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	15 March 2008 During the weekend of 1-2 March 2008, the District Executive (Area and Division Governors) and top trio had the opportunity to meet together in Auckland to further their skills in another round of training. Renewal of friendships since the last round of training is always a plus but there was the opportunity of reviewing where we have come from and the way forward for the next four months to the end of the current 2007-2008 Toastmaster year.    There is always the serious "stuff" but we can have fun as well as can be seen from the photos.  Photo to the right shows Jim Curtis Division B Governor in plaster after an ankle operation with Geoff Trotter District Governor autographing the plaster. It is important to have fellowship outside of the training arena and that is just what some of the team did on the Saturday evening – certainly an opportunity to talk about other subjects other than toastmasters.   Below are members of the District Executive enjoying a meal at Broncos' at Manukau, Auckland.     I encourage you to do the same in your clubs – have the occasional social event – can be to celebrate the successes of the club but also a chance to meet partners/spouses who do not normally attend the weekly/fortnightly meetings. This leads onto a quote I found recently and how we are all individuals in an awesome organisation and it does not matter what culture, what disabilities, or whatever a person may have, Toastmasters can help... Beatitudes to Friends of People with Disabilities Blessed are you who take the time to listen to my difficult speech, for you help me to know that, if I persevere, I can be understood. Blessed are you who never bid me to hurry, or take my tasks from me and do them for me, for often I need time rather than help. Blessed are you who stand beside me as I enter new and untried ventures, for my failures will be outweighed by the time I surprise myself and you. Blessed are you who ask for my help, for my greatest need is to be needed. Blessed are you who understand that it is difficult for me to put my thoughts into words. Blessed are you who, with a smile, encourage me to try once more. Blessed are you who never remind me that, today, I asked the same question twice. Blessed are you who respect me and love me as I am - just as I am, not as you wish I were. STEP BY STEP WE CAN ACHIEVE NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLES ARE IN OUR WAY so why not do it the Toastmaster way... EVERY STEP COUNTS 8 March 2008 I recently had the opportunity to sneak out of the country with the Man of the House and spend several days in Sydney to catch up with family.   We were sitting in a coffee shop overlooking Darling Harbour dodging rain drops (they say it never rains in Sydney) and I found an article in a local paper titled “Oh I’ll get round to it later”. The article was talking about procrastinators and whether it is a weakness or not – that when you procrastinate it does not mean you never study for an exam, go to the supermarket, write that speech for toastmasters, it just means you do it later. The article when on to say that experienced procrastinators will tell you their finest work is carried out at the tail end of a spell of procrastination – they love the pressure and work best when they have no choice but to finish something – NOW. Maybe we all procrastinate?  Daydream – in between the things that have to be done and visions of things that we would like do to.   I ask you the question – do you believe that procrastination today is a sin or a saviour?  Following on from this, we visited a wildlife sanctuary that is operating in Darling Harbour and I am always fascinated with the kolas and the life they lead – some say they are lazy because all they do all day is sleep but in fact it is the type of diet they eat that gives them very little energy to do much hence they sleep or maybe they are procrastinating?  Putting off moving from one tree to another until there is nothing else to eat on it or just simply cannot be bothered. Do you put off writing that speech to the 11th hour, ringing up a prospective member for your club from a lead you received, organizing your toastmaster program several hours before the evening instead of several days before?    Whilst we all have busy lives, sometimes procrastination can be a blessing – letting the body catch up with the brain or visa-versa but I am sure you will agree that PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION is the name of the game in Toastmasters and leaving things to the last minutes does not always work.   Instead of taking one big step – take several small steps to complete the task ahead. THE BEST If you can’t be the pine on the top of the hill, Be a scrub in the valley, but be The best little scrub by the side of the rill; Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.  If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass And some highway happier make; If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass, But the liveliest bass in the lake.  If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail; If you can’t be the sun, be a star: It isn’t by the size that you win or you fail; Be the best of whatever you!   Anon
	26 January 2008 Some years ago I was involved in the Scouting Movement - 20 years in fact and so you can imagine the accumulation of resources that I had collected over that time.   When I resigned from this organisation I passed on most of my resources to other people in the Scouting Movement but did retain one copy of each resource that I thought might be useful in the future.   I now often refer to those resources and have used a few ideas in Toastmaster Club Meetings and passed these onto individuals.  Some are craft type resources which I hope to share with my grandchildren in the future. A year or two ago I completed a Certificate in Adult Teaching course and have duly kept all the resources and assignments for future reference. I recently attended a review session with the District Trio and other attendees.   A fellow toastmaster attending the review session mentioned wanting to complete a similar course to what I had completed (Adult Teaching course) so I have leant her my book of assignments and resources.   The delight at receiving this resource was priceless but it gave me a sense of being able to help an individual achieve in their chosen field. It is the passing of ideas amongst our fellow toastmasters that helps individuals grow.   Step by step their skill base will expand from all the knowledge that is passed on from individuals. If you have a great idea or resource, write it down in a notebook or put in a folder for future reference.    An opportunity may arise in the future that you can pass that idea or resource on to another individual. You will feel great in helping another individual and the delight you receive from the receiver is invigorating. What resources/knowledge/idea have you to pass on this coming toastmaster year.   With new members joining our clubs all the time, they will have ideas as well - let them express these ideas - you never know - it might be the simplest of things but may help you club achieve President's Distinguished or may help an individual achieve an award. When you hold your club executive meetings - have a session on sharing of ideas/resources - you never know what hidden talents lie within your club executive that all the members of your club could benefit from.  I will leave you with this story from an Unknown Author... Start the New Year Right Forget each kindness that you do as soon as you have done it; Forget the praise that falls to you the moment you have won it. Forget each slight, each spite, each sneer whenever you may meet it; Forget the slander that you hear before you can repeat it. Remember the kindness done to you no matter what its measure; Remember praise by others won and pass it on with pleasure. Remember every promise made and keep it to the letter; Remember those who lend you aid and be a grateful debtor. Remember all the happiness that comes your way in living; Forget each worry and distress, be hopeful and forgiving. Remember good, remember truth Remember heaven's above you. And you will find through age and youth, true joys, and hearts to love you. A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses. Chinese proverb Not what we give, but what we share, for the gift without the giver is bare. James Russell Lowell SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE - STEP BY STEP INDIVIDUALS WILL ACHIEVE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 19 January 2008 I was left in charge of grand-daughter # 1 for the night in her own home.   Emma was pretty well behaved for a 22-month old child and I was amazed just how far developed she has come along in her speech and motor skills.   She could communicate with me and tell me exactly what she wanted. Everytime I visit another new word comes out and new phrases emerge such as "Daddy gone"; "Daddy gone in car"; "oh no"; "biscuit" and knows where the biscuits are kept; "bubbles" and knows where the bubble machine is.    The classic was turning on the Christmas lights on the tree for the first time - no one had shown Emma - she worked it out herself - "I did it" when the lights came one.   The facial expressions and body language that accompanied her language was amazing and continues on a daily basis including the temper tantrums and the word "NO!". Having seen people join toastmasters during 2007 - I have seen their development in speaking skills using facial expressions and body language.   For Emma it comes naturally, but as we get old, barriers pop up and we reason "why" and the word "can't" comes into our life and for some, those natural abilities as a child disappear into the background and we lose our confidence. Now is the time to take stock of how far you have developed in your toastmaster journey during the past year and when you resume back in your Toastmaster Club this year WHAT DIRECTION/STEP DO YOU WISH TO TAKE in that toastmaster journey? What goals are you going to set in place to achieve/extend your already bulging string of skills?  Perhaps this year you maybe considering looking at the Leadership Track and taking on a role in your Club Executive or extending your leadership skills to outside your club into Area or Division.  THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS. How can you help the club(s) you are a member of be the best club(s) they can be?  WILL YOUR CLUB BE PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED? With everyone coming back from holiday and resuming the new year, there will be people out in the community looking to upgrade their skill base - spread the word - tell people the benefits that Toastmasters has given you and that now like Emma, your speaking abilities now happen naturally with facial expressions and body language (just to name a few skills) and you have the CONFIDENCE to take on the world. With just under six months left in the current Toastmaster year, what STEPS are you going to take to complete an award.   Work with the Vice President Education in your club and see where you can be scheduled to achieve your goals. YOU CAN DO IT - STEP BY STEP YOUR GOALS WILL BE ACHIEVED and 2008 will be a great year for you all. POINTS FOR YOU TO PONDER... Your thoughts are your own, until you express them. The actions of men are like the index of a book:  they point out what is most extraordinary. You cannot be angry or emotionally upset as long as you control your voice. Sometimes the most difficult feat of muscular endurance is just holding your own tongue. A THOUGHT... Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes - Mohandas Gandhi "HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE"