by David Premo

“…and the creek don’t rise….” That centuries-old quote was popularized in a Johnny Cash song. The colloquial meaning is “we will succeed if all goes well.”

The creek did rise in District 58, along with all the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds as a 1000-year flood threatened to wash out the 2015 Toastmasters’ Fall Conference and the humorous speech finals. Nevertheless, the District succeeded in spite of the adversities of nature.  As the fiscal year draws to a close at the end of June, District 58’s performance reached the level of Distinguished District. “We have not done that in the last four years,” explained 2015-2016 District Director Sharon Durgin. “We are very close [with two days to go at this writing] to reaching Select District status, and President’s Distinguished is a real possibility.”

The district rose to the challenge issued by District Director Durgin, who made the district theme for the year “Take the Challenge.” She challenged her colleagues in the Trio, Kimberly Love and Dana Swarner, and they in turn challenged the members of the District Executive Committee (DEC).

“We wanted to turn the District’s momentum around,” Sharon recalled. “So we challenged ourselves and every Toastmaster to do more: reach an education goal, start a new club, increase participation in contests, raise conference attendance, and have more club officers and members engaged in Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI).”

To keep the challenge spirit alive, Sharon instituted a requirement to earn seating assignments at the regular DEC meetings. “Using the educational award data from Toastmasters International, we calculated the success of every division before each DEC meeting. The divisions with the highest scores got the front row seats, and as performance numbers declined, lower scoring divisions sat farther in the back. It was competitive and fun,” she explained.

She further enlivened the DEC meetings by having divisions take turns hosting the meeting including setting up, cleaning up, providing refreshments, and filling the last educational segment of the meeting with a fun, creative approach to some training point.

“Next year (2016-2017) I will still be on the DEC, but just sit quietly in the corner unless called on,” she quipped. Boredom won’t be a problem for the outgoing District Director. Sharon just published a children’s Christmas book and will be promoting her book wherever possible. 

There may still be another trip. It was exactly 10 years ago when District 58 last made President’s Distinguished, and the district leaders walked the red carpet at the International Convention in Washington.  The convention is back in DC this year. District 58 is close with a couple of days for more points to come in.

Maybe…if the creek don’t rise….

In just three hours, this free session will cover all you need to judge a speech contest, understand judging to compete more effectively, and simply become a better speaker and evaluator by knowing what makes a world-championship speech.

This free judge’s training seminar will be held in the Low Country on July 30. Please indicate your interest by replying with an email by June 24.

____Plan to attend            ____Would like to on a different date          _____Not really interested

Thanks for your response.

Janette Brown

MUSC Toastmasters Club

brownj@musc.edu

District 58 Toastmasters is approaching May Mayhem. On May 2nd and May 3rd, District 58 will have the District Finals for the 2014 Table Topics and International Speech Competitions. How will you fill out YOUR bracket?

On Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Carolina One in Charleston, Divisions A and B held their semi-finals and the contestants that advanced are shown below.

On Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the Hughes Library in Greenville, Divisions F and G held their semi-finals and the contestants that advanced are shown below.

On Saturday, April 12, 2014 at the BCBS Tower Auditorium, Divisions C, D, and E will hold their semi-finals. Who will be part of the District 58 Final 7?

 2014 District 58 Final 7 – Table Topics Contest

 2014 District 58 Final 7 – International Speech Contest

The Final 7 will compete in the District 58 Tables Topics and International Speech Contests at the District 58 Spring Conference. HURRY HURRY – There are only a limited number of tickets available for the District 58 Spring Conference. Register for the Conference by clicking on District 58 Spring Conference Registration.

To reserve your hotel room at the Greenville Marriott to take advantage of all the District 58 Spring Conference has to offer, Reserve Your Room Here.

HURRY, HURRY, HURRY, Early Bird Discounts End April 17th.

The Low Country Officers Club (LOCO) announces a Special Presentation of the Moments of Truth. This presentation will be done by Immediate Past District Governor, Phil Woody, DTM.

In a very rural area of South Carolina there was an old logging trail that only the most avid of hikers dared to travel.  The trail was very remote, rugged and far away from civilization and most importantly a decent water source.

One day a very seasoned hiker, who dared to walk desolate trail, came across an old, run-down pump-style well.  Around the cobweb laced pump he found a rusty tin can tied to the handle; inside the can was this message written on a piece of faded brown paper:

“This pump was fixed as of July 1981.  I put a new sucker washer in it, but the washer dries out in the weather and the pump has got to be primed.  Under the white rock, located right next to this pump, I buried a bottle of water.  There’s enough water in the bottle to prime this pump, but not if you drink some first.  Pour in about half the water in the primer hole and let it soak into the leather washer (about a minute). Then quickly pour in the rest of the water and pump away.  You’ll get all the water you need.  When you get your water , please fill-up the bottle and put in back like you found it for the next person…P.S. don’t go drinking the water first…Primp the pump with it and you’ll get all the water you’ll ever need!!!!

As leaders we must remember, we must remember this story.  We must give before we can receive…

How many “leaders” do you know who would drink the bottle of water before priming the pump?

We have all heard we get out of Toastmasters what we put into Toastmasters. I have seen many clubs falter because one or two people are doing all the work in the club.  The other members in the club, who are suppose to be learning and practicing how to become leaders are not being afforded the opportunity, and worst, not offering any assistance.  This individuals are paying their dues but or nor gaining the leadership experience we, Toastmasters International, advertise.

If you’re tired of paying dues and not getting the leadership experience you think you should.  If you are a leader and feel like you’re doing all the work.  If your club is not providing you a quality service.  If you club cannot attract visitors.  If visitors do not join your club.  If you want more out of your club than you’re currently getting — then 12 April will be a great day for you.

Toastmasters International has a program called “The Successful Club Series”.  This series has 11 different presentations to assist you and your club at providing a quality product and assist YOU on how to become a better leader…

On April the 12^th our Immediate Past District Governor Phillip Woody DTM will be presenting “Moment of Truth”.   This will be an educational session you do not want to miss.

Please come and be enlightened on what you can do to help your club provide a quality product and hold your elected officers accountable for helping, teaching, guiding, mentoring, sponsoring and making you the leader and oral communicator you want to be.

LOCO meets at the Ryan’s on 829 St. Andrew’s Boulevard, Charleston, SC. The meeting begins at 8:30 AM. Arrive early to purchase your breakfast or stay after for conversation and breakfast.

What does the year 1946 and District 58 have in common?

• In 1946 the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund was established.
• The British Broadcasting Television Service starting broadcasting again after recovering from WWII.
• AT&T announced the first car phone.
• Bikinis go on sale in Paris.
• BB King’s musical career starts.

Why is the ancient history of any concern to the members of District 58? Because 1946 is how many paid members we currently have in District 58.

We still have two more clubs that will charter this year (making it a total of ten new clubs this year) and a couple of clubs trying to get the very last April dues payments in the system. We are really trying to reach 2500 members in the District by 30 June 2013. It is a huge order, but if every member invites someone to a meeting, based on our experience, ½ of those invited will join the club.

We have 19 Clubs which have five or more Distinguished Club Goals completed, but they need the paid membership applications submitted to World Headquarters to become distinguished.

Please step out smartly as we continue to excel with the remainder of the Toastmasters Year.

Respectfully,

Phil