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March 2010 Volume 11, Issue 7

In This Issue

• Spring Conference

• Message From the DG

• Message From LGET

• Message From LGM

• District Election Procedures

• Membership building

Spring Conference April 16-18, 2010 at Myrtle Beach, SC, promising to be a blast! Close your eyes and dream that you can hear the frolicking waves and feel the balmy air fanning your face, while you are enjoying the wonderful company of your fellow Toastmasters and leaders! Yes, you are dreaming about our 2010 Spring Conference. Join to hobnob with us at Myrtle Beach to learn more about our wonderful organization, gain insight to becoming a better speaker and leader, elect our 2010-2011 officers and most importantly have FUN! The best speakers from each Division will be competing in the District 58 Table Topics Contest (Friday, April 16) and District 58 International Speech Contest (Saturday, April 17). Save April 16-18th and keep checking our Spring Conference page (www.toastmasters-d58.org) for the latest news and updates.

Room reservations are now being accepted. Join us April 16th -18th at the Hilton part of the wonderful Kingston Plantation Resort, located at 10000 Beach Club Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572. Accommodation choices include:

• Ocean View Hotel Room at $109/night; or Ocean View Suite at $119/night (Please note: there is a discounted parking charge of $4.00). Call 1-800-876-0010 to reserve your conference accommodations today. Be sure use code T58 to receive the special room rates. Come early or stay late to enjoy the beach, golf at Arcadian Shores, tennis at the Sport and Health Club or fun at Splash! Water Park! Visit http://www.kingstonplantation.com to learn more about our spring paradise nestled along the ocean. This is the perfect location to bring your spouse, the rest of your family or a few of your favorite friends. Discounted accommodation rates available three days before and after our event so that you can make it a family vacation!

The theme of this event is “Toastmasters: The Link to Your Future and to Your World.” We anticipate the attendees will leave this event with knowledge they can reminisce upon as they continue their personal communication and leadership journeys. The 2006 World Champion of Public Speaking Ed Hearn will be our special guest. Also, District 58 is in search of the best presenters in our district to help make this conference a success.

Please remember: Early Bird Registration Deadline: April 4, 2010

Deadline for Room Reservation: March 31, 2010

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Welcome Ed Hearn, the 2006 World Champion of Public Speaking! In January of 2006 Ed decided to compete in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking. Ed roused the audience as well as a panel of 20 International Judges with his gift for speaking, and walked away with the First Place Trophy! Edward E. Hearn is living proof that failure is not final, and that we can all overcome life's adversities, if we are willing to try. His story is motivational, inspirational, and humorous, all at the same time! His passion, love for life, and ability to touch the hearts and souls of an audience are also the primary reason Ed was crowned the 2006 World Champion of Public Speaking.

District 58 Mission The mission of District 58 is to enhance the performance and extend the network of clubs, thereby offering greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from the Toastmasters educational program by focusing on the critical success factors as specified by the district educational and membership goals, by insuring that each club effectively fulfills its responsibilities to its members, and by providing effective training and leadership opportunities for club and district officers.

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Other Resources:

TI Website www.toastmasters.org

District 58 Website www.toastmasters-

d58.org

From the Desk of the District Governor Happy Spring, District 58 Toastmasters! It’s the middle of March, and our Toastmaster year is flying by!! It’s dues time, our Spring Conference is only a month away, the contests are in full swing, the educational awards are flying into World Headquarters, and in just another 3 and a half months, another wonderful year of Toastmasters will be under our belt… Our District is growing so quickly and we have so many new Toastmasters in our midst… I would like to welcome each and every one of you to this wonderful organization… As we move through the final quarter of our year, I’d like you all to take a good look at your Clubs… How is the membership? How is

the meeting attendance? Are the educational awards being accomplished? (And are they being turned in?) Have you started looking for your new Officers yet? Dues time is a great time to look at all of those things… It’s also a great time to attend a fantastic Spring Conference! I know our wonderful Lt. Governor of Education and Training Vida Jennings is planning a spectacular Conference and it’s one you won’t want to miss! I’m so proud to be serving as your District Governor… You all have shown me time and time again why our District is one of the best in the world! You come together and help out wherever it’s needed, and your spirit never diminishes… It reminds me every day why District 58 is “The Link to your Future, and to the World!”

Lamanda Gaskins, DTM

From the Lt. Governor of Education and Training “How you doin?” is the official greeting, often referred hook, for syndicated radio and television talk show host Wendy Williams. She or a special guest opens every episode with this simple phrase. When was the last time your club was asked “how you doin?” Toastmasters International has provided members an effective tool to assess how your club is doing. Moments of Truth, a module in The Successful Club Series, allows clubs to sharpen and refresh focus on the most important goal – member service and personal satisfaction. If your club has not presented this module recently, I highly encourage someone

to facilitate this educational module in the coming weeks. This module is free and available for download on Toastmasters International’s website. Visit www.toastmasters.org/Members/MembershipBuilding/Moments-of-Truth.aspx Perhaps your agenda is planned with speeches for the next six to eight weeks, in the interim you can ask your fellow members how they are doing. When was the last time your club did a formal or informal survey of its members? If the club conducted a member survey at the beginning of the Toastmasters year, when were the results last reviewed? Have you checked back with the members for status on progress? A wise former district leader once told me people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Checking in with our members to determine if we are meeting their needs is just one way to show each other that we care. I challenge each of you to do a pulse-check. We need to know how we are doing.

Vida A. Jennings, DTM

Palmetto Toastmaster

The Newsletter for

District 58

The State of

South Carolina.

Published bi-monthly.

If you have information you

would like to submit to the newsletter

email the Public Relations

Officer at:

D58PRO@toastmasters-d58.org

Publisher

Lamanda Gaskins, DTM

District 58 Governor

Editor for This Issue

Subbi P. Mathur, DTM

Lt Governor for Marketing

Web Master

Victor Gascon, AC-S

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DISTRICT 58 OFFICERS Lamanda Gaskins, DTM District 58 Governor Vida Jennings, DTM Lt. Governor of Education Subbi P. Mathur, DTM Lt. Governor of Marketing Patricia C. Gann, DTM Immediate Past District Governor & Treasurer Amber D. Goodman Public Relations Officer Chuck Arnold, CC Secretary Ralph Hightower, CC Sergeant-At-Arms Karen Basso, DTM Speaker’s Bureau Coordinator Victor Gascon ACS District Webmaster Patricia Hill, DTM Parliamentarian Division A Governor

From the Lt. Governor of Marketing Let me say it again! Butterflies are in formation! District 58 continues rejuvenating and growing into a beautiful butterfly! This year is going to be great! Welcome to District 58, our latest chartered Toastmasters clubs: The Dorn Toastmasters, Sound Toastmasters, Magmasters Toastmasters, Key Toasters, The Professionals of Lexington Toastmasters and Truck Masters. Landers Toastmasters have submitted their charter paperwork, while QVC Toastmasters will submit charter papers this week. We are following up on three other solid leads. Rajesh and I have travelled through the entire South

Carolina to organize demo meetings. We have been lucky to meet many of our dedicated leaders who are ready and willing to be mentors and sponsors for new Toastmasters clubs and the new Toastmasters with “shining morning faces” and eagerness to learn. Thank you Friends! I have heard that it is a number game when it comes to getting our District 58 to be Distinguished. Perhaps the numbers do contribute. However, for me, it is not just a numbers game. Each club ought to be important to its leaders and District leaders. Each club represents members who have joined and placed their trust in our hands to improve their communication and leadership skills. It is a sacred covenant and yet I am sad when this covenant is taken lightly by our officers. It saddens me when we lose even a single club. This year, we have tried to bolster our clubs by timely appointment of club coaches for clubs with membership of 12 or fewer. To date, we have appointed 13 club coaches. Club Presidents, if your club has membership of 12 or fewer, please email me at mathurs@musc.edu to have a club coach appointed for your club. Yes, it takes a village to raise a child. Likewise it takes the club officers, club coaches (where applicable) Area Governors, Division Governors, District Trio, Region VIII and Toastmasters International leaders to make sure each of our clubs stays healthy.

Dues are due now! Don’t miss winning a fantastic reward for submitting the dues for 75% or more of your membership by April 1, 2010. I urge each club to start collecting the membership dues a month way before the deadline (September 1 for October 1 deadline and March 1 for April 1 deadline). Club Treasurers, be alert and have debit cards for your club accounts so that you can pay your dues on line. I was surprised at the number of club treasurers who did not know how to access their club pages on www.toastmasters.org. The club officers are given the passwords for the clubs (the user ID is the club number) to access the website to submit educational awards and dues and update membership

information. On the home page sign in club officer sign in section. I am proud to be your LGM. Preservation, Persistence and Preparation. Let us do it! Our Mantra will be “No Club left behind” and “One new club per Area”! Go for Twenty (20 members, that is)! Can we do it? Yes, we can! Together, we shall get District 58 to be the best District in the world, a beautiful butterfly delighting everyone with its colors! Let’s keep the communication flowing so our District keeps growing and each one of us realizes our leadership potential. Rev it up, fellow Toastmasters! Big Hugs to all of you! Let us link together and have fun networking!

Subbi P. Mathur, DTM More about Spring Conference: Typical Conference Schedule Friday Night 4:30pm Registration Begins 6:30-10:00 pm Dinner & Table Topics Contest, Guest Speaker Saturday 8:00 AM Registration 7:00- 8:45am Breakfast 9:00am Opening Session: Presentation of Colors; Parade of Banners 10:00-11:45 Education Sessions Noon Lunch (Keynote Address and Education Awards) 1:30-4:30pm District Business; Business (Election of District Officers) 6:30-10:00pm Black-Tie Optional Dinner; International Speech Contest; Keynote Address 10:00pm - 11:00pm Dancing Sunday 8:30am -10:30am Breakfast with Guest Speaker

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Phillip Woody, ACG, ALB Area 11 Governor John Kauth, ACB, CL Area 12 Governor Taft Navarro,ACB, ALB Area 13 Governor Sharon Arnold, ACG, ALB Area 14 Governor Karen Mott, CC

Division B Governor Tracie Dobson, CC Area 21 Governor Sparkle Graham, CC, CL Area 22 Governor Ray Schnell, CC, CL Area 23 Governor OPEN Area 24 Governor OPEN

Division C Governor Fred Medina Area 31 Governor OPEN Area 32 Governor OPEN Area 33 Governor Margaret Woodson Area 34 Governor Minnie Thomas, ACG, CL Area 35 Governor Victor Gascon, ACG Area 36 Governor Carla Uter, ACB, ALB

Division D Governor John Maloney Area 41 Governor Nantambu Calhoun, CC Area 42 Governor Joy Couvillion Area 43 Governor OPEN Area 44 Governor Jacqueline Whaley, ACB, CL Area 45 Governor Tony Stutes, ATMB

Division E Governor

District Election Procedures (www.toastmasters-d58.org) Casting your votes If you've been wondering about your qualifications for voting and being a proxy holder, here are some answers. Who Can Vote? Voting members of the district council are the club presidents, Vice Presidents of Education and the members of the District Executive Committee: District Governor, Lt. Governor of Education and Training, Lt. Governor of Marketing, the immediate Past District Governor, Public Relations Officer, District Secretary, District Treasurer, Division Governors and Area Governors. Proxy The District makes available on the District website (conference page) a credential/proxy form at least two weeks in advance of a District council meeting for use in the event either the club president or Vice President of Education, or both, cannot attend the meeting. The credential/proxy form will contain all of the following:

• District number • Description of event • Date and location of meeting • Space for club name and number • Space for name of club representative or proxy holder • Space for signature of authorization of club officer and office held • The date the credential/proxy is signed

Who Can Be A Proxy Holder? Either the club president or the club Vice President of Education may designate, in writing, any active member in good standing of the club to act as a proxy or proxies and cast one or both of the club's ballots at the district council meeting. If one of those officers is not at the meeting and has not designated, in writing, an active member of the club to act as proxy or proxies of the club at any council meeting, the other officer in attendance may cast two votes. The intent is to assure that every club will be able to cast two votes. No other proxies are valid at any such meeting. For Contest Rules, please visit http://www.toastmasters-d58.org The Proxy form is on the last page of this newsletter A List of District 58 Election Candidates District Governor: Vida Jennings, DTM Lt. Governor Education & Training: Subbi P. Mathur, DTM Lt. Governor Marketing: Phillip Woody, ACG ALB Division A Governor: Rajesh S. Mathur, DTM Taft Navarro, ACB ALB Division B Governor: Raymond Schnell, CC Division C Governor: Victor Gascon, ACG Division D Governor : Division E Governor : Division F Governor: Peggy Bangle, DTM

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Linda Hill Area 51 Governor Charlie Crescenzi, ACS Area 52 Governor Nasir Ali Qureshi Area 53 Governor Jacqueline Malone, CC

Division F Governor Patricia Buckley, ACS, ALB Area 61 Governor Peggy Bangle, DTM Area 62 Governor Michael Ward, ACB Area 63 Governor Sudie Archibald, ACG, ALB

Membership Building Ideas 1. Ask each member to bring at least one guest to a meeting. 2. Have club business cards printed with the club information. Ask members to hand

them out to potential members. 3. Ensure that every guest receives a follow-up phone call and/or note. 4. Have at least one meeting each quarter that is dedicated to educational speeches. 5. Celebrate the accomplishments of your members. Make your club a place that

members want to come to share their successes. 6. Don’t lose members after they achieve their Competent Communicator. Make sure

members are aware of the outstanding advanced manuals and encourage them to continue on the Toastmasters journey.

7. Develop a club Web site. Check out www.freetoasthost.org. 8. Make a list of the best things about your club. Distribute the list to club members so

that they can use them as selling points when recruiting new members. 9. Conduct a Speechcraft. Contact your Lt-Governor Marketing for more information. 10. Contact local business and vocational schools. Ask to do a presentation regarding

communication skills and how valuable they are in the job market. Have Toastmasters club information available to pass out and encourage students to attend a meeting.

11. Ask local businesses if you may leave Toastmasters brochures/ magazines in their waiting area. Make sure you have a phone number or email address on each brochure or magazine. Ask if they will allow your club to post a flyer or have a counter display.

12. Give your local library and/or bookstore copies of the Toastmasters magazine, brochures, or club flyer.

13. Place an ad in the local newspaper. Many newspapers will print notices about community events for free.

14. Send press releases to local media on all special events, awards, contests, and honors.

15. If you meet in a public place (i.e. restaurant), have a sign that announcing your club meeting time and date. This technique is used by Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis clubs.

Ideas for Corporate Clubs 1. Ask HR to include a flyer about the club in the new employee orientation packet. 2. Place an ad in your company newsletter. 3. Ask HR to insert a flyer about the club with the payroll checks. 4. Post a notice on your company electronic bulletin board about upcoming events. 5. Inquire about the possibility of club members earning continuing education credit.

Pam Christopher, DTM International Director, Region VIII

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District 58 Proxy Form

Credential or Proxy Certificate District Council Meeting – 04/18/10 At the district council business meeting, each club president and vice president education in attendance is entitled to one vote. However, if either or both officers cannot attend, they may designate, in writing, any other active member of their club to act as proxy or proxies for their club. (Use form below.) No other proxies are valid at this meeting – per Article X, Paragraph (d) of the District Administrative Bylaws. In the event one of these officers does not attend the meeting and has not designated, in writing, an active member of the club to act as his or her proxy, the officer or proxy holder in attendance is deemed to hold the proxy of the other, and may therefore cast two votes at the meeting. This assures that every club is represented by two votes. In addition, each district officer, including area governors, in attendance is entitled to one vote. Only district executive committee members carrying both credential or proxy certificates from their club are allowed three votes. All other members are limited to a maximum of two votes each. (Date__________) Credential or Proxy Certificate [Must be submitted to Credentials Desk to obtain ballot(s}] Certificate No. Club name (print) __________________________________________________________ Club No. _________________________________________________________________ Your name (print) __________________________________________________________ Officer Position: ___________________________________________________________

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND Club president and vice president education only Indicate your duly authorized proxy below (must be an active member of your club): Name (print)______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________________________________________________________