John Murphy
Technology: Your Partner to A Successful Club

Almost every one of us uses one of the myriad of different softwares available to us for the purpose of enhancing our personal and professional lives. This session will use Google as the example software for taking a closer look at how our clubs (or life) can run more efficiently using a cloud-based platform. This session will dive into how to leverage Google’s suite of free technology to build, connect, and promote your club using the latest technologies. You’ll hear how other clubs are using Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Photos, YouTube, Slides, and more to provide an immersive and shared learning experience. You likely already use some of these, now learn how to be a power user for your club by working smarter, not harder.

Bio

After graduating from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, John Murphy became the lead presenter for equity and debt seminars on behalf of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, then a portfolio engineering trainer for a private, wealth management firm overseeing $70 billion+ in assets. John joined TM early in his career and then like so many others his life became too busy to accommodate being a member. He went on to found, grow, and recently sell his technology start-up of 5 years, where he led his staff using only Google-based applications and extensions. He rejoined and jumped into Pathways with enthusiasm. He has now completed his first Pathway, Presentation Mastery and has completed 3 levels in his second pathway; Visionary Communication. For everything from investor presentations to employee training to logistical engineering, for him it’s all about letting the technology serve its communication purpose.

Kevin Markl
Knowing Your Audience Isn’t Optional

Before writing or speaking in any setting, you must connect your content and message to the needs and expectations of your audience. In this session, Kevin Markl will present an interactive framework to understand who your audience is and what they care about the most. Learn how to discover and apply these insights to alleviate any anxiety or stage fright, maximize audience engagement and deliver an impactful presentation.

Bio
Kevin Markl, ACG, ALB, is a product marketing manager at CallidusCloud, where he has worked since 2011. Kevin conducts qualitative research on competitors and buyers. He turns these insights into personas and crafts product messaging and positioning that resonate in the same way Toastmasters develop speeches that resonate with their audience.

Kevin is passionate about helping others reach their goals – whether it’s teaching someone how to ski or coaching others to excel in their sales and marketing role. He embodies this passion for communication, leadership and helping others through his journey in Toastmasters. He joined 7 years ago and has immersed himself across the organization, serving in roles from Club Secretary to Division Director. Kevin currently serves as Public Relations Manager for District 57 Toastmasters and supports member and leadership development at contests, speechcrafts, open houses and officer training.

Adrian Chofor
G.R.O.W Into Your Dreams

We all have dreams that we actively wish and hope for, but how do we stop dreaming, hoping, and wishing and start LIVING our dreams? Learn how to achieve goals, produce results and make BIG things happen in your life using the G.R.O.W. Model.

Bio

Adrian Jefferson Chofor is a performance and empowerment coach. She is passionate about empowering women by helping them clarify their vision, reach their goals and live the life they really want. She is an avid traveler, runner, and mother of two active and adorable children.
Adrian is the club president of Oakland Uptown and is well on her way to reaching her goal of raising its status to President’s Distinguished. She is a recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Toastmaster award and Triple Crown Award for receiving three educational awards within a year. She has also served as a host and evaluator on District 57’s Toastmaster Time TV. She has been a Toastmaster since June 2016.

Dave Blum
The Memory Palace

Have you ever found yourself up there at the lectern, your speech well-practiced, only to realize with horror that your mind has come to a complete blank? If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. At one time or another, we’ve all blanked out on a key element of one of our speeches. It’s no reflection on you or your memory. Most of us rely on “rote memorization” to practice our speeches–an out-dated method that doesn’t work very well with the way our brains are actually wired.

In this highly-interactive session, you will learn how to turn your speeches into a series of highly-memorizable images that work in sync with your brain’s wiring, making the whole process much easier, more effective and more fun.

During this session, you’ll learn how to:

Create unforgettable mental images for each element of your speech
Link these images into a vivid and memorable story
Place your images in a “memory palace”, a technique favored as far back as the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

If you want to never forget another Toastmasters speech, this is the session for you!

Bio

Dave is the President of Santa Rosa Toastmasters Club 182. He is a Toastmaster who has jumped into the new Pathways program. He has completed Level 3 of the Pathway, Presentation Mastery. He was about to begin Level 4 when a fire roared into Santa Rosa a few weeks ago.

Founder and President of Dr. Clue Treasure Hunts, the world’s largest team-building treasure hunt company, Dave Blum earned a B.A. in English from Pomona College in Claremont, California, a professional coaching certification from IPEC, and is continuing member of the North American Simulation & Gaming Association .

After a three-year stint teaching English in Japan for the Mombusho English Fellows program, Dave worked in tourism and the non-profit sector before discovering his destiny as a treasure hunt master, team-building trainer, writer, speaker and entrepreneur.

Bett Bolhoefer
Stop Dreaming About Being an Author

It’s time to Write your own book! Authors get paid up to twice as much as a speaker without a book. Having a published book makes you an authority. Having a book allows you to have back of the room sales on top of your speaking fee, or if you are speaking for free, allows you to make money. This workshop will allow you to leave with a plan to write, self publish and market your dream book.

Bio

Bett Bollhoefer is a Distinguished Toastmaster. Bett speaks and writes on software design and is the author of several books including How to Write, Self-Publish and Market Your Book.

James Jeffley
Your Story Matters, Tell It

Everyone has a “story.” Your story may be of fame and fortune, or fear and famine. Regardless of your situation, your story is valuable, and by telling it, you can inspire and empower others. In this fun, interactive session, you will:

Practice and experience storytelling
Learn to identify your story
Understand the key parts of a compelling story
Develop an outline for telling your story, and more!

Bio

James Jeffley is an award-winning speaker and trainer, professional coach, author, musician, minister and father. He is the author of “Follow the Signs: Lessons Learned Traveling Life’s Highway,” a three-time District 57 International Speech Champion and a two-time finalist in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public speaking. He will spend the 2017 holidays on a speaking tour in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates with other notable Toastmasters.

Jim Kohli

Jim Kohli, DTM
International Director, Region 2
Toastmasters International

Jim Kohli, DTM, of San Ramon, California, is a principal architect at GE Healthcare, where he has worked since 1982. Kohli develops and encourages the adoption of technology strategies, advises senior executives on personnel and technology matters, manages his division’s intellectual property portfolio, and mentors and coaches less experienced leaders.

Kohli holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is also trained as a medical first responder as well as a fire responder. He has received multiple awards from GE for patent authoring and co-authoring, product development and accomplishments relating to excellence in team morale.

He says, “My Toastmasters experience has expanded my professional horizons and is directly linked to a promotion that moved me from Wisconsin to California for a job that required greater communications skills in addition to technology skills.”

As a member of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, Kohli 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.

Toastmasters District 57

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Calendar

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Pathways

Club Growth

Club Growth

Programs

Programs

“Leadership is not for me”