Hello one and all!

Let me welcome you men and women into the first step to self-expression and leadership! I am so very happy to say that this new venture is both frightening and incredibly exciting at the same time! I'm here to assure you that all the feelings of apprehension and fear that you are, and will increasingly feel as the time for your first speech arrives are ABSOLUTELY SHARED by everyone. It is the very desire to improve these things about us--our weaknesses--that make us wonderful people. There will be people with varying degrees of skill in this club, but isn't that what is great about us as humans--we are here to pull each other up and teach what we know. There are no judges here, only supporters. All are treated with respect and brotherly love--this is how we will flourish! Don't worry about your level of experience! Don't worry about your level of experience! Don't worry about your level of experience!!!! We are all students here.

You have all heard that the "Demonstration Meeting" will be this Sunday, September 20th, at 5:00 p.m.. The time is an advantage for the officers and leaders from other chapters hours away to travel to welcome us and lead us into this venture. They will describe the structure, explain the applications of what you will learn in the real world, and help us organize and begin our chapter. I'm privileged to finally meet these fine people who are travelling at their own expense to give of themselves for such a worthy cause as this.

Most of you received a membership sheet to fill out, and a membership requirement at the bottom. If you haven't received such a sheet, write me and I can send it to you to fill out, or you can bring a check for $47.00 total to the meeting and fill it out then. The first $20.00 covers your new membership fee. An additional $27.00 is for your manual and toastmasters packet. Your won't have to pay the $27.00 each semester, it will only be required when you advance to the next level and require an advance manual and packet.

It is very important for all new members to arrive this Sunday 9/20/09 at 5:00 for this meeting. we will be collecting first time dues, signing the charter and assigning officers for the semester to come. If you cannot come, please find a way to get me the membership sheet and dues before this weekend, as we require 20 members to begin the club, and though we have exceeded that by almost 50%, we must have at least 20 signed and paid by sunday. Thank you in advance for your diligence in this matter!

At the bottom of this email is a FAQ link. It goes to a web page that answers most questions you may have about the purpose of Toastmasters and how you can apply this new power to your life! Also, starting October 1st, the weblog entitled "wordhero.blogspot.com" will be operational. I and some officers will be making announcements and just basically expressing news and opinion about the advancement of our club as we grow and blossom. I can't wait for all the wonderful stories and speeches we will be sharing with each other!

One more thing I will tell you in this message: Read the FAQ"s at the link below, go to Toastmasters.org, and even better, go to www.Youtube.com and search out some toastmaster speeches and demo meetings...get all the prep you need to understand how great you're going to fee!
I'm proud of you all for your decision to improve your heart's expression!
Lambs Into Lions
"Because Every Master Was Once a Disaster"
Hobbs, NM Toastmasters
wordhero.blogspot.com
FAQ'S about TOASTMASTERS available: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/toastmasters-faq/part1/
Nothing is more important than standing up for what you believe in, no matter what the cost may be. -Carrie Prejean