2017_01

DISTRICT 24 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
NEWSLETTER
District 24
January/2017
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
News from the
Trio
Upcoming Events
District News and Events
Bee Electric
Charter Party
December 7
District Highlights
Page 2
We Can Be Champions!
Page 3
Brick by Brick!
Page 4
Talk Up Toastmasters!
Page 5
Resolutions for 2017
Page 6
News from the Division
Directors
Page 7
District 24 Mini Calendar
Congratulations to
Downtown Dodgers!
Don’t Miss Out - Registration is Open for Winter
Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI)
Who can attend TLI?
Any Toastmaster in District 24.
What is the cost?
It is free! Just register!
What is in it for me?
You learn more about Toastmasters, meet more Toastmasters, and learn more
about upcoming Toastmaster events.
How do I sign up? More information is on Page 7 of this Newsletter.
Through one of the following links:
TLI Grand Island - January 7
TLI Omaha - January 10
TLI Lincoln - February 4
TLI Norfolk - February 18
For more information contact Steve Dawkins, Program Quality Director
(stevenbdawkins@gmail.com).
Spring Conference
Watch future editions of the Double Dozen for information on the District
24 Spring Conference. Save the dates – April 21 and 22 in Lincoln!

We Can Be Champions!
Submitted by: Marian Albin Gramlich, District Director
On June 30, 2017, we can be
champions! We can finish top in the
world!
Sadly, we were last in Toastmasters
International for 2015-2016. On June 30, 2017, we
will be champions! Other districts have done it and
so can we!
We started our journey to the top this fall. How?
Our clubs and our Area Directors set the pace by
filing 100% of the Area Director Club Visit Reports
by the November 30 deadline! The actions of our
clubs and District Leaders propelled us to be the
only district in Region IV and one of 8 districts in
the world of 102 districts to file 100% of the Club
Visit Reports.
We can be champions – that is what we are made
of! To be top in the world we need to work together
more! What we do in the next few months will
determine how to finish.
Where are we now?
Clubs. Our district base of clubs is 79 and we need
86 to be at the top; we have 74 clubs now with a
few more in the pipeline – we need 12 more clubs.
Every member needs be thinking of where a new
club can serve a community or company. Contact
your Area Director with your ideas. We can be
champions if we work together!
Members. Our district member base is 2,908 and
we need 3,141 to be at the top; we have 1,396 and
renewals are due on April 1. Double our current
membership of 1,396 for 2,792; we will need 349
more members. The 12 new clubs will be a
minimum of 240 memberships we will still need 100
more members. Invite your coworker, friends,
family, acquaintances; anyone can benefit through
our self-paced educational program. For every
three people who visit your club, one will join. If
DISTRICT 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
NEWSLETTER
News from the District Director
one-third of our members sponsor one new
member, we have over 333 new members. We can
be champions if we work together!
Distinguished Clubs. Our district base of clubs is
79 and we need 40 clubs to be Distinguished. How
does a club become distinguished? Each club must
earn five Distinguished Club Points, which includes
the membership requirement of base plus 5 new
members or charter strength of 20. For example,
your club has a base of 12 members; to earn the
Distinguished Club Points your club needs to have
17 paid members by June 30, 2017 plus four other
points earned. We can be champions if we work
together!
How do we move forward?
1. We took the first step by being in the top eight
districts of the world by working together.
2. Congratulate and celebrate our achievements
together! You helped achieve what was
impossible for others. You can help achieve the
impossible because if we work together, it is
possible to be at the top.
3. If it seems impossible say, “THIS IS
POSSIBLE!” This is our mutual journey – to
help Toastmasters, District 24 to be a positive
inspiration in our lives by appreciating each
other – to ascend to be recognized as
champions.
Ask yourself the following:
1. What is your personal goal to achieve by June
30, 2017?
2. What is your club’s goal to achieve on June 30,
2017?
3. Are you and your club members working the
program?
4. Do you and your club recognize and celebrate
everyone who earns an educational award?
Click on the following links to access the District,
Division and Club information from Toastmasters
International dashboard.
Thank you. YOU ARE a member of TEAM
Champions!
District 24 Double Dozen | 2 | January, 2017

DISTRICT 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
Thank you, YOU ARE a member of TEAM
NEWSLETTER
Champions!
Toastmasters. Where leaders are made.
News from the Program Quality Director
Brick by Brick!
Submitted by: Steve Dawkins, Program Quality Director
As the three little pigs found out, a
house built of bricks is far better than
one made of sticks or straw.
Fellow Toastmasters and members of District 24,
no one expects a house to stand without first
investing in all of the right materials such as solid
and sturdy bricks. It takes each and every brick
necessary to complete such a strong and lasting
structure – right? Right! Then how do we expect to
build a strong club without making sure each and
every brick is placed firmly in its place?
Like bricks, we depend on all of the elements to be
in its proper place in order to build a strong and
lasting club.
What elements you ask? Look to your club’s status
toward earning its Distinguished Club Program
(DCP) points for the answer by going to your club’s
dashboard to learn your clubs progress toward its
DCP award achievement.
While there are 10 points possible to achieve
President’s Distinguished, you need 5 points to be
Distinguished; both require membership. Now look
at goal number 9, each club receives ½ point for
sending a minimum of 4 club officers to the first
round of TLIs (Toastmasters Learning Institute) and
another ½ point for sending a minimum of 4 club
officers to the second round of TLIs. Remember if
your club sends all 7 club officers to the TLI, your
club will receive the 7 for 7 Incentive Banner Bling
from District 24!
It is important to make sure your club sends at least
4 club officers to each round of TLI sessions each
year. By doing so will ensure your club will receive
1 full point toward the DCP goals.
Each TLI is packed full of information vital to your
club’s success. You will find information such as
how to function in your new officer role, how to be
an effective club mentor, club coach and club
sponsor and much more! TLIs are a valuable
opportunity where everyone can share thoughts,
ideas and best practices with other Toastmasters
while socializing during breakout sessions and
other scheduled opportunities.
Register today for the next TLI! You can go to
the D24 website and click on the TLI you wish to
attend and follow the registration instructions.
Remember, it takes all of the bricks to build a
sturdy and long lasting house! How’s your club
doing?
District 24 Double Dozen | 3 | January, 2017

ou can see from your club status that many things make up
the DCP dashboard and they are:
DISTRICT 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
NEWSLETTER
News from the Club Growth Director
Talk Up Toastmasters!
Submitted by: Glenn Williams, Club Growth Director
There is a reason you joined – the
“why.” The challenge is adding more
to the party to help you keep learning
by renewing you and your club’s
energy. “How?” Talk up
Toastmasters!
We avoid asking people to join our club because
we are not focusing on the “yes.” What would bring
them to the positive and supportive message of
Toastmasters? The “how.” Talk up Toastmasters!
We write speeches on paper or in our heads all the
time. Do we prepare, organize, and practice before
we ask someone to join an existing club or to form
a new club? Talk up Toastmasters in short simple
“why” answers like Table Topics.
Listen and learn about your
future member. Tailor what
you say based on what they
said. Mirror or relate to their
story. My story was that I
was very shy and nervous
about speaking to more than one person – yet my
goal is to Talk Up Toastmasters every day. What is
your story?
Your story is unique. Share widely your “why” story
about why you joined and remain in Toastmasters.
We have outgoing people that now listen more and
are better organized. We have introverts who now
fearlessly reach out. This is a powerful and
empowering story to share!
Focus on the small step, the small wins to become
bigger wins. Ask one new person at every
opportunity. You will find a “yes,” by bringing out
the “why” statements from you and them and your
“how” statements. If they have never been asked,
they will never say “yes.” The “yes” may come after
a “no.”
Once they are Toastmasters, mentor them on how
to work the program rather than just the first three
speeches. Be their guide.
The Talk up Toastmasters! contest runs during
February and March each year, but start now.
Each club works on adding five new, dual, or
reinstated members to your club during February
and March. With successful completion, your club
earns a ribbon for your club banner and $50 in
Toastmasters gift certificates for the club from
District 24.
There is an individual member version too! During
the Toastmasters year if you add five or more
people with your name and your home club number
on the new, dual, or reinstated member's
application, you receive credit as his/her sponsor.
After sponsoring five members you receive a
Toastmasters Executive Pad Folio from District 24.
By finding new club members for your club or other
clubs, you will help clubs be healthy with members
to take meeting roles of Toastmaster, Speaker,
Table Topics Master, and more! Rediscover your
“why” in Toastmasters and share by talking up
Toastmasters!
For any questions or club related ideas, you may
contact me at glennlw@gmail.com.
Editor’s Note: To find out more about the District
24 Incentive program, go to www.d24tm.org, Public
Downloads, Incentives.
District 24 Double Dozen | 4 | January, 2017

DISTRICT 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
NEWSLETTER
Your Resolutions for 2017
It’s January and time for your resolutions.
Like the journey of a child, you learned how to crawl before running. As a lifelong learner, you learn to take on
smaller projects to build your confidence to master the big projects. As babies learn to crawl before running,
you learn how to communicate to lead and live the core values of respect, integrity, service, and excellence.
As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise
To attend club meetings regularly
To prepare all of my speech and leadership projects to the best of my ability, basing
them on projects in the Competent Communication, Advanced Communication, or
Competent Leadership manuals
To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments
To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations
To help the club maintain the positive, friendly environment necessary for all
members to learn and grow
To serve my club as an officer when called upon to do so
To treat my fellow club members and our guests with respect and courtesy
To bring guests to club meetings so they can see the benefits Toastmasters
membership offers
To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters education and recognition
programs
To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all
Toastmasters activities
(http://www.toastmasters.org/About/Toastmasters-Promise)
Make your resolutions SMART (Strategic, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Based)! As a
Toastmaster, you learn how to communicate and lead.
District 24 Double Dozen | 5 | January, 2017

DISTRICT 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
NEWSLETTER
News from Around the District
Brilliant Bears
Division B – Pamela Hogan
Division B speech contests are as follows: Area B11
and B12, March 9, 2017 from 4:30 – 9:00. Area B13 and
B14, March 15, 2017 from 4:30 – 9:00. Division B, April
5, 2017. All Division B contests will be held at the UNO
Community Engagement Center, 6100 Dodge St.
Omaha. Come and join us! Everyone is welcome.
Confident Tortoises
Division C – E. Jean Dier
Congratulation to the Asian Center Speechcraft
participants! They graduated on December 19. Phyllis
Thesier and club Capital Voices plan to sponsor another
Speechcraft session at the Asian Center in the spring.
Division C Clubs are actively campaigning for new
members. Their efforts are paying off with more guests
attending meetings and some of those guests are
becoming members! Keep up the good work Division C!
Division C officers have also either attended the one of
the first TLI sessions or signed up for one of the
upcoming TLI sessions.
Dedicated Dawgs
Division D – Rebecca Fegan
Division D speech contests are as follows: Area D31
and D33, March 21, Lozier Corporation, from 5:30 – 9:00
pm. Area D32 and D34, March 28, CSG International,
from 5:30 – 9:00 pm. Division D, April 1, CSG
International, 9:00 am – noon.
Empowered Starfish
Division E – George Volz
Division E is electrified, and engaged. We are actively
looking for more opportunities to extend Toastmasters
into local educational and community venues. Our clubs
are engaged and moving forward.
Division E is planning joint contests for areas 43 & 44 on
March 20 th and 41 and 42 on March 22 nd . The Division
contest was scheduled for April 8 th but is being moved
as it conflicts with a district leadership meeting.
It is amazing that we are already half way through the
Toastmaster year. At this mid-point it is time to step
back and assess our progress and our
accomplishments.
It is also time to remember that a successful
Toastmasters club is like a successful business. Club
members are the customers and the club strives to keep
them happy with the service it provides. The service a
Toastmasters club provides is the club meeting. Good
club meetings provide the means and environment for
members to reach their goals by becoming effective
speakers, listeners, thinkers and leaders.
As we cross into the second half of the year, we need to
recommit to do all that we can do to ensure the success
of our members and our clubs.
Trailblazers
Trio + 4 – Marian Albin Gramlich
The Trailblazers are busy planning for the remaining
Winter TLI sessions in Grand Island, Omaha, Lincoln,
and Norfolk. As soon as TLI wraps up, the Trailblazers
will begin working with the Divisions on Spring Speech
Contests and the District 24 Spring Conference.
District 24 Double Dozen | 6 | January, 2017

District 24 Dates to Remember
Winter TLI Dates
January 7 – Grand Island, 10 am – 2 pm, Hy-Vee, 115 Wilmer Ave.
January 10 – Omaha, 5:30 – 9:30 pm, Blue Cross Blue Shield, 1900 Aksarben Dr
February 4 – Lincoln, 10 am – 2 pm, Holy Savior Lutheran Church, 4710 N. 10th St.
February 18 – Norfolk, 10 am – 2 pm, Northeast Community College, 801 East Benjamin, Ave
Spring Speech Contest Dates – Refer to the District 24 Calendar on www.d24tm.org for specific dates
and places. Be trained as a judge from Toastmasters International and share with PQD Steve Dawkins.
Club Contests – February 1 – 28
Area Contests – March 1 – 31
Division Contests – April 1 - 15
Spring Conference Dates
Lincoln – April 21 - 22, Hilton Garden Inn, Downtown Lincoln.
Congratulations to Downtown Dodgers!
To 30 Years. . .And Beyond!
DISTRICT 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
NEWSLETTER
District 24 Mini Calendar
This was the theme of the December 15th meeting of the Downtown Dodgers Toastmasters Club-a nostalgic look back
and a hopeful look forward. This club celebrated its 30-year anniversary, with special guests, door prizes and a catered
lunch. Among the guests were members from the past, even two ladies who were on the list of charter members from
October 21, 1986. Former President Brenton Pyle, the brains and motivation behind the club's name change, also
attended. The club meets at Physicians Mutual Insurance Company and has enjoyed 30 years of support as a
corporate/community club.
Club member Stephanie Andersen was privileged to have access to an entire box of paperwork and memorabilia as she
prepared her speech for the celebration. But the highlight of the event was the keynote speech delivered by guest
George Volz, complete with visual aids. He inspired everyone with his remarks, calling his speech, "As Iron Sharpens
Iron - The Toastmaster Story".
If you are looking for a club in the downtown area, keep Downtown Dodgers in mind! Check out their website at
6405.toastmastersclubs.org. This club has been around for 30 years and is looking forward to the next 30!
DISTRICT 24 DOUBLE DOZEN
NEWSLETTER
About the Double Dozen
The District 24 Double Dozen Newsletter is published on the 5 th of the month by the Toastmasters District 24 Public Relations Team. We welcome your
suggestions for articles for future newsletters. Please submit your comments, articles, or ideas to prm.d24tm@gmail.com. Submission deadline for
completed articles is the 22 nd of the month. Include your contact information so we can verify the information.
District 24 Double Dozen | 7 | January, 2017