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District 37 Toastmasters® Speakers Bureau.

Fellow Toastmaster:

Thanks for your interest in the Toastmasters District 37 Speakers Bureau! It's going to be a great opportunity for you to gain even more speaking experience while promoting Toastmasters in North Carolina. Here is what is expected when you apply for membership and become a member of the District 37 Speakers Bureau:

The main purpose of the District 37 Speakers Bureau is to promote Toastmasters. As such, you have to be a member in good standing of Toastmasters, and remain a member in good standing to remain a member of the Bureau.

You'll need to have four presentations, each 20 to 30 minutes in length ready to go before applying. One of the presentations must be specifically about Toastmasters. The other three are of your choosing, based on your interests and expertise. Many of us will receive requests for more extensive presentations or information about professional services we provide based on displaying our knowledge and talents through Speakers Bureau presentations. Just make sure that you don't include a sales pitch, sermon or anything clearly offensive when speaking on behalf of Toastmasters. For example, you can show people why they should have a financial advisor, but not why they should come to your company. You can make reference to your faith, but don't try to convert anybody.

You cannot receive compensation for speaking engagements booked through the Bureau. Virtually all speaking engagements should be in or near your city, so transportation should not be an issue. Should you accept a speaking engagement a substantial distance from your home through the Bureau, you may be reimbursed travel expenses (i.e., they can give you gas money). And it's okay if they buy your meal at a meeting that includes a meal. Any offers of a contribution or honorarium must be made in the form of a donation payable to District 37 Toastmasters.

If you do receive requests for a longer and/or paid speaking engagement, you are on your own to make those arrangements. Just make sure that everyone is aware that you are acting independently and not representing Toastmasters when you do (TI regulations).

When you send in your application, here is what is required to be sent along with it at that time:

• Completed Application
• Signed Membership Agreement
• Written Letter of Recommendation from club VPE
• Headshot (digital preferred but not required). Walmart's Photo studio can assist you for less than $20.00.
• Biography (150 words max.)
• Summary of Toastmasters Experience (100 words max)
• One paragraph summary of each of your presentations for use on the website, plus outlines of each of their presentations for review by the administrators. Please also make sure to provide 3 or 4 "keywords" to help identify your speech in a search list we will put on the website.

All of the above must be included when you submit your application for membership. Because we expect to receive a large number of applications, only those with completed packets can be considered for membership in the bureau.

The reason for the written letter of recommendation from your VPE is two-fold. First, we want our best people out there representing Toastmasters. Your VPE is probably the best person to know whether or not you are ready. Second, it keeps the Bureau from having to hold lengthy and potentially awkward "auditions".

The rest of the items required with the application are to help the Bureau administrators be aware of the presentations we will offer and to help market you as a speaker!

We will be using a portion of the Charlotte Area Toastmasters website to help promote the bureau and provide contact information. We will post all speaking engagements on an on-line calendar page (http://www.localendar.com/public/ToastmastersSpeakers).

Once you have accepted an invitation through the Bureau, you are responsible for dealing directly with the group you will be speaking to for determining details and special arrangements. The Bureau will provide contact details when you agree to the engagement.

You will be expected to have information regarding Toastmasters available at any and all speaking engagements through the Bureau. Make them optional, available on a table at the back of the room. You may also bring promotional information for your professional services, but nothing should be "for sale". Keep your information also on a back table, but clearly separate from any Toastmasters information.

You may make use of a personal feedback or evaluation form if you wish. However, the Bureau will be sending out its own feedback form to every organization booking a presentation through us. We will provide you with this feedback information as a followup to each speech you make.

Future plans include a monthly Speakers Showcase, designed for members of the Bureau to fine tune their speeches, share experiences and give round- table evaluations to help each other improve.

Thanks for your interest in the District 37 Speakers Bureau! We'll see you on stage soon!

For more information, contact:

Tim Trumble

vitalitytim@yahoo.com

704-451-8502

Dontae Latson

dontae.latson@carolinashealthcare.org

704-358-2911

Missy Howard

crewsms@aol.com

704-442-9802

Application/agreement forms (Word format) may be faxed to 704-602-9874 (with digital photos e-mailed to one of the above administrators), or mailed to Tim Trumble, 801-C International Drive, Charlotte, NC 28270.