T.I. PROGRAMS

Toastmasters Is Fun! Toastmasters International Education Program Toastmasters International has developed an educational program to help communicators and leaders at all stages of expertise to find their voice. Toastmasters International Education Program consists of two tracks: 1. Communication Track 2. Leadership Track. Both the Communication and Leadership tracks have unique educational manuals, requirements and recognitions. As a new member, you most likely joined to participate in the communication track in order to build your speaking skills. But you are encouraged to challenge yourself even more and participate in the leadership track, too. The two tracks are not mutually exclusive and you can work on them concurrently. Each track provides recognition for specific accomplishments. The different levels of recognition and their requirement are described below. 1. The Communication Track The communication track is the starting point of all new members of our club. It is the means through which you develop your speaking and listening skills and achieve your goal of becoming a better communicator. The awards in order of eligibility are Competent Communicator (CC), Advanced Communicator-Bronze (ACB), Advanced Communicator-Silver (ACS), Advanced Communicator-Gold (ACG). The following is the requirements for each of the Communication awards. A. Competent Communicator The first step of the communication track is the Competent Communicator manual (also called the "basic manual"), which contains 10 speech projects. The basic manual helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Every project builds upon what you have learned in the preceding project. As you complete the projects you'll learn the importance of sincerity in speaking, how to effectively organize a presentation, how to use body language and voice to convey your message, word choice and props, persuasive speaking, and how to inspire others. Your first goal as a Lake Oswego Toastmaster Club member is to complete this manual. When you do, you will be recognized as a Competent Communicator (CC). B. Advanced Communicator After receiving the Competent Communicator (CC) award you can continue in the Communication Track onto the Advanced Communicator Program where you can refine and enhance your basic skills. This program has 3 levels of recognition based on the Olympic Medal Hierarchy - Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Advanced Communicator Program consists of 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented; several are not. You can choose the manuals you want to complete based on the skills you want to improve. The manuals are: The Entertaining Speaker Speaking to Inform Public Relations The Discussion Leader Specialty Speeches Speeches by Management The Professional Speaker Persuasive Speaking Technical Presentations Communicating on Television Storytelling Interpretive Reading Interpersonal Communication Special Occasion Speeches Humorously Speaking When you work in the advanced manuals you are eligible for several awards: A. Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) To be eligible for this award, you must have: Achieved Competent Communicator (CC) Completed two Advanced Communication manuals B. Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) To be eligible for this award, you must have: Achieved Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards) Conducted any two programs from The Better Speaker Series and/or The Successful Club Series C. Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) To be eligible for this award, members must have: Achieved Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards) Conducted a Success/Leadership Program, Success/Communication Program (Success/Leadership or Success/Communication programs may not be those completed for the Advanced Communicator Bronze) or a Youth Leadership Program Coached a new member with the first three speech projects By the time you earn the Advanced Toastmaster Gold recognition, you will have completed six of the available Advanced Communication Program manuals and will have learned many valuable advanced speaking skills.

Meet People That Want To Help You Succeed 2. Leadership Track As mentioned above, the Toastmasters International educational program also includes a leadership track, where you acquire and practice the skills necessary to be an effective leader. You can serve as a Club leader, developing skills in planning, training, motivating, and managing. You even can become a District leader, where these skills are further enhanced. You also can participate in the "High Performance Leadership" program, which requires you to conduct a project of your choice in which you serve as a leader. The program provides study material and activities to complete. The awards in order of eligibility are Competent Leader (CL) and Advanced Leader (AL). The following is the requirements for each award. A. Competent Leader (CL) To be earn this award, for the year 2007-2008 you may either complete the "old" requirements listed below, or complete the new Competent Leadership Manual. Starting July 1, 2008 you must complete the new Competent Leadership Manual. The "old" requirements are: Achieved Competent Communicator (CC) Served at least six months (June 1 through December 31, or January 1 through June 30) as a Club officer (President, Vice President Education, Vice President Membership, Vice President Public Relations, Secretary, Treasurer, or Sergeant at Arms) and participated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving in this office While a Club officer, participated in a District-sponsored Club officer training program Conducted any two programs from The Successful Club Series B. Advanced Leader (AL) To be eligible for this award, you must have: Achieved Competent Leader (CL) Served a complete term as a District officer (District Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Public Relations Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Division Governor, or Area Governor) Competed the High Performance Leadership program Served successfully as a Club Sponsor, Mentor, or Specialist What other awards and opportunities are available through the Toastmasters International Education Program? Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) is the highest award Toastmasters International bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills. To be eligible for the DTM, a member must have completed both the communication track and the leadership track. When a member has completed achieved Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) and Advanced Leader (AL) they are awarded Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM).

Toastmasters Has Something For Everyone! Speech Contests Interested in competitive speaking? Toastmasters International offers a variety of speech contests in which you can participate as a contestant or as an official. Even if you are not interested in participating, you can learn just by observing the contestants. Contests are held at all levels of Toastmasters International - club, area, division, district, region and international. The contest categories are humor and table topics in the fall and inspiration and evaluation in the spring. The biggest contest is the annual International Speech Contest, which culminates in the contest finals held during the Toastmasters International Convention in August of every year. Speak with our club Vice President of Education for more information. Accredited Speaker Program Toastmasters International has a special program which recognizes those members who have professional-level speaking skills. The Accredited Speaker Program is not for everyone. Only a handful of Toastmasters have what it takes to become Accredited Speakers. Less than 25 percent of those who apply for the program become Accredited Speakers. The program is conducted annually. To qualify as an Accredited Speaker, you must be a current member of a Toastmasters Club. You must also be an Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) and have had a minimum of 25 speaking engagements to non-Toastmasters audiences within three years of application date. Five copies of letters of acknowledgment or appreciation from any of the 25 engagements must be provided as documentary evidence of successful presentations. In addition, applicants must pass a rigorous two-stage judging process.