D46 Honorable Mention Website 2007-2008
Chartered
Apr 16, 2009
Distinguished Club
2008-2009
President's Distinguished
Club
2009-2010
- GENERAL
- MEETINGS
- MEMBERSHIP
- THE CC - COMPETENT COMMUNICATOR
- BEYOND THE CC
- THE TM ORGANIZATION
- CONTESTS
What's the AC?
AC means Advanced Communicator. It's the next level of Toastmasters achievement after the CC. If you like, you can consider the CC the "core curriculum" and the AC your actual "major." Three are 3 levels of AC and there are 15 "specializations" you can work on to get your three ACs.
What do I have to do to get an AC-Bronze?
Well, the AC-Bronze is no more difficult than a CC. You have to have:
- received a CC,
- completed two of the Advanced manuals, each of which has five speech projects.
What happens after I earn an AC-Bronze?
The first thing that happens is that you turn in the registration and receive your certificate for your achievement. TI World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer if you wish notifying them of your accomplishment. Continuing on the communication track:
The AC-Silver requires you to have:
- received an AC-Bronze
- completed two more Advanced manuals, each of which has five speech projects
- conducted two programs from the Better Speaker series and/or the Successful Club series
The AC-Gold requires you to have:
- received an AC-Silver
- completed two more Advanced manuals, each of which has five speech projects
- coordinated and conducted one Success/Communication, Success/Leadership, or Youth Leadership module
- coached a new member with his or her first three speeches
What advanced manuals are available?
There are fifteen manuals available, each with five speech projects of various lengths:
| Humorously Speaking |
Technical Presentations | Communicating On Television | |
| Persuasive Speaking |
Interpersonal Communication | Speaking To Inform | |
| Storytelling | Public Relations | Interpretive Reading | |
| Facilitating Discussion | Special Occasion Speeches | Specialty Speeches | |
| Speeches By Management | The Entertaining Speaker | The Professional Speaker |
You receive your choice of two of these for no cost when you complete your CC. Additional manuals cost $5.00 plus shipping.
What is a DTM?
DTM stands for "Distinguished Toastmaster." The DTM is the highest level of certification presently awarded by Toastmasters International. The DTM is also the hardest award to earn. In order to qualify for a DTM, you must:
- be an AC-Gold (or ATM-Gold),
- have received the Advanced Leader Silver award (or the old Advanced Leader award)
What happens after I earn a DTM?
You have several options. You may go back at any point after earning a CC
and work your way through the Competent Communications manual again and earn
another CC. Some members earn a new CC every year. This is one way in which
veteran members may remain polished at the fundamentals of public speaking.
You may also earn multiple AC's and DTM's if you fulfill the requirements
multiple times. You can work on presenting Success/Communication or
Success/Leadership projects.
Also, the very, very best speakers may qualify for the Accredited Speaker
program, a TI program that 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, an
applicant must be a current member of a Toastmasters Club. He or she also
must be an Advanced Communicator Bronze 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.
BEYOND THE CC -cont.-
How does Toastmasters help with leadership skills?
As mentioned earlier, the Toastmasters 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 leadership and the communication paths are NOT mutually exclusive; members are encouraged to continue working down both avenues as they continue their membership in Toastmasters. As with the AC-Bronze, you must turn in the registration to receive credit, and again you may have a letter sent to your employer.
To be eligible for the Competent Leader (CL) award, you must:
- Complete the 10 projects in the Competent Leadership manual
To be eligible for the Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) award, you must:
- Achieve the Competent Leader award.
- Achieve the Competent Communicator award.
- Serve 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).
- Participate in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving in this office.
- While a Club officer, participate in a District-sponsored Club officer training program.
- Conduct any two programs from The Successful Club Series.
To be eligible for the Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) award, you must:
- Achieve the Advanced Leader Bronze award.
- Serve a complete term as a District officer (District Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Public Relations Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Division Governor,or Area Governor).
- Compete the High Performance Leadership program
- Serve successfully as a Club Sponsor, Mentor, or Coach.
To apply for any of the leadership awards, complete the appropriate section of the Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards application. You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.
Other communication and leadership programs are available. The Success/Leadership program features the following subjects: conducting productive meetings, characteristics of effective leaders, developing leadership skills, improving management skills, working in the team environment, and parliamentary procedure. The Success/Communication program features the following subjects: Speechcraft (an eight-week public speaking education program), mental flexibility, the power of ideas, developing and presenting training programs, effective listening, and effective evaluation. There is an additional program available called "Youth Leadership" which is similar to Speechcraft except that it's targeted for children and teenagers.
What leadership opportunities within the chapter are open to me as a member of Toastmasters?
Hackettstown Toastmasters's chapter officers are elected once a year. Elections usually take place in May for the upcoming July 1 to June 30 term.
Chapter offices (and their rank within the chapter) are as follows:
- President - chairs meetings and supervises all other officers
- Vice President Education - schedules meeting assignments and works with members to see that their needs are met
- Vice President Membership - runs chapter membership drive and also works to keep members satisfied and happy
- Vice President Public Relations - makes sure chapter meeting listings appear in the media, puts posters up, etc.
- Secretary - sends correspondence on behalf of the chapter, keeps chapter records and minutes
- Treasurer - handles financial affairs, such as dues and purchases
- Sergeant at Arms - sets meeting room up, puts stuff away, greets guests, etc.
Chapter offices are open to any member. There is no reason why a new member cannot run for President without serving in any other chapter office. The VPE and President roles do tend to be held by more experienced Toastmasters - but not always!
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| Updated 09/10/11 |
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