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on my phone will make Pathways much more
accessible (that’s probably why Toastmasters did
it). Now, right after I give my speech, I can get
out my phone, do the post assessment of my
skills, complete the project, and get that RED
CHECKMARK! I am really jazzed about this.
I am using a Samsung Galaxy S9+, and
navigation works inside the pop-up window that
launches when the open project button is clicked. entails: 1. Give a speech, 2. Get an evaluation on
I can swipe left and right to move between pages. that speech, incorporate the given evaluation
I’ll have to do some research to find out if other into your speech, and 3. Give the speech again!
phones can also navigate. Updates to follow! (There is also the added requirement of acting as
Now we return you to the regular monthly an evaluator for another club member’s speech,
column . . . already in progress. but I am not focusing on that right now.)
I’ve been working in Pathways for over a year The concept of giving a speech, getting an
now. There are several exceptional projects I evaluation, and giving the same speech again
have completed. By exceptional, I mean projects (with the evaluation incorporated) is totally new
that did not exist before Pathways and (to me) to Toastmasters!
are an improvement on the traditional program. “But,” you might say, “we’ve been doing this
Let’s take a deep dive into one of these projects, for a long time. In fact, speech competitors are
shall we? I’ll give you my opinion on why I think regularly in the habit of taking one speech all
it is exceptional and an improvement on the the way through the Competent Communicator
traditional educational program. manual (often many times over).”
Level 1 - Project #2 (any Path) - Evaluation Yes, I agree with you—I’ve done the same. But
and Feedback receives my first Exception Project Toastmasters has not had a project specifically
Award (EPA? Well, I’ll think of a better title guiding members to give a speech more than
later). For those that don’t know what the project once. I remember quite clearly when I joined, I
thought that once I gave a speech—it was done
—never to be repeated. I worked hard on those
speeches. I rehearsed alone, with friends, and in
front of my cat. I wrote and rewrote the speech to
make sure it was as good as I could make it before
I took it to my club. Then I gave the speech.
After it was over I felt a little depressed that it
was done. I’d spent so much time working on it;
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