Toastmasters are always sharing their stories of achievement and accomplishments with each other. Here you can read some stories from District 21 that will inspire and entertain you.
If you have a story to share, please Contact Us
- September 2005 Steve Henshall's Success Story
High Performance Leadership Success
Out of Silence
July 15th, 2007: Kelowna Toastmaster soars to new altitude
July 15th, 2007: Public Speaking skills lands local Toastmaster a radio show
July 15th, 2007: Public Speaking skills lands local Toastmaster a radio show
Public speaking skills helps local Toastmaster land radio program guest speaker Walnut Grove's Terry-Lynn Stone, Editor in Chief of Canada's natural health magazine, alive, will be a regular guest on the Jessie Dylan The Good Life Show on Sirius radio.
Terry-Lynn credits Toastmasters with helping her become comfortable and confident in taking on speaking assignments like this. "Before I began Toastmasters the length of any proposed public speaking engagement was directly relational to the amount of time I had to spend in the bathroom!" laughed Stone.
Terry-Lynn Stone, alive's editor-in-chief, will be featured as a regular monthly guest on the nationally broadcast radio program “The Good Life.” Stone has public speaking experience as president of the Walnut Grove, B.C. chapter of Toastmasters. She says she's up to the task and will have no shortage of material to cover.
"We're going to be talking about what's coming up in the magazine," she says, "and seeing as I'm very intimately involved in that, it's going to be wonderful."
Also as part of the new agreement, listeners can hear an "alive Tip of the Day," every day, in alternate months (July, September, November, etc.).
The alive Academy of Natural Health, which offers natural health related courses, diplomas and accreditation through distance learning, is also involved with The Good Life Show. It is investing in radio advertising spots and will be sponsoring the alive Tip of the Day.
If things seem to be snowballing for the company, Stone says it helps that readers and audiences in general are so much more receptive to the topic of natural health than in the past.
"It's not just a cultish little following," she says. "Everybody's interested."
Note: Terry-Lynn Stone has been with Toastmsters for over 10 years and represented Division F in the District 21 International Speech Contest in Vernon in May.
Author: Posted by Linda Schellenberg, Public Relations Officer
Public speaking skills helps local Toastmaster land radio program guest speaker Walnut Grove's Terry-Lynn Stone, Editor in Chief of Canada's natural health magazine, alive, will be a regular guest on the Jessie Dylan The Good Life Show on Sirius radio.
Terry-Lynn credits Toastmasters with helping her become comfortable and confident in taking on speaking assignments like this. "Before I began Toastmasters the length of any proposed public speaking engagement was directly relational to the amount of time I had to spend in the bathroom!" laughed Stone.
Terry-Lynn Stone, alive's editor-in-chief, will be featured as a regular monthly guest on the nationally broadcast radio program “The Good Life.” Stone has public speaking experience as president of the Walnut Grove, B.C. chapter of Toastmasters. She says she's up to the task and will have no shortage of material to cover.
"We're going to be talking about what's coming up in the magazine," she says, "and seeing as I'm very intimately involved in that, it's going to be wonderful."
Also as part of the new agreement, listeners can hear an "alive Tip of the Day," every day, in alternate months (July, September, November, etc.).
The alive Academy of Natural Health, which offers natural health related courses, diplomas and accreditation through distance learning, is also involved with The Good Life Show. It is investing in radio advertising spots and will be sponsoring the alive Tip of the Day.
If things seem to be snowballing for the company, Stone says it helps that readers and audiences in general are so much more receptive to the topic of natural health than in the past.
"It's not just a cultish little following," she says. "Everybody's interested."
Note: Terry-Lynn Stone has been with Toastmsters for over 10 years and represented Division F in the District 21 International Speech Contest in Vernon in May.
Author: Posted by Linda Schellenberg, Public Relations Officer
July 15th, 2007: Kelowna Toastmaster soars to new altitude
Norma Selbie, a member of the Kelowna Flying Solo Toastmasters was just awarded the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award.
Norma travels the world speaking about Alzheimer's and she practises her speeches at her Toastmaster meetings.
The news article in The Okanagan newspaper says "Norma lives a full and busy life despite having had Alzheimer symptoms for 10 years." She has travelled extensively to raise awareness about the disease and to encourage those who've been diagnosed with it not to become depressed and discouraged.
District 21 congratulates Norma Selbie for her great work with Alzheimer's disease, and showing others how the communications skills we learn in Toastmasters can truly take us to new places !
Author: Posted by Linda Schellenberg, Public Relations Officer
Norma Selbie, a member of the Kelowna Flying Solo Toastmasters was just awarded the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award.
Norma travels the world speaking about Alzheimer's and she practises her speeches at her Toastmaster meetings.
The news article in The Okanagan newspaper says "Norma lives a full and busy life despite having had Alzheimer symptoms for 10 years." She has travelled extensively to raise awareness about the disease and to encourage those who've been diagnosed with it not to become depressed and discouraged.
District 21 congratulates Norma Selbie for her great work with Alzheimer's disease, and showing others how the communications skills we learn in Toastmasters can truly take us to new places !
Author: Posted by Linda Schellenberg, Public Relations Officer
Out of Silence
Ever since I was a baby, I have been a quiet guy. One of the reasons for my quietness was my shy disposition. I didn’t like talking in a group setting because I didn’t like to be put on the spot where everyone focused their attention on me. Another reason was that I was not a good speaker, and sometimes I had trouble expressing my ideas. In my final speech in the CTM program, I am going to tell you how I learned about the Toastmasters International, how I decided to join the club, and how Toastmasters had helped me to improve my communication skills.
When I was in the 4th year of my university studies, I saw an advertisement of Toastmasters International on the school’s bulletin board. My friend and I read the advertisement and looked at each other for a second, and said “Nah, not for us”. At that time, I had some exposure to public speaking as I have to do some in-class presentation for my business classes. And every time I gave a class presentation, I was very nervous and unconfident. The presentation concluded with a question and answer period. Since there was no feedback after the presentation, I felt it was not helping me improve my public speaking skills.
Then, in a job performance review in 2003, my supervisor at that time told me that I seldom talked in a team meeting. She told me that I had done great work personally, but it would be better if I could contribute my ideas during a team meeting. She told me that one way to overcome my communication problem was to join the Toastmasters. She told me she was a member of the Toastmasters before, and she found it had helped her a lot in communication. At that time, I was still undecided whether I should join or not. Then I learned that two of my co-workers, who were also shy and quiet, had joined the Toastmasters already. Finally, I decided to give it a shot.
Before I joined the Toastmasters, I had the perception that the club was only for advanced speakers who enjoyed speaking in public and wanted to compete with other professionals. I thought the evaluation for the speakers would be very critical. When I joined the club, I realized it was not the case. I found it was a club for people like myself to improve their public speaking and leadership skills. The club members always provided meaningful feedback on each other’s speech and always encouraged each other to do better. Even if you were not ready to give a speech, there were plenty of roles in the club that you could take to practice your communication skills.
I remembered when I finished my icebreaker speech, I received great applauses and many useful and encouraging feedback from the members. At that moment, I told myself “If I don’t improve my public speaking skills in this club, where else could give me a comfortable and supportive environment like this to improve?” At that time, I knew I had joined the right club. When I was in the club, I had received tremendous help from the members. For example, Wendy Webber helped me with the preparation and editing of my icebreaker. Khin Tan helped me to familiarize with different roles performed during the meeting. Last but not least, Margaret Williams had always provided me with tips on how to improve my public speaking skills.
With the help and support of the club, I gradually became smoother and more confident in my public speaking. In the next two years after joining the club, I had several chances at job interviews, school presentations and interview with taxpayers. I found the skills I got from Toastmasters had helped me immensely. If people asked me what clubs they should join, I would not hesitate to recommend Toastmasters International to them.
Author: Jeff Chen CTM
Ever since I was a baby, I have been a quiet guy. One of the reasons for my quietness was my shy disposition. I didn’t like talking in a group setting because I didn’t like to be put on the spot where everyone focused their attention on me. Another reason was that I was not a good speaker, and sometimes I had trouble expressing my ideas. In my final speech in the CTM program, I am going to tell you how I learned about the Toastmasters International, how I decided to join the club, and how Toastmasters had helped me to improve my communication skills.
When I was in the 4th year of my university studies, I saw an advertisement of Toastmasters International on the school’s bulletin board. My friend and I read the advertisement and looked at each other for a second, and said “Nah, not for us”. At that time, I had some exposure to public speaking as I have to do some in-class presentation for my business classes. And every time I gave a class presentation, I was very nervous and unconfident. The presentation concluded with a question and answer period. Since there was no feedback after the presentation, I felt it was not helping me improve my public speaking skills.
Then, in a job performance review in 2003, my supervisor at that time told me that I seldom talked in a team meeting. She told me that I had done great work personally, but it would be better if I could contribute my ideas during a team meeting. She told me that one way to overcome my communication problem was to join the Toastmasters. She told me she was a member of the Toastmasters before, and she found it had helped her a lot in communication. At that time, I was still undecided whether I should join or not. Then I learned that two of my co-workers, who were also shy and quiet, had joined the Toastmasters already. Finally, I decided to give it a shot.
Before I joined the Toastmasters, I had the perception that the club was only for advanced speakers who enjoyed speaking in public and wanted to compete with other professionals. I thought the evaluation for the speakers would be very critical. When I joined the club, I realized it was not the case. I found it was a club for people like myself to improve their public speaking and leadership skills. The club members always provided meaningful feedback on each other’s speech and always encouraged each other to do better. Even if you were not ready to give a speech, there were plenty of roles in the club that you could take to practice your communication skills.
I remembered when I finished my icebreaker speech, I received great applauses and many useful and encouraging feedback from the members. At that moment, I told myself “If I don’t improve my public speaking skills in this club, where else could give me a comfortable and supportive environment like this to improve?” At that time, I knew I had joined the right club. When I was in the club, I had received tremendous help from the members. For example, Wendy Webber helped me with the preparation and editing of my icebreaker. Khin Tan helped me to familiarize with different roles performed during the meeting. Last but not least, Margaret Williams had always provided me with tips on how to improve my public speaking skills.
With the help and support of the club, I gradually became smoother and more confident in my public speaking. In the next two years after joining the club, I had several chances at job interviews, school presentations and interview with taxpayers. I found the skills I got from Toastmasters had helped me immensely. If people asked me what clubs they should join, I would not hesitate to recommend Toastmasters International to them.
Author: Jeff Chen CTM
High Performance Leadership Success
To achieve my High Performance Leadership I chose to begin a leadership project in 2000 that was to form a blanket non profit organization for woodworking quilds in the lower mainland.
As many of you already know, I have a life outside of Toastmasters. Among my other interests is woodworking. It is that woodworking fascination that gives me that ability to obtain a sense of achievement and satisfaction in a job well done that has lasting value even years later. I urge you to set your goals for the future, not just tomorrow.
But like any good craft, Woodworkers like to gather in groups of mutual interest, brag about their show and tell projects, and ask for help from others where they need it. One of the problems in all woodworking clubs, or guilds as some are called, is the danger of an accident while at a guild meeting, or on a guild approved demonstration or training. How do we protect ourselves from a costly accident as simple as a sliver of wood flying into someone's eye? Insurance is available, but will usually cost from $500.00 to $1,000.00 a year for a club who might have just 10 or twenty members. That is just too costly for a small club who can't raise that kind of money from membership fees. Woodworking clubs have struggled with this since the beginning of time. Most will tell you that it is up to you to carry your own accident coverage.
In 1997, I was one of the founding members of a club in Abbotsford we call the Fraser Valley Woodworkers Guild. We bought a $1,000,000.00 of liability coverage, but it cost two thirds of our 30 member dues revenue. Add costs like rent, and we had no money left for things like a library or educational material. Paying a guest speaker or training courses was just out of the question.
As treasurer for the guild, I was responsible to purchase the insurance. I spoke to my agent about how many members we could get before the premium increased and was advised that we could have well over 2,000 members before we would remotely effect the minimum premium. That is more than all of the woodworking guilds in BC combined. At my request, the agent then found an insurance carrier who was willing to offer a blanket policy for all the clubs that we could put together at the minimum price we were now paying. That was 2002 and my start of my high performance leadership project.
It took me well over a year talking to people in other woodworking clubs to so much as listen to the concept. They just couldn't believe that it was that easy. Normally when something is too good to be true, it isn't going to work And they were not about to abandon their existing insurance on a wild goose chase.
I finally found two members of my own club who are also turners in two lathe working guilds. Together, we spoke to our three respective clubs and all three clubs agreed that this is a good project and needs to be undertaken. We added two more members to our committee and started assigning roles and duties. Although this was my idea, I didn't want to sound like a dictator, so I agreed to be treasurer rather than president. Colin was elected president.
I accepted the task of acquiring the insurance coverage and opening the bank account. Colin undertook to get our new umbrella organization chartered under the Societies Act of BC as a non profit company while Bill and Ian were prime contacts with the two turner clubs. I was still prime contact with my own joinery club. Since we had no money, I used my personal credit card to pay for incorporation which was then split three ways between the chartering three clubs before I was reimbursed. Colin, in turn, had all kinds of problems dotting the I's and crossing the T's before we got chartered and the bank wouldn't open an account until we did. I even used my credit card to pay for the insurance and had to wait for the bank account to be opened to be reimbursed.
One of the conflict problems we encountered was that the million dollars coverage I had proposed as adequate was not enough for one of the other clubs. I went to the insurance carrier and they agreed to increase the coverage from the existing one million dollars to the requested two million dollars liability, at a premium increase from existing $650.00 per year to $900.00 per year but refused to cover officers and directors liability coverage requested. The $900.00 wasn't a problem. The turners club demanding that level of coverage was already paying that, but they insisted on their current coverage including officers and director's liability coverage. With the help of that club's treasurer, we asked their carrier; who in turn agreed to cover the umbrella policy, but only if the premium were again increased, this time up to $1,400.00. All three clubs looked at it and agreed that one third of 1,400.00 is still less than they were paying at the time. All Agreed.
The project umbrella insurance came into being October 2004. I learned from my committee friends that I was setting my goals too low and need to look higher. I was happy to just get all the clubs in the Lower Mainland together; however during our first year of operation, we have gained another member in the Sunshine Coast and are now reviewing interested guilds in places like Victoria, Nanaimo,Prince George, Kamloops and Kelowna and additional crafts like sewing and weaving,A second conflict came from smaller clubs, who complained that an equal split between all clubs favours the larger clubs because they get more advantage because of their greater membership. This was resolved by changing the clubs cost pro rata to membership numbers.
During the period I also learned that there are many different points of view, even when the goal appears obvious as it did to me. I learned to listen to opposition or should I say "better ideas", rather than be defensive; something I use quite often in my last two years of area and division governor. The team members are also very proud of what we have accomplished to be a on the starting block of such a momentous achievement with such a lasting value. I believe this is clearly an example of where working together,everyone wins. I challenge you to work together with others and aim high when setting your goals.
Author: Elmer Thiessen Division K Governor
To achieve my High Performance Leadership I chose to begin a leadership project in 2000 that was to form a blanket non profit organization for woodworking quilds in the lower mainland.
As many of you already know, I have a life outside of Toastmasters. Among my other interests is woodworking. It is that woodworking fascination that gives me that ability to obtain a sense of achievement and satisfaction in a job well done that has lasting value even years later. I urge you to set your goals for the future, not just tomorrow.
But like any good craft, Woodworkers like to gather in groups of mutual interest, brag about their show and tell projects, and ask for help from others where they need it. One of the problems in all woodworking clubs, or guilds as some are called, is the danger of an accident while at a guild meeting, or on a guild approved demonstration or training. How do we protect ourselves from a costly accident as simple as a sliver of wood flying into someone's eye? Insurance is available, but will usually cost from $500.00 to $1,000.00 a year for a club who might have just 10 or twenty members. That is just too costly for a small club who can't raise that kind of money from membership fees. Woodworking clubs have struggled with this since the beginning of time. Most will tell you that it is up to you to carry your own accident coverage.
In 1997, I was one of the founding members of a club in Abbotsford we call the Fraser Valley Woodworkers Guild. We bought a $1,000,000.00 of liability coverage, but it cost two thirds of our 30 member dues revenue. Add costs like rent, and we had no money left for things like a library or educational material. Paying a guest speaker or training courses was just out of the question.
As treasurer for the guild, I was responsible to purchase the insurance. I spoke to my agent about how many members we could get before the premium increased and was advised that we could have well over 2,000 members before we would remotely effect the minimum premium. That is more than all of the woodworking guilds in BC combined. At my request, the agent then found an insurance carrier who was willing to offer a blanket policy for all the clubs that we could put together at the minimum price we were now paying. That was 2002 and my start of my high performance leadership project.
It took me well over a year talking to people in other woodworking clubs to so much as listen to the concept. They just couldn't believe that it was that easy. Normally when something is too good to be true, it isn't going to work And they were not about to abandon their existing insurance on a wild goose chase.
I finally found two members of my own club who are also turners in two lathe working guilds. Together, we spoke to our three respective clubs and all three clubs agreed that this is a good project and needs to be undertaken. We added two more members to our committee and started assigning roles and duties. Although this was my idea, I didn't want to sound like a dictator, so I agreed to be treasurer rather than president. Colin was elected president.
I accepted the task of acquiring the insurance coverage and opening the bank account. Colin undertook to get our new umbrella organization chartered under the Societies Act of BC as a non profit company while Bill and Ian were prime contacts with the two turner clubs. I was still prime contact with my own joinery club. Since we had no money, I used my personal credit card to pay for incorporation which was then split three ways between the chartering three clubs before I was reimbursed. Colin, in turn, had all kinds of problems dotting the I's and crossing the T's before we got chartered and the bank wouldn't open an account until we did. I even used my credit card to pay for the insurance and had to wait for the bank account to be opened to be reimbursed.
One of the conflict problems we encountered was that the million dollars coverage I had proposed as adequate was not enough for one of the other clubs. I went to the insurance carrier and they agreed to increase the coverage from the existing one million dollars to the requested two million dollars liability, at a premium increase from existing $650.00 per year to $900.00 per year but refused to cover officers and directors liability coverage requested. The $900.00 wasn't a problem. The turners club demanding that level of coverage was already paying that, but they insisted on their current coverage including officers and director's liability coverage. With the help of that club's treasurer, we asked their carrier; who in turn agreed to cover the umbrella policy, but only if the premium were again increased, this time up to $1,400.00. All three clubs looked at it and agreed that one third of 1,400.00 is still less than they were paying at the time. All Agreed.
The project umbrella insurance came into being October 2004. I learned from my committee friends that I was setting my goals too low and need to look higher. I was happy to just get all the clubs in the Lower Mainland together; however during our first year of operation, we have gained another member in the Sunshine Coast and are now reviewing interested guilds in places like Victoria, Nanaimo,Prince George, Kamloops and Kelowna and additional crafts like sewing and weaving,A second conflict came from smaller clubs, who complained that an equal split between all clubs favours the larger clubs because they get more advantage because of their greater membership. This was resolved by changing the clubs cost pro rata to membership numbers.
During the period I also learned that there are many different points of view, even when the goal appears obvious as it did to me. I learned to listen to opposition or should I say "better ideas", rather than be defensive; something I use quite often in my last two years of area and division governor. The team members are also very proud of what we have accomplished to be a on the starting block of such a momentous achievement with such a lasting value. I believe this is clearly an example of where working together,everyone wins. I challenge you to work together with others and aim high when setting your goals.
Author: Elmer Thiessen Division K Governor
September 2005 Steve Henshall's Success Story
It was September, 2000 when I joined Chilliwack Toastmasters, at the time I was living in the very picturesque village and tourist resort of Harrison Hot Springs,was unemployed, broke and feeling really down. A lady friend of mine, had knowledge of my situation and suggested that I try Toastmasters. "You enjoy speaking to people", she said, "Why don't you try Toastmasters", "It's positive, outgoing and fun, I think you'll enjoy it".
The closest club to me was Chilliwack ,about a half hour away. With a lot of research I found a contact person, who informed me of where the Chilliwack club met, I started practicing and discovered that I was really enjoying this 'stuff' Speaking in front of an audience is fun!!, I love it! I think I have found a new career. Realising that speaking 'Sparked a new Energy inside me', I decided that I wanted to speak Professionally. Within ten months, I had completed my first manual and attained my C.T.M, I was so proud. Now onto the Advanced Manual, A.T.M Bronze, and so on.Then I found Speakers Advantage, an advanced club in Surrey. Attending this club has certainly helped me progress and grow as a Toastmaster. The club has a warm, friendly atmosphere and encourages goal setting. It prides itself in promoting leadership and setting the standard for welcoming new people as guests to our club who would like to see for themselves what we are all about.
Speakers Advantage has really helped me to grow as a speaker in confidence and drive!" It is my intention to continue going forward in this organisation, growing and maturing. Speaker's Advantage is an Advanced Toastmaster Club that welcomes all C.T.M s who wish to advance themselves and gain the advantage of growing and excelling in a wonderful, exciting environment that our club offers.
Author: Submitted by Steve Henshall
It was September, 2000 when I joined Chilliwack Toastmasters, at the time I was living in the very picturesque village and tourist resort of Harrison Hot Springs,was unemployed, broke and feeling really down. A lady friend of mine, had knowledge of my situation and suggested that I try Toastmasters. "You enjoy speaking to people", she said, "Why don't you try Toastmasters", "It's positive, outgoing and fun, I think you'll enjoy it".
The closest club to me was Chilliwack ,about a half hour away. With a lot of research I found a contact person, who informed me of where the Chilliwack club met, I started practicing and discovered that I was really enjoying this 'stuff' Speaking in front of an audience is fun!!, I love it! I think I have found a new career. Realising that speaking 'Sparked a new Energy inside me', I decided that I wanted to speak Professionally. Within ten months, I had completed my first manual and attained my C.T.M, I was so proud. Now onto the Advanced Manual, A.T.M Bronze, and so on.Then I found Speakers Advantage, an advanced club in Surrey. Attending this club has certainly helped me progress and grow as a Toastmaster. The club has a warm, friendly atmosphere and encourages goal setting. It prides itself in promoting leadership and setting the standard for welcoming new people as guests to our club who would like to see for themselves what we are all about.
Speakers Advantage has really helped me to grow as a speaker in confidence and drive!" It is my intention to continue going forward in this organisation, growing and maturing. Speaker's Advantage is an Advanced Toastmaster Club that welcomes all C.T.M s who wish to advance themselves and gain the advantage of growing and excelling in a wonderful, exciting environment that our club offers.
Author: Submitted by Steve Henshall
