CIS Toastmasters in very proud that our very own Rob Douglas has been recognised along with the following members with the Triple Crown Challenge during 2006/07. They were an incredible 14 members who achieved 3 or more Toastmasters qualifications during the year and hence were recognised with the Triple Crown Challenge.

List of Winners

1. Beth Thomas- Rainbow Nation Club, Div B
2. Craig Strachan- Cape Town Club, Div D
3. Frances Boshoff- Vital Communicators Club, Div A
4. Ian Bratt- Benoni Club, Div B
5. Karin Cremer- Umhlanga Club, Div F
6. Keith Bowen- Transformers Club, Div H
7. Lois Strachan- Cape Town Club, Div D
8. Ret Steyn- Taverners Club, Div D
9. Rob Douglas- CIS Johannesburg Club, Div H
10. Rod Taylor- Transformers Club, Div H
11. Susan le Roux- Vital Communicators Club, Div A
12. Trina McKinley- Rivonia Club, Div H
13. Vic Brits, President Club, Div A
14. Welma Ennsle- Windhoek Club, Div D

To achieve the Triple Crown Challenge, register any 3 of the following awards between 1 July, 2007 and 30 June, 2008: CC, ACB, ACS, ACG, CL, OCL, ALB, ALS, DTM

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Many people have degrees and have done training in how to do their jobs. But anybody in business will tell you that your skills are only half the job. The other half is communicating with colleagues, suppliers and customers.

Toastmasters International offers what amounts to a masters degree in Communication and Leadership. The DTM qualification takes as long to complete as some MBA courses. But instead of focusing on case studies and theory, DTM students have to prove that they can communicate effectively and be inspirational leaders.

“It’s the most difficult kind of leadership there is,” says Keryn House.” DTMs have to start new Toastmasters clubs or rescue clubs in trouble. But unlike my day job where I am a manager and pay my staff a salary, at Toastmasters everybody is a volunteer. Only the most motivational and inspirational leaders can get things done under those circumstances.”

House, who has an MBA and is working towards her DTM says that the DTM has taught her self-motivation. “There’s a lot of encouragement from other people, but it’s up to me to manage my time and my self-motivation to get this qualification. House credits her Toastmasters studies with helping her land her role at the Parkmore Community Association, as well has her job as the CEO of an NGO promoting call centres in Gauteng.
Only around one in one thousand Toastmasters qualify as DTMs in any given year. This award is recognized internationally among over 200,000 members in 10,500 clubs around the world.

Toastmasters Southern Africa will be hosting open days in shopping centres around the country on 27 October 2007.

For further information please contact:
Rob Douglas douglas.home@telkomsa.net
Cell. 082-773-5840
www.toastmasters74.org or marketing@toastmasters74.org

About Toastmasters International
For over 80 years, Toastmasters International has been and remains the undisputed world leader in public speaking, training, with over 10,500 clubs and more than 200,000 members in approximately 90 countries. Over three million people have benefited from its Communication and Leadership programmes world wide. In Southern Africa Toastmasters is represented in nine countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Toastmasters is a Section 21 company non-profit organization.

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On 14 August 2007, Douglas Kruger will represent 9 countries in Southern Africa for the third time in the World Championships of Public Speaking in the United States.Douglas hopes to make it through to the World Championships of Public Speaking on the Saturday 17th August at the 76th Annual Convention of Toastmasters International in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. This prestigious event is known as ‘The Olympics in Oratory!’ – it is attended by over 3000 Toastmasters from around the world.

Douglas is a professional speaker and trainer, author, and regular contributor to Sales Guru and Entrepreneur magazines. He has also been a radio talk-show host on SAfm, and Talk Radio 702.

A resident of Lonehill, and a member of Sandton Toastmasters, Douglas has already placed 2nd in the world in this competition before. In 2004, in Reno, Nevada, he attained the highest ranking anyone from Africa has ever achieved.

“It’s about time we bring this elusive trophy home to Africa,” Douglas says. “I’ve been working on two presentations, one for the semi-finals and one for the finals, and I believe that they are looking strong. Hopefully they have the right mix of humour, emotion and a strong message that the international judges are looking for.”

Asked if he was nervous, Douglas responded, “An audience of three thousand people and you only have to give the best speech in the world? What’s to be nervous about? Sure, the pressure is immense, and you rarely sleep before an event like this, but at least I’ve had some experience with it before. I have some idea of what to expect. And I think I know how to top my previous performance. I’m only asking to rank one place higher than I did in 2004.”

Douglas is accompanied by a team of supporters from the leadership of Toastmasters in Southern Africa. Rob Douglas, District PRO for Southern African Toastmasters says, “Douglas Kruger is an outstanding and highly experienced public and motivational speaker. We believe he stands a very good chance of winning the world championships – which would be the first time for a South African. We wish him every success.”

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