E-Newsletter - January 2009

In this issue:

• Letter from the President
• Better Speaking Series Continues
• New Member Spotlight
• Officer Meeting Notes

Letter from the President

Here we are, another New Year.  For many people, this means celebrations and resolutions.  We see the changing digits on our calendar as a reset button, a chance to begin anew.  We take a personal inventory and decide this is the time to take definitive action.  Great!  No time like the present.  This reminds me of an old Zen saying: “The best day to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second best day is today.”

Before we talk about second best, let’s start with best.  Our Toastmasters Club is blessed to have some members who planted their trees long ago (though not quite twenty years.)  Currently serving as Lt. Governor of Marketing for Toastmasters International District 38, Delores McArthur has received the highest level of achievement that Toastmasters bestows.  She has earned her Distinguished Toastmaster designation.  Right on her heels is another Gannett Fleming Toastmasters standout, Jim Marshall.  He will reach his DTM in 2009.  GF Toastmasters is also honored to be the home of the current Area Governor, Susan Howell. 

These three outstanding individuals provide inspirational examples of leadership and achievement.  Membership in the Gannett Fleming Toastmasters Club is very valuable due in no small part to them.

Let’s look at the second best day – today.  Have you made some New Year’s resolutions?  Are you keeping them?  In Toastmasters, there are some clear goals that help you along the path to DTM.  The first major milestone is the Competent Communicator designation, earned after delivering ten speeches.  If you set your mind to it, you can achieve a CC award in 2009, even if you haven’t given a speech yet. 

No matter where you are along the way, set goals to help you reach your growth objectives.  Remember the SMART formula.  Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Relevant-Time bound.  Pay special attention to the time component.  By when will you accomplish your goal?  Decide that, and then work back from there so that you can develop day to day, week to week, month to month plans to achieve them. 

Also, seek a helping hand.  Share your goals with someone who will be supportive.  In Toastmasters, every other member supports you.  This is my favorite aspect of being a Toastmaster.

Happy Goal Achievement!

Tom Dardick
President, Gannett Fleming Toastmasters Club

Better Speaker Series Continues

We began presenting the Better Speaker Series with our November 24, 2008 meeting and we are progressing thru the series.  The Better Speaker Series is a program consisting of 10 modules, each one exploring a different aspect of public speaking.  Club members volunteer to present a module during our regular meeting.  To date, we have had 3 presentations, “Know Your Audience”, presented by Ellis Ann Seip on November 24, “Taking The Terror Out of A Talk”, presented by Tom Dardick on December 22, and “Impromptu Speaking”, presented by Jim Marshall on January 5. Additional modules have been scheduled for upcoming meetings.  Our next topic is “Choosing Your Topic” which will be presented by Kevin Biglin on February 2.  We currently have 3 unclaimed modules available.  If you would like to present a module from the Better Speaker Series, please contact Ellis Ann Seip at eseip@gfnet.com.

Member Spotlight – Carley Evans

Q:  Who do you currently work for and what's your position? Please tell us a little bit about your job.

A:  I work for JPL as an Event Coordinator. Our company is what’s called a strategic integrated communications company, which began as a production company in 1989. We do anything from Web, Live Events, Television, E-Learning, Radio, Print, Branding and Strategy. Basically, I’m a glorified Party Planner, but I also deal a lot with internal communications.
I also fill in as a bartender and server most weekends at a little place called Stoney Creek Inn, working for a family that I’ve known since I was little.

Q:  What do you like to do in your spare time?
 
A:  I read a LOT, probably at least two books a week. I read anything from a good classic (Fitzgerald, Austen) to self improvement to true crime or romance. When the weather’s good, I love kayaking if I can find someone else to go with me. I also play on three organized club teams – soccer, kickball, and softball. I volunteer for Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society quite a bit throughout the year and I make jewelry or do some drawing/painting when I have the time. I LOVE watching college basketball (Go Pitt!) and the Steelers. I’ll also be the first person to twist your arm to go out for a good locally brewed beer.

Q:  How long have you been in Toastmasters? Why did you join?

A:  I just joined officially last month, but have been going to the meetings for a couple of months before then. I joined to help my communications and speaking skills.  I have a tendency to be the girl who needs to tone it down a bit.  I speak very quickly and usually exhaust people with my enthusiasm and energy for a subject, so I’m working on toning it down.

Q:  What's been your favorite part of Toastmasters so far?

Officer Meeting Notes:

New Business

• Officer Training is to be held at Gannett Fleming Thursday, January 29, 2009, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. For more information go to:  http://www.tmdistrict38.org/calendar/index.php
• Haibo Liang and Ali Detar are on target to receive their Competent Communicator Awards this year.
• After hours social gathering of GF TM club members will be held sometime in February.  More details will follow. Including a time and place.
• Look for new GF TM ads to be placed in local businesses and newspapers.
• Officers and other members of the club are encouraged to invite guests to attend meetings.

Upcoming events:
Officer Training:

• Saturday, January 17 from 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. at F&M College, Lancaster
• Thursday, January 29 from 5:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. at Gannett Fleming, Camp Hill
• Monday, February 2 during our regular TM meeting - Better Speaker Series – Choosing Your Topic
• Gannett Fleming Toastmasters Club Social Gathering.  Time and place TBD.