UMDNJ Toastmasters Club

Our First Distinguished Toastmaster

Kevin Thompson — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:15:21 +0000

Kevin Thompson MPA is the first member of UMDNJ Toastmasters Club to achieve the title of Distinguished Toastmaster. Kevin has a consulting, coaching and speaking business, Inspired Communications LLC, helping organizations, agencies and small businesses to energize, empower their staff and foster effective culture change taking customer service to the next level. Kevin credits Toastmasters for his success in public speaking and providing a forum to share his expertise with others.

A charter member of the UMDNJ Club located in Newark, New Jersey, and a Toastmaster for the past 7 years, Kevin has served in a number of leadership roles. Currently serving in his second term as an Area Governor for District 83, he is a sponsor of the newly formed Good Souls Toastmasters in Garfield, New Jersey. Kevin has been the fun night conference chair for several district conferences and was the first conference chair when District 83 was formed.

Humor has always been a gift that Kevin uses in his speeches. He has been a top three humorous speech winner for two consecutive years competing against more than 5,000 club members in New York and New Jersey. Kevin enjoys helping fellow Toastmasters with the development of their speeches and encourages others to enter speech contests.

A member of three Toastmaster Clubs, always looking to expand his knowledge and help others, Kevin has worked behind the camera and is training to be a director of a cable television show. He is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Masters in Public Administration, Six Sigma Black Belt in Process Improvement and a BA in Economics from Tufts University with a Concentration in Community Health.

District 83 Governor Tom Somers during his visit to UMDNJ Toastmasters presented Kevin Thompson MPA with his Distinguished Toastmasters Award. Tom and Kevin are members of Aces Toastmasters which is an Advanced Toastmasters Club in Islen, New Jersey.

If you are looking to join a Toastmasters Club why not visit us at UMDNJ Toastmasters in Newark, New Jersey. There are meetings in the day and afternoon alternating twice a month on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please come visit and join in the fun.

How to Post to Your Umdnj Toastmasters Blog-Part 1

Rosemary Horner — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:35:39 +0000

Some of you are ready to post content to your Umdnj Toastmasters blog site. So, here is the first part of a series of PowerPoint Slides which can get you started. The slides attempt to explain not only the process but each basic posting feature on this powerful site.

This is your site. Please key in your name and email on the home page to get updates in your email. And of course, if there are any questions please simply leave them as a comment.

So, lets get started!

Click on this link to get the PowerPoint download of Part 1 -How to Post to Your Umdnj Toastmaster blog

Improv in Newark

Kevin Thompson — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:29:58 +0000

Have you ever seen an improve show. You know, that is when the person speaking is telling a story and then a random word is said by the audience. The person speaking then has to incorporate that word into the story and continue until another word is offered. It is a lot of fun. Well for this Table Topics session Markell Wilson offered his random 5. He asked for a volunteer and gave the victim, I mean volunteer, Kevin Thompson Area Governor, a story setting to start with and then 5 club members offered a word each for Kevin to add to his story.

Rosemary Horner, our idea coach, mentor and avid blogger shares her improve ability with us as she volunteer for this special type of table topics.

Alton James, former club president, treasure and our resident Realtor shares his improv prowess with us.

We invited a visitor to be part of our table topics and she did an excellent job. Everyone is welcome to participate at UMDNJ Toastmasters Club.

This was a great new way to look at table topics and include audience participation. Tell us what you think of this idea by leaving a comment below.

What Do We Need?

Kevin Thompson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:34:08 +0000

Sunny Mathews, a member of Good Neighbour Toastmasters Club presents his 4th Speech “How To Say It” from the Competent Communicator Manual. The Title of his speech is “What Do We Need”. Sunny provides a comprehensive look into Maslow’s Theory of Needs.

What do you need as a Toastmaster ? You need to visit another Toastmasters’ Club. Why? So that you can benefit from hearing great speakers like Sunny Mathews. Kevin Thompson is the Area Governor of Sunny’s Club and would like to invite you to visit and experience the rich culture and inviting nature of the Good Neighbour Toastmasters Club.

Kevin would also like to invite you to the Area 55 Speech Contest which will be held in conjunction with Area 51 at Good Neighbour Toastmasters located at:
Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer
344 N. Washington Ave
Dumont, New Jersey, 07628

The contest will be held on Thursday March 25th starting at 7:00 PM. If you have not had the opportunity to see a speech contest before then you are in for a treat. Members of 10 different Toastmasters Clubs in two different Areas will meet to compete for Area Trophy Honors in the International Speech and Speech Evaluation categories.

Expand your horizons and visit another Toastmasters’ Club. You will have a chance to hear great speakers like Sunny. As Toastmasters this is what we need to improve our personal development. Please feel free to place a comment about Sunny’s speech below.

tutorials

Dawn — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:23:31 +0000

I find the tutorials very helpful and I can go back to them as often as I need and I can give an update on how good or bad I did with the lesson. keep on tutoring me.

Guess what I learned at UMDNJ Toastmaster?

Dawn — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:17:21 +0000

I was afraid of using filler words and I wasnt sure how to avoid them since it was such a habit. I noticed that the seasoned members of the group simple pause briefly and proceed as normal. It is so suttle that you barely notice the break in stride. I can’t wait until I get a chance to use this skill. Thanks

Heart Felt Speech

Kevin Thompson — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:17:24 +0000

1968, a year of great change in this country. It was also a time of great change in the life of John Harvey Jr. Listen to John’s speech and Share your comments below.

Talking About Fear

Kevin Thompson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:14:18 +0000

Fear is something that we all face and makes a good theme for table topics. Below you will see videos explaining what Table Topics is and experience what it is like to give a Table Topics speech.

[Content protected for Club Member members only]

Shanell’s Table Topics

Clint does Table Topics

[Content protected for Club Member members only]

Rob Lee’s Table Topics

[Content protected for Club Member members only]

How To Log in to the Adminstration Panel So You Can Create a Post

Rosemary Horner — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:09:36 +0000

This is real short and real easy.

Examine The Catergories in Our Blog

Rosemary Horner — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:05:23 +0000

Here is a basic video tutorial I created on creating catergories in a blog. Now there are already categories on this site. However, you have access to the administration dash board. You can change the categories that meet our needs as a club.
The video has a poor closeup for details but you can hear me talk.
Also remember that when you post you can select more than one category.

If you are viewing this post as a non toastmaster member in our club don’t worry you can join!