SPEAK UP!
News from Successfully Speak Up
Toastmasters
Meeting every second and fourth Friday, 7:30 pm
Mary
Jacobs Library, Rocky Hill,
Club 6375, District
38. Issue: January, 2009
We’re Off And Running for 2009!
Successfully Speak Up Toastmasters of Rocky Hill is primed for a great 2009! With the many accomplishments we saw for 2008, we are only bound to get better!
As a Club
SSU has always been one of the smaller clubs in District 38 and its Area, 19—yet the “small but mighty” label applies. For that matter, we’ve used our size—we generally hover around 20-25 members total—to our advantage. Visitors have commented: “the size makes me feel comfortable;” “I feel immediately part of the group;” “It’s relaxing here” and, significantly, “I can really get a chance to give a speech here—it is much harder at the large Toastmasters clubs to get on the agenda.”
Proof of our effectiveness lies in the fact that SSU has ranked as a President’s Distinguished Club for the third year in a row (2007-2008). The “President’s Distinguished” award is granted by Toastmasters International to less than 15% of all TM clubs, on average. It is awarded to those clubs that meet a series of very stringent requirements, including achieving a specific number of speaking qualifications and gaining new members.
For 2008-2009, we’ve already gained seven new members and are very much looking forward to seeing them grow personally through the club. A new mentoring program is being put into place for those who would like the support in moving forward.
Individuals
Two members, new in 2008, blew us away by achieving the first level award, Competent Communicator, in less than a year. This level of commitment is truly unusual by any standard. Congratulations, Gian Paolo Gracia and Joon Han!
Left: Maria
Okros, celebrating her fifth speech; Joon
Han, completing his tenth for the Competent Communicator award; Oksana
Katsuro-Hopkins , finishing her third. And Thaine Shetter, the
evening’s Toastmaster.
Other recent
notable achievements:
--Thalia Kuentzel achieved her Advanced Communicator-Bronze.
--Thaine Shetter completed his Advanced Leader-Bronze. He also won
both our Club Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests. In 2007-2008, Thaine
was a President’s Distinguished Area Governor (Area 19). He also has been
active in facilitating Toastmasters meetings at the New Jersey State Prison.
--Jim Samuel, representing Division D (by way of
Mid-Day Toastmasters) placed third in the Table Topics competition at the District 38
Competition. Jim has completed his fourth Advanced Communicator -Bronze
award. Jim has been key in supporting
and strengthening the Mid-Day Toastmasters Club by starting a second venue—on
Monday evenings in
--Susan Matson placed first in the club (representing Mid-Day) and
Area 3 Humorous Speech contests. She also competed in the Division D
competition and, although she didn’t place, she reports thoroughly enjoying the
experience.
-- Oksana Katsuro-Hopkins used the club as a launching/testing platform for a
new course she is teaching at Colombia Unversity: she gave the orientation for
the course for members.
NEW AND
UPCOMING
At our January 9 meeting, SSU welcomed two new members: Bob Baldi
and Gita Roy.
Welcome!
We’re psyched—are you? The club International Speech Contest takes place Friday, February
27. To compete, you only need to have completed six speeches and be a member in
good standing. It’s also the evening of the Speech Evaluation contest. Contact Jim Samuel if you would like to
compete. See you there!