WOW Club is President's Distinguished

For the first time in its six year history, the WOW Toastmasters Club has achieved 10 goals on the Distinguished Club program, making it a President's Distinguished Club for the 2009-10 year.

In his congratulatory speech, 2009-10 President Justin Vincent listed the educational and leadership award recipients for the year. He congratulated club member Lynn Bushell for her amazing achievement of competing in the District International Speech contest in May 2010. He also noted that WOW was in the process of forming a new club in Greytown - the Top Town Talkers.

WOW Toastmasters tie the knot in paradise

Fifteen years after first meeting, WOW Toastmasters Justin Vincent popped the question to the love of his life, Rita Stirling. Two years later the couple married at Picnic Bay, on Magnetic Island off Townsville in Queensland, on Rita's birthday, 25 May 2010.

Above: The happy couple - Rita and Justin.

In an idyllic setting on the beach, beneath two towering palm trees, Justin and Rita made their vows before a small gathering of friends and family from New Zealand and Australia.

Above: Rita and Justin with their Greytown friends and family.

Rita looked resplendent in a beautiful wedding dress she had made herself, while Justin looked very dashing in a suit. The couple then travelled around the island in a specially decorated bus with the wedding guests to various locations for photos.

The wedding culminated in a sumptuous dinner at sunset at a restaurant at Horseshoe Bay, with speeches and dancing under the night sky.

Above: Rita and Justin and two WOW Toastmasters Dale Hartle and Lynn Bushell.

Congratulations to Rita and Justin - WOW Toastmasters' newly married couple.

WOW Toastmaster competes in National Speech Contest

Lynn Bushell recently competed in the New Zealand International Speech Contest, at the District 72 Toastmasters Convention held in Wellington on 8 May 2010. While Lynn was not placed, she presented a moving and memorable speech.

The photos below show Lynn receiving her Participation Certificate, and together with all the contestants.

Club Webmaster receives Supreme Award

Club Webmaster Dale Hartle DTM has won the ALGIM Supreme Award for the Best New Zealand Council Website for 2010.

In her daytime role as Website Manager for Porirua City Council, Dale manages the Council's external website http://www.pcc.govt.nz, intranet, and the Te Rauparaha Arena website http://www.terauparaha-arena.co.nz.

At the Association of Local Government Information Managers Web Symposium in Wellington on 4 May, Porirua City Council's website was named the Best Council Website, and received the Supreme Award. A shocked Dale was presented with the award, and was requested to give a "thank you" speech. Well, even though she is a Distinguished Toastmaster and quite used to talking, Dale was stunned into silence at the Awards Dinner because it was so unexpected. However, the Chief Executive at Porirua is absolutely delighted, and gave Dale a big kiss and a hug. Now Dale is waiting for the six-figure salary job offers to come rolling in!

WOW Toastmaster receives Leadership Award

Rita Stirling (right) was presented with her Advanced Leader Bronze award at the meeting on 18 April by meeting chairperson Trish Gray. This Award contributes towards the Club's Distinguished Club Programme Goals.

WOW Toastmaster wins Division Speech Contest

WOW Toastmaster Lynn Bushell representing Area E8 competed in the Division (Wellington) International Speech Contest on Saturday 10 April, and won the International Speech Contest. Lynn will now compete at the District finals to be held in Wellington on 8 May. Good luck!

Well done Lynn on competing in the Division Speech Contest, which was attended by over 100 Toastmasters from all over the Wellington region. Speech contests certainly take a Toastmaster out of their comfort zone, and into a new dimension of public speaking. It takes courage and practice to develop speaking skills at this level.

When asked How did you do it?, Lynn replied: "This is my third year in WOW and my second attempt at the International Speech competition having placed second at the Division conference in 2009. My speech "The Invisible Generation" was in honour of my Mum. Her spirit and her experiences in a Rest Home inspired me to write this speech which began life as part of a Massey University expressive art paper in 2009. Since then it has been under constant revision and rewriting. Writing is not a solitary occupation but a collaborative effort. As such, no speech would exist without the wonderful support, feedback, encouragement and inspiration of others. In particular I am indebted to my 95 year old Dad and many wonderful Toastmasters in WOW and Top Town Talkers who humbled me with their heart wrenching stories and moved me to tears on many occasions. Thank you for your courage and know that a part of each one of you steps out on stage with me. I hope I can do you and your loved ones justice on a National stage. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly."

Top Town member receives Award

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 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.