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Mark your calendar for the Spring Conference

Hosted by Division I, Friday and Saturday, May 30 + 31, 2008 in San Antonio.

Writing press releases is a great way to get FREE advertising for your club.

Kathy Moore, AC-G, Public Relations Officer, pro@tmd55.org

I believe the best way to learn to write one is to follow a great example, so my hat's Off to the VP-PR at the Williamson Toastmasters club in Round Rock, Sharon Brown, for sending in this great press release.

Notice that the club's website is mentioned. It would also be great to get a contact name and phone number and information on the club meetings if possible. If you are in a small town, like Rockport, you will have a better chance of getting any press release in. I felt like a movie star going down there to present a creativity workshop for my HPL. There I was with a photo and story about what I was coming to do.

In big cities, like Austin and San Antonio, you will have to be much more creative to get your press release published. Here's some tips: Talk to the reporter whom you think will cover the Toastmaster beat. It might be the Neighborhood section where your club meets, or it could be in the Business Section. Use an angle that would appeal to the readership and "pitch" that idea to the reporter. If you make their life easier and give them stories they can use, not just fluff, they will be more likely to use stuff from you in the future. An easy foot in the door with Toastmasters is this: Stage fright is the number one fear in America. Show how a member or members in your club have overcome theirs.

Be sure to send in your Score Cards and press releases for the PR contest. You could win big at the District Conference.

Round Rock Leader Homefront, Saturday, January 26, 2008 - Page 3B

Round Rock Woman Recognized by Toastmasters International

Vondakaye Dashman of Round Rock has earned her second Distinguished Toastmaster recognition award from Toastmasters International. The DTM is the highest honor that can be achieved by a member of Toastmasters International. It is awarded only to those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and communication skills and who have used these skills to help others in their self-development efforts.

"I believe in 'Leading by Example.' I am a fine example of what anyone can accomplish in this organization simply by following the requirements in the manuals. If I can, anyone can," Dashman said. She is a charter member of the Austin CPA Chapter Toastmasters Club, and has held several club, area, and district offices throughout her four years in Toastmasters. Some of her awards include Select Distinguished Area Governor, Presidents Distinguished Area Governor, Select Distinguished Division Governor, and 2005-06 Outstanding Division, Governor of the Year.

Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization, which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking abilities through local club meetings, training seminars and speech contests. For more information, visit williamson.freetoasthost.com.

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The names "Toastmasters International," "Toastmasters," and the Toastmasters International emblem are trademarks protected in the United States, Canada, an other countries where Toastmasters Clubs exist. Unauthorized use is prohibited.