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Jan/Feb 2004www.toastmastersd47.org

Since 1955Bimonthly bulletin of District 47 Toastmasters

Serving Florida and the Bahamas

Distinguished District for the Third Consecutive Year!

January

10 PLANET TOASTMASTERS CENTRAL

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

31 PLANET TOASTMASTERS WEST

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

February

1 TALK UP TOASTMASTERS! MEMBERSHIP

CAMPAIGN BEGINS

7 PLANET TOASTMASTERS SOUTH

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

15 CLUBS START COLLECTING DUES

29 LAST DAY TO TRAIN CLUB OFFICERS FOR

DISTINGUISHED PROGRAM CREDIT

March

31 LAST DAY TO SUBMIT CLUB OFFICER

TRAINING REPORTS

Amy Gump, ATMBArea 16

Dwight Burrows, ATMS/CLArea 35

Top Division GovernorLoretta Sandy, ATMS

Division B

Top 5 Area Governors

Recognitions for the QuarterEnding 12/31/03

Ken Walley, ATMG/CLArea 33

Antionette Fox, ATMBArea 55

Joel Verlin, ATMS/CLArea 53

Spring Conference

May 21 - May 23, 2004Call for Nominations

Toastmaster of the Year

Club President of the Year

See www.toastmastersd47.org.

More Recognitions

Advance DCP Awards

See Page 3

CLUB SPEECH & TABLE TOPICS CONTESTS

AREA SPEECH & TABLE TOPICS CONTESTS

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Margaret Wan, DTM

Full Steam Ahead

District Governor’sMessage

We passed the midpoint of the Toastmasters year. Iam pleased to report that we have chartered arecord number of new clubs. We could not haveachieved this without the hard work of our AreaGovernors, Division Governors, New Club ChairTroy Gelinas, ATMB/CL, and, most importantly,YOU - the Toastmasters who participate in thekickoff and subsequent meetings of new clubs, theToastmasters who serve as club sponsors andmentors, and the Toastmasters who ask your ownclub to provide resources for the new clubs.

Other than new clubs, we have low-membershipclubs that need help from experienced Toastmas-ters. Sometimes a club suffers from a decline inmembership because a major force in the club,perhaps the President or a long-time member, is nolonger able to fulfill a leadership role. Conversely,we have seen many examples where a low-membership club has found a “spark plug” to leadand reenergize the club; it regained vivacity in notime at all. You can be that spark plug!

Membership attrition is unavoidable in any club,no matter what size. Bring a guest to your nextclub meeting and turn him or her into a Toastmas-ter! Coordinate a Speechcraft program, the No. 1membership-building tool.

On the educational front, we are slightly behindour goals for CTMs and ATMs. All of us are inToastmasters for self-improvement. Set a goal forcompletion of your next educational award. Wewill look for your name on the educationalachievement posters displayed at the SpringConference.

In Toastmasters, Distinguished equals Success.The success of our club reflects our success as amember. I congratulate all the members of theclubs that have completed five or more Distin-guished Club Program goals for their outstandingaccomplishment. I hope to congratulate in personevery member and every club at the SpringConference for having achieved President’sDistinguished Club by that time.

We have Set Our Sights to New Heights. Wemust move with full steam ahead in the comingmonths!

Membership Increased 300%Dan Kyburz, ATMS/CLClub Rescue Chairman

One year ago Palm Harbor Toastmasters had about 10 members and about fiveor six of them would show up at a meeting. Guests were few and far between.Today we have over 30 members and about 20-25 show up at a meeting. Inaddition, there are usually 2-3 guests at each meeting.

We knew we had a problem and had to do something about it if we wanted ourclub to survive. We considered a number of factors that might influence mem-bership. We considered the programming, it was varied and interesting. Weconsidered the day of the week (Thursday) and the time of day (7:00pm) wewere meeting and decided that was OK. We considered the physical location ofthe meeting and decided that might be a problem.

We moved the meeting to the Palm Harbor Senior Activity Center. The centeris fairly new and provides a meeting room that can comfortably hold about 40people. They have a bulletin board where we posted a flyer. They have a news-letter we advertise in and they put us on their calendar. There are numerousother groups that meet there which also add to our visibility.

We moved in January of 2003 and held an open house in mid February. About30 people attended the open house and we gained six new members. Will youget the same results? Who knows, maybe you will, and maybe you won’t. Butyou won’t know if you don’t try.

May 21-May 23, 2004

Marriott Orlando HotelLake Mary, FL 32746

1-800-380-7724Featuring Craig Valentine,1999 Champion of Public

Speaking!

For further information,contact Vicky Iozzia, DTMvickyi10345@earthlink.net

DISTRICT 47, 2004 SPRING CONFERENCE

“Marching to New Heights”

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The Don PlaskettTraveling Trophy

I wanted to follow up on Andrew Brown’s recent article, “Websites and You”. I couldn’t agree with Andrew more. Go out and have some fun, and create a websitefor your club! At the Bill Gove Golden Gavel Toastmasters Club in Boynton Beach,FL, that is just what we did. We have built a public website for those interested infinding out more about our club as well as a member’s only website that we use formeeting roles, post notices and news, maintain our membership roll and printmeeting materials. It has been great fun creating the website and we have receivedrave reviews from both visitors to the website as well as from our other members. There are many resources available on the internet to get you started, and don’tforget, there may even be a resource right in your club. That is how I becameinvolved with our club’s website. Our website was originally put together by our,then, Club Secretary, Sheila Laughlin, and when I came to the club and Sheila foundout I did some website development I was immediately recruited to help out. It hasbeen a lot of fun, and a pleasure to do something for my club. After reading Andrew’s article in December’s issue I thought I might pass on a fewpointers for those who want to put together a club website:

• Always identify your club. Name, club number and district should beprominently displayed.

• One of the main reasons non-Toastmasters visit our website is to find outabout when and where we have our meetings. Always include detailedinformation about where your meetings take place and when you meet.

• Many website visitors may want more information about your club, so besure to include phone numbers and email addresses for the club officers.

• The Toastmasters International website contains a wealth of informationabout Toastmasters, so don’t forget to provide a link towww.toastmasters.org.

• Remember to place a Trademark notice at the bottom of the page if you usethe Toastmaster name or logo.

Stop by and visit our website if you get a minute; www.billgovetoastmastersclub.com,and don’t forget to take the tour of our Members Area to get a feel for what we havedone to help smooth some of the administrative aspects of our weekly meetings. As Andrew mentioned in December, a website doesn’t really take much more skillthan typing. So go ahead, and type your way to a great club website!

Publicize your Club on the InternetMike Kelly, CTM

Club #6818

You are SUPER!!!

Early Bird Club # 3651 ishonoring the memory oflong time member DonPlaskett, DTM, with atraveling Don Plasketttrophy for the mostimproved club member foreach meeting. Don was a mentor to many members andencourager to all Toastmasters. Many ofthe leaders in the Tallahassee area benefitedfrom the supportive role he played.

The trophy will remind club members andvisitors of Don’s belief that all Toastmastersneed to be encouraged to do their best inany responsibility they have in the meeting.

Congratulations to the Winners of theAdvance DCP Award - clubs that have

met 5 or more Distinguished ClubProgram goals and the membershipeligibility criterion as of 12/31/03!

Eight Goals106616001810

Seven Goals109523625725575865449649

Six Goals28

1978228424372445317959856796717872509392

Five Goals971

20042096226225882652273332993466441344545128602660456084644066907362791183709958

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District 47 officer elections will be held at the DistrictConference on May 22, 2004 at the Marriott HotelOrlando/Lake Mary. The following officers will beelected: District Governor, Lt. Governor Education andTraining, Lt. Governor Marketing, and DivisionGovernor.

THE MISSION OF THE DISTRICT

The mission of the District is to enhance theperformance and extend the network of Clubs, therebyoffering greater numbers of people the opportunity tobenefit from the Toastmasters educational program by:

! Focusing on the critical success factors asspecified by the District educational andmembership goals,

! Insuring that each Club effectively fulfills itsresponsibilities to its members,

! Providing effective training and leadershipdevelopment opportunities for Club andDistrict officers.

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL VISION

Toastmasters International empowers people to achievetheir full potential and realize their dreams. Through ourmember Clubs, people throughout the world canimprove their communication and leadership skills,giving them the courage to change.

The mission/purpose and qualifications of each electedofficer follows:

DISTRICT GOVERNORMission/PurposeAs the District’s chief executive officer, directs theDistrict in a way which fosters strong Clubs, producesmaximum growth in education completions, Club andmembership, and is consistent with the interests ofmembers of Toastmasters International. Responsible formotivating the District to achieve Distinguished District.Achieves the Mission of the District in a manner whichmotivates volunteer leaders and promotes a standard ofexcellence in all District activities.

QualificationsAt the time of taking office, the District Governor shallhave served at least six (6) consecutive months as aClub President and at least twelve (12) consecutivemonths as a Lt. Governor or Division Governor or acombination thereof.

LT. GOVERNOR EDUCATION AND TRAININGMission/PurposeUnder the guidance of the District Governor, strives to haveevery Club and each member reap the benefits of theToastmasters educational program and to have every Clubbecome a Distinguished Club. Responsible for achievingDistinguished District goals for CTMs, ATMs, andDistinguished Clubs. Provides direction and counsel to DivisionGovernors, Area Governors, and Club officers on theeducational opportunities in Toastmasters. Responsible for thedesign and conduct of successful District training programs,conferences, and other District educational events.

QualificationsThe Lt. Governor Education and Training shall have served atleast six (6) consecutive months as a Club President and at leasttwelve (12) consecutive months as a Lt. Governor, DivisionGovernor, or an Area Governor, or a combination thereof.

LT. GOVERNOR MARKETINGMission/PurposeUnder the guidance of the District Governor, makes the benefitsof Toastmasters membership available to greater numbers ofpeople. Plans, develops, implements, and directs short-term andlong-term District marketing objectives. Develops and directsprograms for new Club development, Club rescue efforts, Clubmembership promotion, and membership retention. Responsiblefor achieving Distinguished District goals for membership andClub growth. Promotes standards of service to the member andto the Club.

QualificationsThe Lt. Governor Marketing shall have served for at least six(6) consecutive months as a Club President and at least twelve(12) consecutive months as a Lt. Governor, a DivisionGovernor, or as an Area Governor, or a combination thereof.

DIVISION GOVERNORMission/PurposeAchieves the Mission of the District within the Division,accomplishing District goals in membership building andretention, Club extension, and educational accomplishments.Ensures that each Club realizes its Mission and fulfills itsresponsibilities to its members. Responsible for achievingDistinguished Division Program goals and for ensuring thatAreas and Clubs within the Division achieve Distinguishedstatus. Serves the Division Clubs by providing District supportand resources through the Area Governors.

QualificationsA Division Governor shall have served at least six (6)consecutive months as a member of a District Council (e.g.,Club President, Vice President Education, Area Governor,District Secretary, District Treasurer).

Call for NominationsDistrict Officer Mission/Purpose and Qualifications

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DISTRICT 47 NOMINATIONS

District 47 District officer elections will take place on May 22, 2004. Names to be considered for nomination are being acceptedfor the following offices: DISTRICT GOVERNOR, LT. GOVERNOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING, LT. GOVERNORMARKETING, AND DIVISION GOVERNORS A THROUGH I. If you would like to be nominated for office or if you want toenter a person’s name for nomination, please complete the form below and mail to Margaret Wan, DTM, District Governor, byFebruary 29, 2004. See nominating form for District Governor’s address and phone number. You may submit more than oneperson’s name (including your own) for each position. The deadline for submitting this form is February 29, 2004. TheNominating Committee will consider all candidates received by the deadline. To be nominated or elected, a person must be amember in good standing, meet the qualifications of the office, must consent to being nominated, and must sign an OfficerAgreement and Release Statement.

District Officer Nominating Form

I wish to have the Nominating Committee consider the following person for the office of:

# District Governor

# Lt. Governor Education & Training

# Lt. Governor Marketing

# Division Governor, Division ___

Name ___________________________________________________________________ CTM ATM DTM

Address _________________________________________________________________ State/Prov. _______________

City ____________________________________________________________________ Postal Code ______________

Country _________________________________________________________________

Telephone (H) ____________________________ (B) ____________________________

FAX _____________________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________________________

Home Club Name _________________________________________________________ Club No. _________________

List the Club and District offices in which this person has served and the dates of service. Describe this Toastmaster’squalifications for office and fitness to serve. Please attach any other information about this candidate that may be helpful inassisting the Nominating Committee.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Submitted by: ____________________________________________________________

Mail to: Margaret Wan, DTMDistrict Governor500 37th Avenue NorthSaint Petersburg, FL 33704-1248(Phone: 877-525-3883 or 813-787-3747)

Deadline for submitting this form is February 29, 2004.

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Welcome, New Babies of the District 47 Family!

Baby Mania Contest

Do you know companies that have 150 or more employees atone location? You could win a prize by participating in theBaby Mania Contest! Complete the form below, and aDistrict 47 officer will make contact with the person in thecompany with a view to starting a new Toastmasters Club.

See the November/December 2003 issue of The Sunshiner orthe District 47 website for contest details.

Toastmasters at JEA Club # 607265Charter Date: 11/3/03Alignment: Division A Area 7Sponsoring Organization: JEASponsors: William LeClere and WandaBrownMentor: Holly Walker

Bay Pines Club # 602900Charter Date: 11/14/03Alignment: Division G Area 45Sponsors: Margaret Wan and Claire KnaflaMentors: Margaret Wan and Cathy Naabe

Master Communicators of Crystal PalaceClub # 612315Charter Date: 11/18/03Alignment: Division I Area 55Sponsoring Clubs: 9477 and 1095Sponsors: Antionette Fox and MalviseBastianMentors: Joan Carey and Antionette Fox

Strawberry Club # 613707Charter Date: 11/20/03Alignment: Division J Area 48Sponsoring Club: 4051Sponsors: Mellie Mabry and Brett Clancy

Ringling Club # 590606Charter Date: 11/24/03Alignment: Division F Area 56Sponsors: Terry Lauritsen and Andrew BeanMentor: Leah Leu

Westgaters Club # 618581Charter Date: 12/5/03Alignment: Division B Area 5Sponsoring Clubs: 6045 and 9269Sponsors: Robert Donenfeld and BarbaraBergstromMentors: Robert Donenfeld andAbdurrahim Khan

Mayflower Club # 617432Charter Date: 12/8/03Alignment: Division C Area 16Sponsoring Clubs: 1066 and 8945Sponsors: Roxie Steadman and HelenJosephMentors: Elizabeth Brothers and EdwardGoddard

Beachsiders Club # 621469Charter Date: 12/16/03Alignment: Division B Area 29Sponsor: George GonzalesMentors: Robert Tremayne and DeloraMills

Worksource Beaches Club # 585865Charter Date: 12/29/03Alignment: Division A Area 19Sponsors: James Akers and Johnny Ledford

Yack Shack Club # 624209Charter Date: 12/30/03Alignment: Division A Area 38Sponsoring Club: 5709Mentors: Cynthia Ramirez and Sue Habel

BTVI Knights of the T Table Club #626837Charter Date: 12/30/03Alignment: Division I Area 12Sponsoring Club: 3596 and 6796Sponsors: Dillette Brown-Miller andJamaro ThompsonMentors: Renee Johnson and Valerie Gaitor

Are You A Goal-Topper?

What happens after your club has achieved all the 10 Distin-guished Club Program goals? Is it time for all the members to“retire” and do nothing? NO! It is time to strive for becomingthe Goal-Topper of District 47!

A club will receive the following points for accomplishingeducational and membership goals beyond the DCP goals:

• For each CTM after the 4th 3 points• For each ATM after the 2nd 3 points• For each CL after the 2nd 1 point• For each AL or DTM after the 1st 2 points• For each new member after the 8th 3 points

The points will be based on the DCP report of 6/30/04. Thefive clubs that receive the most points will receive a specialribbon and all members as at 6/30/04 will receive a special pinto show that they are the GOAL-TOPPERS!

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Since 1955

Publisher:Margaret Wan, DTM

District 47 Toastmasters500 37th Avenue North

Saint Petersburg, FL 33704-1248e-mail: wan@acustarconsulting.com

Editor:Cathy Epler, DTM

e-mail: cepler@gte.net

Co-Editor:Don Spencer

e-mail: spencerd@AyresAssociates.com

Do you have a question or questions concerning Toastmasters? Do you wantto learn more about communications and leadership? Many of our membersanswer yes to either one or both of these questions. Unfortunately, there isnot enough time at any one session to impart all of the knowledge that isavailable from Toastmasters. This is why you have an opportunity to attendtraining programs within the District.

The District provides four training programs each year: Planet Toastmastersand our District Conferences. The reasons that I attend these educationalprograms are to learn something new, learn a new technique, or refresh thetraining that I have had before. I may hear something for the first time orhear it stated in a different way and it triggers a new understanding. I learn ofchanges in TI policy and procedure and their new programs. I am motivatedagain to a higher achievement. Whether you agree with my reasons forattending or have your unique reasons, I encourage you to attend theseprograms.

Your next opportunity will be in January-February. On January 10 more than160 Toastmasters attended Planet Toastmasters Leadership Institute held inOrlando. The leadership training and educational workshops were fabulous!

The Planet Toastmasters Leadership Institute is scheduled for Tampa/StPetersburg on January 31, 2004, and Miami/West Palm Beach on February 7,2004 . The particulars for each Institute have been made available to yourDivision and Area Governors and posted on the District website. The 2002Champion of Public Speaking, Dwayne Smith, will be our special guestspeaker.

During June through August, we had over 1,200 District 47 Toastmasterstrained. The goal for January and February is to have at least 2,400 trained.These sessions in January and February are timed to enable your Club toreceive points toward its Distinguished Club Program goal. Come and giveheed to those offering their experiences and knowledge to help you learn newtricks.

New Tricks

Jim Ocque, DTMLt. Governor Education and Training

The Sunshiner is printed byImpressive Printing - Tampa, Florida

Top Ten Toastmasters Excusesand Cliches Explained

10) I’m going to pass out these hand-outs whileI’m talking...(I’m hoping you’ll read them and not listen tomy pathetic speech)

9) I can’t speak tonight due to an emergency.(I haven’t started working on my speech yet)

8) My check is in the mail.(The new checks I ordered from the bank arein the mail)

7) I never win the 50/50.(I never buy a ticket)

6) I’ll pass on dinner because I already ate.(It was lunch)

5) Sorry I’m late. I’d like to switch places withthe last speaker.(I’m still writing my speech)

4) You know me, Madame Toastmaster. I don’tneed an intro.(I didn’t write one)

3) This is a non-manual speech.(I don’t have time to read a manual)

2) I owe a lot to this club.(I haven’t paid for dinner in over a month)

1) To make a long story short...(I’ve been rambling incoherently)

Clubs and Areas should be setting the dates for their International Speech andTable Topics Contest. The Clubs should be selecting their contestants inJanuary and February. The Area contest should be in March or early April.The Division contests will be held between April 23rd and May 1st. TheDistrict Contest will be May 21st for the Table Topics and May 22nd for theInternational Speech. The Regional International Speech Contest will be inJacksonville on June 26. The ultimate winner of the International SpeechContest, the 2004 Champion of Public Speaking, will be selected at theToastmasters International Convention in Reno, Nevada in August.

International Speech andTable Topics Contests

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District 47 Toastmasters500 37th Avenue NorthSaint Petersburg, FL 33704-1248

Cathy Epler, DTM, Editorcepler@gte.net

Don Spencer, Co-Editorspencerd@AyresAssociates.com

Since 1955

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage PAIDTampa FL 33612

Permit #2788

TOASTMASTER CHATTER

In Remembrance

Vincent Foy, amember of the Talk ofthe Town, Club No.5390, passed onDecember 15, 2003.

District 47 celebrates clubs that havereached a special benchmark. Thefollowing clubs have done just so!

Happy Anniversary

35 YearsFirst Bahamas Branch #1600Gelfand Good Morning #2096

20 Years

45 YearsHarris #1423

St. Augustine #3774Talk of the Town #5390

10 YearsMotorola Communicators #9745

15 YearsVista #7250

Under the leadership of LorettaSandy, the Division B Team hasdone a phenomenal job in charter-ing FOUR clubs in the first half ofthe year!

Area C16 Governor Amy Gump,has chartered two new clubs.

Kudos

Bill Grey passed on January 13, 2003.Bill, a University of Miami graduateand Prudential retiree, devoted manyyears to Toastmasters International,where he served as Northeast DivisionGovernor for 2 years and Area Gover-nor for several years.