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