Dates & Deadlines

International Dues

Clubs are urgently reminded to submit their International dues to IMS. Dues are $NZ90 (ninety New Zealand dollars) per member plus a club Convention fee of $NZ18 (eighteen New Zealand dollars). Payment can be made using the secure payment facility on the POWERtalk Website www.powertalkinternational.com  Resource Centre ► Membership Forms.

The necessary paperwork can also be submitted electronically.

Report Dates

Region Presidents and POWERtalk Committee Chairmen are asked to report to the International Board by the following dates:

                        1 October 2007  ---  23 February 2008  ---  15 June 2008.

Tip: Jot these dates down in your calendar today!

International Board Priorities

With the theme of “Renew and Revive” in mind the POWERtalk International Board has identified six Key Strategic Objectives and is working on short and long term plans for these. They are:

RECOGNITION           POWERtalk International is recognized worldwide.

TRAINING                   All levels of POWERtalk International provide quality training which:

-        is of a consistently high standard

-        meets the needs of the members

MEMBERSHIP            POWERtalk International has 10,000 members.     

LEADERSHIP             Organizational and leadership capabilities are developed through coaching and mentoring.

STRUCTURE              Flexible officer structure meets all organizational and member requirements.

COMMUNICATION     Effective 360º Communication.          

POWERtalk Website

www.powertalkinternational.com

Our POWERtalk  Website Webmaster has been very busy in this month of August.

The Resource Centre has three new categories, namely POWERtalking, POWERtalk Course and Branding.

POWERtalking is where all editions of the new E-magazine POWERtalking can be found in pdf format. POWERtalk Course is where you will find everything you want to know about the POWERtalk Short Courses. And Branding is where you will find the Branding Standards Manual, Advertising Guidelines and all the Logos and Letterheads including the just recently uploaded Low Resolution letterheads.

Also added to the POWERtalk Website:

v     Questions and Answers from the Global Marketing Strategy Committee (GLOMAG) during the Plenary Session on the last day of Convention is available in Resource Centre ► Branding.

v     The July edition of PREM Power Lines is in Resource Centre ► PREM ►Power Lines.

v     The Writing Contest Winners for 2006-2007 and the Winning Entries can be viewed at Resource Centre ► Writing Contest ► 2006-2007.

v     Two Education Features. “Leading Through Change” is the PowerPoint Presentation as presented by Mary Marshall during the Training Power Pack Session at Convention. “The Accreditation Journey” is the workshop presented at all Region Conferences. Both can be found in Resource Centre ► Training ► Education Features.

v     The August edition of the Fellows of ITC Newsletter is in Resource Centre ► Training ► Fellows of ITC.

v     Outcome of proposed amendments to the Bylaws and Standing Rules as presented at Convention 2007 can be found in Resource Centre ►Bylaws.

v     The 2007 International Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation and Standing Rules as well as  sample Region, Council and Club Bylaws are now available in the Resource Centre ► Bylaws.

v     Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Master Manual in the Icelandic language have been uploaded to Resource Centre ► Icelandic Documents.

v     New Home Page feature is Member Spotlight. The first member to be spotlighted is Adrienne Payton of Europe ’92 Region.

Rewards for Achievement

The International Board has announced a new series of incentives to reward achievement for Accreditation; adding new members; starting new clubs. They are as follows:

Travel to Convention:

Any Region which increases its membership numbers between August 1, 2006 and July 31, 2008 by 75% and holds those numbers until April 30, 2009 (not including dual members) will receive a travel and accommodation grant.

The grant covers a maximum of $NZ 1000 each for current and incoming Region President plus the Region Speech Contestant for travel and accommodation for three nights at Convention 2009.

Free International Membership:

The International Board will give one free International membership to any club which doubles its membership in one year (not including dual members).

Discounts for New Clubs:

The discounts for starting new clubs are amazing. Any new club which starts with 10 members (not counting dual members) will receive a 10% discount on International dues and any club starting with 20 or more members will receive a 12% discount.

On top of that the club will receive a free visit by a Fellow of ITC to train members on how to run the POWERtalk Short Course; a free extra Master Manual for new joiners and one extra Master Manual with basic sections to hold for visitors plus a free set of officer’s pins.

Rewards for Accreditation Chairmen:

To encourage maximum participation in the Accreditation program, each year the Region Accreditation chairman who achieves the most (that means members achieving accreditation levels) will be rewarded with a free Convention registration. Points will be allocated on completion of a level as confirmed by the International Accreditation Chairman and are as follows:

Level 1 = 10 points, Level 2 = 20 points, Level 3 =30 points, Level 4 = 40 points, Level 5= 50 points.

Then a formula will apply by which the highest percentage of total members in the region or a club outside region will be the winner. DC’s and members not active at club level (Life Members without a club and Members-at-Large and Zenith members) will not be included in the total members’ count.

More detailed information regarding incentives can be found in the e-magazine POWERtalking which can also be found on the Powertalk Website.

How to use Fellows of ITC

In the first issue of POWERtalking it was stated that the International Board would select 2 pilot regions per Division for Region Incentives to help pay for a Fellow of ITC to train members in presenting the POWERtalk Short Courses. However in order to get as much coverage as possible worldwide the Board has decided to pool the funds up to a total of $NZ 32,000. Funds will be made available for travel and accommodation for Fellows as they run the Train the Trainers sessions. The Region or area would be expected to provide the venue.

Applications for a Fellow of ITC must be made to Fellows of ITC Coordinator Carol Preiss email: CPreiss@aol.com.

An application form is available on the POWERtalk Website www.powertalkinternational.com in Resource Centre ► POWERtalk Course.

Summary of Amendments to Bylaws & Standing Rules

o       The International dues have been removed from the Bylaws and placed in the Standing Rules.

o       The officers that make up the International Board will now include a Secretary.

o       The Secretary may not serve consecutive terms.

o       The duties of the Secretary are described.

o       Members of a club-at-large may now belong to a council.

POWERtalk Merchandise

Members have been asking for merchandise items with the new logo that are suitable as gifts for new members, speech contest judges or guest speakers. At Convention all members received a bag containing some of the new items available. Particularly popular was the lanyard pen. Also available for sale are pencils and business card holders.

For PREM purposes there are postcards and the new POWERtalk International brochure. But one of the exciting new items is the brand new POWERtalk banner available in 3 sizes and ideal for promoting POWERtalk in public places. These banners can be customized at no extra cost to include club, council or region name.

There is also a new POWERtalk Membership Pin. President-Elect Margaret Sutherland has already been asked about her lovely pin and was able to give her “Elevator Speech” about POWERtalk International …… an organisation that delivers coaching in effective speaking.

All these items can be ordered in “Shopping” on the POWERtalk Website.

Share your details

The POWERtalk International Website has a special page called “Roster” where dates and venue details of any special events can be viewed. Share details of your special event and council meetings with the rest of the POWERtalk world by sending the information to the new International Communication Liaison Officer – Alan Nakano email: shogundad@comcast.net. Alan will make sure the information is posted on the International Website.

A quote from a positive POWERtalker!

“I had to write and say WOW with regard to the new and exciting POWERtalk International package. I have been a member of ITC for 38 years and I am 81 years old and can’t help but get excited about all the incentives, the new look and the new direction the Board has chosen for ITC. Good luck. The only thing I can see ahead for POWERtalk International is tremendous growth, excitement and spectacular achievement.”

Shirley Dickinson, President of Maple Leaf Communicators

Correction

The August FtB inadvertently named the POWERtalk International Officers in the incorrect order. This issue has rectified the mistake. See here below. Excuses for the confusion.

Newsflash  -  Convention 2009

Catch the Wave

on a 7-day cruise to CONVENTION 2009.

Departure Vancouver Canada on July 17 and

return via Alaska on July 25, 2009.

 DEPOSIT DEADLINE - NOVEMBER 1, 2007

Information on how to make your booking

will come to your Inbox any day now.

Don’t miss the cruise of a Lifetime!

Convention Coordinator Doris Ginther will be making full details available any day now.

Anniversaries

 POWERtalk International Board 2007-2009

“Renew & Revive”

FtB Editor – Mary Flentge

 --- Toastmistress Clubs since 1938 ---