CTI gets Presidents Distinguished award (again)

Congratualtions CTI Techtalkers! We are officially a Presidents Distinguished club for 2011-12!

For those who aren't aware, we have targets (shown below) to achieve a number of members who receive Competent Communicator (CC), Advanced Communicator (AC), Competent Leader (CL), Advanced Leader (AL) or Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), along with new members, and training of officers.

Success in at least 9 of 10 makes us "Presidents Distinguished"!

Congrats Team!!!

GOAL ACTUAL ACHIEVED [1] CCs 2 2 * [2] Additional CCs 2 1 [3] ACs 1 1 * [4] Additional ACs 1 1 * [5] CL, AL, or DTM 1 1 * [6] Additional CLs, ALs, or DTMs 1 3 * [7] New Members 4 4 * [8] Additional New Members 4 7 * [9] Officers Trained (both required)      June-August 4 7      and December-February 4 7 * [10] Submitted on time (both required)      October or April Renewal 1 2      and Officer List 1 1 * Total Goals Achieved To-Date: 9

CTI Techtalkers get 3rd Distinguished Toastmaster

Congratulations are in order to our beloved Geetha Nicodemus who, after 10 years in Toastmasters at a range of clubs spanning continents, is now a Distinguished Toastmaster.

Distinguished Toastmaster or DTM, is the highest award within Toastmasters, and represents a huge accomplishment not just in public speaking, but in a leadership capacity within club and division.

Geetha joins Darlene and Rosario as DTM's in our club, and rumour has it Val is close to achieving the status also.

Proof positive that CTI Techtalkers has a great depth of talent to call on. And so... time for the men to step up to the plate too methinks...

Congratualtions Geetha! and lady DTM's! (Perhaps we need Pink DTM jackets ala Grease...)

Katimavik-tims

Weds May 23rd. Another of our weekly Toastmaster sessions. In attendance:

Simon Jackson: Toastmaster; Darlene Davies, DTM: General Evaluator; David Zhao, CC: Timer; Geetha Nicodemus, ACG ALS: TT Evaluator; Jodi David; Josefina Perez: Grammarian; Kim Beckett: Speech Evaluator; Kyle Wilson, CC CL: Ah Counter; Lora Johnston: Speaker; Val Erickson, ACG ALB: TT Master; Chris Hecker, CL; Our Guests: May Li

Lora led the way with her speech about volunteering with the Youth Program Katimavik. She spoke on the importance of giving something back, and of helping to foster links and community relations and achieve things that would otherwise never be done. I wonder if Katimavik has a team that will come do my laundry?

Friendship and community were quite the theme of the day with our Table Topics Contest being won by David, who cited friendship as the thing in life he couldn't do without. Not only did he sway the judges, but he also managed to quote Francis Bacon.

Reminds me of the poem: Roses are Red. Bacon is also Red. Poems are hard. Mmm Bacon...

We were joined by a guest who spoke eloquently about the "silent place" and the difficulties of being an immigrant. As one of them I feel the pain. My advice: Buy good snow boots. Dress Warm.

Our evaluators summed up proceedings neatly, offering poignant advice about focusing on the personal touches, maintaining eye contact with the audience, and to our Toastmaster: More Clapping!

Donkeys in the bathtub and a walk on the dark side

CTI Techtalkers is not just a toastmasters club, but a gathering of
minds, a war of wits, and a sparkling effervescence of splendor.
Occasionally it's also about Donkeys in the Bath, and a voyage into
the dark recesses of our esteemed toastmasters minds.


May 16th was one such occasion, in the words of Joseph Conrad "They
had behind them, to my mind, the terrific suggestiveness of words
heard in dreams, of phrases spoken in nightmares."


Our Table Topics of the day presented by our esteemed Julie Wright,
concerned “Silly Laws”, and our winner of the day was Jean Francois
Amiot with a discussion of the frustrations of his wife keeping a
donkey in the bathtub. You had to be there.


Our speeches of the day were Simon Jackson with “O Fortuna”, and Val
Erickson with a look at whether we are “Lucky or Unlucky?” and the
personal decision for positivity.


Both speeches contained references to traumatic effects of the past,
prompting our incoming Club President for 2012, Chris Hecker, to
remark that we'd taken a 'walk on the dark side', and that
“Toastmasters can be a lot like Therapy”.


For myself, I have to mention that the CTI Techtalkers are much more
than a speaking group, they are a supportive group of friends, and
that as we all know, is worth more than Gold...


Also with us with her time keeping were Kim “My lights not on?”
Beckett, and Lora “Laughing Yoga” Johnston.

Come one, come all to the Division J contest!

There are many reasons to come to the Division J contest on Friday, April 20th at the Brentwood Sportsplex at 6:30 pm.

1. Meeting other Toastmasters from other clubs:
Going to a Division contest is a great way to meet other Toastmasters and network with them. You will meet Toastmasters from a myriad of backgrounds, ages and interests - all enthusiastic about improving their communication and leadership skills.

2.The best evaluators:
Listen to and learn from the best evaluators in the Division as they evaluate the test speech. Come and cheer on Jeanette of Igniters representing our Area J41.
The Area evaluation contest was tightly contested. Amy of SMART Speakers placed 1st but will be out of town so the 2nd place winner, Jeanette, will go to the Division Contest in her place. Congratulations to our own Rosario who placed 3rd in the contest!

3. Great speakers:
Be inspired and entertained by great speakers in the Division in the International Speech contest. Darlene of CTI Techtalkers is representing our Area J41 and would sure like to see some friendly CTI faces at the contest. :)

4. Good snacks/ cheap entertainment.
Where else can you get an evening of great entertainment for $5?
Register online at http://calgarytoastmasters.wordpress.com/