by David Trottier
The Pathways program is here! Why should you care? Pathways is the refurbished and improved education program of Toastmasters International. It combines the leadership and education tracks. It is more robust than the current program, includes more projects - many of which are more relatable to real world experiences, and offers more flexibility and personalization. In the former program, members worked through different speech projects in a variety of manuals, starting with the Competent Communicator basic manual, then graduating to Advanced Communicator manuals. 10 speech projects make up an educational level: a CC, an ACB, etc. After those 10 speeches a member receives a certificate of recognition. Pathways follows a similar format. There are 10 paths from which to choose:
Each path has approximately 15 speech projects spread over five levels of mastery. A member must complete all speech projects in order to complete the path. Instead of paging through a paper manual, members can access the information online through Base Camp. The online explanation will still include written tips for crafting a speech. There are often videos and interactive questions that accompany the project. A speech project about interviewing is said to have a video showing a good and a bad example of conducting an interview! Instead of waiting to the end of the path, the member receives recognition after completing each of the five levels.
One note about the former education program: it is still accessible. Once Pathways has been launched in ALL regions, members will have two years to complete any manuals. If you have an unfinished speech manual, now is the time to complete the speech projects or leadership projects. You are allowed to work from manuals and Pathways at the same time if you choose. In order to access Pathways, you will login to toastmasters.org and click the Education tab. From there click on Pathways learning experience. Follow the onscreen prompts, which are rather intuitive and user friendly. You will decide whether to view materials online or receive them in print. However, print materials bring extra charges, as you will see below. After choosing your method of viewing materials, you will take an assessment in order to learn which paths are best suited to your goals. You may, however, choose from all 10. You are not limited to the three suggestions. One bit of good news is that every member receives the first path for free! Additional paths will cost $20.00 if you choose to access Base Camp electronically. If you choose the print version, then some things change. Additional paths will cost $45.00. You will incur a delivery charge. You will also have limited access to paths because not all 10 will be available in print. Here are two links, which will connect you to some outstanding information about Pathways: Toastmasters.org/pathways-overview is for the official site of Toastmasters International. d57tm.org/pathways is for District 57 - the pilot district for the new program. Since our club has a Pathways Guide, you can contact David Trottier with questions at [email protected]. The Pathways learning experience is an exciting program that has more features than a Swiss Army knife! It is an exciting change that honors the initial vision of founder Ralph Smedley while moving forward to help members grow as communicators and leaders. Remember, it's just not a destination. It's a Pathway!
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by Colette Hughes
Word of the Day: Communication Part of Speech: Noun Definition: the imparting or exchanging of information or news. Used in a sentence: "Direct communication is sent out to Royal Oak Toastmasters; however, sometimes there is no response from the members. Synonyms: transmission, conveyance, divulgence, disclosure; More dissemination, promulgation, broadcasting "the communication of news" Communication is key in any walk of life, especially during the time you are a club member of the Royal Oak Toastmasters. You will receive emails regarding club business, surveys concerning your Toastmaster goals, invitations to TM contests and open houses, etc. Some emails ask you to acknowledge that the information has been received. Others require action, such as stating your intentions. Recently, I went online and asked Toastmasters from around the world for advice concerning club communication and responses to emails. Here are their suggestions:
The Royal Oak Toastmasters Club doesn’t belong to just the Officers who make decisions. It is “Our Club”. It belongs to everyone who wants to invest in themselves, step outside their comfort zones and have recognizable growth which is sometimes beyond belief. Remember our Toastmaster's Promise: A Toastmaster’s Promise As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise
The growth, confidence, leadership skills learned and received by doing the items above is amazing! Reach out to our leadership team or to your mentor to let us know which method of communication you prefer so we can continue to live up to our name as a President Distinguished Club and take those same attributes of communication into our daily lives. As we become stronger in club communication, it spills out into everything we do. Communication is Key! Throughout the year, Toastmasters International holds several membership-building contests. We are in the middle of one right now:
Smedley Award (August 1 to September 30) It’s simple — all we have to do is add five new, dual or reinstated members to your roster between now and September 30. What happens if we do? We receive a "Smedley Award" ribbon, named in honor of Ralph Smedley, which we can display on your club’s banner. PLUS, we can also earn a special 10-percent discount on our next club order at the TI Store! Difficult? Not really. We already have 2 new members since August 1. We've almost halfway there! All we need is 3 more. Wouldn't it be cool to add another ribbon to our banner? Who is Ralph Smedley? Ralph C. Smedley is the founder of Toastmasters. While working at the YMCA in Bloomington, Illinois, Smedley saw a need for the men in the community to learn how to speak, conduct meetings, plan programs and work on committees. Smedley decided to organize a club where they could learn these skills in a social environment. He named the group the Toastmasters Club. The first unofficial Toastmasters club meeting was held on March 24, 1905. When Smedley's work took him to California, the fledgling club unfortunately lacked leadership and did not flourish. In April of 1924, Smedley again introduced the idea of Toastmasters to his colleagues. He organized a club in Santa Ana, California that eventually became Toastmasters International's Club No. 1. Word spread about Smedley's clubs. People in surrounding communities and other states asked how they could start their own club. Smedley wrote the "Manual of Instructions" and "Ten Lessons in Public Speaking" in answer to the many letters and inquiries he received. On October 25, 1928, he secured copyrights on these publications and trademarked the name "Toastmasters Club." Smedley served as Toastmasters International 's first Secretary and Editor when it was incorporated in 1932. When the WWII ended, a new Secretary, Ted Blanding, replaced him. Smedley remained active as Educational Director for the rest of his life, as well as a permanent member of the Board of Directors. Illinois Wesleyan University recognized Smedley's service to mankind by conferring him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1950. Santa Ana named a junior high school after him in 1955. In 1956, Toastmasters International gave Smedley the title of honorary president and lifetime board member, which he held until his death in 1965. Every year, Toastmasters International sets 10 goals for every Club to meet. These goals are know as the Distinguished Club Program. They are designed to help clubs support their members as they progress through their individual educational and leadership goals. They also encourage club growth and leadership training.
The club goals are simple:
What are the levels of achievement in the Distinguished Club Program? 5 = Distinguished Club 7 = Select Distinguished Club 9 = President's Distinguished Club Why is this information important to know? Royal Oak Toastmasters has reached the President's Distinguished level two years in a row. Woo-Hoo!!!!! We achieved 10 points for the 2015/2016 TM year and 9 for this past year. Congratulations Royal Oak TM!!! But that was so last year! We are starting the 2017/2018 TM year. It's not too early to start planning how you will help the club be President's Distinguished again. Meet with your mentor. Discuss your speaking and leadership goals and how they can help the club achieve its goals. Your VP-PR is contributing one of the Leadership Award (a CL) for this year. What will you contribute? One final thought... Toastmasters International also sets similar goals for each Area, Division, and District. Everything we achieve contributes to the success of each of these levels in District 28. So it's not just about us. It's about helping everyone in District 28 be successful in reaching their goals also. That's the power of TEAM -- Together Everyone Achieves More! GO TEAM!! Does the thought of volunteering for a Table Topic make your mouth dry, your heart race, or your palms sweat? You're not alone!
Christopher Cox, DTM, offers 10 tips to settle your nerves and help you give sharp responses:
And one bonus tip from the club... Don't start speaking until you are ready. Your time starts once you utter your first word. The last thing you want is to acknowledge your audience, then have them listen to 30 seconds of silence while you gather your thoughts. Plus, those silent 30 seconds might cause you to go over time at the end because you haven't finished talking about your topic. Pausing a little at the beginning will eliminate that awkward silence and give you the time you need to express that great idea! |
We Are Royal Oak ToastmastersWe provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. Archives
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