Toastmasters - Skill Builders

Meet a Club Officer, Leon Opatz, President

Leon joined Toastmasters in 2005 and became a member of Skill Builders in 2006 and is currently the club President. Before becoming President last June, Leon was Vice President Education, thus this is his second year of service as an officer in Skill Builders. Leon was encouraged to join Toastmasters, by a former member who practices in the same engineering field as Leon.

After joining, Leon found that Toastmasters is a highly motivated group that helps each member enjoy public speaking while improving their individual speaking skills. As a Registered Professional Engineer, currently employed by RLK Inc., Leon often finds himself making presentations at public meetings and occasionally in front of large audiences at engineering seminars, these public speaking engagements have been enhanced by his participation in Toastmasters.

Leon lives in White Bear Lake, is married and has two children, Annie 10 and Jack 13, who both play youth hockey. Outside of his career, he enjoys mountain biking, playing broomball, coaching youth hockey and summertime at the family cabin. Leon has only two speeches left to achieve his Competent Communicator (CC).

Toastmaster's Leadership Track

There are two tracks in Toastmasters, the Communication track and the Leadership Track. They both lead to and both must be completed to earn the Distinguished Toastmaster designationi (DTM). The Leadership Track is as follows:

• Competent Leader (CL)
• Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB)
• Advanced Leader Silver (ALS)

Each designation takes 10 projects. These projects can be done as you take on roles at each meeting, so use your roles to your advantage.

Skill Builders Changes Meeting Day

Starting 2009, our meeting day of the week has changed. This will make our meeting day and time consistent for the entire year, on the second and fourth Friday of each month at 11:30am. You can now mark your calendars for the entire year and just set aside the second and fouth Friday of each month for Toastmaster's. Hopefully this will be less confusing then our day of the week and times changing each month. So plan ahead for the new year and remember the SECOND AND FOURTH FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH IS TOASTMASTERS AT 11:30AM.

Imagine... Dream... Transform

Imagine... Dream... Transform. This is the District 6 theme for the 2008-2009 Toastmaster's year (June to June). Think about this theme as the year progresses and how it can benefit you in your Toastmaster progress. Make this year a year of stretching yourself, take a risk and push forward in the Toastmaster program, which seems infinite in possibilities. Joan Watson, DTM, is our District Governor, and she says "I never imagined the opportunities possible by being a club member. The first benefit is to learn to communicate more effectively and also work on leadership skills in a safe, supportive environment." You can reach Joan at toastmasterjoan@hotmail.com.

Membership

Bring a friend to the next meeting. Membership information - contact Scott Larson at info@slhomes.com or 952-435-0018 / 952-898-0598.

The Suggestion Box

This suggestion was just received: Our club should have a "mission statement" which would convey to our members and visitors our purpose. Any feedback? Email miles@milescm.com.