Archive for Oct 2020
District Director’s Note
If it is not fun then it is not Toastmasters! -Dr Ralph Smedley I would like to propose a Toast from District 74 to the founder of our amazing organisation, Toastmasters International, Dr Ralph Smedley. On the 22nd of October, our organisation celebrates its 96th anniversary! Can you imagine how many lives Dr Ralph Smedley’s…
Read MoreNote from the Editor
When you step back and look at where Toastmasters started, and how far we have come as an organisation, it’s simply awesome. And this is one of the few times when the word ‘awesome’ is actually appropriate. A lot has changed since then, but mostly for the better. In today’s issue, our cover star is…
Read MoreIt’s all about pride and team work with Lucinda Harman, the Division L Director
It shouldn’t be about you. Leadership is about stepping back and allowing others to shine too. -Lucinda Harman DTM As a critical thinking leader, Lucinda Harman, the Division L Director, takes the time necessary to make excellent decisions rather than choosing to make fast, ‘good enough’ decisions that can be hijacked by mindset, assumptions or…
Read MoreMentorship Without Borders
Will you pay it forward? Mentorship has been a pain point in our District for a series of years and I am delighted that we were able to take a bold move towards it this year. The Mentorship without Borders (MwB) launch event on the 5th of October reminded me of the power of a…
Read MoreGary Tintinger clinches the PSASA Speaker Factor speaking contest award
The Speaker Factor is a Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) competition for emerging speakers and it’s open to all Associate Members. The purpose of the contest is discovering, encouraging and nurturing emerging speakers in the PSASA and speaker community giving newer speakers visibility within the Association. It is also an opportunity for the…
Read MoreNew Member Moment – Admire Danai Njenge
I believe Toastmasters is a place where world class leaders are made. At my club, the Bulawayo Diamond Guests in Zimbabwe, I am learning to speak with confidence, with energy and with a sense of ownership to my presentations. One of my lecturers at university often emphasized that “a manager who cannot communicate is bound to…
Read MoreNew Member Moment – Hervé Muneza
I am a technology consultant. I joined Maputo Toastmasters Club in Mozambique to improve my public speaking and communication skills. I want to step out of my comfort zone and be able to deliver speeches in public without any hesitation. I feels Toastmasters is the platform that will give me the proper skills and tools…
Read MoreNew Member Moment – Hugo Ribatika
Having made the lone trek to South Africa many months ago, I was keen to meet new people. And because speaking was my thing, I trolled the web to explore my options on finding an appropriate club. I found some options and sent out several emails of enquiry. Carpe Diem Breakfast Club, in Johannesburg, South…
Read MoreMentor/Mentee – Hope I. Makwara and Namatai Kwekweza
I have learnt a lot from my mentor Namatai Kwekweza. Having a mentor who is so action oriented and who doesn’t want things dragging has seen me doing my Pathways at a fast pace. She has taught me not to focus on distractions, but to keep going. Having someone checking on you constantly makes the journey lighter. You…
Read MoreEmissary – Zivai Matondo
When you visit other clubs you get to learn what they are doing differently and you may pick up new things to implement in your club that will give you greater results. There is also an opportunity for you to participate in their meeting and add value to the Toastmasters family. Since the start of…
Read MoreDiv A Accelerator of the Month, Nelson Makapane
Division A started the Accelerator of The Month initiative in August 2020, which is aimed at encouraging Division A members to accelerate their Pathway learning experience. In recognising and incentivising their efforts, we are dedicating each month to celebrate each member’s achievements. We celebrate any member who attains the most Pathways educational awards in a month and/or is recognised…
Read MoreToastmasters Zimbabwe Gavel Club Initiative
The thrust of Toastmasters is to develop effective Communicators and Leaders. What better way than to catch them young? The Youth Leadership Program, through Gavel clubs, is a profound initiative to get those under 18 on board, considering the minimum age requirement of 18 to join Toastmasters International. In Division Z, Zimbabwe, the Gavel Club…
Read MoreSocial Event – Le Phénix French Club
2019, At the club launch I believe for one to be an effective leader it is of utmost importance to be an effective communicator, which is even better, when you need to reach the masses. Having the ability to reach the masses comes from being multi lingual, that is, the capability to speak more than…
Read MoreSocial Event – Centurion Toastmasters Club hosts first hybrid meeting
It was only befitting that the moment lockdown restrictions were eased, the Centurion Toastmasters Club made history on 23 September 2020 by hosting a combined live streamed on-line and physical meeting. The meeting was meant to accommodate members, guests and visitors, including the USA, who were, for various reasons, unable to attend. Legal compliance was…
Read MoreSocial Event – Crocodile Toastmasters Club ventures out
The Crocodile Toastmasters Club in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa, provides a great learning environment for local individuals and business people who wish to improve their communication skills. The club, under the leadership of our President, Martin Tobias, has seen membership grow and we are proud of the diversity of our membership base. This creates excellent…
Read MoreDistrict Director’s Note
Congratulations to those clubs who had a plan to achieve the Smedley Award (to add 5 new members to their club in the months of August and September) and pay their Semi-Annual dues on time and achieved these goals. Equally important is congratulations to those clubs who had a plan but just did not achieve…
Read MoreNote from the Editor
What is it about summer, especially this year’s summer that seems to let us all breathe a little bit easier? Maybe a vacation is not on the cards this time around, but with the arrival of summer and as countries in District 74 begin to loosen months of lockdown restrictions from Covid19, its only natural…
Read MoreMentorship without borders
Does your club have a formal mentorship programme? We are thrilled to invite you to the Mentorship Without Borders Programme, that launches on 5 October. This experiential programme aims to turn ordinary members to mentors. The registration link is as follows: https://bit.ly/D74Mentor. Feel free to share the link with anyone who you believe would benefit from…
Read MoreTogether making a difference with Gavin Chisholm, the Division I Director
Let’s together hold hands. Let’s together achieve success. Let’s together reach for the stars and be the best that we can be. -Gavin Chisholm When it comes to working with the Division leaders, being a team player means that Gavin Chisholm, the Division I Director will not only facilitate individual members to reach their goals,…
Read MoreShaun Goodbrand celebrates 30 years of distinguished service
With any elaborate outdoor plans shelved because of COVID-19 and with limited resources, friends and members of the Bacon & Egg Club in Johannesburg, South Africa had to think up a quirky way to celebrate Shaun Goodbrand’s 30th anniversary as a Toastmaster. Shaun celebrated this grand occasion by giving the last speech of one of…
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