Why it's a good idea to Step Up in 2016

Are you dithering on the sidelines? Shall I? Shan't I? Maybe I will. May be I won't go to the Division E Conference. Then again ...

Here's 9 extremely good answers to common "will I/won't I/why should I?" questions. ( And yes, if we're honest, we've all asked them!)

FAQs for fence sitters

1. I’ve been to my club contest, my area contest and now you want to me to go to another contest?

While the Division E International Speech and Evaluation Contests will be a major part of the event the conference isn’t just speech contests. There will also be speeches filled with updates and inspiration from the District 72 (New Zealand) Club Growth Director Sarah Bate and our Division Director Gael Price. It’s also a fantastic way to meet new friends from around the region.

2. Why is it four hours long?

Four hours can seem like a long time, but this includes two contests, speeches, division awards, some quick fire games and a networking afternoon tea. The time will fly!

3. I don’t want to go by myself - what if I don’t know anyone there?

As you will know Toastmasters are supportive people - if you want to go to the conference but are worried that you won’t know anyone why not ask another member of your club if they would like to attend with you? Most clubs will have at least one member there - and many of your Area Directors will be present as well.

4. I would like to come, but what if I can’t make it to the venue?

As mentioned above Toastmasters are supportive people - if you are worried about getting to the venue ask another member if they can give you a ride, or even meet at a cafe before the conference and walk there together?

5. What if I turn up and I get asked to do something like timer or ballot counting?

Don’t worry about that! The conference organising team are working very hard to organise all aspects of the contest and they will make sure all of those roles are filled well in advance, you just need to come and enjoy the experience!

6. I haven’t got my Competent Communicator yet, am I too new a Toastmaster?

Of course not! Conferences are open to everyone, even if you aren’t a Toastmaster. No-one will know what manual you are working from.

7. Will I have to do a Table Topic?

That’s a tricky question. Although we don’t have a planned Table Topics session we can’t guarantee there won’t be the chance - but if you don’t want to take part just say so! No-one will be upset if you don’t want to do one.

8.What if people ignore me/don’t talk to me?

The easiest way to make sure people talk to you is to start a conversation with someone! Everyone has been to their first conference before so understands how daunting these can be. It does pay to remember that a lot of people have jobs on the day, and these conferences can sometimes be the only time people see each other, so don’t take it personally if it seems like you are in a sea of people who know each other - just start a conversation and make a new friend.

9. My question wasn’t answered here - who should I talk to?

If you have any further questions you can email the Conference Chair Mike McKee: area_e7@toastmasters.org.nz  Or Division Director Gael Price: division_e@toastmasters.org.nz

See you at the conference!

Many thanks to Owen Winter Area 6 Director for the post.

The great gold give away for new members

Are you a new Toastmaster member?

Have you got your Golden Ticket  for the Division E Conference yet?

The Golden Ticket is a special gift just for you. It's a "two-for-the-price-of-one" deal entitling you to bring a non-Toastmaster friend along to experience and witness the best of public speaking in Wellington.

Come and you'll see and hear where Toastmasters could take you.

The Golden Ticket story

Area E7  Director Mike McKee

Golden tickets are the inspiration of Conference organiser Area E7 Director Mike McKee.

He's keen for all new members to know what they could aspire to and seeing and hearing competent speakers, he says, is by far the best way of showing people what is within their reach, if they follow the Toastmaster programme.  Sharing that experience with a friend, he says, is very powerful as it helps confirm and reinforce both the original decision to join Toastmasters, and the commitment to continue on the journey. And on top of that, he says, the speakers newcomers will see and hear are often relatively new members themselves.

The conference is an opportunity to mix, to mingle,  to set future goals  and a golden ticket, he says, is our way of encouraging new members to come along.

Getting your Golden Ticket

Golden tickets have been distributed to all Wellington clubs to hand on to each of their new members. If you are a new member and have NOT yet been given a ticket please ask to your club president for one.

Using your Golden Ticket

The Golden Ticket "two-for-the-price-of-one" offer is ONLY available if you pre-register online. 

The offer is NOT available for "on-the-day" registrations.

About the conference

This is a chance for you to connect with your fellow Toastmasters, watch the International and Evaluation Speech Contests and learn from special guest presenters who are sure to inspire, enthrall and entertain! See you there.

Date: Saturday 9th April
Time: 1-5pm

Cost: $15 per person - except if you have a Golden Ticket and have pre-registered.

Place: Lifepoint Auditorium
Where: 61 Hopper Street, Mount Cook

Area contest reports - E2, E6 and E7

Area contests are an exciting time when members from different clubs get to meet, greet - and of course, compete. This month we have Area contests in the arts of prepared speaking (the International speech contest) and evaluation (the Evaluation contest). Three Areas have already finished their contests. See below for the results!

The winners from these contests will go on to compete in the Division E conference on 9 April. Will you be there to find out who is the best in Wellington? Registration details are here.

Capital Breakfast club hosted the Area E2 International speech contest on 17 March, a bright-and-early event which saw three speakers from the breakfast clubs compete for the E2 title. The audience enjoyed stories of gliding, entrepreneurship, unlikely friendships, introversion, technology, and self-acceptance. The morning ran smoothly thanks to contest chair Max Fuhrer. After a short break to enjoy the club's customary hospitality with excellent coffee and baking, the winner was announced - Anna Cramp of Capital Breakfast.

Area E2 International speech contest. (L-R) 2nd place Tony Henderson-Newport, 1st place Anna Cramp, 3rd place David Coxon, contest chair Max Fuhrer.

For the Evaluation contest, E2 headed off to Business Breakfast Club on 22 March. The club did a great job of hosting the contest, and again coffee was plentiful, as were the very welcome danishes and muffins. Contest chair Paul Mulrooney ensured everything ran to time, as speakers were challenged by Mary Clarke's emotional test speech. Steve Preston of Business Breakfast took the Evaluation trophy for E2.

Area E2 Evaluation contest. (L-R) Contest chair Paul Mulrooney, 2nd place Tony Henderson-Newport, 1st place Steve Preston, 3rd place David Coxon, Area Director Amanda Hillock.

In E6, contest season kicked off with the International speech contest, hosted by Statistically Speaking on 16 March. The audience learned why cellphones are gossips, why procrastination is inevitable, and why personality types are important in political candidates. Ably chaired by Michael Challands, the contest ended with Roberta Eykholt of Police Toastmasters awarded the trophy.

Area E6 International speech contest. (L-R) 3rd place Urwashi Singh, 2nd place Tracy Wilkinson, 1st place Roberta Eykholt.

The E6 Evaluation contest on 21 March headed back to Roberta's home club, Police - Division E's newest club. Hosting an Area contest is a huge achievement for such a new club, and all the club members did superbly well in their various contest roles, to their credit and that of their mentors. Contest chair Stu Taylforth did everything by the book as he led a contest that included a thought-provoking test speech from Kinnie Vermeulen, followed by three evaluations. After a round of insightful interviews, the first place trophy was awarded to Peter Scholtens of Statistically Speaking.

Area E6 Evaluation contest. (L-R) 3rd place Kathy Murphy, 2nd place Brittany Chellew, 1st place Peter Scholtens, Area Director Owen Winter, contest chair Stu Taylforth.

Area E7's contests were both hosted by Turbine Talkers on 17 March, in the club's large and convenient venue at St Matthew's church in Brooklyn. Contest chair Rose Wyse skilfully handled all the ins and outs of two contests. The International speech contest was a treat, with five speakers variously uplifting the audience and tugging at their heartstrings. After hearing about the joys and terrors of grandparenthood, bike riding, jury service, special friendships, and the haka, it was time for a tea break before the Evaluation contest.

Well fed, the E7 audience returned to enjoy Rana Ghosh's informative speech about gliding spiders, followed by analysis from six evaluators. Contest results were the final order of business: the Evaluation contest was won by Deborah Lambie of Turbine Talkers, and first place in International went to Ella Kahu of Island Bay.

Area E7 Evaluation contest. (L-R) 3rd place Mark MacCallum, 2nd place Antony Zogg, 1st place Deborah Lambie.

Area E7 International speech contest. (L-R) 2nd place Deborah Lambie, 1st place Ella Kahu, 3rd place Steve Preston.

Congratulations to all the winners, and well done to everyone who took part! Tune in next week for the next set of contest results. If you're wondering when your contest is, have a look at the Area contest calendar.

Division E is changing...

Over the past few years, Division E has welcomed a lot of new lunchtime clubs! That growth means lots of new Toastmasters, lots of new faces at Area contests - and new responsibilities for Area Directors.

To help spread the load, Division E will soon be changing the way our clubs are organised into Areas. The change will create one new lunchtime Area, and reshuffle the existing lunchtime Areas so that the clubs in one Area are reasonably close together.

The changes (or "realignment") have been through an extensive consultation process, and the resulting plan is supported by every affected club. Thank you to all those involved in consultation! The next step is for the whole country to vote on the plan at the May District council meeting. If that vote is successful, clubs will move into their new Areas on July 1st.

To see what Division E will look like after the change, check out this Google map - or see below for the full realignment report that's going to District.

Long-serving Wellington Toastmaster recognised

This week we recognise Andrew Smith of Wellington Toastmasters club for 25 years' membership of Toastmasters. District Club Growth Director Sarah Bate visited the club on Monday to present Andrew with his long service award.

Andrew Smith DTM receiving his long service award from Club Growth Director Sarah Bate at Wellington Toastmasters. Meeting chair Guy Stapleton looks on.

Andrew joined Toastmasters in June 1990 (the same month as Nicki Mann of Capital Breakfast, whose long service was recognised in December). He has served as an Area Governor and now enjoys supporting and mentoring the many new members at Wellington Toastmasters.

Congratulations Andrew!

Division conference registration open - and online!

It's only a month until the Division Conference at Lifepoint Church - the chance for you to connect with your fellow Toastmasters, watch the International and Evaluation Speech Contests and learn from special guest presenters who are sure to inspire, enthrall and entertain!

We have opened up registration for the Conference, and for the first time in Division E you can make use of our online registration form: tinyurl.com/DivEConference

Don't miss your chance to Step Up to a new challenge and a new level of Toastmasters in April!

Also, this year a very special initiative has been undertaken - the Golden Ticket!

Each new member in Division E this year is being presented with a Golden Ticket which entitles them (on pre-registration) to a two-for-one "Bring a Friend" ticket. This is to encourage new members to experience the excitement of a Division conference along with a friend - so if you're new, you don't have to worry that you won't know anybody!

All attendees are encouraged to pre-register. The cost is $15, but contestants can attend for free.

The conference is:

1-5 pm
Saturday 9th April
Lifepoint Auditorium
61 Hopper Street
Mount Cook

See you there!

Note: Parking at the venue is limited - please plan your travel and carpool or come by public transport if possible.

When and where is your Area contest?

Area contests are coming up! Over the next few weeks, some of the best evaluators and speakers in each Area will be competing in the arts of evaluation and inspirational speaking.

In the evaluation contest, every contestant evaluates the same speech - will they come up with the same recommendations? In the International speech contest, contestants have the chance to go all the way to the top and represent New Zealand at the Toastmasters International Convention in August. Last year the New Zealand representative was Matt Colcombe from Wellington's very own Business Breakfast Club. This time, could it be someone from your club?

Matt Colcombe of Business Breakfast Club accepting his 1st place certificate in the District International speech contest from past District Governor Kingsley Moody. Auckland, May 2015.

Every club can send a contestant to each contest in their Area. Here's where you can go to support your club contestants. (Note: times are approximate. For actual start times, check with your Area Director.)

Area	Contest	Date and time	Hosted by
E1	Both	Wednesday 30 March, 5.30pm	Capital Toastmasters (venue changed to MBIE office, 15 Stout Street)
E2	International	Thursday 17 March, 7am	Capital Breakfast
E2	Evaluation	Tuesday 22 March, 7am	Business Breakfast
E3	Evaluation	Wednesday 23 March, 12 noon	BNZ Harbour Quays
E3	International	Wednesday 30 March, 12.30pm	High Noon Bankers
E6	International	Wednesday 16 March, 12 noon	Statistically Speaking
E6	Evaluation	Monday 21 March, 12 noon	Police Toastmasters
E7	Both	Thursday 17 March, 7.30pm	Turbine Talkers
E9	International	Monday 14 March, 12 noon	St Andrew's on The Terrace
E9	Evaluation	Thursday 31 March, 12.30pm (updated)	St Andrew's on The Terrace
E10	Both	Wednesday 23 March, 5.30pm	Te Aro Toastmasters

The seven Area winners in each contest will go on to compete in the Division contest on 9 April. See you there!

Division E Conference - have you booked the date?

Open your diary - and ring 9th of April - Saturday 1-5pm for the Division E Conference. Get ready to Step Out and Step Up!

The International and Evaluation Contests have been in full swing all over the Capital. Photos of finalists have been popping up on the District 72 FaceBook page and we're getting ready to host the Division E Conference - the event that will decide who goes forward to the next level.

Who will step up in 2016?

The poster is ready - thanks to design maestro Owen Winter. The venue is booked thanks to Conference Manager Area 7 Director Mike McKee. We've been and checked it over.

As you can see Life Point Church in Hopper Street will be splendid.

9th of April. Book that date and watch out for further details coming your way very soon.