Northern Division's Michael Gallagher runner-up in District 70 International Speech Contest final

Northern Division's Michael Gallagher from Coffs Harbour has been judged runner-up in the District 70 International Speech Contest final.

The contest was won by Mark D'Silva.

In the Evaluation Contest, our contestant Rob Philp from Tamworth acquitted himself well but did not place. The contest was won by Nigel Bryan with Robert Bath in second place.

Congratulations to Michael for an excellent presentation," said ND Governor Jim McNickle. "We are proud of you as our representative.

"Congratulations also to Rob Philp ’Äì thanks for your fine contribution as our representative."

Tamworth wins District 70 Travel Gavel for 2008

Tamworth Toastmasters has claimed the Travel Gavel again in 2008.

The Gavel is awarded at the District 70 Annual Conference (on a complex but specific formula, basically to the Club with the most members/travelled biggest distance).

The Gavel was donated originally by Tamworth Toastmasters "way back" to help encourage distant clubs to attend the Annual Conference.

"The Tamworth team" this year was Carol Brodbeck, Eric Elsley, Narelle Langfield, Alice & Ken McKenzie, Rob & Julie Philp.

"Congratulations to the Tamworth Club for taking out the TRAVEL GAVEL for the most kilometres travelled per club member," said ND Governor Jim McNickle. "A just recognition for your committment and enthusiasm."

Area 18's newest DTM ’Äì Drinda Luckensmeyer

Area 18 Governor Anna van Netten reports she was very pleased to be able to present Drinda Luckensmeyer with her Distinguished Toastmaster Award in March (2008).

Drinda grew up in the USA, a cotton farmers daughter gaining a teaching degree and marrying a cotton farmer (Richard). The couple came to Australia for their honeymoon and ended up moving here, setting up on a farm in Wee Waa.

As part of her role on the farm, Drinda had to learn how to drive all the heavy machinery.

The couple have four children and are active in church life. They joined Narrabri Toastmasters in the early 1990s.

Both Drinda and Richard have served numerous roles within the Club, including President, and Drinda has served as Area 18 Governor. Drinda has co-ordinated Speechcraft and Youth Leadership courses for her local Club and recently travelled to Quirindi fortnightly for six months to mentor and try to help rebuild the club there.

"Drinda has been both enthusiastic in promoting the goals of Toastmasters and is dedicated in her participation and assistance to others," said a spokesman for Narrabri Toastmasters.

Drinda is the first person from the Narrabri Club to achieve DTM.

ND 2008 International Speech & Evaluation Contest

Congratulations to the contestants and my thanks to those who helped make the recent contest a successful event. A special thanks to those who travelled to support the contestants.

The contest was, as usual for the Northern Division, of a very high standard. Each contestant should be proud of their contribution.

Results.

International Speech...

Winner : Michael Gallagher  Coffs Harbour Toastmasters
2nd Place : Naisse Dermott  Singleton Toastmasters

Evaluation...

Winner : Rob Philp Tamworth Toastmasters
2nd Place : Anneke Redman Maitland Toastmasters

Michael and Rob will represent our Division at the District Contest on April 12th and 13th at Penrith Panthers Club. Come along and support them.

Details re the conference and contests on www.d70toastmasters.org

- Jim

Congratulations!

To Roz Baker (Great Lakes) and Fran Kerkoff (Coffs Harbour) on being worthy representatives of Northern Division at the Table Topics and Humorous Speech contests at District level at the weekend. We are proud of your excellent efforts. Roz placed third in the TableTopics contest.

The Humorous competition was won by Wikrom Tang from Parramatta Club, Area 13, Western Division, the Table Topics by Rhonda Hookham from Sydney Travel Club, Area 48, Phillip Division.

- Jim

Soapbox Derby

R E P O R T !!!

On Saturday 3rd November, Muswellbrook held their Spring Carnival. The annual street parade attracted about 30 floats  and was followed by the Town Fair on the Village Green.

Muswellbrook Toastmasters Soap Box Derby was a popular attraction on the village green with both Toastmaster members and residents encouraged to talk about issues they were passionate about for about 5 minutes.

This proved a successful publicity raising exercise for Toastmasters who had a table set up and, whilst speakers were holding the audience captive, handed out the Toastmasters bookmarks with the next meeting date marked on it.

The local paper took a photo of a local identity (a local councillor having her say) and we are hoping that we do get some publicity from that.

This was a new idea which hadn't been tried in the area before however we are all keen to be part of the Spring Carnival next year and we have some ideas on how we could make this even bigger and better..

• We could have a more organised time frame i.e. have a timetable of speakers so that we don't lose the audience whilst the next speaker is getting organised
• Because we are competing with the Town Band, buskers and announcers on a microphone, we need either a microphone or a megaphone ourselves (Toastmasters will need to have some training on these first)
• It would be a good idea to invite local people to have their say - give them some weeks to prepare, i.e. "register now to have your say or you may miss out due to time restrictions"
• Try and interview a Toastmaster on radio a week before
• Encourage the parade organiser to talk to the ABC radio announcer about it as this worked well this year
• Organise hecklers to add to the atmosphere
• Organise people to stand and become a rent-a-crowd as people standing around attract more people to find out what is happening
• We could start before the parade with teasers so people come back i.e. after the parade, find out what Joe Blow thinks about what? where? why/etc.

Your chance to hear a World Champion

Toastmasters are invited to see 2004 World Champion of Public Speaking Randy Harvey present a Public Speaking Seminar.

Randy is a highly educated speaker who, coupled with his vast life experiences, is able to bring together humour, tragedy, excitement and enthusiasm. He has the ability to tell a tale with a strong message in a way that entertains and inspires his audiences. (For more information on Randy, visit his web site at www.randyjharvey.com.

There are three sessions scheduled covering the majority of District 70, each starting at 6.00 for a 6.30pm start, finishing around 9.00pm...

• Thursday, 15th November, East Maitland Bowling Club Banks Street, East Maitland
• Monday 19th November, Yowani Country Club Northbourne Ave, Lyneham
• Tuesday 20th November, Bankstown Sports Club, Greenfield Parade, and Bankstown

The cost is $15 per person if booked in advance and paid by credit card, or $20 if  paying on the night. So get in early and register to secure your place and witness one of the finest speakers to come to District 70.

To register, click here.

Date set for Northen Division International Speech & Evaluation contests

The 2008 Northern Division International Speech & Evaluation contests will be held on Sunday March 30.

Venue and other details yet to be finalised.

Northen Division Humorous Speech & Table Topics contests 2007

Around 60 Toastmasters attended the Northern Division Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests held in Tamworth on Saturday, October 21.

Paul Kidcaff from from Cessnock City took out the Humorous Contest from runner-up Fran Kirkhoff from Coffs Harbour and contestants Tom Bartlett from Gunnedah, Angela Bischoff-Joseph from Kempsey, Nick Broadbent from Tamworth, Julie Garlick from Taree, David Little from Great Lakes and Helen Redwood from Twin Rivers.

Roz Baker from Great Lakes won the Table Topics Contest from runner-up Julie Garlick and fellow contestants Stephen Beale from Narrabri, Angela Bischoff-Joseph, Kevin Doolan from Quirindi, Michael Gallagher from Coffs Harbour, Paul Kidcaff and Jill Taylor from Twin Rivers.

Immediate Past District Governor Nick Rinaldi travelled from Brisbane with his wife and fellow Toastmaster Joan to act as Chief Judge.

Tamworth's Stewart Dowe was Toastmaster for the Humorous Contest, Anneke Redman from Maitland was Toastmaster for the Table Topics Contest.

The "topic" was "Mother knows best" which offered a challenge to contestants while being relatively easy to speal to.

Paul is unfortunately not able to go to District level so Fran will compete in his place. Fran and Roz will represent Northern Division at the District finals to be held at Homebush Bay on Saturday, November 17. Click here for more information aboyt the Conference.

Photo (from left): District 70 Lt Governor Education & Training John Inglis, Chief Judge Nick Rinaldi, Paul Kidcaff, Fran Kirkhoff and Northern Division Governor Jim McNickle. Click here for more pictures from the day, and previous Northern Division events (click on the picture for a larger image).