Crowfoot Library YLP - Winter 2008

Crowfoot Library, in partnership with members of Literally Speaking, Heritage Go-Getters, Spoken Word and Talkative Teens (Gavel Club), conducted a youth leadership program from Jan 21 to Mar 17, 2008. Including myself, there were five coordinators who shared the responsibility for running the program on Monday afternoons.

Even though we had about thirteen participants to start with, about ten showed up for every meeting, which was an impressive display commitment on the part of the Youth Leaders. The participants showed considerable interest and enthusiasm in the program. Every Youth Leader performed two speeches, including an Icebreaker, and received evaluations from coordinators and other Youth Leaders. The coordinators provided practical, “learn- by-doing” educational sessions every meeting. Of all the activities in the program, the participants enjoyed the Table Topic sessions most. All the meetings were conducted in a fun-filled atmosphere of mutual support, in keeping with the motto of Toastmasters International. I am sure all participants benefited from the program and hopefully they can translate the accrued benefits to their school and out- of-school activities. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few sign up to do another YLP!

Reading the evaluation comments of the participants, I got the impression that they all enjoyed the program immensely. A few wanted more table topic sessions. One or two participants were wondering why there were so many coordinators! This is a valid question from the participant’s point of view. My answer is this: the commitment to run an YLP can be a very big one if the responsibility for every session is up to one, or even two people. When coordinators are new to YLP there is much to learn; leading at the same time means a lot of preparation. When there are a number of coordinators, that work is spread over a number of people and all benefit from the learning experience. Now there are five people who are able to bring their experience to another YLP! Another advantage I can see is that if a scheduled coordinator can not make it to a meeting, others can step in on the fly and run the program without a hitch.

The final session was a wrap-up party. The participants were all treated to a fare of pizza, cookies and pop, with the cost of the pizza generously defrayed by my club, Literally Speaking. Our meal was followed by a table topic session and a very interesting debate on about how to balance our global demand for energy against our desire to protect the environment. The Youth Leaders divided into two teams with five people in each. Both teams presented their points forcefully. Two library staff attended the meeting as guests and one acted as a moderator. It was a very difficult decision to pick the winning team, but the pro-environment team had a slight edge and carried the day! The proceedings were followed by an address by Mary Schoendorfer, a staff librarian and one of the champions of Youth Leadership Programs at Crowfoot. Certificates were presented to all the participants by the coordinators. All in all, it was a grand finale for a very worthwhile program.

The program was by all accounts a great success. I enjoyed it a lot, and learnt a lot from the Youth Leaders involved. I am sure the other coordinators have similar views. I look forward to participating again in future programs.

Harry Iyer ACS

Thorn Hill Library Fall 2006

Wendy Mewhort from Bedstone Olympics Toastmasters conducted a Youth Leadership Program at the Thornhill Calgary Public Library branch in Fall 2006 and has written about her experiences. "We got a chance to get to know some amazing kids. It was a very rewarding experience and I was gratified when the students asked me when I was going to have another session as they wanted to sign up for it." Read about her experience here and see her suggestions for conducting a successful Youth Leadership Program here.

Louise Riley Library Youth Leadership - Spring 2006

I conducted the Youth Leadership program from March 16 to May 11, 2006. Fifteen youths that registered for the program were between 12 and 18 years old.

The program was a huge success. The participants enjoyed the program and the learning experience. The shy kids were able to overcome their fear of speaking and presented two scheduled speeches in front of strangers. One piece of the feedback I received from the participants indicated that they wanted to give at least four speeches instead of the scheduled two and increase the length of the program to 12 weeks.

Sonia Bakalchuk, ATM-B, CL

Holy Spirit School - Cochrane

The Youth Leadership program that I conducted was run as a noon hour club with my junior high students at the school where I was teaching. It ran for 40 minutes twice a week over a 10 week period. There were 10 students that attended regularly and they worked through manuals taking on a variety of roles. It was a huge success in that they not only learned to speak better but also learned how to be really great listeners and evaluators. All were eager to speak each week and we really had to limit the number of speeches so that we could do Table Topics regularly.
I began to see a difference in their classroom presentation skills as a result of this program. Each of the students could see growth in one another's speaking skills as well as the confidentce they showed as the program developed. They also developed really strong organizational roles where they wanted to be fully responsible for meeting roles and material presented to others. I took on more of an advisor role as we neared the end of the program.
It was a tremendous success and one I'd repeat again.
Sue Milledge DTM

Louise Riley Spring 2005

The Louise Riley branch of the Calgary Public Library notified their users that a Youth Leadership program was scheduled for March and April 2005. Sixteen youths, aged 13 to 16, took part. They learned how to speak efficiently - minimal use of pauses, and the too often used "like". They learned how to organize their thoughts, and how to control their nerves. But most of all, they learned the art of communication - both speaking and listening. I was greatly impressed by the growth these students showed in just eight weeks. I learned as much from they as they did from me.

Signal Hill Library YLP

I conducted a Youth Leadership Program at the Signal Hill Library in the fall of 2004. Let me share testimonials from the participants (all 13 to 17 years of age):

- this program helped us with our speaking and memorization skills.
- it gave me a better awareness of ahs and ums.
- the class worked very well and was fun.
- the class improved self confidence.
- we learned about gestures and vocal variety.
- it helped me prepare and organize ideas
- beginning, middle and end.
- the program taught us about teamwork.
- we learned to evaluate others.
- we saw great improvement over the eight weeks.
- we became more comfortable in front of people.

Graduating class of November 2004 - submitted by Lloyd Gwilliam DTM

Crowfoot Library 2005

Ran YLP at Crowfoot Library (part of "Literally Speaking" Toastmaster club mandate).
1st and 9th (one extra) session with Mary S., the remaining ones by myself. With 22 students in class, I wouldn't recommend doing it alone like I did for those middle 7 sessions. I invited someone from www.cisv.ca to speak (leadership) and www.cheersproject.com/ (stand up comedy) and the students liked the variety. I'd recommend this program to any student (to learn) or any Toastmaster (to broaden their horizons).
Harvey T.

Bowness High School Youth Leadership program

April/May Bowness High School Newsletter.
By Paul Allard
Bowness/Imperial Oil Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program March/April 2006

This year 18 students will participate in the Toastmaster International Youth Leadership program over the next eight weeks. Students will acquire not only leadership and speaking skills, but also confidence. The course material was developed by Toastmasters International http://www.toastmasters.org/ and involves students meeting once a week for approximately eight weeks and having to complete one speech, one evaluation and numerous table topics. The speeches are all timed and a green light goes on when the minimum length is met, yellow to warn the speaker there is one minute remaining and finally a red light to let the speaker know its time to wrap up. (Sounds like a useful tool that could be used to control some time constrained meetings!) The final evening of the program included awards being presented by the principal Philip Tuck, and pizza (this last bit was an Imperial Oil addition to the original program!) Two students will present speeches at the Imperial Oil Toastmasters club downtown and will be treated to a tour and lunch.

The Toastmaster Program fits very well within the Leadership Goal Area and is an exciting and informal program in the art of communication and leadership. The skills the participants gain will help them communicate and listen with confidence and focus. We are excited about the program's success and are will offer another session in the next school year. Huge thanks to Imperial Oil volunteer Michelle Zipfel, past president, Esso Toastmasters Club - Club #: 6233, Imperial Oil Partner Sarah Trend and Paul Allard a teacher at Bowness who is also Past President of Speakers Edge Toastmasters Club www.speakersedge.ca and a award winning Area J Division Governor in Calgary for once again providing their expertise in offering this program.

Crowfoot Public Library - 2003/2004 - K Lee

I assisted Colleen Ritchie when she ran a Youth Leadership Project at the Crowfoot Public Library and it was so much fun I coordinated another one a few months later with Mary Schoendorfer. The Calgary Public Library wanted a program that fit in with their focus on teens and youth and the YLP was a good fit. There is now a Toastmasters club in the branch as well!
I learned a lot about how young adults learn and enjoyed working with Colleen and Mary planning, adjusting and delivering the program to suit the learning styles and personalities of the participants.

Calgary Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program Stories

The purpose of this blog is to provide a space where Calgary Toastmasters can share their stories about the Toastmasters International Youth Leadership program and the value that has been created through it for their community and for themselves.
Story submissions should be exactly 100 words long and include the following information:

• Who you did it with (school, community group, etc.)
• Why a YLP was a good fit for them
• The results!

If you would like to add your story to this blog, use the username calgarytm and password SpeakUp!

Thanks

Keith Lee
p 210-3072
c 606-1607