Top Town member receives Awar

Members of the "in formation" Toastmasters club, Top Town Talkers were reminded recently of the achievements of one of their members, Lynn Bushell.

As part of an advanced manual assignment, Rita Stirling presented an award to Lynn for her amazing work on the live theatre production "Ladies Night" which ran late last year.

As Rita reminded everyone, Lynn started with no money in the bank, and pulled together a team of both actors and technical people to deliver a show that had a sell-out season. Not only did the production receive great reviews, but it was a financial success too, raising $4,000 for two Carterton charities, the new Events centre and the Carterton Volunteer Fire Brigade.

More than that, as director and producer, Lynn had also melded together a team who fully supported each other that allowed people to extend themselves beyond what they thought they could achieve.

(Photo, Rita presenting Lynn with award.)

WOW is Select Distinguished Club

The WOW Toastmasters Club is a Select Distinguished Club for the 2008-09 year, having achieved 8 out of 10 goals on the Distinguished Club Programme.

The Goals achieved were 4 Competent Communicators, 2 Advanced Communicators, 8 new members and the training and administration goals.

WOW has new President for 2009-10 year

1 July marked the beginning of the new Toastmasters year, with WOW's new President, Justin Vincent taking over the reigns of the club.

Justin's role during the year is to lead and manage the club towards achieving Distinguished Club status. This involves attending club officer training, ensuring all educational achievements are registered with Toastmasters International, organising any special events including club contests, and keeping the club informed of news and items of interest.

WOW member achieves 9th CC

Dale Hartle DTM, was presented by President Carol with her 9th Competent Communicator Award at the WOW meeting on 21 June 2009. Dale is already working on her 10th Award.

WOW receives Convention ribbon

The WOW Club President Carol Pilcher is pictured with the ribbon presented by Area Governor Rita Stirling for having club members attend the May 2009 Crusade to Confidence Convention in Christchurch.

WOW Speechcraft Success

WOW recently ran a Speechcraft Course, with five participants. During the course, the Speechcrafters learnt how to prepare and deliver short speeches on specific themes, but topics of their own choice. Toastmasters ran the meetings and help evaluate the speechcrafters by providing feedback and tips for improvement.

The photo above shows the 2009 Speechcrafters: L to R - Donna, Caroline, Dianne, Gary with Justin on left and Jenny and Lynn to right. Absent Hayley.

WOW elects new President

WOW Toastmasters Club elected a new president, Justin Vincent, at its annual business meeting on 12 May. Justin takes office on 1 July. In her presidential report, current President Carol Pilcher outlined the successes of the club during the past year, and that the club should achieve Select Distinguished Club this year running by getting 7 out of 10 goals on the distinguished club programme. You can download and read the 2009 President's Report.

Division Contests Results

Two WOW club members competed in the International Speech contest on Petone on Saturday 18 April. Maureen McEwen was representing WOW, and Dale Hartle was representing Spinnaker (and is a WOW member). Both speeches were extremely well received by the audience, especially Dale's 3 costume changes in 7 minutes! Unfortunately neither were placed in the top three. There were nine contestants.

Wairarapa Woman a winner at the area final of Toastmasters

On Saturday 28th March the Area E8 (Upper Hutt and Wairarapa) held the finals of the inspirational Speakers contest. The winner was Maureen McEwen of the WOW (Wairarapa on Weekends) Toastmasters Club, shown in the photo above receiving her award from Division Governor Judy Love.

Maureen will go on to represent the area at the Divisional final to be held in Petone on Saturday the 18th April.

There was a good turn out on Saturday filling the club rooms at Cobblestones museum in Greytown, with representatives from the Masterton Club, WOW and Upper Hutt Clubs.

In the inspirational speech contest, each club was represented, with Upper Hutt club fielding two finalists. Karl Rogers and runner up Carolyn Lankow and Masterton Club being represented by finalist Val Ball.

Greytown's WOW club member Maureen McEwen was the winner with a lighthearted speech called "My Inspiration" about her grandchild's rainbow coloured gumboots. The eventual overall winner of this competition will represent New Zealand in the United States of America later in the year.

There was also an "evaluation contest" with three finalists A.J. Hunter of Masterton, Runner-up Ross Pearson of Upper Hutt and the winner Helen Cartmell of Upper Hutt. In this competition Division Governor Judy Love delivered a prepared speech entitled "Life's Lessons" - the contestants then had five minutes to prepare a 2-3 minute speech evaluating the speaker. They are required to use the traditional Toastmasters method of commend, recommend, commend.

Upper Hutt Woman a winner at the area final of Toastmasters.

On Saturday 28th March the Area E8 (Upper Hutt and Wairarapa) held the finals of Speakers evaluation contest. This is where the contestants evaluate a prepared speech presented to them for the first time at the competition. The contestants then leave the room and draw an order in which each contestant will deliver their impromptu evaluation of the speaker.

The winner was Helen Cartmell of the Upper Hutt Toastmasters Club, pictured above receiving her award from Division Governor Judy Love.

Helen will go on to represent the area at the Divisional final to be held in Petone on Saturday 18th April. Upper Hutt was well represented in the competitions with four of its members competing. Ross Pearson was a finalist in the evaluation competition.

In the inspirational speech contest, each club was represented with Upper Hutt club fielding two finalists. Karl Rogers and Carolyn Lankow.

Greytown’s WOW club (Weekends on Wairarapa) member Maureen McEwen was the winner with a lighthearted speech called "My Inspiration" The eventual overall winner of this competition will represent New Zealand in the United States of America later in the year. Pictured below are the contestants: from left back row - Karl Rogers, Ross Pearson, Helen Cartmell, Carolyn Lankow all from Upper Hutt. Front row - Maureen McEwen WOW and Val Ball, Masterton.

WOW Toastmasters Flag

The WOW Toastmasters club now uses a specially designed flag as a meeting location marker for visitors and club members at outdoor venues, and to identify the meeting room at the club's indoor venue at Cobblestones Museum in Greytown. The flag is visible from quite a distance and flutters gently in the Wairarapa breeze!

The flag has the word Toastmasters printed vertically in blue lettering on a white background. It is on an extendible pole with the base designed to fit around a car tyre or be anchored to the ground. The flag comes with a bag for easy carry and storage.

Approval from Toastmasters International was sought to use the word Toastmasters on the flag, which was made by Flagmakers in Wellington. (Visit the Flagmakers website and follow the Flexipole link to view more information.)

For more information, please contact VP Public Relations Dale Hartle DTM email wow@toastmasters.org.nz.