District Mission
The mission of the district is to enhance the performance and extend the network of clubs, thereby offering greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from the Toastmasters educational program by:
- Focusing on the critical success factors as specified by the district educational goals and membership goals.
- Ensuring that each club effectively fulfills its responsibilities to its members.
- Providing effective training and leadership development opportunities for club and district officers.
Building Personal Success Stories
We can all think of those unique individuals who thrive, even in the most difficult of times. They also tend to be community leaders, individuals who others look up to and admire. They confidently act as a voice for their represented communities. And what a voice they are; ringing out like golden bells on a clear day. We love hearing their stories of how they build success, perhaps hoping to glean some guidance for ourselves.
What we sometimes forget is that we each have our own personal success story within, just waiting to be told. As members of Toastmasters International, you not only find your voice for sharing your story, but also the self confidence, mental agility and leadership acumen to Build Personal Success. Whether summoning the courage to stand and deliver that first Ice Breaker speech, or exercising the leadership to complete large, multi-national business projects, Toastmasters love to share and celebrate success. Like training our voices to convey meaning with richness, resonance and reason, we exercise our leadership muscles to expect and create success.
Self expression is merely a single element of building a personal success story, although a critical one. Toastmasters hone these skills through well-defined speech projects, evaluated by other toastmasters working to improve their own capability for giving positive, effective feedback. All of this occurs under the watchful eye of yet other toastmasters exercising leadership through various meeting roles. If this wasn’t amazing by itself, consider the fact that you not only achieve this magnificence as if it were all routine, but by rotating roles, you each do all of it. This is the amazing power of collaborative learning that is Toastmasters.
You are all Toastmasters, building personal success stories through personal growth and self confidence. How has Toastmasters helped you succeed? Share it with the rest of your Toastmasters by sending your story by email to celebrate@district15speaks.org. We will publish your Personal Success Story on the Celebrations page for others to enjoy.
District 15 Mail Lists
Not getting District 15 or Division Mailings? Mailings are sent out monthly to Toastmasters who have subscribed. You may have gotten an invitation and lost it, or simply never answered it. The Subscription Page allows you to subscribe to a mailing list, unsubscribe, or read past mailings sent.
Join the Web Team
Building and maintaining a web site for an organization such as District 15 is no small task, but it is a great learning experience. If you would like to be a part of the District 15 Web Team, check out our Web Team Openings page.
Finding New Members
“So, do you guys make toast or something?”
Perhaps some of you have heard this question from friends and family when they realize you are a Toastmaster. The real question when offered this conversational opening is, do you have your 30-second elevator speech ready? How do you explain Toastmasters in just a few seconds?
While friends and family are great sources of meeting guests, (you have invited them as your guest, right?) there are many other opportunities to expand your club’s membership than can be taken by any member of your club. Ask your Vice President of Public Relations or Vice President of Membership for free Toastmasters brochures. Add your name and phone number to the brochures and leave them in libraries, community centers, doctor’s offices, and if your company allows, at work. Invite curious readers to be your guest at your next club meeting.
When you bring a guest to your meeting, introduce them to your other club members. Sit with them and be sure to answer their questions and to explain the structure of the meeting. Remember that although the Toastmasters’ meeting seems comfortably familiar now, at first it was confusing and intimidating. Make it easy for your guest to see themselves not as a guest, but as a participating member of your club.
To answer that question at the beginning, say “Yeah. We make great toast. You want some?”