District 6 Speech Champ!!!

                                                                                     
We have a District 6 Speech Champ in our Club!

Hassan Won over nine other great Speech Contestants
who gave it their best.  Hassan was in perfect form
and wowed the judges.  They were all winners but only
Hassan gets to go on to the Region contest in Lincoln,
Nebraska June 21-23.  All Metropolitan Toastmasters
who witnessed the event were treated to a memorable
evening.  Thanks to all the contestants but especially
Hassan who made us all proud.

  

Region IV Toastmasters conference

Schedule of Events

Thursday night

          5pm                Toastmasters International is holding an invitation only focus group.  All those not attending the focus group are invited to participate in an All-Region Toastmasters meeting. For a speaking slot or to volunteer for any position at this meeting, please contact lewandowski.anita@principal.com and info will be forwarded to the Toastmaster of the event.

Friday

7:30am           Registration desk opens

8am                Credentials desk open; TI Book Store opens

8:30am           Opening and Welcome

by Nebraska’s First Lady, Sally Ganem

Kick off with Craig Valentine, 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking.  Craig is an internationally-known award-winning professional speaker, trainer and CEO of The Communication Factory.

10:30am         Dana LaMon, 1992 World Champion of Public Speaking with “A Meaningful Life”

Noon               Keynote speaker, Craig Valentine

Lunch

2pm                Two educational sessions to consider:

Speaker, Kim Whiteside with “All your Senses to Connect Emotionally”

Speaker, Sara Yager with “Can I give you a Hug?”

DISTRICT TREASURER TRAINING 2-4pm

3pm                Two educational sessions to consider:

Speaker, Theo Black with “Visioning”

Speaker, Colleen Bozarth, “Leadership Effectiveness”

4pm                Chris Ford, Senior Vice President of Toastmasters International presents, “Toastmasters and You”

5:30pm           Cash bar and reception

7pm                Lancaster Buffet dinner and Friday Fun Night

Hospitality room opens after activities wrap up until 9:30pm.

Saturday

            7:30am           Registration desk opens

            8am                Credentials desk pen; TI Book Store opens

8:30am           Opening and Kick off with Dana LaMon, 1992 World Champion of Public Speaking. Dana has spoken to audiences from southeast Asia to South Africa, including 29 states in the United States.

            9:30am           Two educational sessions to consider:

Speaker, Judy Southwick with “Opening Doors Around the World”

Facilitated networking session with Anita Lewandowski and Audra Kelly

DISTRICT PUBLIC RELATIONS TRAINING 9:30am-12:30pm

            10:30am         Two educational sessions to consider:

Bill Cashell with “Persuasive Speaking”

Kim Overton with “Are You Fit to Speak”

11:45am         Two educational sessions to consider:

Tom Albers with “Tell the Toastmasters Story”.

Helen Jacobe with “Adventure Racing”

12:45pm         Lunch and Communication & Leadership Award Winner,                                                                               Congressman Lee Terry.  Before coming to Congress, Lee served two years as president of the Omaha City Council, and two years as Omaha City Council vice president. In business, Lee was a respected Omaha attorney and managing partner of a small law firm specializing in civil cases. In Washington, Lee currently works on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees telecommunications, energy, finance, trade, consumer protection, and business-related legislative issues.

2:30pm           Craig Valentine with “The Champion’s Edge”

4pm                Business meeting

5:30pm           Cash bar and reception

6pm                Prime Rib Dinner

7pm                Region IV International Speech Contest

Hospitality room opens after activities wrap up.

Region IV Toastmasters Conference June 22-23 In Lincoln, Nebraska

Sharon McGinnis Shares Puffballs

Sharon & Shasha Get Ready to Enjoy

President Debbie Andrews Hands the Lifetime Achievement Award to Craig Ostrem, DTM

Craig Ostrem, Vice President of Membership for Metropolitan Toastmasters Club 1696, recently received recognition of his continual dedicated service and efforts to maintain and build membership in Club 1696. The award was presented to Mr. Ostrem as current and former members from the club's long history celebrated Metropolitan Toastmasters' 50th Anniversary in July, 2005. Also in attendance was his wife, Linda. The Ostrem family, which includes two young sons, James and Charlie, lives in Edina, Minnesota.

President Debbie Andrews (who Ostrem mentored) cited Ostrem on behalf of the entire club, "Craig's willingness to go the extra step in every project is only one aspect of all he has accomplished for Metropolitan. Your active participation and excellence in all endeavors serve as examples for all members. This recognition from Metropolitan attests to how club members respect you as a person, a communicator, and a leader."

As he accepted his award, Ostrem shared a few words with the audience.

"You attract success by the person that you become. The Toastmasters program enhances becoming. As a participating member of a Toastmaster Club, you will improve communication and interpersonal skills, make new friends, and have opportunities to practice your leadership in a safe environment."

He has accomplished all of that and more.

Ostrem, now a partner and Vice President of Investments for Van Clemens & Company, Inc. first joined Metropolitan  Toastmasters in 1992. He has served the club as Mentor to new members, President, Vice President of Membership and of Education. He has served the wider Toastmaster community as Area Governor.

His unflagging spirit, when Club 1696 membership declined, helped rebuild Metropolitan into the energetic and dynamic club it is today. His speaking skills constantly inspire new and longtime members: he has competed in speech contests at the District level in Rochester and Mankato, MN.

His personal achievements in Toastmasters include earning Silver and Gold Advanced Toastmaster, Competent and Advanced Leader, and the highest level, Distinguished Toastmaster, which he earned in autumn, 2004.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit, educational association that has helped more than four million men and women through its communication and leadership programs.  There are approximately 211,000 members in 10,500 clubs in 91 countries throughout the world.

A Toastmasters club provides its members with opportunities to improve their public speaking skills, to conduct meetings, and to develop as leaders.  Club activities are based on the principle of learning by doing and improving through practice and evaluation.