Please see the email below that I received from my friend Louise at Symphonia

Dear Craig

A few months ago we invited people who are passionate about South Africa to join the Network of Community Leaders for South Africa (see below for the message that was sent out in May).

Since this message many of us have attended the Dinokeng scenario sessions and have been called to make the Walk Together scenario a reality in South Africa (please see www.dinokengscenarios.co.za for more information).

I am delighted to let you know that we will be holding the first meeting for the Network of Community Leaders for South Africa (NCLSA) in Cape Town on 6th August.

Date: Thursday, 6th August 2009

Time: 14:00 – 16:30

Venue: Manenberg (a community who is setting a wonderful example in terms of community building)

Cost: No cost (the event is sponsored by Symphonia for South Africa, an organisation dedicated to strengthening the fabric of South African society)

The purpose of this meeting will be to establish a community of people who are passionate about South Africa. We are hoping to enrol all those who are playing (or want to play) a leadership role to address the challenges that we face in South Africa.

Our vision is that the NCLSA will serve to strengthen and support all those who are working towards a safe and prosperous South Africa for all.

We will:

• create opportunities for us to learn from others who have been successful at building communities / lead change in there area of practice
• create opportunities to network and find out about other people who are doing similar work
• support, strengthen and inspire each other to continue to do the work in strengthen the fabric of South African society

Some are arguing that we should call this the Network of Engaged Citizens for South Africa (NECSA) rather than a Network of Community Leaders for South Africa (NCLSA). We will talk about this differentiation at our meeting on 6th August. I hope that you will be able to join us for this conversation.

Please let Louise van Rhyn (louise@symphonia.net) know if you will be attending the meeting on 6th August.

Please forward this note to anybody else who may be interested in the activities of the Network of Community Leaders for South Africa.

We are particularly keen to have people from the following sectors:

• Grass roots community leaders
• People from organisations that support community leaders
• CSI managers and people from CSI departments
• Organisational Development practitioners
• Government officials (national, provincial, local)

Warm regards

Louise

Last night I watched a speaker say something like this: “Do you remember the scene where they tore the page from the textbook in Dead Poet’s Society? ”. He then proceeded to relate the scene in the movie to his speech.

While using a quote, idea or story from a movie to help make a point is a useful and powerful technique, you need to be a little careful not to make one of these two assumption:

• We had all seen the movie
• We all remembered the scene/quote.

Those of us who had seen the movie will try to remember exactly what happened, and the rest of us have no idea what the speaker is talking about. This confused the audience and they loose the connection with the speaker.

Here are three suggestions.

1. Pick an example that most of your audience can relate to.
2. Give a brief summary of the scene; just enough to help the audience understand why it emphasises your point
3. Provide context for people that may not be familiar with the example, so that they can relate to the story.

This doesn’t just apply to scene’s from a movie, it could be a quote from a famous speech, or even an important event. For example if I was giving a speech on national unity, I could say something like this

“Do you remember when Nelson Mandela walked onto the rugby field in 1995 after South Africa won the world cup final?”

The South African’s in the audience will remember the moment, but not many others will. Here is an alternative:

“It was 1995, and South Africa having just come out of years of racial segregation, was hosting the Rugby World Cup competition. Due to anti-apartheid sporting boycotts, this was the first year that South Africa was allowed to enter, and they beat New Zealand in the finals to take the trophy. Nelson Mandela walked onto the field wearing a springbok rugby jersey, and presented the trophy to the captain Francois Pineaar, and a nation cheered.”

Which example do you prefer?

Mandela, Rugby World Cup Final, 1995

Even if I gave that story to an audience that does not follow rugby, they can probably relate it to a similar story that is relevant to sporting matches that they follow.

Keep your examples powerful, relevant and simple to capture your audiences, build powerful connections and leave memorable messages.

Hi All

The recent Toastmasters Induction Dinner has made it into the Cape Town local papers. Cape Community Newspapers ran an article which was syndicated to most of the local community newspapers.

Correction: I am the second youngest District Governor. Howard Steinberg beat me in 1980.

You can read the article below.

I hope that it brings some new members in.

On Saturday 4 July, we celebrated our incoming Toastmasters district leaders by holding a gala Induction Dinner.

I was installed as District Governor in a ceremony chaired by Past District Governor, Frances Boshoff, after which I presented my incoming address, where I spoke a little about what Toastmasters means to me, and I presented the district theme – Toastmasters, Growing People.

Download the podcast.

On Saturday 4 July, we celebrated our incoming Toastmasters district leaders by holding a gala Induction Dinner.

I was installed as District Governor in a ceremony chaired by Past District Governor, Frances Boshoff, after which I presented my incoming address, where I spoke a little about what Toastmasters means to me, and I presented the district theme – Toastmasters, Growing People.

District Governor

The outgoing officers were also released from their duties, allowing them to handover the leadership duties to a new set of officers, and Lois Strachan was installed as the IPDG (Immediate Past District Governor), which means that she will be chairing the PDG advisary committee for the next year.

Anyway, if you missed the dinner, it was a fantastic function, and judging by the noise level, was enjoyed by all. If you didn’t manage to get there, I have a video of my speech, you can watch it below. Anyway, keep talking, and remember that Toastmasters Grow people!

As of two days ago, I am the District Governor for Toastmasters District 74, Southern Africa. Geographically, we are one of the largest districts in the world, covering 9 countries in Southern Africa. I am also the youngest District Governor in D74
ever, but I feel ready for the challenge.

I joined Toastmasters in 2000, with the aim of simply becoming a better public speaker, but it did not take very long to realise that Toastmasters is not just about public speaking. It is about learning to become an effective communicator and leader, and I have been on a remarkable journey
of growth. Through Toastmasters, I have

• Trained in South Africa
• Trained in Malawi
• Trained in Namibia
• Travelled three times to USA, each time carrying a flag of our District
• Spoken in the four largest cities in South Africa
• Opened conferences
• Emceed meetings, conferences and events

Holding the Zimbabwe and Zambian flags at the International Convention in Calgary, Canada

Now, please don't think that I am bragging, because I am not. I am showing
you this list to demonstrate that I have learned to do things that I would never
been able to do in the past, both through the acquired skills, and through self
confidence that I have developed.

Whenever Toastmasters has provided me with an opportunity, I have grabbed it,
which is why I have got so much out of it.

Our district theme this year is "Toastmasters – Growing People". And the more
that I am involved, the more I realise that the best way to grow is help others
to grow. By giving, you receive back tenfold. So, it is with great excitment, a
little nerviousness, and hugh anticipa……..tion that I look forward to the
next year!