Toastmasters to go...

Greetings,

I have finally joined Toastmasters International. Club #3828 Eclectic Dialectics...I great bunch of folks from various backgrounds and nationalities.

Now before I had chosen a club to become a member of I had decided that I would become the Toastmaster World Champion of Public Speaking for 2007. And soon thereafter become a recipient of a "Golden Gavel".

Jan 11, 2006 - Now my first meeting was great, I had the opportunity to meet a lot of great and interesting people some of which I'm sure I will work with in the future on many great projects. I had the old enrollment form so I was unable to sign up so I had to do it the next Wednesday.

Jan 18, 2006 - My second meeting was interesting as I was called up to do a "Table Topic" talk. Well I did my thing and was honored to win the ribbon for "Best Table Topic". Wow! My first award and I hadn't even turned in my form yet. This is the start of a wonderful journey. At the end of the evening I turned in my form and soon received confirmation of its acceptance.

Jan 25, 2006 - This is my first official meeting as a member and there is an opening for Speaker #1 and a great member by the name of Suguru asked me if I would be willing to fill the spot although I was scheduled to speak next week. I said sure! Since I had not gotten my manual from Toastmasters International I was given a book to look at for the first assignment. I looked it over for about 10 minutes to get a general idea of what was needed then put it aside and pulled out my tools. I figured after countless impromptu trainings and Boot Camps from Jerry 'DRhino' Clark and $1000 all day trainings with Les Brown along with unknown hours of self-study over the years and completed lectures I surely was ready.

I delivered what some called a "great" 6-minute presentation on "Breaking the Ice". I opened with a quote from Alonzo Newton Binn - "Courage to start and willingness to keep everlasting at it, are the requisites for success." I was up against Gilbert who is a great humorist speaker and Stuart who is developing the gift of great storytelling. I was first so I had to make it memorable enough to last through 2 additional speeches and about 20 minutes of time before the other members were asked to vote...

Drum roll please..........

I was honored that evening to win the ribbon for "Best Speaker" for that evenings meeting.

My journey through Toastmasters will my winning speech for the 2007 Toastmaster World Champion of Public Speaking event held at the National Meeting.

Stay tuned...the best is yet to be revealed.

"Some pursue happiness, others create It." -Unknown

Rodney 'Asaad' Muhammad

Cultivate the Courage to Roar!

P.S. Due to popular demand I will be starting weekly "Thursday Night Call to Courage" telephone talks. Go to www.MeetTheGoal.com and sign up for the bi-weekly ezine and to be notified of the calls when they start. I have many special guests I will bring on for your benefit.