On A Point – Toastmasters Southern Africa – District Newsletter

Editor’s Note

Dear Members of District 74,

Passion! I am now sitting at home doing the final touches to this On a Point newsletter and the time on my laptop shows that it is 23:57! Such commitment would not be possible if I did not have a passion for Personal Development and Toastmasters!

According to John C Maxwell, ‘Passion gives you an advantage over others because one person with passion is greater then ninety-nine people who are just interested!”

Travel with me accross Southern Africa and experience the passion of Toastmaster members from our District 74.

Kind regards,

Gerson Veundja Kamatuka, DTM – On A Point Editor

Toastmasters Passion!

Nikki Quinn, DTM – Club Growth Director

Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion! – Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is an author and inspirational speaker and a personal favourite of mine. This is one of my favourite quotes of his and often gets me thinking of my Toastmasters Journey.

I started my journey just over 25 years and I am often heard telling people that I am still a member of Toastmasters, not because I am a slow learner but because I have a passion for helping people improve their lives through the Toastmasters’ Programmes.

What I put into my Toastmaster’s journey never feels like hard work and is seldom stressful and that is because it is one of my passions.  There is no doubt that I am a better person, in a better mood and definitely more knowledgeable after every Toastmasters meeting.

Many years ago, Stanley Sabela from Sandton Toastmasters said “going to Toastmasters meetings is like doing a mini MBA because you always learn something”. Those words have often echoed in my head on my way to a meeting, looking forward to what I am going to learn. I am so grateful to Stanley for giving me “new eyes” when looking at Toastmasters.

Look at your next meeting with new eyes and either re-ignite your passion or increase your passion for your Toastmaster Journey.

Merryl Jubber, DTM – PR Manager

Want to grow your passion for leadership?

Ever wanted to learn more about Toastmasters and it’s structures? Want to grow your passion for leadership? Here’s an opportunity for you to be part of a ground-breaking leadership mentorship program where you will learn more about Toastmasters and how you can get the most out of it.

This program will be delivered over 4 months by some of our finest leaders across our District 74 and will involve training, mentorship and practical work.

If you are interested in growing your passion for Toastmasters and more so as a leader, please email me on talent@toastmasters74.org by Friday December 1.

Karen Levy-Strauss, DTM – Program Coordinator.

Reignite your passion for leadership

It seems like yesterday when we started a new Toastmasters year. Today we are fast approaching mid-year and some of our excitement and optimism waned by the realities of our roles. The beauty about Toastmasters is that we are an eternally positive and suppotive community and we won’t let you lose your passion.

Members of District 74, I would like to extend an invitation to you to join fellow leaders as we reflect and review the first six months of your Toastmasters year and reignite your passion for leadership. I promise, you will leave the venue more certain to achieve the goals you set for yourself this year. Save the date for an event near you.

I am looking forward to meeting you at your event.

Frank Tsuro – Program Quality Director

Be Passionate about Table Topics!

I left Toastmasters for years, because I was terrified of table topics. 

I wasted time, and missed out on opportunities!

My Top Ten Tips to take the pressure off:

Practice on your friends at home. 

Pretend that you are responding to a friend.

Breathe deeply before you start speaking.

Change the subject. 

Have a story in mind.

Make up a story.

You don’t have to answer the question directly.

There’s no right or wrong.  Talk about anything. Say ‘I have no idea.  But I am passionate about…’ Repeat the question (buys you time). You don’t have to make a speech, unless it’s a competition. 

You are having a conversation.

Sally Bosch, CC – Secretary: Highway Toastmasters Club

Clubs with Passionate Members!

As Steve Jobs once said “People with passion can change the world”, I will say, “members with passion can change the club”.

In the month of September we had two Club Fitness Rewards, Treasurer’s Excellence and Smedley Award. Well done to those passionate members who contributed to their clubs receiving these rewards.

Treasurer’s Excellence

Congratulations to the following Clubs that achieved the Treasurer’s Excellence Award. They paid semi annual dues for 20+ members by the 20th September:

4th Dimension

ABSA Sundowners

Algoa

Dainfern Tigers

Diplomatic Corps

Executive Club

Florida Club

Forum Toastmasters

Golden Gavel Advanced Club

Grant Thornton Botswana

Highway Toastmasters

IST Toastmasters

Kloof Toastmasters

Kula Toastmasters

MAN Automotive

Midrand Club 

Old Mutual Harare

Pretoria 2000 Club

Pretoria East

Pretoria Ladies Toastmasters 

Republikan Toastmasters 

Rosebank Breakfast Club

Sandton Toastmasters

Taverners Club

The Grove Club

Transformers

Two Oceans 

Village Toastmasters 

Winelands Toastmasters Club 

Smedley Award

Congratulations to the following Clubs that achieved the Smedley Award.  These clubs added 5+ new, dual or reinstated members between 1st August and 30th September 2017:

ABSA Talkers

Bank of Namibia

Diplomatic Corps

MBSA Toastmasters Club

Midrand Club

NUST

Pinelands Club

Randburg Toastmasters 

Rosebank Toastmasters Club

Sandton Toastmasters

SARB Toastmasters 

Table View Toastmasters Club 

The Social Network Toastmasters 

Transformers Toastmasters Club

Zambezi Club

Zivai Matondo, CC, ALB – Club Fitness Rewards Coordinator

A Passion for Toastmasters!

I signed up for Toastmasters in March this year to improve my public speaking skills. I am grateful every day for the opportunities the organisation, and my home club, Randburg Toastmasters in Johannesburg, has afforded me – it has ignited a passion for speaking I didn’t realise I had.

So much so, that when I recently had to present papers at two conferences I also decided to contact the local Toastmasters clubs and see if I could deliver speeches while in town. I was graciously hosted by two very passionate clubs: A.C.T. in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town Toastmasters.

Jyoti Singh, – VPPR: Randburg Toastmasters Club

Passion for the Paths that are crossed at Convention!

One of the joys of going to an International Convention, Toastmasters or not, is meeting new people, but when you meet new people who have a connection, it’s even more joyous. 

At the 86th International Convention in Vancouver, on the first day at lunch, I met two Toastmasters from Victoria, British Colombia, Raymond Ho & Darren Marr, pictured here with Keith Bowen DTM, our District Director . 

Darren Marr, was a member of the club that made Toastmasters international, the FIRST club in Canada, FIrst  Canadian Toastmasters. 

Two things about meeting Darren, made me feel even more joyous. 

Firstly, a member of First Canadian Toastmasters, Harry Olden, came to South Africa in 1950 and started our first club, Johannesburg Toastmasters club. I feel we all owe Harry, a huge thank you

Secondly, Darren talked about another man that many of the Toastmasters in Southern Africa owe a huge thank you to. Darren had the pleasure of meeting Joe Garmeson when Joe visited Canada. 

I look forward to meeting other Toastmasters from around the world who have a connection to somebody in South Africa 

Nikki Quinn

DTM Club Growth Director

Passionate about people, leadership and Toastmasters!

This is my Toastmasters group. There are many Toastmaster groups like this, but this one is mine.

Three (3) weeks after I strolled into my current job, I found myself in a room surrounded by a set of fascinating people from all walks of life. These individuals each with their own story to tell wanted to give me the best possible jumpstart to my new life, career and wisdom. All they wanted from me was to succeed and better my life and those around me.

I now find myself in a presidential position within the club where I ensure each and every individual that walks through that Toastmaster’s door has an even better experience than I did.

Garth Thomson, CC, ALB – President: Deloitte Siyakhuluma Toastmasters Club

Passion as an Ingredient to Success!

Fungai Mtisi, ACG, ALB – Area Z5 Director