D27 Discuss with Us!

Today, Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, Millennials, and soon Generation Z will all work together to accomplish common Toastmaster organizational goals. With differences in each of these generation's viewpoints, upbringings, culture, ideas, beliefs, and experiences, you are likely to see some tiffs or clashes within Toastmasters.

Sharon Anita Hill, DTM, PID, RA will answers questions about understanding and learning how to communicate with different generations within your clubs, areas, divisions, and district leadership.

Managing these four generations under one roof is achievable!

A continuation from the last episode where Paola Fattorini interviews her fellow Toastmasters about the importance and impact of diversity with 5-Star Toastmasters. Listen as she discusses what makes 5-Star unique.

Paola Fattorini interviews her fellow Toastmasters about the importance and impact of diversity with 5-Star Toastmasters. Listen as she discusses what makes 5-Star unique. 

Richard E. Peck, DTM, is the International President for the 2020-2021 program year. Peck was a senior member of the Network Support division at AT&T, where he had worked for over thirty years. During his tenure as a project manager, he led cross-functional teams to successfully deliver several multimillion-dollar high-tech projects annually. His volunteer work includes serving as club president and Lieutenant Governor for Kiwanis International, serving with Lions Club International, as well as serving in various capacities with the Catholic War Veterans. Peck enjoys traveling, studying world cultures, and helping others achieve more than they believe they can.

Excellent public speaking is a desirable skill that we all try to attain. With the current shift to the virtual world, this allows us to explore new opportunities and avenues. Be it professional, conducting a presentation, or meeting online, how do we deliver our message most effectively? Be it private, celebrating an anniversary or birthday, how do we acknowledge achievements and deliver social speeches at online social events?

The next two series in D27 Discuss With Us will analyze and develop some ideas for the new challenges we are encountering in the virtual world. The second episode of this two part series addresses technology issues. Although the podcast does not want to teach the basics on how to use virtual platforms, we want to touch up on common issues and problems. In the end, features are mostly similar, and it is “just” a matter of clicking the right bottom. The podcast wants to address how to charmingly play around technical issues one may encounter. As updates occur frequently, how can we prevent the awkward gap of delivering a speech when encountering technical issues?

Excellent public speaking is a desirable skill that we all try to attain. With the current shift to the virtual world, this allows us to explore new opportunities and avenues. Be it professional, conducting a presentation, or meeting online, how do we deliver our message most effectively? Be it private, celebrating an anniversary or birthday, how do we acknowledge achievements and deliver social speeches at online social events?

The next two series in D27 Discuss With Us will analyze and develop some ideas to the new challenges we are encountering in the virtual world. The first episode of this two part series addresses the issue of delivering content effectively on an online televideo conferencing platform.

How can we prevent not just speaking to the computer but rather connect to the far away audience? How do we keep people engaged listening to the virtual speaker without the normal methods, such as eye contact, body gestures, and movement? How can Toastmasters help us with public speaking, presentation, and leadership skills?

New Jersey native, Charles S. Gates is an entrepreneur, coach, trainer, emcee and transformational speaker.

Charles takes his audience and clients from mundane to magnificent, using his TOP HAT leadership philosophy. His high-energy presentations and workshops are fun, in-your-face, and memorable.

Charles has been featured in the New Journal and Guide, Virginia’s oldest African American owned newspaper, The Suffolk News Herald, WAVY News 10 (Norfolk), WODU’s Let’s Face it Radio Show with Wil Strayhorn and WNSB’s Nonprofit Exchange Radio Show with C. Richard Gillcrese. He has also appeared on The Common Show with Juanita, WHRO’s Another View and the now defunct Cheryl Wilkerson Presentstelevision shows.

Charles serves on the boards of a handful of community based non-profits and was the immediate past Region 7 Advisor for Toastmasters International. He lives George Washington Carver’s mantra, “no individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.”

Just celebrating her 98th birthday, long-time member Helen Burkett discuses the challenges and her journey as being one of the first few females who joined Toastmasters and how she took that experience to receive her 13th DTM award.

Matt Kinsey, DTM, of Coral Springs, Florida, is the CEO of MK Tech Group in Coral Springs, Florida, which he started in 2007. Kinsey oversees all aspects of his IT consulting firm that services small and medium-sized businesses in the South Florida area.

Kinsey holds a master’s degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix, Arizona. He has a certificate in strategic management and was recognized with the Silver Beaver and Vigil Honor awards for his work with the Boy Scouts of America. As a Boy Scout volunteer for 23 years, he has held numerous positions within the organization including district chairman, event chairman, and currently serves as the council’s camping chairman.

A Toastmaster since 2003, Kinsey is a charter member of his home club, Outspoken Toastmasters, in Coral Springs. He has held a number of high-profile leadership positions within Toastmasters and has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation—the highest level of educational achievement in the organization.

“I have learned that to be most successful, you need to lead with your heart and not your head,” he says. “There is no finer program than Toastmasters for helping people build their self-confidence, communication and leadership skills.”

As an officer of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, Kinsey is a “working ambassador” for the organization. He works with the Board to develop, support, and modify the policies and procedures that guide Toastmasters International in fulfilling its mission.