Try to remember back when you achieved your first communications award in Toastmasters.  For me, it was the 1.5 year journey to starting my formal speaking and reach a goal of finishing the 10 projects for the CTM back in year 2000.

 

 I was so excited to reach that goal; I was like a kid when they get a new box of pencil crayons.  When you open the box you see the rainbow of colours and all the crayons are sharp and ready to use.  We dive right in and start colouring but most times the most important tool is not sold with the crayon box.  It is the pencil sharpener.

 

The pencil sharpener is continuously used to keep the pencil crayon sharp.  It’s the same principle for this year’s club theme.  We need to continuously use and sharpen our communication and leadership skills, especially as an Advanced Toastmasters club.

 

Our challenge is to work to sharpen ourselves and sharpen our club.  I challenge you to think of creative ideas to bring each meeting role up to an advanced club level.  Let’s remove the usual, old and safe and replace it with ideas that are exciting, fresh and daring.

 

We all need to HONE our skills in communication and leadership.  Challenge yourself this year to take on new opportunities for growth.  Like the pencil we need to put our skills to work and remember to continuously use the pencil sharpener to keep our skills sharp.