Incoming District Governor, Bruce George, was photographed letting his hair down after the first day of District training.
Do you have some interesting photos you can share with us? Thanks to Greg Bremen for this gem.

Members Matter No 12
Hello fellow members,
As I write my final “Members Matter,” I wish to leave you with 3 thoughts
4 weeks to go for this Toastmaster’s year?
I encourage each of you to maintain your focus, visualize your result, believe in yourself and you will achieve your goals.
Something that is fantastic about Toastmasters
I asked Past District Governors Di Riddell, Vernon Flood, Barrie Fuller and Colin McFarlane why they are still active members in their clubs 30 + years after joining?
Their comments included:
How long have you been a member?
What friendships have you gained?
How excited are you about attending your club meetings?
Inspiration:
Who do you want to be?
Challenge yourself and become that person!
Hot off the press!!
Past District Governor Barrie Fuller has been awarded a Presidential Citation. Congratulations Barrie!! Barrie will receive his award at the International Convention in Palm Desert.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity of being your District Governor and sharing with you through “Members Matter” this year. It has been a joy beyond measure to serve our District.
Yours in Toastmasters
Coral McVean DTM
District Governor 2009-2010
Toastmasters International District 69
Phone 1300 30 40 69
Phone : 07 5441 7820
Mob : 0438 417 880
Email coralmcv@bigpond.net.au
POWERCHARGED PROGRAMS:
PLUG IN !!
Today – 3 questions to ponder!
and to recently give the eulogy for a well liked and respected Toastmaster in a non emotional way . What an explorer!!
As I continue to visit many clubs, I am excited by the dedication and commitment of our members to improve their Communication and Leadership skills by plugging into Toastmasters powercharged programs.
In the next 7 weeks many of you will be completing your Communication and Leadership manuals. I wish you success in achieving your personal and club goals
Enjoy the journey and remember.
Regards,
Coral McVean DTM
District Governor 2009-2010
Toastmasters International District 69
What an exciting month March has been!
Happenings include:
What has inspired me?
How are you using your Toastmasters skills?
Graeme McCourt has received a Minister’s Award and credits that in part to Toastmasters saying it has honed his communication skills. Of the 27,000 Centrelink employees nationwide only a handful are nominated each year to the Minister for Human Services, Chris Bowen. Congratulations Graeme!
As an MP Liaison Officer, Graeme serves as the first point of contact for MP’s and Senators when constituents express concern about the quality of service or decisions connected to the Human Services Departments. Establishing a relationship quickly with all concerned where tensions are running high is important. Table Topics and training in clear thinking are hallmarks of Toastmasters training that have been invaluable to him and he has put these skills to good use.
Ann Mitchell is using her skills in another way. She is in her 4th year as leader of Laughter group and she has formed a Parkinson’s Support Group. Skills she has learned are reading an audience, the value of research and increased confidence. Well done Ann.
Remember Theresa Brooks? She has overcome enormous hurdles to become a proficient Toastmaster. She has now been named one of the top 5 performing demonstrators nationally for Demo Plus. Congratulations Theresa!
No doubt you know others who are using their Toastmaster skills as life skills. If so let me know so I can recognise their efforts. As I visit many of our clubs I have been excited by the enthusiasm of our members to improve their Communication and Leadership skills

Finally I ask – Are you on track with your goals? There are only 3 months left to achieve them for this term. I hope on the 30th June you can say ‘I am happy with what I have achieved in this Toastmasters year!
It’s up to you if it is to be – enjoy your journey
Regards
Coral McVean DTM
Greetings fellow members of District 69 What a fantastic challenge our Corroboree Editor has had! You, our members, had sent so many articles for the last Corroboree issue that Joycelyn had to choose which to leave for this publication. Please keep those success stories and celebrations from your clubs coming and make following issues another challenge. This is your magazine.
It is a privilege to be District Governor for such a tremendous District where all of our teams are working together, assisting each of our members to achieve their goals. Our powercharged programs are our vehicle for each of us to improve our communication and leadership skills. Are you using them effectively?
Since July 1, I have been able to visit 35 of our clubs, meeting our members, showing that the District supports them and assisting our clubs that are faced with challenges. Thank you everyone for welcoming me so warmly. My intention is to continue visiting more clubs in the next 4 months. It has been exciting to see, whether a club is small or large, all are embracing the Toastmasters mission. Guests are always welcomed, agendas are varied, meetings are fun, speeches are inspirational and we are all learning as we develop our communication and leadership skills. However, timing is an area where some of our clubs could be more diligent. Please remember if you go over your time you are depriving someone else of theirs.
Toastmasters Week has been exciting. We launched our new website on the 15th February at the beginning of that week. Thank you Nicky for your amazing generosity. The feedback has been very positive. We ended with the Toastmasters Ball which was a complete success. Thank you Alana Beale and your team for persevering when it didn‘t look like it would happen. In between many clubs promoted Toastmasters with special meetings, library displays, market tables, and orientation tables at Universities, interviews, Speechcraft Courses, Youth Leadership and Success Leadership programs. I‘m sure that Charlie, our Public Relations Officer, knows of many other events that occurred.
If you are having challenges gaining new members, please use the resources given to us by Toastmasters International as part of the District Assistance Program. If you don‘t have any, ask your Area Governor for them.
February to the end of March is “Talk Up Toastmasters” followed by March to May Madness. Ask our Lieutenant Governor Marketing John Kay about these promotions.
I wish each of our contestants competing in the Division Conferences success. You are winners already. I am convinced that you will do your best on the day. Division Governors enjoy your Conferences.
Each of you has planned and organised this effectively. The Profit is in the Planning. The winners will go on to compete at the District Convention being held at the Caloundra Events Centre from Friday April 30 to May 3. During this time our special guest will be our International President Gary Schmidt.
If you haven‘t registered yet, you will find a registration form on our website under Events. Come and find the key to ―Unlock Your Passion ―. Presidents check your inbox next week for a special invitation to a Presidents function with our International President Gary. Join us for our fun night and ―Unlock your Fantasy―. In the meantime enjoy your journey as you strive to achieve your goals.
Coral McVean DTM District Governor 2009-2010
Can you believe it? Eight months of our year have gone – there are only four left. Have you checked on your goals? More importantly, are you on target?
District 69 is alive and exciting!
Our website is developing each day. I would encourage you to have a look. We are now getting a greater number of enquiries from potential members via the web so we need to be aware of what is offering there. Even better send your club’s success stories to our webmaster Gary Kuss webmaster@toastmastersd69.org, plus any resources you wish to share.
This month sees the beginning of the Travelling Gavel’s journey. See the history behind the idea on the web. Gary will set up a link so that you can click and see where our Travelling Gavel is The journey starts from my home club, Nambour.
Who will be the first to kidnap it? All you need to do is:
Recently I attended Carina Club. In Sept 2007 they had 6 members with only 4 turning up to meetings. Now they are at charter strength. It didn’t happen overnight and it shows the power of a committed club coach – in this case, Sandy Macdonald. Now eighteen later the club has gained Distinguished Club status.
Sandy’s philosophy was to ‘grow the skills of the members’ and to use our Toastmasters powercharged programs effectively to ‘grow the club’ She listened, guided and had the support of the active members. Now, they have a new challenge, if they continue to grow they will need a bigger venue.
Their meetings are fun and the members are achieving their Communication and Leadership goals.
If your club needs assistance and has less than 12 members, speak to our Club Coach, Richard Dudaniec Richard.dudaniec@pipersgroup.com.au. He is there to help you .
Pause for a moment and ask yourself – How am I using my Toastmasters skills in everyday life? Here are two inspiring stories from Toastmaster authors.
Karen Tyrell joined Toastmasters after a severe bout of Bipolar Disorder in 2007 to repair her shattered self esteem and build her self confidence. Through active mentoring and support from her club, Karen has gained confidence and now has 3 books ready to roll. Two are at the Publishers (a crime and a kids Sci Fi), the third titled “Me and Her – a Memoir of Madness“ is with a Literary Agent. It covers her struggle and triumph over Bipolar Disorder. In early February, Karen was invited to be a Public Speaker for SANE a Mental Health Organisation. Congratulations Karen!
Our second author is Marilyn Campbell. Marilyn who joined in 2005 has developed a desire and skill for storytelling from the variety of speeches she has delivered. It was Toastmasters that inspired her to write stories. She has developed her skills as an oral and written storyteller and now has her first book, ‘’The Wild Monkey Girl “ published by local publishers Congratulations Marilyn !
Each of us gains a multitude of skills by being a Toastmaster. Have you taken the time to reflect and be aware of how much you have gained?
While reflecting – I encourage you to go a step further and decide what your next challenge will be? Enjoy your journey whatever your answer.
Coral McVean
District Governor 2009-2010
Toastmasters International District 69
What an exciting and busy month February is going to be.
Our activities include:
All of the above are relevant to you, the club member. As we settle in the 2010 year I am offering a few questions you may like to consider.
A wonderful example in mentoring is demonstrated by our District Secretary Ingrid Duane.
Ingrid says “I experienced very good mentoring and now I enjoy giving back to others“.
As District Governor, I have seen the enormous growth in two of her mentees over the last year. Prior to each meeting Ingrid contacts and meets them individually to go through their next assignment. Both of these mentees have faced huge challenges regaining self confidence. One battled past trauma to the point of losing rational thought process and even word usages and has achieved a CC. The other has benefited from learning about structure in a presentation. Ingrid has encouraged them to believe in themselves. They have gained remarkable confidence and are keen to continue to take advantage of the opportunities that Toastmasters offers.
Ingrid says, “This is as good as it gets, I gain a deep sense of accomplishment when I assist members to achieve their goals.”
Do you have a mentor that you discuss your assignments with? If not please ask your Vice President Education to suggest someone suitable for you.
Have you ever thought that your life challenges were difficult?
Recently I met Jesse James, and heard his story. He is happy for me share it with you.
Jesse was born to hearing impaired parents who were also unable to speak. At school he was the butt of bullying and ridicule. He had no verbal communication except for grunts and signs. He had no self esteem or confidence and was suicidal by the age of fifteen. Despite these challenges he succeeded at school and has always been in gainful employment. He married, and on the surface life was ok, but after 30 years of marriage he fell into a deep dark all consuming depression and could see no escape. A friend, Francesca Thorne invited him to a Toastmasters meeting. He came, he had a go, and he persisted.
He says that he now has confidence in his ability to communicate and has much more self esteem. Toastmaster’s has made an amazing and positive difference to his life. Jesse has now completed his Competent Communicator, is working on an Advanced Manual, was test speaker at the Area 34 Conference and reads in his local church.
It’s not what happens to us but what we do about it.
Despite your challenges in life, ‘What are you giving and gaining from Toastmasters?’
I encourage you to enjoy all the opportunities that our amazing organisation offers.

Coral McVean DTM
District Governor 2009-2010
Toastmasters International District 69