I have been a member of SML since 2016. I have loved every minute of it! I knew I had to join during the first meeting I visited during the time I was an Area Director. I knew that being a member of this club would catapult my learning and growth in Toastmasters, and it's given me even more than I could have hoped for.
At first, I wondered where I would fit with the powerhouse cast of members. I quickly saw that everyone was eagerly learning and teaching as they went, and that every member was able to both give and take valuable tips and skills with every meeting.
In the 2018-19 year, I was honored to be named the SML Toastmaster of the year, the Area Toastmaster of the Year, and the SML Evaluator of the Year. I’ve learned so much from this club, and I can’t wait to see where we are headed!
I'm Keith Hardy, DTM, a charter member of SML! since 1993. I value Toastmasters and SML! because I constantly strive to test myself and to improve. Our club's stellar history of providing advanced feedback for speeches and meeting leadership has benefited me in numerous ways.
I have competed in three District speech contests while a member of SML!, served as District 6 Governor (1996-97), campaigned for International Director in Toastmasters, and been elected to the St. Paul Board of Education.
I am the only District 6 member to have been honored with District Toastmaster of the Year, Area Governor of the Year, and Division Governor of the Year. I won the District 6 evaluation contest in 2011 and table topics contest in 2016.
What I enjoy most about SML! outside of our club meetings is our road show when we have three members visit other Toastmasters clubs to demonstrate our team evaluation method. I participated in the first road show and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Jim joined Saturday Morning Live! in 2016 and shares his coaching skills regularly on SML evaluation teams. Jim was honored as the first Toastmasters District 106 Toastmaster of the Year in 2019.
Specializing in all things vocal, Jim brings over 30 years of vocal experience to his speaker and singer coaching. As a leader in public performance judging, Jim brings a wealth of insights based on years of judging, coaching, and performing.
- Solid vocal fundamentals
- Extensive vocal performance
- Professional performance judging
- Multifaceted coaching
- Vocal recording
Web site: http://www.vocaljim.com
I joined SML! in February 2016 at the annual Breakfast of Champions, the very first meeting I attended. I started my Toastmasters journey in August 2006 with Cultivated Toastmasters, my home club. I’m also a charter member of Colleen Morse Golden Rule Toastmasters and recently joined a fourth club, Free Speech.
I was honored to be chosen as the 2012-2013 Eastern Division Toastmaster of the Year. I served as an area governor for the 2013-2014 Toastmasters year. In 2020-2021 I will be serving District 106 as the Division E Director. I will also be the co-Sergeant at Arms in 2020-2021 for SML!
The main benefit I have received from SML! is the opportunity it has given me to pursue excellence and grow as a leader.
Greetings to our prospective members!
I joined Toastmasters in January 1991 when we chartered a club at my workplace (Talking Meds at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital) - best decision ever! I have gained valuable communication and leadership skill development that I could not have gotten anywhere else. I have embraced the program and all the experiences from club membership, to leadership opportunities to conventions and developing lifelong friendships and professional networks.
I joined Saturday Morning Live! Toastmasters in 1996, and continue to stay with our club for the challenge to improve through excellent evaluations (both receiving and learning to give). I have experienced improvement my speaking & leadership skills improve more quickly and could not be more impressed by the people who join and want to lift their Toastmaster experience to an even higher level. I stay with our club and recommend it to others because the members in our club are professional, collegial, supportive, challenging and help us all raise the bar towards excellence in communication & leadership. My experiences in Toastmasters have and will continue to help me learn to serve others, my employer and other organizations and communities where I belong.
I have served our club as President three times in the last 24 years! I continue to step forward to leadership, or mentor others so that we are able to continue the excellence and serve many more Toastmasters as they challenge themselves to learn & grow.
Home Club: Saturday Morning Live!
District/International awards received: DTM (1996), Toastmaster of the Year(1996), Area Governor (Director) of the Year (1995), District Governor (2007 Distinguished District), Lt. Governor Education & Training (2006 Excellence in Education Award), Lt. Governor Marketing (2005 Excellence in Marketing Award)
Club Officer Role for 2020 - 2021: Sergeant at Arms
SML members provide me wonderful examples of friendly and knowledgeable people that create an unparalleled learning environment. SML provides a platform to make the next steps toward improvement in communication and leadership skills to apply in all phases of my life.
SML has instilled in me the pure enjoyment of getting involved with many different aspects of personal growth that Toastmasters has to offer from the club to the district level.
Dan was awarded the 2011-2012 District 6 Area Governor of the Year Award
During 8 years of journey with SML, Edward Chavan has benefited from receiving actionable evaluations, and practicing sandwiched evaluation of advanced speeches of our members. If you are looking to tune your speeches to make them ready for prime time, or polish your evaluation techniques, look no further, and visit one (or several) of our SML club meetings. To get a taste of what to expect, watch the past videos of our club meetings! Get your most value out of evaluations!
Leo's work background is in managed print collateral, fulfillment programs, and dimensional products.
As a print and mail professional, Toastmasters has helped him enhance his communication skills with stakeholders and suppliers to ensure program deliveries.
Saturday Morning Live! has helped Leo develop strong interpersonal feedback skills and techniques that he uses to have an exceptional daily work experience.
6/1/2016 - Joined SML!
1/1/2005 - Joined Toastmasters
Wordsmiths Toastmasters
Past District Officer Roles - Area Governor / District Sgt At Arms
2020-21 club role: President
I joined toastmasters in 2014 after visiting a club at my employer. I realized that Toastmasters could provide me a lot of training and experience that I couldn't get on the job and the club helped me meet people at my employer that I otherwise wouldn't get to work with.
I joined Saturday Morning Live! in 2017 when I was looking for more. At that point I was comfortable speaking in front of a group and knew how to put together a speech and a presentation. I wanted more feedback on how I could further improve my presentation skills. I got everything that I was looking for and more. I have really enjoyed getting to know the members of this group, seeing the incredible speeches, and learning things that will improve my presentations every month!
I am the current District Finance Director for District 6 and am in charge of helping district 6 adopt pathways. I was the Administration Manager for District 6 in the 2019-2020 Toastmasters year and an Area Director in the 2018-2019 Toastmasters year. I have also coached 2 clubs. I was honored to receive the District 6 Toastmaster of the Year award for the 2018-2019 Toastmasters year.
I was co-president in the 2018-2019 Toastmasters year, received the SML! Toastmaster of the Year and SML! Evaluator of the Year awards in 2019 which meant a lot to receive both in the same year from such an experienced club. I have been the VP of PR for the club in the 2019-2020 Toastmaster year and the 2020-2021 Toastmaster year.
I am Steve Crooks, ACG, and a proud charter member of Saturday Morning Live! in 1993. After an absence, I rejoined SML! in 2014. There were many new members!
I have served in several club officer roles, including President during 2017-2018 (sharing the role with Keith Hardy). My home club is currently King Boreas Club #208, which has the distinction of holding over 4,000 consecutive weekly meetings including recent online meetings. I served as a Division Director during 2015-2016. This coming year I will be serving as a club President in my home club.
My experience with Saturday Morning Live has been very helpful in building skills as a leader and speech evaluator, and I highly recommend checking out SML!
I joined TM in October 2019. I first attended Toastmasters in Fort Worth, TX in 1990. A co-worker and I were the first two females to break into an all-male, professional TM group that met at 6:30 am.
My home club is King Boreas.
I am looking for critical feedback and suggestions to improve professional coaching and speaking skills from professional level Toastmasters.
I’m a member and the Vice President Education (VPE) of NAAD Toastmasters Club. I joined SML! in 2018. I love SML Toastmasters club and its mission. SML! makes a difference in people’s lives through speech evaluations. I have learned how to perform an effective speech evaluation that would help speakers to take their speech to the next targeted level.
I have found Saturday Morning Live! pushing me to improve the quality of what I say, not just in speeches but in how I provide evaluation.
I joined SML in 2018
Served as District 6 Division C Area 26 director and achieved a select distinguished area.
My main club is Stagecoach Speakers Downtown Minneapolis.
For nearly a decade I have had the pleasure of being a proud member of Toastmasters International. Toastmasters has provided the skills necessary for me to excel in various areas. These areas have been demonstrated in my ability to be recognized as a Distinguished Toastmaster, an award-winning Club Coach for TNC Toastmasters, and a sought after speaking coach.
As a result of these achievements, it has enabled me to build and sustain the confidence needed to found Speak To Advance Communications. When I made the decision to step outside of my home club, Northwest Wind, to take my communication and leadership skills to the next level, I knew SML would do just that, and more.
SML has given me the confidence and platform needed to strengthen my role as the President of Speak To Advance Communications, provide unparalleled opportunities in helping me to deliver authentic and impactful evaluations, and the inspiration to continuously invest in my communication skills.
Thank you SML for all that you do! Your investment and commitment to helping others broaden the scope of their communication and leadership goals is priceless and for that, I am grateful to be part of the team. Way to go SML!
Richelle Schmitz joined SML! in June 2019, and has been a Toastmaster since October 2017. Her home club is Prime Timers, a corporate club in District 6, based in Eagan, MN.
Richelle won second place in the 2019 District 6 International Speech Contest and second place in the 2020 District 106 Humorous Speech Contest. She has served as secretary and VPE for her home club, and will serve SML! as club secretary for the 2020-2021 program year. Richelle believes her speaking and evaluation skills have immensely improved by joining SML!
I joined SML! in 2017 when I was an Area Director and my Division Director invited me as a guest. I submitted my application during break because the environment and positive learning experience of SML exactly matches my dream club.
I was asked to serve as President for SML after joining 2 years where I was busy but partnered with a emerging Leaders and we ran the year successfully and maintained the legacy of President Distinguished since 27 years ago.
I keep SML as my home club after District 6 split into D6 and D106.
Being an active member of this club I won Area Director of year 2016-17, President Distinguished Division Director 2017-18, and finally elected as Club Growth Director for year 2020-21
Jackie Olson joined Wells Fargo’s Stagecoach Speakers – Early Risers Toastmasters in late 2016, and after about 20 minutes became its VP Membership. She served as its president in 2018-2019 and is currently its VP Education.
Jackie joined SML! in 2019, but still isn’t sure she belongs in an advanced club. Although all the SML!-ers are encouraging and kind, being among so many accomplished Toastmasters is intimidating. Attempting to take Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice though, Jackie has decided to start with doing one thing every month that scares her.
Mary joined SML! In 2001.
She has held the following district offices: Area Governor, Division Governor, Lt. Governor Marketing, Lt. Governor Education and Training, and District Governor (1999 2000).
She has held all club officer roles. She served as a club coach twice.
Mary has earned four DTM awards.
She has won table topics and evaluation contests at club, area, and division levels.
Mary enjoys mentoring, walking and attending conventions. She loves her four children and nine grandchildren.
I joined Toastmasters in 2007 at the recommendation of a boss and after participating in a Speechcraft. I have been a member of Saturday Morning Live since October 2019. I have not yet served as SML club president, but have been elected Vice President Education for the 2020-2021 Toastmasters program year.
I was a member of Land O'Lakes Buttermasters for many years. I belonged to Visalia Toastmasters in California from 2009-2012. That was a club of 35 or 36 members with weekly 90-minute meetings featuring 3 speakers per meeting. Even at that rate it was difficult to get a speaking slot. I "blossomed" as a Toastmaster while a member of Marshfield Area Toastmasters in central Wisconsin. Twice while a member of that club I created International Speech contest speeches which won club, area, and division speech competitions.
My "home" club presently is North Side Toastmasters at Mounds View, MN (Wednesdays 0730 to 0830). I have served as Area 25 director in what was then District 6 and as Division C director during the inaugural year of District 106. I find it most rewarding to identify and mentor emerging Toastmasters leaders.
One benefit I have received as a member of Saturday Morning Live is the opportunity to calibrate my speech evaluation skills to those of very accomplished and experienced Toastmasters.
