The conference was sponsored by the Brasov Toastmasters club that only chartered as of July 2010!  The team included all of their members, but especially the head “Visionary” and Club Coach…Rinda Reiss!

Rinda spent countless hours from 6 a.m.-1 a.m. for weeks in preparation for this event along with help from other team members from Brasov Toastmasters.  I have never seen so many Toastmasters so enthusiastic about the Toastmasters program and really striving to be the best that they can be.  Rinda Reiss is to the Brasov club what Pauline Shirley is to TNT.  I cannot wait to see what a mark all of the Romania clubs make on the handprint of Toastmasters International!

This club did such an amazing job at the conference of about 50 attendees from Brasov, Timisoara, Bucharest, and Kulge.  Some attendees rode a train as far as ten hours to attend this conference!  Rinda attended these clubs to build rapport and Rinda was the initial “visionary” that started discussing this conference in 2010.  Her vision was a pure SUCCESS!!!  The attendees were engaged, enthusiastic and were so excited to have Americans/Toastmasters that were solely there for them.   When discussing this with RInda in Texas earlier in 2011, her enthusiasm and commitment to the Brasov club was apparent.  When I committed to attend the conference, I had no idea how emotionally rewarding it would be!  I learned so much from the Romanian clubs and the individuals and was so happy that I was able to share areas that I have learned while a Toastmaster.

Friday had a lineup of speechwriting workshops as well as beginner Toastmaster classes followed by a Saturday packed with workshops, and a Table Topics interactive session that the participants LOVED!  Officer Training, Judges Training, Tips for Delivering a Speech from the successful club series, as well as the International Speech Contest were a blast!  All contestants were professional, had great content and truly delivered!  The winning contestants were just the beginning of a wonderful final night of sharing Toastmasters experiences, tips on growing the clubs in Romania, and getting connected on an international level.  (We have videos available on Vimeo for the TNT club to view.)

Sunday morning, Rinda held a brunch for the officers and broke them up into study groups according to position: President, VP – Education, VP – Membership, VP – PR, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant of Arms.  This was interactive and informal, yet was so valuable in sharing what works, does not work and how to make your club better.  We shared successful social media outlets as well as advanced manual “tips” in the communication tracks as well as leadership tracks.  Imagine this discussion all in the courtyard of Rinda’s home with a Synagogue in the backdrop (literally behind the yard) as well as the picturesque mountains with the e “BRASOV” sign appearing just like the “Hollywood” sign in California.  What an event!

I am looking forward to what city and club will be hosting the next Romanian Conference!  Be on the lookout if you may be interested in attending a future international toastmasters conference.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tishgray

Having no idea of what to expect, I was impressed when the person who invited me, John Arnott, Sr., walked to the front of the room to begin the meeting as TNT President.  (Wow, they have officers, and John is President!) During the meeting, I marveled at the structure, pace and flow of the meeting.  I also couldn’t help noticing the name tents, and especially the name badges, with unusual combination of letters following the names (DTM, ALS, CTM, ATB).  When told about the dozens of speeches and numerous other requirements to obtain these “Educational Levels,” I was amazed.

I left that first meeting with my head filled with everything I had witnessed and experienced.  Swept away is the best way to describe my emotions.  I originally thought Toastmasters was just about getting up in front of people and talking.  There was obviously way more substance to Toastmasters, and those people with name badges and mysterious letters were serious!

After a few months of attending every TNT meeting, I decided to make myself useful by offering to serve as Sergeant-at-Arms for six months.  My Toastmasters “AHA! moment” came at the subsequent Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) officers training.  Seven hundred Toastmasters from north Texas to Shreveport, LA descended upon Richland Community College.  They were fired up, ready to learn and all wearing name badges, some with pins and medals attached.  I thought, “These people are REALLY SERIOUS!”  That’s when it really hit home for me, Toastmasters was all about building Speaking and Leadership skills.

I took this lesson to heart, and became part of a great TNT leadership group between 2007 and 2009.  This group included current members, Charlene Sims, Ron Amberg, and former members Sandra K. Samuel and Scott Hudson.  TNT members of the immediate-prior “leadership chain” not only served as our mentors, but picked up bigger leadership positions in Toastmasters District 50.  That group of TNT leaders includes recently-awarded Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) Rita Johnston and Kelly Page, as well as Ann Logan-Lubben.

The TNT leadership chain of the “2000’s” traces its roots back to TNT’s first two DTM’s of this decade, Mary Mukhtarian and Cynthia Brown, who continue to be broadly active serving and mentoring at TNT and throughout Toastmasters District 50.  And of course, the fabric of TNT Toastmasters is interwoven throughout by our longest-termed members, Pauline Shirley, DTM, PIP and Jerry Coen, DTM.

While the historic TNT leadership chain is quite remarkable, I am personally impressed by the good hands TNT is currently held.  The first group of the current decade’s leaders, Tish Gray, Sharron O’Neill and Lori McCaghren have already stepped outside TNT to take on broader Toastmasters roles.  Meanwhile, the current TNT Executive Committee, led by President Bruce Arfsden, is committed and off to a great start.

The assessments I made after my first TNT Toastmasters meeting and my first TLI training remains true:

“Toastmasters is all about Building Speaking and Leadership Skills and These People are Serious!”

While these ladies were taking care of the International scene, TNT could have stood for Town North Travelers instead of Town North Trendsetters.  Our club members were not only moving through the speaking projects at our meetings, but our club relocated seven times in a ten-year period.  We began the 1990s at Tony Roma’s (Belt Line & Quorum) and ended the decade at Tony Roma’s.  Between these two stops, the members could find themselves giving a speech at the restaurant in Addison Marriot Quorum (Tollway & Quorum), providing an evaluation at the restaurant in Sheraton Dallas North (LBJ & Tollway), giving a Table Topics’ response at Vincent’s Seafood (LBJ & Midway), or being Toastmaster at the Old Country Buffet (same location as New New Buffet).  By early in the 2000s we landed at our seventh and current location.

At the two hotels’ restaurants and Vincent’s Seafood, we were not in a separate meeting room, which was less than ideal.  When we spoke, everyone in the restaurant was looking at us and wondering what this band of TNT gypsies was doing.  It was a rather intimidating setting in which to speak.  We also had to overcome the competition from luncheon conversations, background music, rattling of plates, and the wait staff bringing food to various tables in our vicinity.

While we were at Vincent’s restaurant, Monty Goodman and I met Ross Perot one day before he ran for President.  He asked what our group was doing there.  Just think, if Monty and I had been better spokesmen for TNT, Ross might have joined our club, improved his speaking skills, and been elected President of the United States – becoming another one of TNT’s presidents!

I think that Pauline and Jo Anna must have been a little worried about us and wanted to check on us as Pat Gallagher, DTM (former District 50 Governor) Bob Lanz, DTM (former District 25 Governor, and Bruce McWilliams, CTM (Jo Anna’s husband) all became members of TNT.  All three of these individuals enhanced our club meetings.  Bruce was extremely helpful in marketing our club to attract new members.  However, I’d like to think that we did all right on our own during most of the era of the 90s.

Former TNT Toastmasters were very active in the 1990s.  Grace Tyler, former member of TNT in the 1980s, was selected as outstanding Division Governor of the Year for 1995-1996 and District Toastmaster of the Year (Bob Lanz Award) for 1997-1998.

On my personal memories of the 90s, I remember when the trio of Evelyn Young, Glenna Brown, and Marti (Holloway) Erbe competed in the GREAT TNT RACE to becoming a DTM.  It was a real battle royal as both Glenna and Marti were active and outstanding members of TNT.  I vividly recall the 1994 International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky when Pauline asked her mom to stand while giving her presidential address.  I, too, had a special moment when I was asked to come up to the stage to accept TNT’s first presidential banner.  Later, I would share that same honor with Pauline when both of us were asked to accept Jo Anna’s presidential banner for TNT at the 2000 International Convention in Miami, Florida.

The TNT era of the 90s concluded with Evelyn Young becoming a DTM (TNT’s fourth home-grown DTM) and only new DTM of the 90s in September, 1999) and winning the GREAT TNT DTM contest!

WOW! WHAT A DECADE!

From the Town Hall to Swenson’s to Jim’s restaurant, TNT moved from meeting place to meeting place bringing in new members and addressing challenges along the way.

In the fall of 1984 TNT hosted the District 25 Fall Conference held at the Harvey Hotel (now the Crowne Plaza) on Midway Road. All of the members were engaged with Jerry Coen, Jo Anna McWilliams and Pauline Shirley serving as conference co-chairs. Quite a triumvirate! The club members grew in speaking and leadership skills as they traveled from speech contest to speech contest across the district promoting the conference.  Addison’s Mayor welcomed Toastmasters and opened the conference. It was a huge success.

In addition to employees of the Town of Addison, TNT’s membership was made up of a wide variety of professions. From ministers to doctors to computer gurus to entrepreneurs to musicians to engineers, their speeches fascinated as their skills developed. The minister shared that he received many more compliments from his congregation as he honed his skills. He admitted most of the compliments were generated because his sermons became more concise… and perhaps, more importantly, shorter.

Early on, TNT became a club to be reckoned with and during the 80s, in addition to hosting the district conference, TNT produced area governors, division governors, district governors and an international director. A history of members serving and contributing beyond TNT and in all levels of leadership started early.

Lewisville Toastmasters sponsored TNT and because Lewisville Toastmasters had been started by Executive Toastmasters, TNT was privileged to have mentors, supporters and sponsors from both clubs ensuring a solid foundation.

President – Bruce Arfsten, CC, CL

Imm. Past President – Kasey Smith, CC, CL

VP of Education – Norma Pace, CC, CL

VP of Membership - Winn Fuqua, CC

VP of Public Relations – Eve Pearson, CC

Secretary – Lori McCaghren, ACB, ALB

Treasurer – Kelly Page, DTM

Sergeant-at-Arms - Astrid Harris, TM

When Kelly joined TNT, skill building was her focus, with DTM not being a huge concern. In fact, Kelly was so scared to get called on for Table Topics (TT), she attended seven meetings before joining! Sure enough when she joined she was called for TT. She stood up, talked for less than one minute and didn’t say the word of the day. That was nine years ago! She was encouraged to join Toastmasters (TM) by a past area governor she met in a class she was taking at the time.

In the meantime, Kelly has served as youth leadership chair, area governor, in a variety of district roles and won the sparkling pixel award. Kelly was also a member of Advanced Club called the Roviing 49ers. This club was for those individuals who had their CC and wanted more leadership experience.

This year Kelly finally stated she wanted to accomplish her DTM. She thought it would be in the fall, but then had the “profound honor” of giving the eulogy for a friend. She stated that TM had given her this confidence and it was the beginning of the healing process for her. When Kelly gave her last speech for her DTM, she was so excited and nervous, she forgot the first line! She came to terms with it and had the epiphany that “just because I’m this DTM person doesn’t mean I’m a master at it.”

Kelly’s advice to all of us:

1) Learn everything you can, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to be involved.

2) Balance your energy between what you can do for your club and other commitments.