About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization has more than 270,000 members in over 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. To learn more about Toastmasters International, click here > 

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Toastmaster Update

TOASTMASTER INTERNATIONAL 2011 Fall Conference is Oct. 21-22 at beautiful Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, IN.  The conference is hosted by District 11 and planning is in the works!

Everyone is welcome to attend. Here is a list of benefits you will receive:

- Get Tips Improve Presentation and Leadership Skills

- Professional Development

- Inspiration and Motivation

- Networking Opportunity

- And More!

Want to learn more? Here is a link to the registration form > 

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Get Motivated: In Review

Get Motivated Tip #2 by Rudy Gulliani: Leaders have lost their own individuality, their passions their principles. Technology is a great tool and it is profoundly making an impact on our society and its leaders. Read how to manage technology and improve your leadership. Read below for more leadership tips > > >

* * * *
This week I attended the Get Motivated business seminar at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. There was a bounty of accomplished world renown speakers all sharing tips, techniques, tidbits and truths that have kept them on a steady path of success. I would like to publically thank my friend and fellow Toastmaster, Jan Houin who secured a ticket for me and arranged for transportation for me even though we left at 4:45 a.m.!

Here is a list of the speakers who made the most impact on me and a quick take away I gained from their talk. I share it with you in hopes that you may find it interesting and encouraging for you and your journey.

Steve Forbes:
Don't forget the basics.
(This was the basic tip I basically heard, although, I was late for this presentation so I didn't get the full message. I would have loved to have learned more on what Steve shared however! )



Terry Bradshaw:
Terry was honest and genuine. He told the audience of 15,000 of his flaws, his journey of divorces and family problems, his struggles with depression and ADHD and more. Then he said, "Our lives will always have adversity." He encouraged audience members to work on those simple things in life like smiling and just being happy. He encouraged people to define their gifts, passions and what makes them truly fulfilled.

Terry was told most of his life he was "stupid." He even admitted several times that all he had was "a P.E. degree." He shared about his experience of running through the tunnel onto fields and being booed. Despite the negativity, the adversity, he claimed that he owned the title and deed to his dream and no on could take away his dream.



Rudy Gulliani:
Rudy Gulliani told the stadium of guests that technology and the rate of how information is delivered by technology is having a profound impact on our world. He claimed that one of the problems leaders are faced with due to this information technology is that leaders have lost their own individuality, their passions their principles. There is a tendency to follow majority too often. They follow the polls instead of using their minds and their hearts. He encouraged leaders to develop individual plans and ideas based on experience, education and beliefs. "Collective opinions lack creativity and lean towards a tyranny."

Rudy recognized the impact of technology and offered suggestions on how to cope with this major impact of overwhelming information.

1. Stay connected.
Don't be afraid of it. You will be left behind. Learn how to use a computer.
2. Read.
Read books. Go deeper into a subject you enjoy. Read about a subject that challenges you. Read about subjects that you enjoy.
3. Listen.
Learn from others. Copy other leaders, fit it to your own self. Learn to be a better business person, go to another leader and ask them to teach you.
4. Write. Hand write notes on what your interested in. List pros and cons. Write down goals.
5. Stop and think.
Reflect. Take a moment to search for your own Instinct. Your instinct and individuality needs to be accessed and preserved.

Lastly he shared a great quote from his father, "Weddings are discretionary, funerals are mandatory." You need to care about people. Be a true friend to others.


Zig Ziglar:
While most of the speakers paced the stage from corner to corner with a supernatural enthusiasm, Zig Ziglar, 84 year old man sat on a chair next to his daughter. His daughter introduced her father and told the crowd that Zig had fallen almost a decade ago and needed his daughter to help him on stage when his memory would wander. A strong message in the act was almost as powerful and memorable than the words they shared. Here were some of the principles Zig shared:

Never worry. Tell the truth.
Encourage and court your spouse just like when you were first in love.
Sales techniques come and go but integrity and truth is always in vogue.
Be a life time learner. Put good stuff in, and good stuff will come out.
No one gets anywhere on their own, we all need others. Help one another.
Money buys a nice house, but not a home.
A sense of humor is valuable, don't suppress it. Laugh out loud.
Love your wife. (He kept referring to his wife throughout his presentation.)
Pump pump pump hard and tirelessly. Then, when you least expect it the water will just flow...
See you at the top.


General Colin Powell
Shared his own techniques he has used in all sectors, at all levels in his life:
Be a leader, get followers, bond and give them goals, a mission, a PURPOSE. They have to believe that they are making a big impact, benefitting society.
Have a purpose, believe, have passion, show it, show moral and ethical integrity.
Motivate and inspire, people need to believe in what you are doing, so they can achieve in what you need them to do. Make sure they have the tools to get the work in.
Just because you are cold wet, be a leader and don't show it.
Show affirmation, say thanks.
Check in, have human connection with others.
Great leaders are tough too. Don't be a pushover, do not allow bad followers to stay.
Trust is shared by good leaders and their followers. They'll follow you even it it is out of curiosity.
Radiate. Think new thoughts.


Laura Bush
It can be difficult to recognize yourself despite others opinion. She shared her secrets to sanity and told about how she handled stress while living in the White House on 9/11. She shared:
Stay in the moment.
Know who you are.
Respect previous leaders as decent men.
At times we lean to left and to the right but America is the big ship that sails on.
Live thru the adventures, count your blessings (realize the value of your own children safely tucked in, know the job of a leader, take a stand, make q difference, face failure, humiliation and change)

Danica Patrick
Her number one tip: Don't give up. Success takes hard work. Most people quit too early and just give up.
Danica's secret to success: Obstacles only charged her, made her want to be more, to be better, to keep going.
She suggests that others need to identify their passions, find their talents. It is good to have lofty dreams and high goals. Keep big picture in mind.
When asked if she had any advice for other underdogs, she responded with disbelief, "Am I an underdog?" Evidently, she has always seen herself as a winner even as a female in a male dominated sport, from a young age, she never recognized parameters. Her parents helped formulate this belief from early on in her childhood. She shared, "We are our own limit."

A full day packed to the minute of ideas and testimonies from some of the powerhouses and aspiring leaders. From 8:00 a.m. to past 6:00 p.m. the stage was oozing with information and inspiration. We hope you will find these leaders to be role models for you as you form your own ways to manage stress, be a leader, take a stand and change the world. Are you motivated?

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