Hornsby District Toastmasters Club
Club News
08/06/2011
During our meeting on 07/06/2011 Donrita noted more feedback for her Grammarian report than there was time to present. All notes can be reviewed in our available download section under Good Speeches. Further, we would like to acknowledge the awards Vlad and Jo received lately. Vlad received his Competend Leader Award on 15/03/2011 and Jo her Competend Communicator Award on 31/05/2011. Congratulations for both!
Jo presenting the CL-Award to Vladimir. Donrita presenting CC-Award to Jo.
27/03/2011
The District 70 International Speech and Evaluation contest took place on 27/03/2011 in Bewrora. Our club president Jo was asked to take over the contest Toastmaster duties. Here are a few comments provided by Jo:
"The role of contest Toastmaster was nerve racking in the lead-up, then quite fun. I certainly stepped up and out of my comfort zone and spoke for the first time with a wireless microphone. The experience was amazing and I recommend it to anyone!
Also, I stepped out as the Area 10 Evaluation Contest Target Speaker in North Sydney a couple of weeks ago. This was a great experience to stretch my confidence. After I started speaking I relaxed and had a fantastic time! The interview afterwards was also fun, especially in front of a crowd that I didn't know."
Please find below a picture showing Jo presenting one of the certificates during the District 70 contest.
06/02/2011
On 01 February our club held the international speech and evaluation contest. We sweltered in 40 degree heat in the hall, but it was a good night thanks to all the preparation by Contest Chair Roslyn Host, and the excellent work on the night by Toastmaster Sophia. Special thanks must go to Jo who stepped into the Chief Judge role at the very last minute. Jeanette also produced an excellent toast at short notice and everyone else who had roles fulfilled them well. Thanks to all participants and congratulations to the winners and runner ups! Please support Donrita and Andrew in the Area 16 contests on 19 February in St Ives community hall from 2.00pm.  Chair Roslyn and Chief Judge Jo with the runner up Jagath in the evaluation contest (top left) and Don in the speech contest (top right) and 1st prizes to Donrita for winning the evaluation contest (bottom left) and Andrew for winning the speech contest (bottom right). 26/01/2011
Four new members participate at our club meetings regularly already since September but have now been officially inducted. Mechael, Ruth and Syria have been inducted during our first meeting in 2011 on 18th of January. Welcome to our new members.
President Jo (middle) surrounded by the new club members Mechael, Erensa and Ruth and Syria (from right).
08/01/2011
The International Speach and Evaluation Contest will be held on 01/02/2011. We are still seeking contestants and volunteers to fulfil other roles (e.g. timer). Please consider to take on a role and contact Roslyn for details.
24/12/2010 Hornsby Toastmasters wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011. 
5/12/2010
Quite a few certificates have been presented during our latest club meeting on 29/11/2010.
Donrita won the first prize in the Membership building contest. Brad received a confirmation for achieving all distinguished goals during his term as club president last year. Ian´s trophy for winning the District 70 Humorous Speech contest conducted at the semi-annual district conference was presented and Vlad´s effort in building up the club´s website and being voted one of the 5 best websites of district 70 was acknowledged with a certificate of appreciation. All awards have been presented by our club president Jo.
Don´t forget the Christmas Party happening next saturday 11/12/2010!
23/11/2010
It seems that I am repeating myself but again GREAT NEWS. Our club member Ian participated in the humourous speech contest at the Semi-Annual Conference in Wollonong last Saturday and WON. Congratulations to Ian!!!
18/11/2010
Two awards have been presented at Tuesday's meeting at Beatrice Taylor Hall. Don received his award for finishing the Competent Leadership Manual and Anthony achieved the 2nd place in our Membership Building Contest. Congratulations to Don and Anthony!
President Jo presenting the awards to Don and Anthony
30/10/2010Great News! Our club member Ian Small has participated in the Hawkesbury Divison Humourous Speech Contest on 23/10/2010 and won! He will now represent not only our club and our area but also our divison in the District 70 Humourous Speech Contest held during the Semi-Annual-Conference in Wollongong on Friday and Saturday 19 & 20/11/2010. The contest will take place during the Gala-dinner Saturday evening. Please support Ian and take the chance to participate in the Semi-Annual-Conference and RSVP by Monday 1/11/2010. The flyer can be downloaded here.
16/10/2010On saturday 09/10/2010 the Area 16 Table Topics and Humourous Speech contests took place in Berowra. Donrita burst into song, posing as Julie Andrews in her fantastic table topics response to the question, "Who would play you in the movie of your life?". Donrita burst into song, posing as Julie Andrews in her fantastic table topics response to the question, "Who would play you in the movie of your life?".
Ian Small stepped up to the challenge and performed his story with renewed gusto. The audience showed their enjoyment with fits of laughter and he was rewarded for his efforts by being selected by the judges (all coming from clubs outside our area) as the winner of the Area 16 Humorous Speech contest.
 Area 16 Table Topics Contest Area 16 Humourous Speech Contest
Participant Donrita Winner Ian Small with Area Governor Kathleen (right)
The Hawkesbury Divison Contest takes place on 23/10/2010 with Ian representing Area 16 with his humourous speech. The flyer can be downloaded here. Please RSVP and come along to support Ian.
07/10/2010
There are two new downloads available in the Members only Area, Donritas Handout on her speech on anxiety at the last meeting and the invitation for the Christmas Party on Dangar Island. Please download, complete and return the form for the Christmas Party to Donrita. The event has been included in our club calender, as well.
04/10/2010We hope everyone has got his/her costume ready for the Halloween surprise party. It takes place on 19/10/2010, meeting at 7.00pm for a 7.15pm start. The area contests in Table Topics and Humorous Speech are scheduled for Saturday 09/10/2010 between 1.00pm and 5.00pm at Berowra Community Centre. Please come along to support Ian and Donrita.
The latest published contest dates can be found here: Contests.
03/08/2010
Congratulations to all the contestants of Table Topics and Humorous Speech contests. Winners of the night will now represent our club in the Area Contests. Good luck to our winners!
Winners of Humorous Speech Contests: Winners of Table Topics Contest:
Sophia Smith - runner up Peter Boesch - 3rd
Ian Small - winner Jagath Jayawardana - 2nd
Kathleen O'Rouke - Chief Judge & Area Governor Donrita Reefman - winner
Katheen O'Rouke - Chief Judge & Area Governor
20/07/2010
Tonight two Club members received official recognition of their achievements. President Jo Spiegelhauer presented Competent Communicator certificate to Sophia Smith and Advanced Communicator Silver to Roslyn Host.
06/07/2010
Installation of New Club Officers
Past President Brian Neary conducted a handover ceremony transferring authority from the outgoing Executive Committee to the newly elected Committee. Brian thanked the outgoing Committee for their dedication and service over the past year, before introducing the new Club Officers. The final Club officer introduced was President, Jo Spiegelhauer, who then presented a speech, entitled The Next Step, in which she traced her progression through Toastmasters and outlined the challenges ahead.
Newly elected Executive Committee for 2010-2011 : Vlad Antropov (VPE), Peter Boesch(VPPR), Jo Spiegelhauer (Pres), Leon Chia (Treas), Iris Llosa (Sec), Akon Dey (SAA). Not present, Carole Gan (VPM).
02/07/2010Our Club reached 10 goals out of 10 in Distinguished Club Program in 2009/2010.  01/07/2010For 30 years Hornsby District Toastmasters Club has been serving community. This achievement has been recognised and commended by Toastmasters International which sent us this official Certificate.  30/06/2010
25/06/2010
Today Kathleen O'Rourke and Leon Chia accepted an invitation from Salvation Army Employment PLus to present the benefits of joining Toastmasters International, to a group of potential members.
Kathleen in action at Employment Plus.
15/06/2010
Vice-President Education Jo Spiegelhauer presented Advanced Communicator Bronze certificate to Don Low who completed "Storytelling" and "Humorously Speaking" advanced communication manuals.
01/06/2010
Club Officers’ Reports
President, Brad Smithers introduced each of the current Club Officers and invited them to give a brief verbal report on their various areas of responsibility.
Election of Club Officers 2010/2011
Brad Smithers, as Club President, announced that nominations had been obtained for the remaining positions on the Executive Committee for the new term of office from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011. As required by the constitution, a vote was then carried out for each of the positions and all were duly elected. The newly-elected Club Officers were:-
Vice-President Public Relations:
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Peter Boesch
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| Secretary: |
Iris Llosa
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| Sergeant-At-Arms: |
Akon Dey
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Printing of Beyond Meeting Roles booklet
A motion was moved by Kathleen O’Rourke and seconded by Jeanette Neary that the club spend the sum of $223 for the printing of 50 copies of the new booklet titled Beyond Meeting Roles, developed by Kathleen as an upgraded version of The Cheaters Guide to Meeting Roles which she had compiled a few years ago. Following brief discussion the motion was passed. It was intended that the booklet would be made available to all current members as well as to new members free of charge. Kathleen undertook to arrange the printing in time for the booklets to be available at our next meeting on 15 June.
Induction of New members
Brad Smithers awarded Certificates of Membership to the following new members:-
| John Egan |
Frayda Cooper |
Ben Godding |
| Akon Dey |
Bridget Margan |
John-Paul Hinojosa |
Hidden Phrase Competition Winner
Brad Smithers announced that the winner of the Hidden Phrase Competition in relation to the issue of the Beyond Meeting Roles booklet was John-Paul Hinojosa. John-Paul was presented with a copy of the book Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds.
Special Website Award
At the District 70 Conference Dinner Hornsby District Toastmasters was one of only five clubs out of the sixty clubs in the District to receive a special award for excellence in design and ease of access to their club website. In recognition of his excellent work in developing the club website, Vlad Antropov was awarded a Certificate of Merit by Brad on behalf of the members.
Distinguished Club Program 2009/2010
Brad Smithers announced that the club was “on track” to successfully complete all ten requirements to qualify for the Presidents Distinguished Club Award for 2009/2010, which is the highest level in the Distinguished Club Program. The remaining two tasks would be completed by our final meeting of the Toastmasters year on 29 June.
News from previous months are available in the News Archive. | 
