Golden mile newsletter fall 2017

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Golden news
Golden news
Golden Mile Toastmaster Club
YOU DARE, WE CARE
GOLDEN
MILE
No
1. Fall/2017
A few words from the editor
Fellow Golden Milers, it is with great joy that I announce the launch of our first newsletter.
In this issue you will find fascinating stories from our members about how Toastmasters
has shaped them personally and professionally. Special thanks to our team
for the testimonials, ideas and creativity that made this edition a beautiful canvas.
Pablo Ruiz
Joseph Warde DTM
My Toastmasters Journey
I joined the Toastmasters organization in Septem-
ber 2008.The purpose was to improve my com-
munication skills and mainly to control and over-
come my fear of speaking before an audience.This
fear was hindering my career progression and im-
peded my personal development.
As a civil engineer,the circumstances led me more
and more frequently to give training and speaking
before an assembly.The emotions made me stam-
mer every time. I had to find a solution. This is
what brought me to Toastmasters.
I first enrolled in Club Toastmasters Montreal.
Club members gave me tremendous support in
my journey.
In 2009, I got involved in the club executive com-
mittee as secretary, thenVice President Education
(2010) and then as Club President (2011).In 2015,
the organization appointed me as Area Director
with five clubs under my supervision. In 2016,
I had the privilege to serve as club coach and club
mentor.
The club management and leadership roles I as-
sumed throughout my journey were very rewarding.
I learned, practiced and
developed skills that I use
in my everyday life. It was
also an exceptional oppor-
tunity for me to be use-
ful to club members and
serve the organization.
I also got involved in var-
ious speech contests. It
was a terrific way for me
to speed up my progres-
sion and take the plunge
as a speaker. Now I feel
so much more confident
before an audience compared to eight years ago.
In 2017, I reached the DTM which is the highest
educational level at Toastmasters. But it does not
end my Toastmasters journey since my aim is to
always stretch my comfort zone.This is why I re-
cently enrolled in Golden Mile Club in order to
become a more fluent speaker in English.
I would recommend the Toastmasters journey to
anyone.

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Golden news
I visited Golden Mile
Toastmasters Club for
the first time in June
2017, and although
I walked into the
meeting room with-
out knowing a soul,
by the time I left I felt
right at home. I was
warmly welcomed by
everyone in the club,
and even invited to participate in the Table Topics
impromptu speech segment of the meeting. The
strong sense of kinship and camaraderie was very
evident, and imbued every activity with a positive
and supportive energy. The respect with which
the club members treat the Toastmasters pro-
grams and each other makes us all feel very safe
to stretch beyond our comfort zones and take on
new challenges. I am honoured to have been ac-
cepted into the club by the other members, and
hope very deeply to contribute as much as I gain
from the Golden Mile Toastmasters Club. Please
come visit us one Wednesday evening; I promise
you a wonderful time.
Mary Graziano
I have been a member of Golden MileToastmasters
Club since September 2013.I am passionate about
personal growth and continuous learning.A lawyer
by profession,I have always been involved in human
rights. Originally from Mexico, I am a traveller, an
avid reader, a yoga teacher and a musician. I joined
Toastmasters to improve my communication
skills, and what a nice surprise when I discovered
to awaken the leader within me. I have gained
confidence and experience, and above all, I gained
life-time experiences and life-lasting friends!
Early in my career, I was asked to give a ma-
jor presentation in Europe. I was super excit-
ed: it was my first overseas business trip and
I was going to Nice, France. It was perfect:
I bought a new outfit, did hours of research,
prepared my presentation. But, a few days be-
fore leaving, I became incredibly anxious and
could hardly sleep. My fear of public speak-
ing became overwhelming. I managed to give
my presentation without fainting and I some-
how muddled through.I could not believe that
I had become so anxious that I could not even
enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean. I real-
ized then that I never wanted to find myself
in the same position. I had to do something
and I did.I took several public speaking classes
and then finally, after many years of putting it
off, I finally joined Toastmasters.And I am glad
that of all the Toastmasters clubs in Montreal,
I found Golden Mile.Thank you Golden Mile
– and now if I am ever asked again to give
another presentation on the French Riviera,
I will certainly be ready!
Barbara Whiston
HeyseeVerdal, CC, CL

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Golden news
I joined Golden Mile Club in Oct 2016. But, I had been coming as a guest
since early 2015.What kept me coming to this club on regular basis was it’s
energy.The club members are full of enthusiasm and the environment of the
club is very supportive.You can speak your mind and never have to think of
being judged. Moreover, this club has a huge history associated to it.The club
is more than 23 years old now and still going strong.
What Golden Mile has provided me is opportunity, opportunity to speak
more and make mistakes and in the process learn more.With Golden mile,
I have learnt to be a better speaker, a better presenter and an active listener.
Golden Mile can offer you ample opportunities to learn and grow your
communication and leadership skills. So, come and check us out!
SAPANDEEP RANDHAWA
President
MARJORIE FALCON
Vice President of Education
HEYSEEVERDAL
Vice President of Membership
JASMIN AHLONSOU
Vice President of Leadership
PABLO RUIZ
Vice President of Public Relations
AMIR SHARIF
Sergeant at Arms
MARY GRAZIANO
Secretary
JASMIN AHLONSOU
Treasurer
VERONICA RUIZ
Graphic designer
Sapandeep Randhawa
Our fall contest will be held onWednesday, September 13, at our usual venue, but
in the bigger room. The fall contest is all about humorous speech and evaluations.
To quote directly from Toastmasters:
Speech contests are a Toastmasters tradition. Each year thousands of Toastmas-
ters compete in the Humorous, Evaluation,Tall Tales,Table Topics and Interna-
tional speech contests. Competition begins with club contests and winners con-
tinue competing through the area, division and district levels.The International
competition has two additional levels — semifinal and the World Championship
of Public Speaking®. Each year, more than 30,000 Toastmasters compete in one
or more of contests.
Humorous Speech
Contestants present a humorous speech that must be thematic in nature (open-
ing, body, and close), not a monologue (series of one-liners).
Evaluation
Contestants observe a five-to seven-minute test speech and then present a two-
to three-minute evaluation of the test speech
It’s time for our fall contest! Contests are an exciting
opportunity to improve our speaking and leadership skills.
Fall
contest
For more information,
please see: https://
www.toastmasters.
org/leadership-central/
speech-contests
Of course, the winner
in each contest will
move onto the area
contest, to be held in
October.

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Golden news
Then look no further.
Come join us on Wednesday nights 7-9 pm
in a friendly and suppor�ve environment
to learn and have fun!
4450 St-Hubert (next to metro Mont-Royal),
514-512-1055 • 438-876-5678
h�p://goldenmileclub.org/
Golden Mile Toastmasters goldenmile_TM
Are you afraid of speaking in public?
Do you have an interview
and want help with improvisation?
Do you have difficulty expressing yourself?
Would you like to do greatin your next presentation?