Make Your Club Meeting a Golden Gavel Award Winner

Why are Golden Gavel meetings so special? They are quality meetings!

Your club can be a Golden Gavel winner by meeting certain requirements.

Clubs with well-run, lively, and educational meetings that meet the needs of their members earn the Golden Gavel Award. This award is recognized with a ribbon that can be added to the club banner.

The club must meet all of the following criteria:

• Members and guests are greeted warmly and enthusiastically.
• Meeting starts and adjourns on time.
• 15 or more club members must be present (clubs with fewer than 20 members must have 75% of members present).
• At least one non-Toastmaster guest is present.
• There is applause after every speaker - functionaries included.
• All speeches are MANUAL speeches.
• Evaluations are both specific and supportive.
• Participants are positively recognized and ribbons/rotating trophies are awarded.
• Members and guests have name tags/badges OR are provided with table tents with their names.
• Printed agendas are distributed and followed with 3 or fewer assignment changes to the agenda.
• Table Topics are interesting and/or fun - participants are able to speak the full time period.

Get your thinking caps on and start planning your club's Golden Gavel meeting today. Don't forget to invite guests to this special meeting, including your Area Governor or other District Leader to witness what a great job you did! Then your club can proudly display the Golden Gavel Ribbon on your club banner.

The Importance of Originality in Contest Speeches

Our spring contest season is approaching and clubs are preparing for their club contests. It is vital that all of our contestants know the importance of originality in their speeches and exactly what this means.

According to the 2014 Speech Contest Rulebook, page 6 section 4 Speech Subject and Preparation, "Contestants must prepare their own speeches, and each must be substantially original."

What does "substantially original" mean?

Twenty-five percent or less of the speech may be devoted to quoting, paraphrasing, or referencing another person's content. Any quoted, paraphrased, or referenced content must be so identified during the speech presentation.

Here are some examples of content that would not be original:

• Using anecdotes found in books or on the Internet. It is using someone else's content. 
• Borrowing characters, even though the plot line is new.
• Retelling historical events.

If a contestant has doubts about whether his or her speech meets the criteria for originality, I would suggest running it by several people to get their opinions before the contest.

The rules on originality apply to all types of contest speeches.

Don't Miss Your Opportunity!

The door is about to close . . . on your opportunity to register EARLY for the Fall Conference!

Quickly!

Click on this link which will whisk you through hyperspace to the page where you can see all the options for attending conference.

We have a special rate of just $95.00 for hotel rooms. Find out more information here.

You won’t want to miss:
The evaluation and humorous speech contests . . . the education sessions . . . networking with other Toastmasters . . . Friday Night Fun . . . special first-timer activities . . . the DTM ceremony . . . the keynote speakers . . . the awards luncheon . . . re-connecting with old friends.

Early Bird Registration for the Fall Conference is a good deal  . . . you save a few bucks and don’t have to eat any worms.

Don't let the door slam on your opportunity to attend our Fall Conference, November 14 and 15 at the DFW Marriott Solana Hotel!

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Welcome to the new Education and Training blog for District 25

It's going to be another great year for District 25 members! I will be focusing on enhancing our educational experience and encouraging all to achieve their goals, both in and out of Toastmasters.

This blog will keep our members informed about all aspects of education and training throughout the district.

One of the keys to our district's well-being and success is including and engaging everyone. Open communication is a prime ingredient in keeping everyone informed and up to date on what is happening, what needs to happen, and the opportunities that exist for them.

Hot Topics and D25 News will continue to be vital sources of information. Our marketing blog, It's the Members Who Matter, will keep you up to date on clubs and members. Issues pertaining to club public relations, websites and social media will be discussed in our public relations blog, PROactivity.

I promise to answer all emails and phone calls in a timely manner, keeping the lines of communication open to every member.

Cindy Hinckley
Lt Governor Education & Training