Begonia Wants to See You at the Fall Conference

Area 21 Director Begonia Reyes, CC, talks about why she goes to conferences, including the great speeches as well as a sense of community. Join us on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Somerset, NJ. Reserve your spot at TM83.org.

The Pillars of Toastmasters Wisdom

To become a Toastmaster is to open the door to the world.

Consider these disparate facts:

Have you ever heard of the Five Pillars of Islam?

This refers to the five duties required of every Muslim. They are Shahādah, the Muslim profession of faith, Salāt, ritual prayer five times each day, Zakāt, the alms levied for the poor, Sawm, fasting during the month of Ramadan (and no, you aren’t expected to eat nothing for a month), and Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca you should to try to complete at least once in your lifetime.

Have you heard of the Bible’s “Seven Pillars of Wisdom?” In the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament’s, Book of Proverbs, Chapter 9, Verse 1, we read, “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.” This refers to “Wisdom’s Feast,” the benefits we reap by sowing the seeds of kindness, generosity, humility, sincerity, and wisdom.

In Wadi Rum, Jordan, there is a beautiful mountain called “The Seven Pillars.” It looks like this:

Have you ever heard of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia?

Continue reading “The Pillars of Toastmasters Wisdom”

Why You Should Participate in Contests

Print out this flyer and hand it out at your next meeting!

When your Vice President of Education asks whether you want to participate in the club contest this August, resist the impulse to turn away. Instead, say “yes.”  You’ll thank yourself for doing it! I’ll tell you why you should participate in your club’s Table Topics and Tall Tales contests.  


Table Topics is tailor made for busy people. No speech preparation necessary. You are asked a question and you answer it in 1 to 2 minutes.  Simple, right?  The question is designed to be open ended, so every answer is the correct answer because it is just your opinion. The response needs to be at least one minute in length and no more than 2 minutes 30 seconds.  You can speak for a minute or use all your time. Every member in good standing is eligible to participate, whether they have 2 months experience as a Toastmaster or 2 years. By the way, “good standing” means the member has paid his or her dues. So what’s the catch?  
 

Continue reading “Why You Should Participate in Contests”