Hi all Toastmasters,

This letter is addressed to members of Jacaranda 2000 Toastmasters Club from your Area 11 Governor.  I want to let everyone know how well you have done.

Firstly let me say a huge ’CONGRATULATIONS’ to you all and yes I am SHOUTING it out. When I first met the club there were 8 members, 6 of whom had been members since the earth was cooling.  One of you expressed a concern that the Club would die in 2013. My response was, how about we revive it? After we met and talked I saw your talents and commitment to Jacaranda but a malaise had crept in so the club was going through the motions, not Toastmastering.

So even my becoming a member was a fiasco. It took two months because no one replied to my emails and no-one knew the procedure for taking on new members. Ouch, yes the truth can hurt.  So I offered to assist by becoming Treasurer as the current Treasurer was snowed under with more important things than Toastmasters (yes, there are!) and didn’t have time even to get to the bank.  We got the finances under control started a coaching process to set out and achieve goals.  I see now there were times when I pushed too hard and you pushed back.  All good:  we talked and renegotiated goals to make the Club shine.

Michael Ming, that giant of the internet, got our website up and running.  Fantastic, and essential: we just need to keep up the maintenance. Ros Close, a real treasure, followed up on members and encouraged them in their goals. We managed to achieve some club awards which we are saving to give us a further boost to next year. Hans Mulder got some help with training in minute taking (note to Toastmasters everywhere, one doesn’t just suck knowledge up out of the ether: training is critical) and is doing a stirling job.  Carol Mulder our SAA Always provides that wonderful fresh, cheerful and friendly opening setting a positive tone for the meeting. The great refreshments are very welcome Carol.  Thanks too, to you and Hans for your dedication in transporting all the club effects each meeting.  This builds and maintains the club sense of identity. Mavis McFarlane, very generously provides transport for Olive Howitt who represented the Club at the Area and Division Contests. Mavis provides support in so many roles.  Jacaranda is  sorry Mavis  is moving away. Errol Statham, after losing his Manual slipped into a time warp, not doing a speech for over a year.  He has been inspired to start again and we look forward to more quality presentations. John Hutchins kept a fatherly eye on us and next year will be our VPE setting goals to stretch us all. Ann, Trina, Nathan and Martin our new members will aim for CC’s this year…. go for it guys.  We are all barracking for you.  We are sorry to lose Carolyn Ritchie and hope to see her back one day.

A special thanks to Ipswich Toastmasters Club for changing the Committee Meeting night to allow me to attend J2K.

It was a great boost to our confidence when Heidi Fishlock, President of Springfield Lakes, visited and remarked how Jacaranda had changed. We realised how important those little things can be: starting on time, maintaining discipline.  That feedback was very rewarding. And yes, she was right. The Club is now ( mostly!) following protocols and observing the rules.  We are real Toastmasters. J Just look at us now: *A DISTINGUISHED CLUB* for the first time ever. We have two more Toastmasters who want to join (doubling our membership to 16) and we expect more visitors.   Next meeting calls for cake!

Remember, we have a new Area Governor Dudley Cowan, a senior Toastmaster with much experience who will certainly encourage us to reach higher.  Could we aim next year to be a Select Distinguished Club?  I think so.  How about you?

With love, thanks, appreciation and just plain happiness,

Cheers, Hedda.

Hedda Pike, ACG, ALB

Area 11 Governor

0412 22 88 15

EDITOR”S NOTE: Readers will be very sorry to hear that since this letter was submitted for inclusion in Corroboree, Olive Howitt passed away and will be sadly missed by Jacaranda Club and many other long serving  Toastmasters.

Hi all Toastmasters,

This letter is addressed to members of Jacaranda 2000 Toastmasters Club from your Area 11 Governor.  I want to let everyone know how well you have done.

Firstly let me say a huge ’CONGRATULATIONS’ to you all and yes I am SHOUTING it out. When I first met the club there were 8 members, 6 of whom had been members since the earth was cooling.  One of you expressed a concern that the Club would die in 2013. My response was, how about we revive it? After we met and talked I saw your talents and commitment to Jacaranda but a malaise had crept in so the club was going through the motions, not Toastmastering.

So even my becoming a member was a fiasco. It took two months because no one replied to my emails and no-one knew the procedure for taking on new members. Ouch, yes the truth can hurt.  So I offered to assist by becoming Treasurer as the current Treasurer was snowed under with more important things than Toastmasters (yes, there are!) and didn’t have time even to get to the bank.  We got the finances under control started a coaching process to set out and achieve goals.  I see now there were times when I pushed too hard and you pushed back.  All good:  we talked and renegotiated goals to make the Club shine.

Michael Ming, that giant of the internet, got our website up and running.  Fantastic, and essential: we just need to keep up the maintenance. Ros Close, a real treasure, followed up on members and encouraged them in their goals. We managed to achieve some club awards which we are saving to give us a further boost to next year. Hans Mulder got some help with training in minute taking (note to Toastmasters everywhere, one doesn’t just suck knowledge up out of the ether: training is critical) and is doing a stirling job.  Carol Mulder our SAA Always provides that wonderful fresh, cheerful and friendly opening setting a positive tone for the meeting. The great refreshments are very welcome Carol.  Thanks too, to you and Hans for your dedication in transporting all the club effects each meeting.  This builds and maintains the club sense of identity. Mavis McFarlane, very generously provides transport for Olive Howitt who represented the Club at the Area and Division Contests. Mavis provides support in so many roles.  Jacaranda is  sorry Mavis  is moving away. Errol Statham, after losing his Manual slipped into a time warp, not doing a speech for over a year.  He has been inspired to start again and we look forward to more quality presentations. John Hutchins kept a fatherly eye on us and next year will be our VPE setting goals to stretch us all. Ann, Trina, Nathan and Martin our new members will aim for CC’s this year…. go for it guys.  We are all barracking for you.  We are sorry to lose Carolyn Ritchie and hope to see her back one day.

A special thanks to Ipswich Toastmasters Club for changing the Committee Meeting night to allow me to attend J2K.

It was a great boost to our confidence when Heidi Fishlock, President of Springfield Lakes, visited and remarked how Jacaranda had changed. We realised how important those little things can be: starting on time, maintaining discipline.  That feedback was very rewarding. And yes, she was right. The Club is now ( mostly!) following protocols and observing the rules.  We are real Toastmasters. J Just look at us now: *A DISTINGUISHED CLUB* for the first time ever. We have two more Toastmasters who want to join (doubling our membership to 16) and we expect more visitors.   Next meeting calls for cake!

Remember, we have a new Area Governor Dudley Cowan, a senior Toastmaster with much experience who will certainly encourage us to reach higher.  Could we aim next year to be a Select Distinguished Club?  I think so.  How about you?

With love, thanks, appreciation and just plain happiness,

Cheers, Hedda.

Hedda Pike, ACG, ALB

Area 11 Governor

0412 22 88 15

EDITOR”S NOTE: Readers will be very sorry to hear that since this letter was submitted for inclusion in Corroboree, Olive Howitt passed away and will be sadly missed by Jacaranda Club and many other long serving  Toastmasters.