Helena Brewer

News from District Director, Vanessa King

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Succession Planning – Already?!

Dear District 91 members and leaders,

Vanessa King
District Director

I know it feels like a strange time to start thinking about the next group of leaders. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been through a bit of a shock at being elected to your role and you’ve experienced some awe when you’ve thought about the task ahead. However, you’ve built relationships with mentors and friends, you’ve had some training and you start to feel like you know what you’re doing. Surely it’s not time to hand over the baton just yet?

Well, no, it’s not quite time yet. You do have another few months to serve your members, see your vision come to fruition and develop your skills in leadership and communication. However, it’s never too early to start thinking about who you can ask to step up. Who can you nurture and encourage by suggesting they stand for election as a club officer or district leader? They may need some time to think about your suggestion, ask questions and seek advice from people they respect and admire.

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Report from PR Manager, Helena Brewer

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Busy, Busy, Busy.

There’s already been a flurry of activity across the District in 2017.  From the mouths of members, it’s ‘are you entering the contests?’.  There’s a definite buzz as clubs set contest dates and members prepare to enter. The articles from members this month reflect experiences of entering contests, even though they’d not been a member of Toastmasters all that long. Remember that you can support by offering to take a role at contests too. Articles on this will follow over the next couple of months. Keep your stories coming, share your experiences with fellow members.

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It Takes a Village

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“And first place and the District 91 Humorous Speech Champion for 2015…Selina Jones”. I gasped and jumped out of my seat as the room applauded. I couldn’t believe I had won!

But actually, I hadn’t won at all. Or rather, I certainly hadn’t won on my own – this was a real team effort, as I think all Toastmaster’s contests are.

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I owe this to Toastmasters

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A little bit over one year ago, I arrived in the UK. After a life time of being conditioned what I should and should not be doing, I came to the UK to pursue a new job and to build a new life.

Moving from Vodafone Egypt to Vodafone Group in the UK I was appointed to be a service manager, a role where I will have a team to lead, presentations to make, and studies to prepare, I needed to take my personality and my confidence to a whole new level.

I joined Toastmasters back in March 2016, and I was hooked, I originally joined Newbury Speakers club, and soon after I decided to join Ascot Speakers as well.

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