Overcoming Embarrassing Moments Onstage.

I was on the Toastmasters International Website and was looking at some articles in the Section of the website that has the Toastmasters magazine. They have articles and resources from many years of past magazines. It is a great place to find some things to read.  

  One such article I was reading was from August 2022 titled: “Overcoming Embarrassing Moments Onstage” written by Caren Schnur Neile, PhD

  The article is very entertaining and talk about how the author tripped and fell onstage one time. She goes into naming some famous celebrities who have also fallen on or off the stage. Some very famous names included in that list. The biggest take away form this was the suggestion of just owning it! You’re human and fell! While embarrassing it can be endearing to your audience and they see the humanity of making such an error. You can endear yourself to them by perhaps making a joke about it and just moving on. 

  Another  take away that I liked was that of preparing and thinking ahead to avoid such bloopers. They shared an example of a speech contest and the contest chair had asked someone to secure a test speaker for an evaluation contest. When it was time for the test speaker the Contest chair reminded him he had asked him to secure a test speaker he realized he had completely forgotten to do it.  In this moment he volunteered to be the test speaker and he used a speech he had used in the past and was able to fill this need on the spot. “World Champion [of Public Speaking] Craig Valentine’s famous advice: ‘You don’t get ready, you stay ready!”   Point beeping prepare for every thing and anything you can think of.  This will help you avoid embarrassing situations on stage.   It si greta article and can be found here:  https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2022/aug/oops

Tips for Toastmasters

 The toastmasters international website has a section called 90 tips for toastmasters which is actually very good tips. I would like to periodically in my educational moments cover some of those tips. 

I would like to share and talk about three tips from that list today. 

1.  Know your material. Speak about a topic you’re interested in and know a lot about. Reinforce your message with facts and statistics, if possible.

 Perhaps an obvious tip. Speak about things you know, especially when starting out as a new speaker. Certainly one can learn about new things and speak about them but do your due diligence in your research and use references when possible to support your points. 

2.  Use humor, personal anecdotes and conversational language to make your speech engaging.

  This to me really empowers a speech. When you share something form your personal experience it just makes the speech very compelling. You are an interesting individual nd your audile loves hearing about your experiences. 

3. Rehearse your speech aloud using any equipment and/or visual aids you’ll use during your presentation. Rehearse as often as you can.

 This is wear the rubber meets the road. I think it is fair to say you can not practice enough.  I saw the famous Zig Zigler speak years ago and he said in his presentation that he practiced that day before he came to speak at this event.  I am guessing he probably gave what he presented that day thousands of times, but he still believed it was a good idea to practice. 

https://www.toastmasters.org/about/90th-anniversary/90-tips

Pathways Enhancements 2025

   Toastmasters World Headquarters has made some changes to the pathways requirements.  There will be more info to come, but I will cover some of the highlights that they have sent out at this time. These changes will be implemented starting October 2025. 

   There is now a requirement at each level to complete meetings roles. These will be documented on your profile in the TI website. IF you go to your profile near the bottom there is a section titled "Meeting Roles" I would just encourage you whenever you go into the website update what roles you have done recently so it is always current. I am not sure is this part of the website will be connected to the pathway directly ro not. IE: won't let a person sign off level until these are entered. I have little to no concern for our club at this time as we are all very active in the roles of the meetings. This could be a little more involved as we grow in membership as there will be less roles to go around so to speak.  This would be an excellent problem to have! 

  There is also going to be a requirement for club members to present from the Successful Club Series, The Better Speaker Series and the Leadership Excellence Series presentations.  While this will be more effort and work, I think this will be a positive thing. It will help us all to practice presentation skills from the already drafted materials. It will also allow us to make it our own presentation even though it is sourced from the material given.  There are requirements at levels 3.  4 and 5. 

  There is more info including a "Pathways Enhancements by Level" chart. Follow this link to review this information.   

Pathways Enhancements Club Officer Guide

  I have said it before,  inside of me when changes come I have a tendency to resist and frankly I need to check my attitude!  :).    I think these changes if we approach with a positive attitude will be great! Let's get after it this year fellow toastmasters. Let's achieve some things and improve ourselves together!   

Pathways Mentorship Program

The Toastmasters Pathways Mentor Program is an optional, structured program within the Pathways education system that allows experienced members who have completed Level 2 to mentor newer members. The program, accessible through Toastmasters Base Camp, provides training and resources for mentors and involves completing two mentoring projects to build and reinforce mentoring skills. Mentors offer general support and guidance, while mentees (or protégés) take action to achieve personal and club goals. 

How the Pathways Mentor Program Works

1. Eligibility: Members must complete Level 2 of any Pathways path and be a member in good standing for at least six months to begin the program.
2. Accessing the Program: Log in to Toastmasters.org, go to "my home" and then "Base Camp" to find the "Pathways Mentor Program".
3. Curriculum: The program includes an optional curriculum divided into three sections: Prepare to Mentor, Mentoring, and Advanced Mentoring.
4. Mentoring Projects: The core of the program involves completing two mentoring projects: one short-term and one longer-term project, often lasting about six months.
5. Role of the Mentor: Mentors provide general feedback, encouragement, and personal support, helping mentees develop their own plans to reach their goals.
6. Role of the Mentee (Protégé): Mentees are often new members who receive guidance with their speeches and overall progress in Toastmasters, according to YouTube.
7. Completion: Upon completion, a certificate is available, and members can become a designated Pathways Mentor. 

Benefits of the Program

• For Mentors:It helps members build and reinforce their own mentoring and leadership skills. 
• For Mentees:New members gain valuable support and guidance, helping them achieve their speaking and leadership goals. 
• For Clubs:The program fosters a supportive environment and helps members grow within the club. 

Don't leave the speaking area unoccupied

   I have noticed that we have gotten a little remiss on "handing over control of the meeting". As toastmaster you will begin the meeting and take control of what is happening. During the meeting you will give control over to various others: like the  Inspirational quote person, Prepared speakers, Table Topics Master. etc.    Traditionally when you hand over control to these various people you will shake hands, bump fists or forearms, Bow...  whatever gesture you deem appropriate.    This in the past was  primarily hand shake but covid changed that for a time and we have done various things since then. 

The point is you are handing over control of the meeting at those time and when they are complete you are taking it back.    Never should the speaking area be unoccupied.   We practice these things and I can't tell you for sure they this is a written rule but it is certainly an expectation in speech contests for example.  This shows a certain professionalism and continuity to things as well as avoiding awkward transitions.  This is what we could call a Best Practice. 

When the Thrill is gone

 A recent article in the Toastmasters Leader Letter.   "When the Thrill Is Gone. How to reignite your passion for Toastmasters". By Kate McClare DTM

  There are times when you read something and it just seems to ring true to your own experience at the time.,   This article is very good and if you have not read it I would encourage you to do so later when you have time!   

  In our club, the last several years, we have been through a lot!  The pandemic and all that that entailed,  with us meeting only on zoom and so forth definitely had an effect on membership.   I still think in many ways we are still trying to re-group or recover from all of that mess.  

 Beyond that I think Toastmasters in general is struggling with membership and so forth. This article goes into many thoughts and ideas about what to do to build membership and re-energize . The article talks about different areas of our lives and addresses those very well. IE: Personal Matters, Club Dynamics, and Burnout. 

 All of these areas certainly at one level or another apply to each one of us.   We all have much larger lives than just the few hours a week we are involved in Toastmasters.   

   I would encourage all of us to think about our involvement and in an effort to re-engage focus on what we want to get out off our time together in Toastmasters.   It might be a  simple as  completing a given level in your pathway. Maybe consider preparing a speech for the speech contests coming up.  Look at opportunities to serve at club level or even area or district level.  

   The last thing they talk about in the article is make it fun.     I know the officers have tried to do this with different ideas but we are certainly open to any other ideas you all may have!   One of the ideas in the article was how one club had a joint meeting with another club!   We have done some of that in the past  and I remember that fondly.  It was indeed a lot of fun!   What about us all crashing another clubs meeting!?  A large amount of us just show up maybe   via zoom or in person?  What if that club did the same thing with our meeting?!  I think that could be fun.   

  I will close this post the way the article closed and that is to share this quote from Helen Blanchard, DTM, the first woman to serve as Toastmasters International President: “If you get out of Toastmasters all that there is to get out of Toastmasters, you’ll never get out of Toastmasters.”  

  Link to the article:   https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues2025/August/When-The-Thrill-Is-Gone

   We have started the new Toastmasters year well. We have turned in our officers list in on time and we have gotten our first session of officers training done with 6 recorded officers attending training.  We are off to a great start!   We also have recoded a level 4 completion.  IF you have outstanding level completions and have not sublimate them now is a good time. lets get the club and yourself credit for these and the recognition that is well deserved.  

Here is the chart for the Distinguished club program.   

 This chart does not get into the membership requirements as deeply as is required.  The following chart explains membership requirements.  So our base members is 14 and to get the first distinguished award we would need a net growth of 3 of which we have already gotten one. So net growth of two more and our membership will be at the distinguished requirement.  This is of course most crucial in the second half of the year as these will be assessed and awarded at end of fiscal year.    The chart shows the different level and members requirements 

 I would love to see us end the year with the top award (Smedley Distinguished)  having achieved 10 goals and a members ship of 25 or more!   I think that would be exciting.