Already three years! Named Amassador

Already three years!

It seems to me as if it was yesterday. 

Three years ago, I really needed the Think Positive Project. I was deeply down. I was not named as Pathway Guide, as I requested and was almost sure I will get. 

After all, in my district I was the only one with experience in Pathways, having gone remote access to District 27, Pilot then, to learn it.


was this three or two years ago? Last year, I got in December Europe first Pathways Distinguished Toastmaster. 

So many clubs visited as Ambassador and later, for undistricted clubs, as Guide. A lot of work that gave meaning to my life. Lots of Toastmasters met, advices, stories told. I did not feel so old any more. 

what will 2020 bring? 

if We want to repeat a path we liked

I tried the new way to choose a Path: the only path I was allowed is the 11th path, the one I did not have yet.

i refused of course that path, and yet could not have any other.

this time, it was only a test...

Other problem: a few month ago, I was not only allowed to take the second time Visionnary Communication that I did begin and finish in 2017, but Level 1 went without problems. I got my certificate a few month ago. Level 2, oups! my certificate was suddenly the old one, from May 2017!

Of course, I still could repeat any path or project completed if I do not carry at all of awards.

Select a path changed

More guided and options better explained.


This above comes only after you selected.

Here is how it is Compared the Web and the Printed path. It is clearly now expressed, NO ELECTION but only preselected, projects for the printed.

Communication Plan

Very well explained project   I will try now. 

I have two different projects ixN mind, just have to decide, which now.


it is indeed, very imtportant to be specific

Onboarding: for first timers choice

When you join Toastmasters now, you got this before the Assesment, we got directly. Or, after the *joining is like 1 2 3* before letter. 

Recommending Presentation Mastery. A fairly good path.
Recommending to research the different paths. Perhaps the best choice.
Recommending to pass through assessment. Not bad choice either.

Later when we buy another path, we do not see those but even then, we can take or skip the assessment. Or even the recommended 3 choices the assessment offers. 

Paths and core competencies 11 paths

Just got these, with 11 pages in plus, one for each path from Toastmasters International. Bellow, the Engaging Humor, The last added path. As can be seen, with Required Projects in left, Electives grouped at right.

You can see how many projects you miss, if you choose Printed path, when you get only 4 electives, and even those preselected for you, instead of 25 possibles to choose from.

All same for all 5 possible printed path.

Only exception is PM which gets at level 5 managing a panel discussion instead of Lessons Learned for all others. I do not see why.










And here for PM I begun second time now. Third time, if you count the one printed but abandoned before finishing Level 3 and Archieved.

Tutorials

There are lots of tutorials available: short videos that explain a thing or other. Most of them I have never looked or seen. Are they new or where they always available and it was just me who did not see?

--- post from 1/5/18 --- still needed now

There have at left Home, at right Compatibility Check, so probably I believed that once the compatibility check is done... 

First, I was unhappy, because you can not click on the title and go to them: we have to hover under the title, then go down to the gray letters under them and click on them! 

What kind of interface is that? 

Perhaps it was the reason I neglected to observe how interesting those Tutorials and Resources were! They are answering to many questions I posed and still pose! 

For example, this one "Accessing your path" tells me that I can open it clicking on the Tile named My Educational Tutorials, or go down and click inside the rectangle to my path(s). While each takes me to my path and from there to my levels and projects, the experience is not exactly the same. One of the options lets me easy access also completed path or those I did archive for some reasons. The reason was that I have looked then did not want to be there to disturb. Like a clean Tile when I am working or showing them. 

Here some tutorials waiting for me to look at. I will see what each of them says and I am sure I will learn something, if not else then how to speak about them. I did not know to use the word "Tile" till now for example! I just used "rectangle".

If I want to see only Paths and Projects, I have to chose only "Curriculum" and not "All". This are only a few on the top, as they are arranged. And yes! 

Looking at left, I see there are also Project Descriptions! Interesting!!! Have to open and see how far those go. 

I can launch Storytelling and I get a few sentences what I will have to do. Find a story or stories, then tell it in a meeting. It does take time, to craft a good story, but not so long finally. 
It is a Level 3 elective project.

And now, I opened this which is a level 5 required project for the Dynamic Leadership. It seems to be a whole different "game of ball". Is it how one is expressed? 

As you see, it ask you to lead a team for 6 month. While serving, ask your peers to complete a 360 degree evaluation: 6 pages full of telling how they see you! 

Then only 'go and speak for 8 to 10 minutes about your experience as leader'. 

And yes, you do not have to tell what they did write about you! Your speech can be humorous, informative or any style and NOT a report on the content of the project. More, your reflection of your experience and / or the impact of the evaluation on you. So the speech itself as well your role as leader inside or outside Toastmasters is up to you. But it has to last 6 whole month! Not the same amount for one project then "tell a story". 

So how long is a project? It all depends! 

And of course, farther we go in levels, usually longer it takes to complete a project. Better study them before choosing which Path you take. If your are a leader in the club for example, it comes natural, but you still have to wait six month. Even if it does not tell when the 'take a role for six month' has to begin. Can you take it at the beginning of the Path? Or when you arrive at level 5 at this project? When you ask to be evaluated for your role? All along or just at the end? I believe, all that is left for you to decide.

Both projects are interesting and very different. You can choose a path that has or not the last one, Storytelling is an elective in every path at level 3, you do it or not. I already did it in two of my path. But I told stories all along another "any style" they say usually.

Researching the Tutorials, I learned now for this post, what awaits for me at the end of my last path, that I have taken because I wanted to learn and speak about Negotiating.

Discover your style, again

Again and again, after I answer the questions, the Innovative leadership style comes to the top, the bureaucratic style at bottom. The others, in between, vary. 

True, storytelling IS my best style, one to one or to audiences. True for communication and for leadership too. 

In fact, we have in us many different styles to use each when needed most.

May you live in interesting times

May you live in interesting times, is a Chinese way of wishing bad to someone.

Is it really bad?

Not always.

Pathways may seem bad to some, to me it was and still is godsend. It gave me something new I needed. It offered what to learn and also to teach.

Pathways is here to stay, even if it may still change a bit - or for sure.

I am open to see what and how.

May 2017: Level 1 VC - first

5 May 2017, first time I finished Level 1.
15 May 2017, finally I got it approved

Why did it take so long? 10 days. Because no one in the club needed an approval, none knew yet how to do it. I was the first in the club to finish a Level. The VPE could not figure it out, finally the President did.

I was so proud of myself, I got my first ever Pathways Award! At my old age, I proved I can still do something new. I still remember the joy!

From that time on, I proved, proved proved.

This toastmasters year, here are my awards. Yesterday, my last was approved and got it in club central in 10 minutes, or less. So far, 8 Level awards for this TM year.

Level Completion - did it change?

Completed the Evaluation, the third task of Project 2 of Level 1.

I finished my last Project - the Evaluation and Feedback third task, and did Evaluate a Toastmaster, it was my last Project of Level 1 as I did before the Research and also the Icebreaker, and of course, the two speeches from the Project Evaluation.

The Activate Level 1 Completion suddenly available, I clicked immediate "Mark completed" arrived without the page that I had before to dismiss.

What was my surprise also that View Certificate was available, without a BCM having had time to mark it approved in the Basecamp. What happened?

I will have to go to one of my clubs where I am BCM to see if the approval is still waiting...

After Level 5: Path completion

2 month ago, we could see only 5 levels, and the Reflect on your path project was inside Level 5. Then the gates opened between Levels: now we can go to any level, do the projects in any order. Even finish levels in any order!

Because of that, base camp needs a way to verify that ALL levels are done, before closing the path, considering it done. The Project Reflect on your Path, was put in Path Completion, coming after Level 5. We can arrive to Reflection, just as before, only after all the rest is done. 

This is the project description, a 10-12 minute speech about our experience completing the path we are in. So the bellow is no more true, alas it does figure in all our old images and advices. We have to put, mentally, the last speech, Reflect, outside Level 5.

One Required project, specific to the path, and at minimum one elective from many, remains in Level 5. The Reflection goes into the Path Completion. THe picture was taken just before the Path Completion was activated. 

This project applies to my life outside TM

Every Toastmasters Project in Pathways asks you this question, before and after. Once you answered, this last question, you can submit all the other answers too. When it is the After, then your Project is considered closed, done by base camp. 

Usually, I do answer yes, 5, but very rare it is true, for me, as I do not have a life outside toastmasters, or very little. Mostly, they are useful for me, inside a club. A Toastmasters club, or many TM clubs. Ing

This time, the Create à Compelling Blog Project of Level 4, was useful for me really outside. I got a lemon and made. A lemonade, as told me today’s evaluator. Indeed, I used my newly diagnosed Diabetes 2 as subject for a blog, relating how I coped with all the new, and diverse information about it. 

Marguerite Wire has evaluated the blog, Michelle Alba-Lim the speech. Indeed, strange to tell in less then 3 minutes, a month of work. Perhaps, somewhere is written, one can do it 5 minutes too, but this time, less was enough. While not so many looked read my blog, i will not give up, and find a way to spread it in more places, make it read more.

This photo applies to many things we feel as a huge problem and somehow, even n my diabetes anxiety become smaller, to its proper size during this month and blogging .

Thanks to Toastmasters and Pathways and this blogging project !

Feedback on my story : Level 1 project 2, 2nd speech

This video is a round table evaluation of my story, from childhood. Alas, the story was not recorded. I was supposed to record it myself, but was not told so. After only I realized it was not recorded.

Apply what you were told. Put the feedback in the same or another story.
I was told to go directly begin. And to round up, telling something of applying it later. Did.

Here is a picture of participants. This picture taken while someone else was speaking. No more crossed arm while I told my story...

Bellow is the feedback given upon which I tried to improve.

As for pathways, it is the second speech from the Feedback and Evaluation Project. Derrick, will send me written evaluation. Here are very short and very different feedback: it is great to repeat a speech and also great to have so different points of view. Otherwise, I really enjoyed at the reaction of all of them while I told my story. Yesterday, I also told my story to my two adolescent grandchildren who were visiting me.

Level 1 Project 3 : two speech then one evaluation

It is clear, three meeting, three tasks. The problem is, some are used to have One Task for one Project.

Same with the Evaluation: three evaluation needed. Remember: we can ask anyone's evaluation in Pathways, not only the one chosen by VPE for that time.

Online experience through video. 1

I had the impression of participating, as I went through the 3h video of chartering meeting of first 100% online club from Singapore first, then the 1h20 meeting of Global trainers Online. Here portraits from the Singapore meeting. Some of faces and what I observed. Not what I heard, this time. Even if that was also interesting. « A star is born » theme of meeting.

The new club president, making it possible.

 He was President 4 years ago, when online clubs were not yet allowed.

I did not understand, if the club met, anyway, or it was rebords from ashes.

So many participated! I did not see all at once, by one after the other. No Gallery view..

Elder or younger, smiling or pensive, not only from Singapore but even so far as USA. 

Tuesdays Talks and tips

Now, 21 already done. Some more interesting then others, but all worth looking, listening to. Here some of the firsts 20. Alas I could not fit all in one image.

She is one of my favorite, always there too.

Login and beginning

Login to Toastmasters.org - my computer and other devices too, "know" the name and password I use, so I do not have to remember them each time. If it is the first time, or we want to change the password, we say so, it is available at login.

On top, I see then in different colour "Welcome Julie", each of us with our name. On my computer. On my iphone, I go to the three lines and choose Profile, as Welcome Julie, is my profile. Instead of horizontal, the options will be vertical, one near other. Then "Go to Basecamp" - as I already have chosen a path.

When I have not yet, I can go directly English, Web based, and at bottom, Skip Assesment, click and chose the path I wanted.

For all NEW members, I recommend today, as first path to begin with Presentation Mastery. Embrace Humor is very similar path, with more about storytelling and how to handle audiences. Leadership Development, teaches goes to create a small event then, a bigger event.

Don't judge the paths by their title.

One can discover more about each in another post from this blog, or in The Navigator also.

As we go to Basecamp (or Educational Transcript) we find our path, called curriculum. Click on the MIDDLE of ACTIVATE then the middle of button Launch. (not the name of path or the project).

We have 5 Levels of increasing difficulty in every path. The first Level SAME in all paths.

The Level one has the most speeches of all levels. Level 2 has 3, and Level 3 has 3 minimum, one of the called "required" the others we can choose from 12 or 13 called "electives" : web based path, let us elect, choose the one's we want, after studying reading or saving even if we want it printing them.

Let us enter a Project: for example the Icebreaker. When we arrive to a screen which is GREY, we click on Directions and it becomes white. At the beginning and the end there is ASSESS your SKILLS before (and one after we have given the speech and been evaluated). Only we will see which number we click at each question. Instead of the big arrow, we advance here to the next question with NEXT. As we answered all questions, Submit appears at bottom.

Another post I recommend for new to pathways, from this blog is THIS.

Attention! if you click on Submit in the Assess your Skills - After, we signal to the basecamp that we finished this project. Do it only after the speech have been evaluated. To refresh then and get an x meaning this project is finished, we have to refresh, going to another project or level.

The last page is always Congratulations! alas, we get there whether we submitted the project or not.

My district 91: increased as members and awards

.

In Europe, my district, 91 so far first in new members, and new clubs.

As awards, also a good increase from last year.

Just got these in my newsletter to leaders.

There is also, again a contest between clubs, for who gets most Pathways awards.

My club was near top, last year, how it is faring now? I went to see and discover.

For the DCP points, I did contribute with a Level 5 and a level 1.

All our committee is on pathways. But we have 5 new members, who are not yet. We will have to work now on that. We also need more awards declared.

12 point for the moment, for my club in London, multiplied by 2 - all officers enrolled. Alas, our 5 last newest members not yet. Tomorrow, I hope to remedy that.

Open Leadership Central: if club officer, you can then go to the Club central.

Went to see in club central how my club fared so far. We got 9 new members since End June, but 5 of them are not yet on Pathways, the last ones. All committee members are enrolled on Pathways, but no more all members. Perhaps, need to declare soon more.

I choose Lewisham Speakers Club, then went to the Club Roaster first. 20 members, Went to look at our DCP points. We got 1 Level 5 (mine) and 2 Level 1 so far. More to declare soon!

For a brand new to Pathways

So many details not clear and may go wrong for someone NEW to Pathways! 

Yesterday, I had a coaching (mentoring?) with a new member. She was lost in the Transcript mode because she clicked on the Project Name instead of the MIDDLE of the Launch button. Or to arrow down and asked to know details... Nor of them ok. 

Once we get USED to click on middle of brown buttons, we do not think any more. 

But so many places and movements, we can get lost, before!

Here is one of my for Active Paths that I work now, this one is the last. And yes, beside that I wanted, needed to research on Diabetes2, as I was diagnosed with it recently, also wanted to see if I may do any project beside Icebreaker at the beginning. As not so long ago, for more then two years, till we did not finish Icebreaker, we could not even Activate any other path (they are called Curriculum). 

Now, we can. Begin with any project from any level. Of course, till we did not finish all projects from a Level, we can not get recognized that we were awarded that level, in Basecamp. At Club Awards level, we can only declare Level by Level. From one to five, in order. They are still not connected at all. 

In above picture, it is also shown, how to Logout from Basecamp. We remain still logged in to TMI, and as I did this morning, can for example, in Welcome Julie! my profile, lookout for my Education Awards. I just received one at the Division Contest, I did not attend, for having finished a Path and attributed it to my London club from that Division H. Last year was SR level 5, this year TC level 5: for which one was it? 

Tomorrow, I will describe all the points where we had to clear confusions with Carla, a new Toastmaster, very eager to learn. We worked through Zoom, sometimes, she showed me her screen, other times me, mine. 

Platform of visitors

Yellow are from all of Mobile devices. Absolute numbers.

Michelle 5th Path Icebreaker: How we begun pathways

2017 Spring, Online Toastmasters are "undistricted" they were a year from Launching Pathways, but a group of us was determined not to wait.

Where I find The Navigator and FAQ

We do not have to login to get there and we can learn so much from the new Navigator! I call it "new" but it has been now with us from January.

The same place, but have to login, find FAQ about Pathways, choose a path, and so on.

Telling, retelling story evolves.

First, it was Hidden identity, during the 2008/9 financial regression.
Then it become Mistaken Identity, the title of the night theme in Canal Cafe Theatre.

For me, it was a turning point of my life. I realised, I can make audience laugh and decided, to learn as much as possible about humor.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yC0vtIPZs0&feature=share
Here is the Mistaken identity tale filmed from a lateral point of view by Spark London when I performed.

Same performance. At a Toastmasters. Club,
in the iframe so - even an ipad could see it.

AND somehow it is different when one listen to it,
I think we could learn from each kind when we relisten or relook
- and not only the evident English mistakes I made during the telling -

My body language, facial expression and even voice variety got better
but I have still far to go! And I do not rush out (most of the time) after a performance.

I am most pleased that this serious message got well across and so much laugher too: it did decide me to learn about "how to make laugh with intention" not only by chance. At 2'7 the audience begun to laugh when I stripped, took out my tee-shirt, and they never stopped.

https://app.box.com/shared/m4vj8sftdd
Sound track of the story I told at Canal Café Theatre

Meetups: The Artists Way

There are thousands Meetups one can attend, I discovered 11 years ago, as I arrived to London, July 2008. 

The first two Meetups I attended, because of my photographer pal, were: Street Photography and then, one he lead for three month Artists Way. 

The book “the Artist’s Way”, by Julia Cameron, a course to discovering and recovering your creative self. I learned, understood then used a lot from her book and our workshop, in which, week after week, we discussed our experience. 

Most important was that I discovered not to put myself in a box. 

I am not just a blogger.
I am not just a photographer.
I am not only storyteller.

I do not have (even if I was at that time) a recognized writer: I just have to write, blog, take photos. And I can do all of those at the same time. 

Also learned about “synchronicity” and “filling the well”.

Synchronicity: make your first step, be courageous and “the univers will reward you”. Helps will arrive, doors will be open around you. In bible it is written thus: Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened to you”. 

Filling the our creative well. Sometimes we do not see the next steps, are tired. We should go out and “fill” experience something new. A visite to a shop we never went. Touching, looking, experiencing. We come back to our creativity work reinvigorated. 

As she proposed, I wrote, for six month or more, my three morning pages. Let come out what arrived. Only after a few month looking back, I realized how much it helped me. At that time, it helped me realize: I need connection. More and nearer as I had lately. 

That is how I found, end December my first Toastmasters club in London, then the other clubs. I found my tribe. 

Without login, road to THE Navigator through "Pathways"

THE Navigator is the first place to visit, for a new member. At least, that is what I try out now with her, till we see each other next week.

I have send her also two PDF, one showing a page for each path with Required on left and Elective Projects on right. The second, pictures by Mark Show of details of each level Projects.

Yesterday, visionary communication path first project I spoke from in our Lewisham club.They also told me that they liked explain the Levels, through Video game levels.

It was a surprise for me, that I was allowed to tackle the Research and Present, before I did Icebreaker!

When I begun March 2017, one could not go farther, till finishing icebreaker was not recognized.

I had a mentor come to my computer, from Toronto, to show me how it is done and discover that I did not answer to ALL self assessment after questions. Because used the flèche to go farther I stead of Next, soI did not answer all.

Here are a few of the written comments from visitors and new toastmasters.