Area Speech Contest Feedback

Janet Adam and Andrew Smith both deservingly did our Club proud at the Area 4 Contests last night.

Andrew coming second in the Table Topic Contest, delivered a winning quality Table Topic.

Winning the TMI Speech Contest Janet now moves on to the Division B Speech Contest which will be held on Saturday April 28th at 1pm...exact location notification will be coming soon...so mark your calendar and please come out to show our Club's support for Janet.

Don Eppler

President, 2011-12

Our President Don Eppler, reports in from California.

This has been an unusual but great year so far for Venio Dictum.

Unusual in one sense because as their President here I am down in sunny warm California for two months attending other Toastmaster Clubs rather than my own.   Also I don't know the actual chances or how often this happens, but our club for the first time as I can remember, is actually holding a meeting on February 29th or on a Leap Year Day.

When I mention 'having a great year' I mean even in my absence our club is continually growing to its already 33 signed up members. The members are also been treated with learning something that has never happened in our club before and that is having different past presidents preside over the meetings in my absence and letting our members see how THEY ran their meetings during their term of office.  During this same period we've set up for our incoming President Glenn Laycock to get his feet wet at leading our club, so in September he'll be well ahead of the game when his term begins.

HP Northside Toastmasters Club

While in California, almost weekly I try to attend some TM club in this area.   One is the HP Northside TM Club (a company club with over 3000 employees to draw from).  At present they have only about 15 members with only 10 or less at each meeting, but still a very enthusiastic group of TM's.

Another club I've attended is the Roseville Toasters TM Club who meet at 7pm with about 30 signed up members and usually 20 plus out for each meeting.

I always come away from these meetings with some new idea or way to try at our club to make them more exciting...but after all is said and done there is no better club than Venio Dictum and I miss their meetings immensely...see you when I get back in early April.

Don Eppler

President 2011-12

Peter Thomas Story Telling Contest 2011

Chantal Parenty and Ray Larkins

Good morning everyone!...as your captain I couldn't wait to spread the good news about last night's Peter Thomas Story Telling Contest...we had FIVE PARTICIPANTS, the most our club has ever had..so a very big hand to our Contest Chair 'Jean Travis' for doing such an excellent promotion job.they were all winners in my mind, because taking that first step forward with the courage to enter the contest, does mean you're a winner...so we congratulate them all...but we had to pick a winner (as difficult as it was) and that turned out to be no other than our Sarg-at-Arms Chantel Parenty... Who couldn't believe how big the winners trophy was....For those of you who weren't there, you'll be able to hear her repeat this winning speech at our Awards Night Meeting next spring.

Last night we also had the chance to induct three new members into our club...and looking forward to do the same for others in the near future...

-- Don Eppler, President --

A Year in Review

Fellow Toastmasters,

At our final meeting, it was truly a memorable as we paid tribute to Don Eppler and his 50 years as a member of Venio Dictum Toastmasters. It was nice to see some old faces again and it was only fitting that we had our best attended meeting of the year. Don is a remarkable person who has done wonders for so many of us as Toastmasters and as human beings and hopefully we let him know how we all felt last night

We also elected a new club executive for next year and with Don as President, the club will be in good hands.

As that was my last regular club meeting as President, I am pleased to announce that we have again achieved the President’s Distinguished award from Toastmasters International and are one of only a select number of clubs to attain this top leadership award. This is certainly a testament to the talented, hard working and committed members of Venio Dictum and I thank you all for buying into the Goals I set for the club last year at this time. Also, I am deeply indebted to my Executive Team whose support was paramount to achieving this award. It was because of your diligence and perseverance that we achieved this award together as a team. Thank you again.

We have our awards banquet, our golf tournament on June 15^th and then 4 months of summer to enjoy before we reconvene in September.

It has been an honour to serve you as Club President for the third time this past year and the friendships gained, memories made and accomplishments of you the members of Venio Dictum made it all worthwhile.

My sincerest thanks to everyone and enjoy your summer.

Godspeed,

Darren Lewis

President, 2010-11

Venio Dictum Toastmasters