CGD Update: September 6, 2021

September 6, 2021 by editor

Dues Renewal is Open

This is your friendly reminder that dues renewal is open. As we are already in September, it is very important to encourage all of your club members to renew their dues. Remember to get your payments submitted to Toastmasters International by October 1st. If you have any questions about retaining your members, please feel free to reach out to any of your District leaders for answers.

Club Coaches

A club coach is an experienced Toastmaster who coaches a club to rebuild membership and restore quality to the club environment. The goal of a coach is to help the club achieve recognition in the Distinguished Club Program, which is accomplished by:

Building rapport with club leaders and members
Instilling enthusiasm, comradery, and structure within the club
Assessing the club environment and recommending best practices for success
Working with club leaders to develop a Club Success Plan
Encouraging the club to strive for Distinguished Club Program recognition

You could personally help catapult Toastmasters into a new place by volunteering to become a Club Coach. District 58 is currently looking for experienced and brand new Club Coaches to help clubs. This year we are focusing on rebuilding our clubs and helping them have quality club meetings. Club Coaches can bring new ideas, motivation, and even some reprieve to club members and help a club return to greatness! Please send an email to cgd@d58tm.org or fill out the Club Coach form online at https://forms.gle/1pfYpuW8L8GSGyVT8.

New Club Ideas

Do you have an idea for an amazing new club? We are currently looking for ideas to help us create new clubs within District 58. This year, our focus is to help build new clubs that are focused on a specific topic. These clubs are often referred to as “Specialty Clubs”. Reach out to CGD Mike Ward at cgd@d58tm.org to discuss your idea.

Club Sponsors and Mentors

New clubs that have Club Sponsors and Club Mentors are typically more successful than clubs that try to start without this support. Club Sponsors and Club Mentors create the critical support system that they need to help new clubs get going. If you are interested in helping with starting or supporting new clubs this year, please send an email to cgd@d58tm.org or fill out the Club Sponsor & Mentor form online at https://forms.gle/KzsSUSGd5cJY758H7.

Marketing Team

Our Marketing Team is growing. If you are interested in sharing marketing ideas, helping with committees, helping with our District communications, or just be involved in being “in the know” please send an email to cgd@d58tm.org and CGD Mike Ward will invite you to the next Marketing Team Meeting.

2019-20 District 58 DLC Report

April 18, 2020 by editor

The District 58 Leadership Committee (DLC) is pleased to announce the following candidates are approved for the elections for the 2020-2021 Toastmasters year. Click each candidate to read their bio: [Read more…]

Beat the Clock

April 5, 2019 by editor

Toastmasters are taught to run meetings on time, finish speeches on time and make membership goals on time. “Beat the Clock” is about finishing the year on schedule – with a bang! Here’s a wonderful new club goal: Earn the “Beat the Clock” award!

Plan a contest in your club to motivate every member to get involved. Clubs adding five new, dual or reinstated members during these two months receive a “Beat the Clock” ribbon to display on the club’s banner.

Membership applications and payment for members who join between May 1 and June 30 must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than June 30.

Each member’s join date as listed on the application must be no later than June. Transfer and charter members do not count for credit. In addition to the ribbon, qualifying clubs will also earn a special discount code for 10% off their next club order. Discount code expires six months from date of issue and is not valid with any other offer.

DISTRICT 58 CLUB GROWTH DIRECTOR LYNN RAGLAND IS CHALLENGING US TO FINISH STRONG! EVERY CLUB THAT EARNS THE BEAT THE CLOCK AWARD WILL GO INTO A DRAWING FOR END OF YEAR SPECIAL PRIZES.

A COLLAPSIBLE TM LECTERN (value $95.00)
UP TO $95.00 IN MONIES TO ADVERTISE YOUR CLUB
A LAVALIERE SET WITH SPEAKER (Value $95.00)

AND IF YOU THOUGHT THAT WASN’T ENOUGH ….. THE CLUB WITH THE MOST NEW MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE A GRAND PRIZE VALUED AT OVER $250.00! (DRAWINGS WILL BE LIVE ON D58 WEBSITE JULY 4TH)

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!

Pathways Learning Zone

June 2, 2018 by editor

Learn how to start your journey of personal and professional development through Pathways, Toastmasters’ new education program! Pathways features online learning, cutting-edge content, interactive tools, strong mentoring and evaluation components, and a multitude of options.

What is Your Educational Journey?

The Toastmasters Pathways learning experience offers many different routes for exploration and achievement. This modernized learning experience featuring 10 different learning Paths such as Effective Coaching, Innovative Planning, Presentation and Mastery is the result of years of planning and expertise by a large team, including the Board of Directors, World Headquarters staff and member volunteers. The program’s wide-ranging benefits include:

Customized learning tailored to personal and professional goals
Early and frequent recognition of accomplishments
Mobile access to educational materials
Expanded video and digital content

It’s a journey of possibilities. Get started today to learn nearly 300 competencies—practical skills that are immediately transferable to the world outside Toastmasters.

How to get started

To get started, login on Toastmasters.org website with your personal ID, then go to Education > Pathways Learning Experience.

Review answers to the most common Pathways questions

Pathways FAQs

Selecting your first Path

Review the complete list of Paths and projects and electives available in each Path

Pathways Path and Projects Catalog

Starting your first project and Ice Breaker

Review a screen-by-screen, click by click, guide to starting your first Project and Ice Breaker

Guide to Starting your First Project, the Ice Breaker

Recognition and Awards under Pathways

In Pathways, you are recognized for every achievement and milestone you and your club reach. Whether you choose to explore one path or several, every step you take will be supported and celebrated along the way.

Click to Discover all the awards and recognition available under Pathways

Why stop at one path? Journey beyond being Proficient and receive the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award. This is the highest individual honor you can achieve in Pathways. Earn your DTM when you fulfill the following requirements:

Completing two paths
Serving as a club officer for 12 months and participating in a district-sponsored club officer training program.
Serving as a club mentor or coach
Serving as a club sponsor or conducting Speechcraft or a Youth Leadership Program
Serving as a district officer for one year
Completing DTM project

BASE CAMP MANAGER (BCM)

A team which comprises of Club President, VP Education and Secretaries – your duties

For most clubs, the vice president education (VPE) will be the main actor in the role of Base Camp manager. HOWEVER, BCM is a team effort! The Base Camp Manager helps facilitate your progress by verifying your education, approving requests and more. Because we operate as a team, in the event that a VPE isn’t able to perform these duties, or if a club does not have a VPE, the BCM responsibilities will be fulfilled by the club president or club secretary. The central responsibilities of the BCM include:

Approving speeches outside the club
Verifying level completion
Tracking member progress
Verifying project completion for members using printed materials

A how-to document for the tasks a base camp manager does

Base Camp Manager Duties

Resources

To begin your Pathways experience, login to the Toastmasters.org website with your personal ID, then go to Education > Pathways Learning Experience

Winter TLI Columbia 2018 gallery

January 28, 2018 by editor

Promote Your Club Video Contest

November 24, 2017 by editor

Calling all aspiring hollywood actors and directors! Your mission: create a video to promote your club and the benefits of Toastmasters. Your goal is for your club video to get social media Likes and Shares via Facebook and/or Twitter.

Entries will be shown at the Spring Conference. Social media engagement activity results and conference votes will decide the winner who will be announced at the conference.

Prizes:

All entries get $10 gift certificate for the District 58 Store
1st place – $50 pizza or bagel celebration and $50 gift certificate to the District 58 Store
2nd place – $25 gift certificate to the District 58 Store
3rd place – Club Ribbon Pack
Bonus prize: You’ll have a video to help drive visitors in your door. Post it to your FreeToastHost club website and club FB page.

Imagine how visitors find your club. They likely visit the TI find-a-club tool. Search results return several club candidates. They mull through them and pick one. This means your competition are the clubs in the geo footprint around you. Make your club stand out and get those visitors.

A video shows a visitor the look and feel of your club. They get a warm fuzzy feeling. It helps lessen the anxiety that often accompanies new visitors. This commercial should solely focus on a message a first-time visitor would find appealing.

Contest Rules:

One video entry per club
Video duration must be 90-seconds or less

On Jan 1, check the D58 Facebook page for a video contest post. You’ll reply with your submission to that post to enter the contest. This way, everyone’s entry is conveniently listed together.

Ensure to post in time for Spring Conference voting. Earlier postings benefit with like, comment and share points. Also check out these additional video tips.

Toastmaster meets TEDx

November 7, 2017 by editor

On Friday, October 20th, District 58’s very own, Division B Director, DTM David Premo was one of the speakers for TEDx Hilton Head. With the theme of the event being Resilience, presenters shared their experiences and how they overcame obstacles and bounced back.

While many know David as a Toastmaster, he is also a retired publishing executive and associate professor of communication at Kaplan University. In 2017, he suffered a significant stroke with aphasia. It was through his rigorous rehabilitation regimen, which included being active in his Toastmasters club, that he regained his speech and won election as a Division B Director this past spring. David also resumed teaching at a university.

At the TEDx Hilton Head Island, South Carolina event, David’s impactful presentation was the only one to receive a standing ovation; one that was well-deserved. While the video hasn’t been published yet to YouTube, you will see David out and about working with the members of District 58. Kudos David on a job well done!

Call for 2018-2019 Nominations

November 1, 2017 by editor

The Toastmasters District 58 Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2018-2019 Toastmasters’ year for the following elected positions:

District Director
District 58 Club Growth Director
District 58 Program Quality Director
Seven Division Director positions (Divisions A, B, C, D, E, F, and G)

Nomination deadline is December 15th, 2017 and must be submitted on the official candidate application and accompanied by a completed officer agreement and release form.

District Leader Nominating Form

Officer Agreement and Release Form

If you are interested in any of these elected positions or would like more information please contact Nomination Committee Chairperson Kimberly Love, DTM at 803-446-6721 or lovequick27@gmail.com.

Elections will be held during the District Spring Conference in Charleston SC on April 21st, 2018.