You Had To Be There

If you missed our 2012 Afterburners Holiday Educational Retreat tonight, you missed quite a gathering, and frankly, a rollicking good time!

Tom & Sue Brents graciously hosted in their lovely North Richland Hills home. We started with a holiday feast featuring ham and almost any delicious side dish or dessert imaginable, then moved on to installing our incoming officers for the January 1 - June 30 term.

We all gathered in the living room for a fun evolutionary story; that is, someone starts a tale, then passes off to another Toastmaster for additional embellishments. While the original premise of this year's story was debating the origin of sled tracks on a snowy roof, it didn't take long before the following elements were introduced: spiked egg nog, skid marks, Tralfamadorian aliens, Jack Daniels Black Label (soon shortened to "Black Daniels"), lactose intolerant Santas, turkey turbo jets, Big Wheel Transformers that can flatten under the door, zombie Santas, and a nicely bottled shot of "Holiday Spirits."

Whew! By the time we wrapped up our Christmas tale, everyone was laughing and applauding each other's creativity and ingenuity in tying everything together. We moved on to our Chinese Gift Exchange (or "Dirty Santa" as it is sometimes known) which started out tame enough but soon degenerated into a free-for-all of thievery and name calling. Let's just say "Ho! Ho! Ho!" has more than one meaning now!

Any hard feelings soon vanished like Holly's delicious secret-recipe fruitcake, however, and all the gift exchange participants went home with something satisfactory (or at the very least, re-giftable).

Please be aware in the coming weeks that if you hear a seemingly senseless inside joke about skid marks, lactose intolerance, or excessive references to alcoholic beverages during our meetings, it's nothing too serious.

You just had to be there.

Lonya's Toastmasters Goal: Confidence in Public Speaking

Hello Afterburners! First I would like to thank you all for allowing me to join this fantastic organization. Everyone is so experienced and helpful! I feel that this is a great way to grow and learn personally and professionally.

I have always been impressed by those who are able to get up in front of a room full of people and speak eloquently. Personally, public speaking has always been a challenge for me; in fact I would try to avoid it as much possible. I heard about the Toastmasters from a friend a few years back; he told me how well it helped him with his confidence when speaking in front of large audiences. It took me some time to join due to other obligations, but here I am, ready and eager to learn and grow with you all.

Here is a little bit about me. I am from Madison, Wisconsin. I’ve lived in the Fort Worth area for a little over three years now. Currently I am a program analyst in the Air Force stationed at Carswell Air Force Base here in Fort Worth.

Again I thank you all! I look forward to your feedback.

Lonya Foy

Yajaira's Toastmasters Goal: It's All About Having Confidence

I want to thank you for the opportunity to be a member of your club. I work at AutoZone as a store manager, a company that I’m very proud to be a part of. I enjoy helping and communicating with customers. The purpose of my job requires having a lot of communication skills.

I am a very proud mother of three kids, which are my reason for living and to surmount the obstacles that life brings me.

My goal in Toastmasters is to improve the ability to speak with a higher vocabulary and to have confidence when I’m in front of a group of people such as at meetings and conferences. I get very nervous, tense, and I also get speechless; so I want to overcome the fear of speaking in front of an audience.

Yajaira Olvera

Opinions are like belly buttons!

You've heard it before; perhaps you've even said it yourself. "I'm a new Toastmaster, how can I possibly evaluate or mentor a DTM?"

The truth is that there is none among us so poor that we cannot afford to learn from someone else. (I wish that were an original quote of mine, but it isn't.) Your opinion is absolutely as valid and valuable as anyone else's in the club, or in the area, or in the District... Do you see where I'm heading with this?

Opinions are like belly buttons: Everyone has one! Some are innies, some are outies, and some are even flat, but they're all belly buttons and they serve a purpose. So does your opinion!

When you evaluate an advanced Toastmaster, your opinion should provide insights into improvement. Maybe he or she has developed a habit of pacing aimlessly during the presentation, or (like me) holding arms in an imitation of a tiny T-Rex instead of using them for purposeful expression. Long-time Toastmasters can benefit from your fresh perspective on speech habits developed over the years.

If you are asked by an experienced Toastmaster to serve as a mentor, accept it as the honor that it is. You have demonstrated some innate quality that he finds valuable to his personal growth. Express your feedback the way you would like to receive it. Be specific, be kind, be helpful, be encouraging. Most of all, be yourself, because that is the most valuable asset you bring to the relationship.

You may be a brand new Toastmaster, but your feedback and your opinion are essential to the growth and future health of our club. Please share generously with us old-timers, so that we may continue to grow and improve along the way with you.

But keep your belly buttons to yourselves.

Jeni's Toastmasters Goal: Learning How to "Smoothly Navigate That Moment"

Hi there Afterburners! Thanks for the opportunity to join your club. I’ve really enjoyed it so far, and am looking forward to getting to know each of you.

One of my former colleagues always raved about Toastmasters, so when I began to have more speaking requirements at work, I decided to sign up! From April through October I was in DC for detail with EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities, so I joined Toastmasters for the first time there, in the Dupont Circle of Speakers Club. I gave my Ice Breaker there, and am now preparing for my second speech! 

My goal in Toastmasters is to grow into a confident, articulate, polished speaker…sans uhs, likes, and ya knows. I want to learn how to smoothly navigate that moment when you realize you’re still talking, but quickly running out of things to say. In other words, I’d like to improve my ability to think critically while remaining fully engaged with my audience. 

Here in Fort Worth, I work for HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing. We administer the low-rent program and the voucher program to help low-income families find housing. Previously, my husband Andrew and I were both in the Army. Now we’re settling back into life in Fort Worth, moving into a house in December, unpacking, and hopefully finding the box with my Toastmaster manuals!

Cheers!

Jeni Webb

Humorous Speech Winner

It was with great anticipation that I prepared my first humorous speech for the humor speech contest.  I am very grateful to be part of a group whose members encourage and prod me along to face some fears head on.  In no way a few months ago would I independently attempt to compete in anything, much less public speaking. But just taking the small amount of courage to attend to my first Toastmasters meeting, that step enabled me to begin accepting challenges.  Once I realized that the Afterburners group operates like an 'incubator' and helps me develop my skills at my own pace, I became more comfortable and active toward achieving my goal of becoming a motivational speaker.

I have told funny stories all my life and live for that wonderful payoff, making others laugh.  So, drafting a humorous speech would seem to come naturally.  But, thankfully, I am now encouraged to refine the story in a more perfect framework.  That was a bit difficult as I realized that I tend to "decorate" the storyline with minutia.  I became extremely intimidated once I arrived at the contest and realized that the audience was much larger and full of folks who were to judge me.  What if I fall flat on my face?  Many noticed my anxiety and gave encouraging words.  I could then just take another small step of courage and go through with this with no expectations.  Once I received my first laugh, I was hooked!  The blessings on me began to flow.  I managed to get through my speech with confidence and was rewarded with the first place finish!  I was very surprised, especially since my competitors delivered absolutely stunning speeches.  I look forward to taking another small step of courage and advance to the area contest.  But I am most comforted to be surrounded by a group that will help me thrive.

 

Laura Stewart

Speech Contests Elicit Laughs, Gasps

Contest winners Glenn Decker, John Stubblefield, Jim Hummel and Laura Stewart

Afterburners Club held its Evaluation & Humorous Speech Contests tonight, bringing out the very best in the contestants and the audience, too.

Glenn Decker won the Evaluation contest with a very well-constructed evaluation that was everything Afterburners has come to expect from our evaluators. It was positive, specific, helpful and Glenn even remembered to summarize all his major points.

Laura Stewart had the crowd in stitches with her winning speech, titled "She's Not Cooking, Is She?" Even though we had another great Afterburners potluck meal, you will all be relieved to know Laura brought fresh fruit, so no cooking was required.

Phillip Silas kept the evening lively as Contest Master, and all the contestants gave their very best efforts. Bill Erwin, John Stubblefield and Jim Hummel also competed, and I'm sure the judges had a difficult time with so many skilled speakers.

Tammy Bailey

One of the most rewarding moments for me as an Afterburner, came near the end of the contest. Phillip interviewed all the contestants, and one of the standard questions is, "How long have you been in Toastmasters?" Laura answered, "About three or four months," and I heard gasps of appreciation throughout the room. When John answered the same question, "I think about a month," the gasps were even more pronounced. It was clear our guests were impressed with the swift development of these neophyte speakers, and perhaps even more impressed with their willingness to compete.

Congratulations to Glenn & Laura, who will move on to compete at the Area 12 Contest on October 13!

Tammy Bailey

Standing Oh!

When was the last time you received a standing ovation? For that matter, have you ever?

If your name is Harvey Stockman or John Stubblefield, you received a well-deserved standing ovation on Tuesday night at Afterburners' Speak-a-thon. Each of these men gave an inspiring Ice Breaker speech that showed a lot of natural speaking talent but also incorporated many elements used by more advanced speakers, including visual aids, great eye contact, vocal variety, and expressive body language, all delivered without the use of notes.

Is that enough to earn a standing ovation? Here's the unofficial Afterburners answer on that:

Maybe.

The truth is, it takes a lot of nerve to give that Ice Breaker speech. No amount of rehearsing and careful practice at home can fully prepare you for stepping in front of the club for the first time to share a piece of your personal history. What if they laugh? Perhaps worse: what if they don't? What if nobody cares what you have to say? 

At Afterburners, we appreciate the stomach-churning stress that goes into preparing that first speech. We want each Ice Breaker speaker to fully understand how deeply and genuinely we appreciate what you went through to bring us your presentation. That's the reason, whether with or without notes, visual aids, eye contact, or even a decent outline, every single Ice Breaker receives a standing ovation from the whole audience. It's spontaneous, it's real, and it's just our way of saying, "We've been there, buddy. We feel your relief that this first one is finally behind you, and we're standing with you all the way."

If we support you that thoroughly on your first speech, can you imagine how we'll celebrate when you get your DTM?

Tammy Bailey

The Value of Toastmasters for Me

Laura Stewart

It has been a lifelong dream of mine to be a motivational speaker. Once I made a recent decision to retire, I have been thinking of creating the many opportunities of how I can be of service to others. I realized that Toastmasters would be a perfect experience to prepare me to achieve my goals.

I believe that I am a natural-born storyteller. Being the third of six children, my first captive audience was my younger brother and sisters. For years, I entertained (some call it babysitting) by gathering my audience on the bed as I told tales with a Texan's gift of exaggeration. My reputation grew as our family got larger and included co-workers and friends. I find it incredible the insatiable appetite people have to feel uplifted and giddy.

Upon my recent retirement, I have had many moments of reflection on my life and deciding on which qualities and gifts I have to use to carry me into the next chapter of my life. It is totally my gift of telling tales and making others laugh. Nothing gives me more delight than to see someone who was feeling blue begin to chuckle and see their burden lightened — even for just a moment.

I believe that Toastmasters will be the perfect vehicle to help me refine my skills and find my authentic voice. I have great admiration of the Afterburners group as I realize the wealth of integrity and sense of service the members of this group have. I have found a safe haven to help me get settled up with my fears and anxieties as I gain the courage and confidence needed to become a public speaker. From there, the opportunities are limitless!

Laura Stewart

The Only Thing to Fear — Yes You Already Know

It’s here! The beginning of a new era is looming close by. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the time has finally come for me to take my turn as an officer for our club. Crazy, huh? I always knew this day would come, I just didn’t realize how nerve-wracking it would be for me. You see, I too am afraid of change. I don’t know what becoming an officer will do to me! YIKES! (nail biting…) 

Then, I think. I took a chance when I came to Toastmasters. I was determined to embrace the ups and downs of becoming a better speaker. I admitted to myself that, in reality, the downs were only placed by me, feeling that I could not be successful. As time went by, Toastmasters gave me the opportunity to grow and be a more confident presenter. Reflecting on this, and with the support of my club, I truly feel that while this may be a daunting task, we are a team. Better yet, we are family. And with my family of Afterburners I look forward to being your Vice President Public Relations. OOoooOOOooo, sounds fancy. My resumé will think so too ;)

So, here we go again. New to me as it may be I am determined to work hard, keep my sanity intact and help guide my fellow officers and club members on the path that our club has always been on. And I plan to enjoy it!

Saraí Olmos

Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged – Unless It Is Your Opportunity

Last year, I was invited to step up to District Leadership as the District Chief Judge. I accepted the position and only found out later how many people had stepped off the tracks in front of me in order for me to get the full force of the train heading my way.

The District Chief Judge opportunity is probably the hardest thing I have ever done. I laid cross-ties in the dead of winter in The Colony so that is saying something.  All kidding aside, I enjoyed every minute of the year. Toastmasters are a super group and I learned that I had a great deal of support from all the excellent Judges and Chief Judges throughout District 25.

I also served as VP – Education of the Afterburners Toastmasters Club and Club Mentor/Interim President for Tarrant County Toastmasters. These are both great clubs full of great people and a tribute to the Toastmasters organization.

As stressful as it was at times, we had two excellent contest seasons with 72 great contests, casting around 900 ballots total. As a group, the District 25 Judging community never let the District down and I wish to thank each and every one for their fantastic support of the contests this year.

Steven Timmons

A Dream Opportunity for Aaron

Some teens during the summer get a summer job or even sit around and do nothing at all. I am doing the opposite of that. Last summer, I went to the United Kingdom and I had a great time soaking up the culture and the customs. This year, I have the pleasure of going to the greatest university in the world’s summer school.

Harvard has always been a dream of mine since I can ever remember. Now that I am actually going to this school it seems kind of like a dream. The very thought to be accepted to even their summer school is a great honor in itself. This is truly just a stepping stone into bigger and better things. The things that I will learn at the college will be phenomenal.

Starting June 24, I will be living the college life for six weeks. I will be eating, sleeping, and studying within the college livelihood. I also have the opportunity to be taking classes which will give me college credit. I will have the chance to meet tons of people from around the world and get to experience so many cultures from around the world.

This will be my longest time away from home and I am not that worried it as much. I guess since I have been across the globe already and this just being on the eastern seaboard shouldn’t be that bad even for six weeks. I guess I can’t be overexcited or even overly worried either. I guess just I have to be nonchalant about it. I realize that I could goof off and party rock until the break of dawn, but I think opportunities like these can’t be taken for granted. They must be used to their fullest capacity.

All in all, I am most grateful and blessed to have a mother who would do everything in her power to help me achieve my goals. So, this summer is definitely is going to be a blast.

Aaron Robinson

And the Beat Goes On!

On June 1, 2012, I celebrated 25 years of membership in Toastmasters. I have been a member of Afterburners since August 1991 during those 25 years.

Many times I am asked "WHY" stay around for such a long time. My response has always been that over the years, I have found many reasons to stay, but none good enough to leave!

I have a confession to make. For the 2012-2013 Toastmaster year, I had decided to be just a "POT, a plain ole Toastmaster." My determination was strong. I was going to rest next year.

THEN, a marvelous opportunity presented itself. The incoming Lt Governor Education and Training, Dean Lampman, asked me to serve the Members of District 25 as the District Training Chair. What an opportunity! I had never expected to be asked for this role because I had said many times, "they won't let me do that because we would not start before 10 am." My Toastmaster friends know that the morning hours are not my best of the day.

Here I am, incoming D25 Training Chair, helping to plan the summer sessions for Toastmasters Leadership Institute. We will celebrate the fabulous opportunity for our Club Officers to be the best they can be by becoming trained Club Officers. Our elective classes will offer a variety of topics for any Toastmaster to attend.

I can't wait for the party!

Brenda Daniels DTM
D25 Training Chair 2012-2013

The Wider World in Toastmasters — My Excellent Venture Outside Our Club

As I finish my year as President of Afterburners, I am also finishing a year of doing another Toastmasters opportunity — that of District News Editor. Last spring, Diana Patton (then the Lt. Governor Education and Training), called to ask if I was interested in the Newsletter Editor job. I took a deep breath and said "If the newsletter is still going to be a 30-page PDF file that comes out once a month, then no, I am not interested. I think that kind of newsletter is obsolete."

She said "No, we want to do something completely different, and we want you to help us decide what that will be." That sounded too good to pass up. "Okay, I'll do it."

My experience in starting the Afterburners "Burning News" was quite helpful. I quickly learned how to use Constant Contact, the web-based email platform the District was already using. As the District officers talked about how they wanted to communicate with the members, we developed the concepts of Hot Topics, Action NOW, and the D25 News blog so we could reach people in quick and flexible ways.

Sometimes it was a lot of work but I learned about the workings of the District and our clubs, and met many new people. The really marvelous part of the experience was being a pioneer. I blazed a trail for future News Editors, essentially inventing my own job as the year went on. It's been an opportunity I am so glad I didn't miss.

Jodie Sanders

Gary Chiu Steps Up as District 25 PRO

I have been asked on more than one occasion why I volunteered to become a District Officer. Simply put, the linchpin binding each level of Toastmasters together, from the club, to the area, to the division and the district, relies upon those willing to step up and heed the call. We all volunteer our time, effort, and sometimes, our personal funds in order to grow the Toastmasters organization. Our reward is simply the knowledge that we furthered a cause we all strongly believe in, and helped those climbing the trail behind us.

I am going to be your District Public Relations Officer (PRO) during the 2012-2013 term. Why does a Toastmasters District need both a Lt. Governor of Marketing and a PRO? Essentially, the LGM tracks the officer list submissions,  dues payments,  member retention, all things related to new club formation, sponsors, mentors, and coaches. Mind you, these are just a few of the many tasks that our hard-working LGM takes on!

If the LGM can be said to be “looking inward” and concerning herself with the above duties, the PRO “looks outward” and is considered the mouthpiece of the District. Among my duties, I lead external Marketing efforts to promote Toastmasters to the public at large, work directly with Division and Area Governors to assist them in recruiting for their respective areas, and assist with the promotion of various District activities throughout the year (e.g. Spring and Fall Conference). When the LGM and PRO are both working at their peak efficiency, interested guests will be persuaded by the PRO to either join an existing club, or, the LGM might decide form a new club if a minimum of 20 members can be found. This is how our District GROWS!

In conclusion, I am honored and excited to be your Public Relations Officer for 2012-2013. Together, I am certain we will achieve some outstanding accomplishments!

Gary Chiu

The Value of Evaluation

An opportunity to write a short blog for Holly who is gifted with enthusiasm, courage and an unending smile. Some years ago I lost the thought of blending humor and health. In a recent attempt at a humorous speech about chocolate that thought was reignited. Not by the speech, but  by the evaluations that I received. That speech was a failure in and of itself. The learning that came from the response to that speech has been an inspiration to an age old ambition. I am back on the pursuit of a humorous presentation of health information. I respect and appreciate the value of honest and thoughtful evaluation.

Jim Hummel

Speaking (and Writing) Take Courage

Steven Thorn is a Professional Writing Senior at the University of Oklahoma. In Toastmasters, he is a Competent Communicator and Competent Leader. In 2009, Steven finished second in the District 25 International Speech Competition. Steven has published three short stories on Kindle, Nook, and iTunes. The Phoenix Guardian, a Young Adult Fantasy, is his first novel.

Steven Thorn

 As a public speaker and a writer, I find that speaking and writing have much in common. They both require courage. Most Toastmasters can understand why public speaking takes courage. Many of us are in Toastmasters to overcome our fear of public speaking.

But writing isn’t done in public. I usually write in the privacy of my home. So why is it scary?

Writing is scary because, like public speaking, it makes you vulnerable.

Before your words can mean something to someone else, they have to mean something to you. That means you have to open up. You have to share what’s important to you, and you have to hold it up to the world and declare, “This is what I have to say. This is a piece of my heart.”

That’s frightening.

But it’s also exhilarating. There’s nothing like writing something that people can relate to and enjoy.

When I competed in the 2009 International Speech Competition, my favorite moments were when I established emotional connections with the audience. My speech, “You Don’t Need to Be a Wizard,” was about overcoming fear and insecurity. I talked about the friends and family who have helped me in my struggles: people that “brought light to my darkness.” The speech was very personal. It was rewarding to see people laughing—and crying—along with me.

Steven won the Division C International Speech Contest in 2009
with his family's support.

In the same way, writing The Phoenix Guardian has been very rewarding. When I wrote the book, certain passages moved me to tears. Other parts of the book still make me laugh, even though I’ve read the story dozens of times. I love it when readers tell me which passages made them laugh or cry. It’s very touching to know that people have connected with my story.

The writing and publication of The Phoenix Guardian took about nine months. The majority of the writing was done last fall for my “Writing the Novel” class at the University of Oklahoma. I finished the book in the spring semester. The entire process was guided (and edited) by my writing instructor, Mel Odom, a prolific author who has written over 150 novels.

I decided to self-publish The Phoenix Guardian, adding a novel to my bookshelf of self-published works. One day, I hope to write for a traditional publishing house, but for the time being, I’m thrilled with the success that The Phoenix Guardian has received. The book has sold over 100 copies and the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Writing the book took a lot of time, courage, and work, but it was worth it. I’m thankful that people are taking the time to read and share this story with me.

Steven Thorn

Book Synopsis:
On the planet Mithris, humanity is at war and the gods don’t care. Serena is an eighteen year-old girl who doesn’t care about the gods—or anything else. Unfortunately for Serena, a mysterious girl named Natalie Bliss falls out of the sky and into her path.
Natalie claims that Serena must help her save the world. Natalie holds the answers to Serena’s true identity—a revelation that links Serena to a world she never believed in. Terrible dangers lie in store for them. Serena and Natalie must escape from assassins, survive a world war, and convince the negligent gods of Mithris to intervene before it’s too late for mankind.

LINKS:

Amazon Paperback
http://www.amazon.com/The-Phoenix-Guardian-discover-identity/dp/1470165929/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334757425&sr=1-9

Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/The-Phoenix-Guardian-ebook/dp/B007PAFNYQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1332955422&sr=8-7

Working Behind the Scenes

Fall of 2010 was my first time attending the D25 Conference, when my husband and I were brave enough and stepped up as the Volunteer Chairs. Not knowing exactly what to expect, but still, I had so much fun, even though I ended up volunteering myself in different areas.

We all know events like this can always use some extra hands so when the 2011 Spring Conference came I ended up volunteering again, but this time as the Hospitality Suite Chair, where I met and worked with lots of great leaders in our district.

Well, you would think I had enough, but guess what? These past two conferences I’ve been working behind the scenes as the Registration Chair. Both times were very rewarding experiences for me. I learned so much working with fabulous people in this area; the smiles, laughter, and most of all, the lifelong friendships that I can always cherish and that make my Toastmasters journey enjoyable and memorable.

When you plan on attending the next D25 conference, think about lending a hand; and next time you find someone working behind the counter with curlers on, just remember that “doing it right” plus “positive attitude" may be the only thing you need to help out and still have a memorable conference experience. 

Rose Timmons
Fall 2011/Spring 2012 Registration Chair  

"Tornado Alley" meeting was F-5 in Excellence!

May 22 our theme was "Tornado Alley," and this meeting blew all our expectations away!

Antoinette Silas as Toastmaster had all the opportunities covered in advance of the meeting, and our speakers covered a wide range of topics. First, Jodie Sanders brought us a module from the Successful Club Series addressing the Distinguished Club Program. Ryan Gallagher was up next with a side-splitting speech whose title is far too long to publish here, but it involved a yoga lady, a chiropractor, and some violent breathing exercises! Jim Hummel related an amazing and entertaining story about growing up with illegal fireworks, and an "expert" whose fingers mysteriously disappeared year after year. Finally, Gary Chiu gave us a sneak peek at the toast he will offer his brother and future sister-in-law at the upcoming nuptials this weekend. Can you imagine? A Toastmasters meeting that featured an actual TOAST!

We had four exhilarating guests visit with us, and were honored to have our outgoing Area Governor Brendan Bagnell in attendance as well. If you missed Toastmasters tonight, I can't imagine you had more fun than we did. Come back next week and see what you've been missing!

Bill Finds Friends, Fun and Great Speeches at Conference

I was reluctant to attend my first Toastmasters conference. I tried to visualize what it would be like, where I would sit, and imagined myself in the middle of it . . . all by myself.

What I didn't realize, was that there would be friendly, familiar faces at the check-in booth. I didn't consider the sponsored sessions, the awesome stories, and motivational messages I would hear.

I made the mistake of missing out on the Friday night experience, which was unavoidable in my case, due to a calendar impossibly full of obligations.

As I heard about all the fun I missed, I imagined myself smiling widely in the middle of the group, breathing in what must've been a spectacle.

Bill didn't miss ALL the fun!
(Saturday night at Friends at the Forum)

I saw the Friday night photos during the luncheon, and was thankful I hadn't missed this event as I heard Dale Hansen speak.

I believe Toastmasters made me better aware of the subtleties of his hilarious rant . . . the timing, the vocal variety, movement, and the over-the-top style that I yearned to understand and dissect in between my side-stitched laughing.

Now, I can have a greater appreciation for those all-important words I need to watch for whenever I'm prioritizing my calendar . . . "Save the Date!"

Bill Erwin

Phillip's "Awesome" Conference Experience

Phillip is presented with the Outstanding Sergeant at Arms Award
for District 25 at the Awards Luncheon

My Spring Conference experience was awesome. I really did not know what to expect, besides hearing the speech contest, which was great. However, my  favorite part of the afternoon was partaking in the different educational sessions. I got so much out of the two sessions that my wife and I chose. The lunch was great; but during lunch, awards were presented, and I received Outstanding Sergeant At Arms. A simply "awesome" day.

Phillip Silas

It's in YOUR hands!

Some of you know I finally traded in my trusty Jeep Wrangler for a "grown-up car," a sporty little Lexus convertible. It's been an absolute kick to drive! The other day, however, I had a frightening moment in it.

I was stuck in construction traffic on 377 near Cresson. A flatbed 18-wheeler was in front of me, and another large truck was behind me as we slowly crept up an incline. I will never know whether the driver in front of me wasn't paying attention or if he just forgot his truck was on a hill, but suddenly I looked up to see that huge 18-wheeler drifting BACKWARDS towards me!

I was trapped. I couldn't turn left or right, and because of the truck behind me, I couldn't back up, either. In a state of utter panic, picturing what the impact would do to my new car, I honked my horn wildly. Maybe the driver in front of me heard it, or maybe he realized his vehicle was drifting, but thankfully he hit his brakes and stopped about a parking space away from my front end.

I was shaking all over, and for quite some time afterwards, but it got me thinking about things.

Many events in our life are outside of our control. Companies downsize us, significant others leave us, credit card companies inexplicably reduce our available credit, trucks drift backwards towards us. Absolutely none of that is within our control, and we have to respond as best we can. One thing that IS within our control is our future. We can decide how to improve ourselves, and at what pace.

Toastmasters is the only communication and leadership program I know that allows its participants to pace themselves and learn at whatever speed they find acceptable. We have mentors to help keep us on track. We have countless opportunities to participate and experiment. We have evaluations so we know exactly what we're doing well so we can repeat that success, and exactly what needs to be improved so we can address that as well. Even the destiny of the club as a whole rests in the hands of the individual members!

Next Tuesday we will elect officers to oversee the future of Afterburners for the next six months, July through December. It's crucial that each & every member attend that election so we can have a quorum to conduct the business of the club, but also to ensure that every voice is heard and every vote counts.

Don't sit idly and wait for that truck to back up into you. Honk your horn! Raise your voice! Be an active participant in your own future and in the future of Afterburners Club 6191. If you haven't been to a meeting in awhile, rest assured we have missed you and would love to see you again. Tuesday May 15 is the perfect time to tighten your grip on your own future, and the future of the club. After all, it's in YOUR hands!

Experience the Excitement and Suspense of the Brown Bag Meeting!

The notorious Brown Bagger!

Guess who tried to fool us on our “April Fool’s Bagger” meeting? If you weren’t there last Tuesday, April 3, you would not know.

Like many other Toastmasters clubs in District 25, Afterburners always soars high when it comes to providing quality, enjoyable, educational meetings; and to make it a fun evening, our VP Education Steven Timmons, also known as the “Brown Bagger,” actually wore a brown bag on his head.

We created our agenda just before the meeting started. As we came in, each of us drew a role from a brown bag and everyone did a fine job, including myself as the Toastmaster! Hope you don’t think that I’m such a fool, because I know for a fact that all the speakers delivered a 5-7 minute off-the-cuff speech and only had 30 seconds after the time they drew the topic to prepare. As far as we know, this has never happened in Afterburners history; plus, our illustrious Club President Jodie Sanders told us a very short but remarkably hilarious joke.

Here’s what some of our speakers thought about their experience:

Tom Brents: When Steven Timmons asked if I would participate, my first reaction was "Wow, in my 30+ years as a Toastmaster, I have never done this." The next thought was, "I am very confident about my speeches when well-prepared, how will this turn out?" Next, I knew that if I had a framework to organize my speech, probably I could succeed. And that’s the way it turned out. I would like to do it again sometime.

Gary Chiu: "They always say that one should do what one fears most.” Whoever came up with this axiom most likely did not have to reach into a brown bag containing slips of paper with random subjects written on them, and to speak for a minimum of 5 minutes on said subject in front of 20 critiquing Toastmasters. No notes. No Google. No way!

I drew "What would the World be like without Chocolate?" Slowly, cautiously, I talked about my hazy recollection of the history of chocolate. I gathered a bit more confidence discussing how the holidays would be all messed up due to the absence of the brown stuff. I concluded with how all of us need to march up Capitol Hill to ensure Congress does not take away our chocolate privileges, for we are the 99%!

It is truly a "rush" when the green light finally flickers on and the realization dawns that I've just spoken for five entire minutes on a completely random topic. Ah, how sweet that is!

Ryan Gallagher: Part of the challenge I wanted was having something I wouldn't ordinarily select to speak on, so this fulfilled my expectation. The second most important thing I learned is the necessity of implementing some sort of organizational structure to your speech, impromptu or not. The first most important thing I learned was that I’m not afraid of getting up there and making a fool of myself  — the possibility to crash and burn was very real but thankfully it didn't happen, though I would have had a good time no matter what.

Tammy Bailey graciously led the Table Topics about April Fools’ Day and first-timer guest Ingrid won the ribbon. Our friend Teresa Wilburn was also present and evaluated a speech! Gary took home the ribbon as the best speaker and Jodie Sanders won best evaluator.

Finally, I just received my Competent Leadership award and I hold the rights to brag about what happened that night! Next time, make sure you come to our special meetings because you never know what you might be missing.

Rose Timmons, CC, CL

An Unexpected Blessing

I joined Afterburners a few months ago and have been delighted everday thereafter. At my first meeting, Tammy Bailey did an evaluation. The impression on me was immediate and intense. At that moment I wanted to take Tammy with me, but she wouldn't go so I had to join the club. I recognized having a trained observer to evaluate my presentation skills would be of tremendous value.

I have on occasion made presentations, but had little valuable feedback. I knew how much thoughtful evaluations would help me. What was an unexpected blessing was the support and caring of the group. Now after only a few months into the experience, what I have learned is much broader than I had ever anticipated. Leadership skills were not on my list of desired learning. After a few weeks I saw the need to develop leadership skills. I volunteer for most anything (sometimes not doing a great job) but the group is very supportive and I enjoy the learning opportunities.

Jim Hummel, CC

A Night to Remember

Phillip Silas, CC

When I first experienced a Toastmasters meeting, I'll be honest, I really didn't know what to expect.  I didn't know very much about what they represented, but I didn't feel any intimidation whatsoever. 

 

My wife and I were greeted warmly by all of the members, assuring us we were at home.  Everyone raved over my wife's name (Antoinette) and added that my name (Phillip) was just as ravishing.

 

The room was not confining, and the set up had an audience/stage-like appearance. The meeting was prayed over and we pledged allegiance to the flag.  We were given name tags and asked how we heard about Afterburners Toastmasters.  We were also asked if we wanted to participate in something called "Table Topics" to which I replied, "Yes" thinking it was no big deal. 

 

The Toastmaster of the evening followed the agenda exactly. The speakers were entertaining, and the comments about them were just as good. I was a bit distracted by the passing of little notes or comment slips between speakers, but tried to maintain my concentration.

 

When we finally got to "Table Topics" I thought "Well, I guess I finally get a chance to show off like everybody else!" The Table Topics Master kept meeting my eyes but didn't say a word to me until after his second question. I now know that he was giving me the opportunity to hear more seasoned Toastmasters answer the questions so I could decide to bail out if I wanted at the last minute! I don't remember the exact question, but I do know it was about politics, which was perfect for me because I am well-versed in this area.  I'll just say this about my response: I think I invented the words "ah" and "uh" because the Ah Counter said I used too many to count!

 

The following week, my wife and I joined Afterburners, and my "ahs" and "uhs" have decreased significantly as I've become a more confident speaker. The story continues once a week on Tuesdays at 7 pm in the Tarrant County Extension Building located at 200 Taylor Street in Fort Worth. We meet on the 5th Floor in the Lonestar A & B Room. Join us and see if Afterburners could be your new Toastmasters home!

Have You Been to an Afterburners Club Meeting Lately?

Steven Timmons, CC/ALB

If you have been missing the Afterburners Club meeting for a while or have only been coming on occasion, you are missing a great deal. Afterburners has a great combination of Advanced Speeches from any number of the Advanced Communication Manuals as well as Competent Communicator Speeches and Special Modules from the Leadership Excellence Series and Successful Club Series.

When you attend an Afterburners Club meeting, you really cannot be sure what you are in for except that you can rest assured that you will have a great time and be well entertained. You could be front row center to a concert given by our own Steven “Jukebox Hero” Thorn as the Toastmaster opening the show. The themes at Afterburners range from the tried and true to the highly unusual prompting of our Toastmasters and Topicsmasters.  

Steven “Jukebox Hero” Thorn

We've had many great speeches including “The Competent Stripper” presented by Jim Hummel. My eyes! My eyes! “The Look” was presented by Antoinette Silas, who completed her first Competent Communicator Award and inspired us to achieve our goals and find our long lost waistline. “What Memorial Day Means to Me” was presented by David Thorn who also completed his Competent Communicator Award with an inspirational and first hand account of those that have given their all to keep this country great. Last but not least, we had a fantastic reading by Tammy Bailey of one of her favorites stories, “The Jackasses and I”.

Afterburners also has a great series of Table Topics Speakers standing up to the challenging questions posed by our fantastic Topicsmaster, Pat Quick, discussing what I am sure is one of her favorite subjects “Diamonds Galore”. Bill Erwin rose to the challenge as he discussed that he is a “Diamond in the Rough” when it comes to Spanish and yet he strives to understand the many facets of the language in order to flawlessly shine one day in the future.

Then came the evaluation portion of our meeting led by Setma Maddox,a fantastic General Evaluator. We have the best Evaluators around who support our speakers with positive affirmations for their speaking abilities as well as brilliant suggestions to improve. George Arndt and Gary Chiu to name just a few have presented brilliantly as well as provided feedback that both inspires and entertains, ensuring our growth as a club of great speakers.

Consider saving some money by attending our next Afterburners Club meeting. You would have to pay about $10.00 to go to the movies and you cannot be assured that you will even enjoy it anymore. By coming to our club meeting, you will be with great friends and have a wonderful time. By coming to our February 14th meeting, you will have the best excuse to avoid paying those inflated restaurant prices as we embrace the theme “Have a Heart” led by our Toastmaster Rose Timmons.

Monthly Membership Dues for Toastmasters International  $6.00
Monthly Membership Dues for Afterburners  $2.00
A Night at a Afterburners Club Meeting  Priceless

Afterburners Educational Retreats

Setma Maddox, DTM

When you become a member of Afterburners, you become a member of a family that loves to get together and celebrate life. Toastmasters International rules do not allow clubs to have parties. In fact, the rule, loosely stated, implies that if a club meets, it must have an educational component for its members. With this rule in mind, Afterburners budgets for and schedules three (3) "educational retreats" around the annual celebrations of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

 

Our Thanksgiving retreat is usually held during our regularly scheduled meeting in November each year. Brenda Daniels has historically prepared the turkey and dressing and the rest of the food is provided as pot luck by each club member. The Christmas Retreat held in a club members' home -- someone who volunteers to host the retreat. The host prepares the main dish and opens their home to the club members. Each attending member provides a side-dish and/or desert and brings a $10 gift for the fun-filled Chinese Gift Exchange. This year, Tammy Bailey, hosted the retreat in her beautiful home and we all had a great time as usual. Pat Quick and Antoniette Silas gave manual speeches -- the educational side of things.

 

For the last three (3) years, I have had the honor of hosting the New Year's Eve Retreat. My dining room table is large enough to get 10-12 people around it family style and I have extra dining and seating. Most times the feeding of the multitudes begins around 7 p.m. but if someone is running late or decides to just drop-in for a visit that works too. Everyone brings a dish and their favorite board game.

 

After dinner we check out the games and select one or two games to play. This year the game Brenda developed for the Fall Conference was chosen. Brenda served as MC. The ladies vs. the men. (I'll leave to your imagination as which group won!) It was fun watching how everyone came to the conclusion that something was fact or fiction about District 25 Toastmasters -- uh huh, that educational thing again. At 11 p.m. we always watch the ball drop in Time Square in New York City and then continue to celebrate until the clock strikes 12 in the Central Time zone.

 

It sounds as though there would be a lot of work involved in hosting one of these retreats but that's not true. You just provide the place and the main dish -- for which the club will reimburse you up to $25 -- and the club members provide the rest. I am a very laid back hostess in that I don't wait on people hand-and-foot. I treat them like family. If you want more to eat, it's in the kitchen. If you want something out of the refrigerator, help yourself. I believe it helps everyone feel at home and that is what I want. There is a satisfaction that comes from having my Toastmasters family in my home. I see us have fun together outside the club and I get to see everyone relax and interact as family.

 

We will have three educational retreats again next year. Consider hosting one of them in your home or preparing the main dish. You don't need a huge house or table, as we have been known to sit on the floor instead of chairs. You don't need a lot of parking space; the neighbors won't mind as long as you let them know you have several people coming. If you don't think you can cook the main dish, let someone know and you might just be surprised who will volunteer to help you by cooking it for you. If you think no one will come because you live out of the way, think again. We have been known to drive to Ponder, Texas -- east of Denton -- for a retreat. This is Texas, after all, so we are used to going a little distance to have fun -- and fun we do have!

 

Happy New Year, everyone! Be safe and keep smiling.