RSS Feed Test..

I have a Bluegrass Division Website that also requires attention - My quandry has been what is the best way - with least amount of redundant effort, to harness all the channels that are in use by the membership:  Email, Social Networking Group Sites (at Club, Division and District Level) and Websites (at Club, Division and District Level).

I will be testing out the RSS feed from this blog application to see how easily it ports to my Division Website and hopefully RSS feed from not just my Blog application but other important pages on the D40 website into the Division website.

Area 62 Humorous Speech and Table Topics contest will be held on October 3rd at the Parkersburg Library.

Here is a list of useful public relations resources from Toastmasters International.  The information is a great start for club officers to learn how to generate positive publicity and get the word out for the clubs.  If you have any questions about public relations for your club, please feel free to contact the District Public Relations Officer, Angie Palmer, at info@skyepublicrelations.com

Club officer role - VP Public Relations

Congratulations on being a VP Public Relations for your club! Before you start, it is a good idea to know your role and what kind of tasks you can do to help your club and the members. This link will take you to the Toastmasters International website that talks about the expectations for a VP Public Relations.

Club officer stationery guidelines

Toastmasters International has just changed their stationery design and guidelines. You will be able to design and print your own official Toastmasters stationery, such as business cards, letterhead and PowerPoint presentation templates, by following the guidelines.

District officer stationery guidelines

District officers can also create their own stationery by following the Toastmasters International guidelines.

Free promotional materials from Toastmasters International

Toastmasters as a worldwide organization enjoys so much success because members like you help fellow members achieve their goals. Not so long ago, I would have never in my wildest dreams envisioned that I would run for—much less serve as—District 40 Lieutenant Governor of Marketing. What was the key to this little transformation? Steady encouragement! Gradually, I understood and saw: I can offer leadership; it was no longer way beyond my grasp.

Beginning at a young age, I always felt in my heart a desire to help others no matter what. In school, remember the little girl who’d allow her classmates to copy her homework? That was me! At the time, honestly, I didn’t see it as wrong; I was convinced that I was being helpful and being helpful felt good. Lucky for me, my classmates eventually learned their lessons about personal responsibility.

Truth be told, being helpful still feels good. This year, let’s see how much we can be helpful for each other. Our district theme, “Helping Every Member Shine,” is our call to action. Help future Toastmaster members climb aboard our train. The cost of the ticket is just the minute or two it takes to speak up and say, “Can I help…?” or “You’re invited to my Toastmaster meeting!”

Support other clubs' contests. Volunteer as a contest crew worker! 

Better club contests are more enjoyable and promote higher quality Area Contests and on up the line. We win as a team and we lose as a team.

Contact a Toastmasters club within a drivable distance, offer to take a contest crew role, be it contest Toastmaster/master of ceremonies CT, chief judge CJ, judge J, counter C, timer T, sergeant at arms SAA, or certificate of participation and award certificate preparer CPACP. Give back to -- or pay it forward for -- fellow Toastmasters for a few hours. After you are matched up with a club seeking help, then why not team up with a fellow club member to double the offer of help?

This is a call to unselfish leadership. If you are ready and willing to give back to Toastmasters without worry about who gets credit for what, here is a two-month-long window of opportunity! Please note that some contest crew roles (J, C, T) are essential and must be performed correctly but we do it in quiet service, not for recognition, just as it so often goes for "real leaders in the real world." 

Still, not only will club contest chairpersons be grateful but you will feel great for taking charge and choosing to act just to help others!