Our Mission: We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence
Please visit the District 58 COVID-19 page to keep up with the latest developments and guidance on club and district activities from the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, regarding the increasing challenges and impact associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). [Read more…]
The Board of Directors of Toastmasters International has made the following decisions regarding current and upcoming District events, effective immediately: [Read more…]
Toastmasters District 58 Last Quarter 2019-20 Incentives
Divisions, Areas, Clubs
Distinguished Divisions
Distinguished Areas
Distinguished Clubs
*To collect the distinguished club incentive, club must reflect distinguished status on the toastmasters.org dashboard. Qualified clubs will be contacted for their choice of award.
*Club, Area and Division incentives will be processed weekly.
Let’s work together and finish the year strong!
#teamsport
Incentives are a way for you to share the benefits of Toastmasters with others and help your club grow! [Read more…]
First 3 Areas through May 1, 2020, who have 100% of members enrolled in Pathways and ALL have completed their Ice Breaker, get:
To claim, Area Directors, should contact Trent Kenelly, PQD, Email PQD with evidence.
First Division through May 1, 2020, who have 100% of members enrolled in Pathways and ALL have completed their Ice Breaker, get:
To claim, Division Directors, should contact Trent Kenelly, PQD, Email PQD with evidence.
The first 10 clubs that achieve Distinguished Club Status by May 1, 2020 and meet the following criteria will be recognized at the District Spring 2020 Conference, where they will receive:
To qualify, clubs must have:
Members who submit three Pathways levels between September 1 and April 30, will be recognized at the District 58 Spring Conference, May 2020 where they will receive the coveted Toastmasters Triple Crown award.*
Members who submit any 3 legacy education awards or a combination of 3 Legacy and Pathways education awards between July 1 and April 30, will be recognized at the District 58 Spring Conference and receive the coveted Toastmasters Triple Crown award.*
*Members can receive one of the two awards only
Division C Table Topics Contestants
1st Place – Vassil Karamanov with D-58 Director Lisa Berry & Div C Director Martha Kirby
2nd Place Candace Thompson
3rd Place – Charles P. Austin Jr.
Please feel free to download or view PDTA 2019 PowerPoint presentations & PDF docs from the following link. Courtesy of Trent Kenelly, DTM Program Quality Director, District 58, Toastmasters International
THE BIGGEST LESSON I HAVE LEARNED IN SPEAKING
By Brian Woolf DTM, Advanced Communicators (#4472)
Introduction
I joined Toastmasters in New Zealand in 1966. Yet the biggest lesson I have learned occurred only recently, here in South Carolina, when writing my latest book, The Speaker’s Blueprint.
The lesson? The most important part of a speech is not what you say—it’s whether you are connecting. Expressed another way: If you don’t connect, you have no effect. When you don’t connect, your words lie cold and comatose because connection always precedes persuasion.
I wish I had known this—and how to correct it—decades ago. I would have been a much better speaker as my focus would have moved from perfecting words to perfecting connecting.
Connection occurs when you are engaging the minds of those in the audience. And the stronger the engagement, the deeper the connection, and the more they are absorbed in what you are saying.
How to Connect
Once you become aware of this reality you will start seeing, finding, and thinking about ways to become a better connector. (The issue is so important, a quarter of my 240-page book is devoted to it.)
Connection has a three-part foundation stone: Mind your U’s and Q’s—and P’s too. Do this, and you are on your way. Translated, it means we should pepper our speeches with You’s and Questions, and sprinkle in some Participation invitations, too. Let’s discuss them in turn.
Mind Your U’s (You’s)
In other words, Yousify your speech. Let each listener knows you are talking to him or her individually, and not to the audience as a group. When audience members feel you are talking to them individually they take more notice.
The following are examples of Yousification:
As you can see…
I don’t know what you learned growing up but I …
I sense you are extroverted but at times you find yourself quite shy.
You can imagine her response…
You already know this but …
Mind Your Q’s (Questions)
When you ask your audience questions, you are demanding more of their minds than when just making statements; you unobtrusively move them from a passive to an active state of involvement. You have them listening, processing, thinking.
Asking a question is a great way to open a speech, for it immediately grabs their attention and engage their minds. And using U’s and Q’s in the same sentence steps up your connection power as seen in Darren LaCroix’s opening of his winning WCPS: Can you remember a moment when a brilliant idea flashed into your head?
Questions can have a humorous twinge too, as demonstrated by Vikas Jhingran:
The year was 1989 —I was a teenager and my parents were desperate.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Speakers commonly use connecting one-liner Questions, such as:
But sometimes things don’t work out well, do they?
Have you ever noticed that…?
Don’t you hate it when…? (eg, your spouse is right and you are wrong)
May I ask you a very personal question?
What do you think happened next?
Mind Your P’s (Participation invitations)
Participation involves talking directly to your audience like U’s and Q’s but, in addition, invites them to participate. For example, by asking them to raise their hand; asking them to think about something; or shouting out an answer to a question; or inviting them to repeat a key phrase. You don’t just plant a seed; you invite the audience to help you plant it—and when they do there is a sense of co-creation and co-ownership creating a stronger connective thread between them and you. Participation takes audiences from passive listening to active involvement as they become more engaged.
Participation examples include:
Repeat after me—When in trouble, ask questions. (Michael Aun)
It’s my way or— [Wide, one-arm wipe inviting audience to complete] —the highway.
Hands up those who have heard me before—or today are hearing me for the first time!
Besides U’s, Q’s and P’s, other connecting techniques to consider include:
The Bottom Line
In speaking, to sell our ideas and message we must first connect because audiences must relate to us before they will buy from us. Therefore, when preparing a speech, ensure your connectors are in place. Remember, they are the most important part of your speech for …
If you don’t connect, you have no effect
Purchase Your Tickets Here >> PDTA Tickets
Alison Boyce, DTM, PCG
Presenting “Plot Your Path: A Map to DTM”
Since Alison Boyce joined Toastmasters over 25 years ago, she has seen the Toastmaster education program change three times–each time learning to adapt amidst ensuing confusion. Perhaps that’s why Alison’s Toastmaster passion is helping members achieve success in the program. While Alison has at some point during her Toastmasters career served at every leadership level, from club to Council, she is currently Area Director of two areas, and she was the District 58 Toastmaster of the Year for 2018-2019.
Alison’s upcoming presentation, “Plot Your Path: A Map to DTM” will be an interactive session designed to help Toastmasters navigate their journey to Distinguished Toastmaster. Whether, you are a new Toastmaster or a leader in your club, you’ll leave this 50-minute presentation with plenty of valuable and applicable information.
Heather Collins
Presenting “Successful Thinking: It’s a Know-Brainer”
Dr. Heather Collins is a Cognitive Neuroscientist with expertise in how the brain learns, remembers, and thinks about information. She empowers business professionals through brain science by creating power thinkers and catapulting confidence. She has been an enthusiastic member of the MUSC Toastmasters Club since 2011.
In Heather’s 50-minute presentation, “Successful Thinking: It’s a Know-Brainer,” she will address questions like: Are you a successful thinker? Are you an expert learner? What could you accomplish if you knew how to quickly assess a situation, take in information, and act on that information in a meaningful way? Join Heather as she digs into the science of expert learning and successful thinking and reveals simple ways of applying these skills to your professional life.
Alan Mitchell
Presenting “Sponsor, Mentor, or Coach; Targeting New or Existing Clubs”
Alan’s session will highlight the new roles of the Club Sponsor or Mentor and the existing Club Coach. Not designed to be an in-depth training, Alan’s presentation will provide an overview of these roles in order to help attendees discover which role or roles they would be best suited for you as a new or advanced Toastmaster.
Alan is a seasoned professional in the fields of Architecture, Construction, and Facilities Management. He is currently the owner of Mitchell Construction Systems where he is a management consultant.
As an active member of two Toastmaster clubs, Alan has served in nearly every officer position.
Previously, Alan has worked with District 58 Leaders to produce successful TLI’s, Speech Contests, and other professional development events. He has also served as a successful Club Coach, Area Director, Division Director, and is currently serving as District 58 Club Growth Director.
1st Place – Marlo Hogue
Congratulations to District 58, International Speech Contest, 1st place winner, Marlo Hogue. Marlo moves on to the International Speech Contest, Region Quarterfinals. Those winners, move on to the semi-finals held at the Toastmasters International Convention in August.
2nd Place – Lefford Fate
D-58 International Speech Contest 2nd place winner:
Lefford Fate (from the Midlands)
3rd Place Phillip Woody
P
Winner and Participants of Evaluation Speech Contests
First Place
Matthew Koppenheffer
(From The Upstate)
Second Place
Totlyn Oliver
( From Midlands)
Third Place
Glenn Stafford
(From The LowCountry)
District 58 is pleased to announce the results of the District 58 Elections held at the annual business meeting on Saturday, May 18. For the 2019-20 Toastmasters year, elected were:
| District Director | Lisa Berry |
| Program Quality Director | Trent Kenelly |
| Club Growth Director | Alan Mitchell |
| Division A Director | Lee Nettles |
| Division B Director | Harry Nettles |
| Division C Director | Martha Kirby |
| Division D Director | Wardah Ameen |
| Division E Director | Jim Hatchell |
| Division F Director | Lori Pruett |
| Division G Director | Linda Huckaby |
What we know is that violence is a disease and we can reduce the spread of violence using the same strategies that epidemiologists use to treat other infectious diseases. It’s a simple model: interrupt the spread of violence, treat those at high risk of becoming infected, and change unhealthy community norms.
By Jodie Randisi, Treasurer, Ridgeland Toastmasters
Prison volunteers have firsthand experience and insight that others don’t have regarding the lives of prisoners, how they’ve gotten to where they are, and how they cope with and accept their crimes. It is easy for to assume these men are evil. What isn’t easy is choosing to remember that there have been circumstances (often unimaginable to us in our secure lives) that have landed these men in prison. For the most part, these men are entirely conscious and aware of their wrongdoing. They are very interested in learning how to turn their mess into a message. With their release in mind, prison club Toastmasters are working to reestablish themselves in their communities and especially within their families.
Until people recognize, embrace, and heal those wounded parts of themselves, they cannot be whole; they cannot heal. However, healing is wired into our DNA. We were born with
everything we need to live and thrive. Willingness to face and embrace pain enables us to grow, evolve, and to become our best selves. Being able to share thoughts, ideas and stories has changed the mindset of prison club members.
Clyde Smith, Connie Buehner, Diana Hardy, and others District 58 Toastmasters have seen inmates go from being unable to express themselves with clarity to being confident speakers, which has helped them relationally as well. That’s why I believe prisons are a great place to cultivate people potential and Toastmasters is ideal soil to grow a crop of better men.
Toastmasters gave me the confidence I need to pursue a business career. I now have hope and courage. I am a positive vocal leader, preparing to be a motivational speaker. I have so much inside of me. I was too shy to let it out. I’m ready to speak to the youth about making good choices before they reach this level.
Despite confinement, we meet weekly to share ideas, learn about each other, and regain humanity. Attendance in a prison is subject to many variables not encountered in
the outside world: lockdowns due to stabbings, medical appointments, parole hearings, work assignments, and family visits, all of which occasionally get in the way.
Our meetings are an oasis of encouragement for a brighter future as well as a respite from an otherwise often hostile environment. Meetings become a springboard for frank conversations about faith, fortitude, friendship as well as loss, anger, loneliness and redemption. For men of low to average education, I’m impressed by their deep insights and observations. I wonder whether they have always been so perceptive, or did these insights comes after incarceration.
If you’d like to get involved, contact: jodie.randisi@gmail.com.
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.
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!
D-58 is planning to implement Division Hosts for each DEC meeting.
The host Divisions will work together to help plan and provide the refreshments for the meeting. The district will reimburse up to $50 for food and supplies (which are not available from the store room).
Also, the hosts can choose one or more members to provide an education session during the meeting.
Here are the list of meetings and host Divisions:
11/10/18 – Host: Divisions A & D
1/19/19 (full day) – Host: Divisions B & C
3/16/19 – Host: Divisions E & F
4/13/19 (new) – Host: Division G & Top 7
If you have an education session for your “host date,” reach out to PQD, Lisa Berry to coordinate.
Thanks,
Bob Swarner, DTM
District Director
Toastmasters District 58.
Please contact Lynn Ragland D58 Club Growth Director for more details.
Lowcountry Toastmasters raids Daybreak Toastmasters and captures their Banner! Let the fun begin!
First 5 clubs through May 1, 2019, who have 100% of members enrolled in Pathways and ALL have completed their Ice Breaker, get:
To claim, club VPEs, should contact Lisa Berry, PQD, programqualitydirector@toastmasters-d58.org with snapshot of member progress from Base Camp.
The first 10 clubs that achieve Distinguished Club Status by May 1, 2019 and meet the following criteria will be recognized at the District Spring 2019 Conference, where they will receive:
To qualify, clubs must have:
Good for the first 100 pairs of Pals
Any enthusiastic member who volunteers to be a Pathways Pal (mentor) to another member for rest of the Toastmasters year, will get a Pathways Mentor ribbon. The mentee will receive the Enthusiasm Award ribbon. Mentors will work with their Pal to help them learn the system and work on projects.
All Pathways Pals will be entered into a drawing at the District 58 Spring Conference where one Pals pair will win the following:
Qualifications: Both must be enrolled in Pathways and provide the name of the Paths they’re working on. If interested being a Pal, email the Program Quality Director, Lisa Berry @ programqualitydirector@toastmasters-d58.org with pair member names and home club names.
Eligibility: All Toastmasters in good standing
To Claim: Awarded automatically and sent quarterly* to members who complete Pathways Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Receive a Pathways Ribbon for Each Level & Path Completed. (*October, January, April, June)
Members who submit three Pathways levels between September 1 and April 30, will be recognized at the District 58 Spring Conference, May 2019 where they will receive the coveted Toastmasters Triple Crown award.*
Members who submit any 3 legacy education awards or a combination of 3 Legacy and Pathways education awards between July 1 and April 30, will be recognized at the District 58 Spring Conference and receive the coveted Toastmasters Triple Crown award.*
*Members can receive one of the two awards only
Anita Davis, 1st Place winner (R) Randy Adkins, 2nd Place (C), Wardah Ameen, 3rd Place (R)
2018 DISTRICT 58 INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST WINNER
Congratulations are in order for Anita Davis, 1st Place winner in the District 58 International Speech contest on April 21, 2018. Anita, a member of Greenville Club, will go on to the semi-finals for the 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking. Best of luck to you Anita in Chicago!
Following right behind in second and third place respectively, was Wardah Ameen and Randy Adkins. Well done everyone!
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!
A Toastmaster prison club encourages inmates to discover their voice while developing leadership skills. This experience gives them the tools they need to be successful when they leave prison. The best part is that studies show that offenders tend not to re-offend after completing the Toastmaster’s educational programs, which contributes to a drastically lower recidivism rate. District 58 has two established prison clubs, Allendale and Ridgeland, as well as two clubs in development.
This is exciting news. Volunteering to mentor a prison club is a responsibility that comes with built-in rewards. Mentors will find that inmates are eager to learn communication and leadership skills, and because of that, they greatly appreciate the time and effort we extend to them. As the district’s prison club coordinator, I put together some information designed to serve anyone who might be interested in, or who
District 58 has two established prison clubs, Allendale and Ridgeland, as well as two clubs in development. This is exciting news. Volunteering to mentor a prison club is a responsibility that comes with built-in rewards. Mentors will find that inmates are eager to learn communication and leadership skills, and because of that, they greatly appreciate the time and effort we extend to them.
As the district’s prison club coordinator, I put together some information designed to serve anyone who might be interested in, or who have already committed to volunteering in a prison club. Keep in mind, besides mentors, a prison club also needs coaches for TLIs, special guest speakers, and judges for their contests.
If you can’t volunteer, please consider making a donation to help sponsor an inmate who cannot afford to pay membership dues.
Trust me. We’re making a difference.
Jodie Randisi, District 58 Prison Club Coordinator
Mentor and Member, Ridgeland Correctional Institute
Presentation slides:
Getting visitors to your club can be a challenge. Extending a personal invitation to others is easier with a flyer.
This handout gives your members talking points when inviting others. Helps them with the invite process.
Print for your club members to use as a visitor invitation tool.
If needed, members can write club meeting time and location details on the back. Helps any time and especially with membership drive promotional campaigns.
Download: ClubVisitHandout.pdf
Handout is in a landscape orientation and a 2-up layout
Area 21 (Beaufort and Jasper counties) is more connected to Savannah than a metropolitan area in South Carolina. So it was logical that WASV Channel 3 from Savannah ran a story on Ridgeland, the second D-58 club in a South Carolina correctional facility. From a demographer’s view, both Ridgeland and FastTrackers of Hilton Head Island are both within the Savannah ADI (area dominant influence).
The news segment and website article quotes several club members and “volunteer” Jodie Randisi, ACS, LC. She is one of the club’s two mentors.
