From Samir Malak, Area Director, K35
As we were preparing for the Area Contest, a boy approached me, his face awash with consternation. “When are you going to be finished?” I advised we would certainly be done by 10pm. “But we are having Karate at 8pm in that room.”
“Let me look into that.” I responded, with a smile.
Part 2 of the Contests report from Samir Malak, Area 35 Director
As we were preparing for the Area Contest, a boy approached me, his face awash with consternation. “When are you going to be finished?” I advised we would certainly be done by 10pm. “But we are having Karate at 8pm in that room.”
“Let me look into that.” I responded, with a smile.
We are often faced with challenges in our day to day lives and what we do in the face of a challenge speaks volumes about who we are. The Speakers of Croydon leadership team confirmed we had booked the room, however, the Invictus Karate Club also had the room booked and the authorities of the venue were not able to be contacted to confirm and resolve the conflict.
Toastmasters from the leadership teams across the Area lept into action seeking alternatives. You see, the Karate Club had to begin setup in the next 15 minutes and they had an inspector on the way from Milton Keynes . . . there was much at stakes for both groups!!! We considered alternate venues in the area, other rooms, called local facilities. In the end, we ran out of time, I announced to all that we needed to break down the room and we would reconvene upstairs to determine a plan of action.
As I was about to make my way upstairs to marshall the attendees together and establish a plan of action, the Karate instructor stopped me and pulled me aside. He had found an alternative for his club meeting and he was going to cover the costs to shift his group. Why? “Because you have tried everything to find an alternative and resolve this, if it were anyone else, I would have just said no.”
I went upstairs and announced that we were back on track and we had a most excellent contest. The room was setup again in short order as everyone pulled together to get us back on track. At the end of the contest, I thanked everyone for their demonstration of Toastmasters values of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence, it was because everyone came together and rose to the occasion to do the right thing that they moved the Karate club to go above and beyond to support us in having a celebration of excellence, not just of our contestants, but of the Toastmaster club members!
Samir Malak, ACS, ALB
Area Director, K35
Somehow the time to celebrate the monthly educational achievements in District 91 seems to come around ever faster! So it’s just as well I enjoy the process of looking at the growing list of names and recognising the achievements of our members. Just today I looked at my own educational achievements and I realised (not for the first time) that I’ve come a long way. I never would have been able to do it without the support of my fellow Toastmasters so this month, while recognising the achievements of our members, I also recognise the valuable role all members play in supporting one another. It’s what keeps me hooked 🙂
| Member | Award | Club Name |
| Birch, Stephen | ACS | Malvern Speakers |
| Brett, Ian | CC | Bromley Speakers |
| Buckridge, Martin | CC | Cardiff Toastmasters |
| Callaway, Ruth M. | CC | Cardiff Toastmasters |
| Cardoza, Bindu | ACB | Cardiff Toastmasters |
| Chamberlain, Dean | ACB | Hamwic Speakers |
| D’Agostini, Maud | CL | Sytel Reply Toastmasters |
| Darroch, Frances | CC | Riverside Communicators |
| Frances, Coralie | ACG | HOD Speakers Club |
| Goffin, Louise | CL | FM Global Communicators |
| Johnson, Caroline | CL | Voice of Wales |
| Jones, Andrew | ACB | Cardiff Toastmasters |
| Kaye, Shola | ACB | Grosvenor Square Club |
| Kettlewell, Julia | ACB | Grosvenor Square Club |
| Laney, Jenny | CC | Meridian Speakers Club |
| McIntosh, Caroline | CC | Swan Speakers |
| Mooraby, Faisal | ALB | Thamesdown Speakers Club |
| Perry, Tessa | ACS | Cardiff Toastmasters |
| Petermann, Nadine | CL | WIBF Speakers-City Club |
| Petrovic, Zaklina | CC | Chiltern Speakers Club |
| Sawhney, Rajeev | CC | Maidenhead Speakers Club |
| Skelton, Brian | CL | Kings Cross Speakers |
| Spencer, Daniel | CL | Imperial College Speakers |
| Swift, Carrie | CL | Bloomsbury Speakers |
| Szécsényi, Blanka | CL | 1st London Toastmasters |
| Tilley, Darren | CC | Thamesdown Speakers Club |
| Varholak, Peter | ALB | PMI UK Toastmasters Club |
| Witchell, Linda | ACB | Ferndown Speakers |
| Yip, Wan Chun Sally | CL | London Cardinals Club |
I would also like to make special mention of those members who have registered three educational awards in the same Toastmasters year:
| Meg Heyworth | Mark Lottig |
| Andy O’Sullivan | Max Ridder-Patrick |
| David Salamons | Jill Segal |
| Shola Kaye | Taha Sharieff |
| Brian Skelton |
Many congratulations to you all!
From Andrew P Bennett DTM
Fellow Toastmasters it was with great excitement and pride that I received the news of my District 91 Toastmaster of the Year award. I would like to thank our Immediate Past District Governor Hilary Briggs and the Toastmasters who nominated me for this very special honour which I will treasure.
Division B Director Neil Coleman and President Charles Nahal, Berkeley Square Speakers kindly came from Swindon Conference to bring the award to me in Kent.
I am thrilled that this award reflects highly on my clubs Excalibur Advanced Speakers, Berkeley Square Speakers and also City Limits of which I am mentor.
Special mention was made of our Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program and I can only express my deepest gratitude and affection for the Toastmasters who have been willing to step in to the classroom and share their speaking skills with an ever growing number of young people. As District Youth Adviser I could only launch this initiative and support our members to the best of my ability, but it was my toastmasters from many clubs in the Districts who delivered the program.
Some of you may be aware that my current health situation means that I am not autonomous of movement and probably will not be able to attend club meetings in person for a while to come. During this time District 91 Club Growth Director Dorothea Stuart and Toastmaster Tony Winyard are kindly offering to actively assist any Toastmasters who are thinking of setting up a youth leadership program and carry on with the established custom of visits to the programs if possible. Our District YLP initiative continues and if you are running a YLP please keep us posted with news that we can share with our Toastmasters.
An award means a celebration and Toastmasters Simon Frusher, David Salomons , Daniel Broadhead and Richard Gibson took me for a delightful lunch at The White Hart in Eltham. I have been very touched over the last few months by the many visits, cards and messages from our very special Toastmasters community.
Thank you to you all.
Until we meet again I take this occasion to wish you all a very happy holiday season
With Warmest Wishes, Andrew P Bennett
Teresa Dukes, of Speak Easy at Martlesham in Martlesham, Suffolk, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Toastmasters International, the world’s leading organization devoted to teaching skills in communication and leadership. Dukes was elected to the 2015-2017 two-year term at the organization’s 84th annual International Convention, held August 12-15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As a member of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, Dukes is a “working ambassador” for the 300,000 member global organization. She works with the Board to develop and support the policies and procedures that guide Toastmasters International in fulfilling its mission.
Further information about Teresa
Teresa Dukes, DTM, of Ipswich, Suffolk, is a speaker, trainer and coach at Dukes Consultancy, a company she founded in May 2009. Certified as a World Class Speech Coach, she helps individuals achieve their personal objectives and reach their full potential. Her clients include CEOs, apprentices, high school students and small to medium size enterprises. Teresa also works as an associate trainer for Speakers Trust, a charitable pubic speaking organization that specializes in training and educating the not-for-profit and community sectors.
While studying at Kings College in Charlotte, North Carolina, Teresa earned a diploma in secretarial science. She continued her education to study marketing, geographical analysis and project management. She worked as a corporate director before becoming an entrepreneur.
A Toastmaster for 16 years, Teresa has been a member of her home club, Speak Easy at Martlesham in Martlesham, England, since 2004. She has held a number of high-profile leadership positions within Toastmasters and has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation—the highest level of achievement in the organization.
Teresa says, “Toastmasters means courage, opportunity and challenge: the courage to share ideas where they are heard, the opportunity to develop skills at your own pace, and the challenge to help others grow.” “Together,” she says, “Toastmasters not only grow personally and professionally, but are ready and able to grow their communities and businesses as well.”
