Today we talk about the future, the children! I will call it "A Trip to the Future". About six years ago, I designed some labels to go inside book covers. Then in some cases I would ask groups of students to read a book. Since they sat in rows in the class room, I picks the rows. They each had to read the book, and sign on the label "A Trip to the Future". Each group would then pick one person to deliver a speech on that book. At the end of each Youth Leadership Program, we would have a graduation/speech contest, where the families are invited. The students goal then deliver a speech on the book. The book
Pulling Weeds to Picking Stocks Paperback– August 5, 2008
"Teen authors The Beatty Brothers offer an account of common financial insecurities in their inspirational how-to, Pulling Weeds to Picking Stocks. Heeding their parents advice, David, Devin, and Deric Beatty have spent their childhood and adolescent years pulling weeds for extra cash, preparing and presenting marketing strategies, picking stocks, and investing in their future. Pulling Weeds to Picking Stocks includes their easy-to-follow tips for being rich at fifteen, thirteen, and seven, such as budget worksheets, work ethics, asset liability evaluation, and tithing. No matter what age, you can follow these practical guidelines to make cents of the change in your life." See the winner: 12 year old Chloe.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHa_G4AMRfo
When I joined Toastmasters in 2003
( Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. Our membership is 292,000 strong. These members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 14,350 clubs in 122 countries that make up our global network of meeting locations.)
I had no idea how Toastmasters would impact my life. When you realize what you can do as a teacher, leader, communicator, it becomes "A Trip to the Future"!
So many children since Chloe and that class of 2008, have touched my soul! As I wrote in blog Break Down That Wall "Remember you don't have to be rich, just be real!" Friends, YSTA is about being innovative, being real! You may ask the question, are the children learning? Read blog: The Kids Say Thank You and http://www.youthspeakingtoamerica.com/STUDENTS-SPEAK-UP.html
I hope what drives me will impact you and help you not to make the same stupid mistakes I did! As young people, we are not always interested in the thoughts and rules parents bestow upon us. As you grow older you may understand what Mark Twain said “ When I was fourteen, I just could not believe how dumb my old man was; but by the time I turned twenty-one, I was amazed how much he had learned.”
Believe me I grew up not listening to my father; after all what did he know? I will fast track to age sixteen, when they threw me out of the ninth grade. Why? because I was such a good student.
There I was, no school, no job, and very little education. Pretty cool, huh?
Lets go back to age twelve. I started delivering Newsday ( a Long Island newspaper ) on the waterfront of Freeport, N.Y. No kid at twelve could have had a better learning experience. I delivered to restaurants, bars, shipyards and some homes. This is where I learned to become a salesman, a businessman. In those days we made about $.08 a paper, big money, but the good money was selling papers at bars, great tips. It's so hard to remember back then, but maybe I made about $12 bucks a week. That's big money at twelve, back then!
I became such a good salesman, I continually won trips ( selling newspaper subscriptions ), with other boys to places like Coney Island, and baseball games. Coney Island was a fun place for kids, great wooden roller coasters, rides, games, a world famous amusement park. Of course we had great baseball teams, like the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and the New York Yankees. Many of the baseball greats played there. If you liked baseball there was no greater baseball town.
At fourteen I still had the newspaper route, and also washed dishes part time at a seafood restaurant. In all I delivered newspapers for four years. Little did I know the impact these jobs would have on my life. They taught me salesmanship, and work ethic, among many lessons.
Back to sixteen, out of school, no job, no education, hanging out at the soda shop, how cool was I? So cool, my father said it's time to pay rent, $25 a week. Well sometimes you get lucky and I did, I met Bob Riley! The owner of the soda shop told me the owner's son of the lawnmower shop nearby was looking for someone to mow lawns. Maybe one time hanging out at the soda shop paid off. Bob Riley became my boss and my mentor, I owe him big time. Thanks Bob!
When you get the chance, get a mentor. A mentor can guide you and teach you. It's worth more than words; it could be worth your life! I know, and that's exactly why I created Youth Speaking to America ( YSTA ).
The amazing story was Bob Riley was only eighteen, but mature beyond his years. He taught me the Landscaping business. Bob built a huge landscaping business, covering many of Long Islands plush estates, as I cut my teeth, Bob trained me to become a pro just like him. He trained me well, as later I went on to win four City of St. Petersburg, City Beautification Awards, Thanx Bob.
Lets skip forward to 1988, after racing Motocross for over twenty years, I started riding mountain bikes, since I already had all the off-road skills, I just needed the endurance. I learned quickly that I was much better at mountain biking than motocross. In 1990 my close friend Dave Robichaux and I decided to travel to Durango, Colorado to the first official World Mountain Bike Championships, and compete.
Dave's skills as a bike builder and designer were unparalleled then. Frankly, he never received credit for all the innovations in bicycles he inspired. Dave built the first full suspension mountain bike, designed and built a time trial bicycle with aero tubing, years before anyone else. All this in the middle to late 80's. Dave's experience at motocross and motorcycle road racing, along with bicycles, lead to his innovative bicycle ideas. His welding was the best that could be done with a human hand. Dave was my hero. He was a brilliant man and a free spirit. He died in a ultra-lite flying accident.
On my way back from the World Mountain Bike Championships, I wondered why mountain biking was not successful in Florida? It was not because there were no mountains, but because there were no promoters. With over twenty years of motocross racing, I felt qualified to be a race promoter. So I spent the next 12 years promoting, mountain bike, off-road duathlons and triathlon events, while managing my landscaping business, promoting over 100 events.
Well I built the largest State Mountain Bike Championship Series in the country, with over $30,000 in prizes each year, with the help of Dave and Terry Berger ( Gone Riding ).
In 2003 as a three month old Toastmaster I was invited to speak at The Great American Teach-in. This is a program held in Florida Public Schools every Oct.
For my one hour program at Alonzo High School, Tampa Fl. , I decided on a motivational talk.
It was that 16 year boy sitting in the front row who caught my attention, he reminded me of that boy ( the class clown ) who was thrown out of school at 16! Flash back, the boy no one understood.
I knew exactly how to engage him in my program, as i did. That day I realized why I had become a Toastmaster; take my message DON’T QUIT SCHOOL to the youth of America.
My commonsense approach to teaching is from years of hard work, a lifetime as a entrepreneur, success and failure. Hundreds of Toastmaster meeting’s, contests and youth programs. Thousands of hours of listening and reading and speaking to help prepare them, our future, our children!
My commonsense approach to teaching, is to entertain, to challenge and even sometimes add some discipline.
That is exactly why Youth Speaking to America was born!
Recently I picked up this interesting little book 'The Art of Being Unmistakable" the author Srinivas Rao, writes: "The future belongs to the misfits? Perhaps it always has. It seems fitting that I'm writing this at Burning Man, a strange and alternative pop-up city that had to venture into the middle of nowhere - an ancient lakebed in the Nevada desert, known as playa - to bring itself into being near the end of every August. Each time I come here, to this world of portapotties, alkaline dust storms, sweltering days, freezing nights, and no Starbucks - I swear to myself, this is the last freaking time. And yet there's a point when something in me shifts over and I know I will return. How could I not? "Welcome home," Burners say as we reunite with each other on the playa, and it's true. Even if you've never been here before, the playa calls you home."
In the last line, on page 130 of 'The Art of Being Unmistakable", the author says" It's the opportunity for a performance where you leave your heart on the stage."
So you read this powerful little book, it's everything you ever thought about? It's the commonsense stuff your mother said, or your 4th grade teacher, yea!
Then you think about leaving your heart on the big stage, everyone has their idea of what their big stage is? What about the art of being unmistakable? How do you get there?
Each week when I enter the classrooms, for 1.5 hr sessions, I see that " opportunity for that performance, in those children " They have that chance to be unmistakable.
Maybe when your running that marathon 26.2 miles, at mile 16 you hit the wall, the lactic acid builds in your legs! Thank god, a water stop, you walk, your legs burn, you want to quit? You down some Gatorade, grab some cookies, sugar, sugar, you want to quit, your legs say quit, your brain says you trained and trained, it says no! And the big stage is only 10.2 miles away, eke! People along the way see your pain, they know, because they may have experienced the big stage, they feel your pain. They know about the big stage....it can change your life.
They know, soon you will arrive at the big stage, it's just like returning to the playa, it even has portapotties, thou this stage may have a Starbucks! Your body is so tired, you have forgotten about the pain! You have arrived - when you get it, it's so powerful!
It's so powerful, when you arrive! Don't we all hit the wall? Do you wonder what Albert Einstein's parents thought when at 9 years old his teacher said he would never amount to anything? Do you wonder what he thought? What if that was your child? What if it was you who wanted to break down the wall? We know Albert Einstein's story, but how about the next kid, he may not have a 150+ IQ, he may not be smarter then the detractors, those who put up the wall!
When Ronald Reagan said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" was it a different wall, not really, but in reality it's the same wall that separates people from different freedom's. Who builds the walls? It could be you, me, educators, government, bosses, the kids in the school yard? What if the wall was just in your mind? Do you think Albert Einstein cared about the wall? Why do people keep returning to the palya, maybe because they find answers. How to climb the wall, how to get to the big stage? My mission Youth Speaking to America, is about breaking down walls. It's about giving students the chance to become someone. So exactly what is the big stage? Is it inventing the iPhone, scoring the touchdown that wins the Iron-bowl, or telling the world about The Theory of Relativity? You decide, what is your goal? Youth Speaking to America is about teaching how to open your mind, not to ever believe that person who says you can't do that, your not smart enough? Remember in teaching children there is no wall, like Walt Disney said " if you can dream it, you can do it" you can! Everyone can reach the big stage. Your stage may be American Idol, teaching children, breaking down barriers like Nelson Mandela, building Amazon ( Jeff Bezos ), or just a good parent, teaching values. Remember you don't have to be rich, just be real! Personally, I don't remember being told this stuff, I did stuff the hard way, because I lacked education. The one thing I tell all the students, if you work hard, and be on time, someone will notice. But if you build your own wall ( no education ) it's so much harder, I know! If your a person who likes my ideas, see t what the children say: www.youthspeakingtoamerica.com
Each student will receive the Youth Leadership Handbook
The goals of each meeting:
A fun way for your children to learn public speaking.
Creating and learning how to answer those extemporaneous questions, build speeches, present speeches and evaluate speeches.
Lots of emphasis on the use of filler words, such as like, and,so, also overcoming the use of hums & ah's.
The program is based on weekly participation, if possible. Becoming a good speaker is work and the more often the child speaks, the quicker their confidence will grow.
Experience growth with guest speakers, evaluations by experienced speakers, and continuing mentor-ship.
At each meeting the children actively participate in evaluating each other.
This will be a continuing program.
Our goal is to engage your child each time they attend.
Timing: each meeting will have an assigned timer
T T : up to 1 minute
Speeches: 2-3 minutes
Evaluations: up to 1 minute
SUMMER SPEECH PROGRAM
Location: Hope Lutheran Church
Address: 1801 62nd Ave N.
St. Petersburg, Fl. 33702 - parking behind building on 18th St.
look for YSTA signs Meeting time depends on how many students 10-12pm
Dates tentative:
June 17 - 24
July 1 - 8 - 15 - 22 - 29
Aug. 5
Aug. 6 Graduation / Speech Contest -- families are invited 5:30 - 8pm
In this fun video the 5th graders were each given a index card. On the card they were to put only their first name and list four things they wanted to do with their lives. They were each given 30 seconds to talk about the the four goals. But then I tricked them and had them switch cards, so they had to be the person on the card. It is a ton of laughs.
THE LETTERS
Mr. York,You are so very funny and give very good speeches. You have helped me so much. I will never forget this class and it will help me later when I am an adult because I am not as scared to speak in front of a crowd anymore. I have become a better speech writer and speaker. Thank You Mr. York.
Sincerely
Olivia
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Dear Mr. York,“ As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.” ( Irish Blessing) And hopefully you will not fall off until the end. And at the end, may you land softly on your feet. ( Ending by Connor)
Mr. York,You are the best. No other speeches are better than yours. Toastmasters is soooo fun and you're right, Go Giants! You are so funny and awesome. Thank You so much.
From,
Davis
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Mr. York,You are a great teacher. I now know how to speak in front of a crowd. I have also learned how to write speeches. Thank you a lot. I have grown as a speaker and writer .Sincerely
Chyna
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Dear Mr. York,
I think you are fun. This was one of the best things that I've done all school year. I had a great time because you were there. You helped me learn to speak in public. Thank You.
Sincerely
Eoin
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Dear Mr. York,
You always have funny or sad stories to share with us each day you come in. You are the best Toastmaster in my opinion. Every time you come in everybody cheers up instantly. You are one of the funniest people I know!Best
Wishes
Hana
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Mr. York,
What I learned from Toastmasters is that if you stand up and take a stand, you can change the world...but you have to be prepare and memorize your speech. It is also very good to use gestures in speeches. Now we are prepared to change the world. Thank You Mr. York!
Sincerely,
Connor
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Mr. York,
Thank you for Toastmasters. Whenever I think of the word 'Toastmasters' I think of toasted marshmallows. Yum. Anyways, people are always telling me Toastmasters will be a great learning experience. I thought writing a speech was like writing a story. But you taught me it's not. Thank you for teaching me. The career I want includes being an entertainer or a writer. Thank you.
Best Wishes,
Savannah
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.Mr. York,
Thank You for Toastmasters! I had a blast. You were the best Toastmasters teacher I've ever had. I will never forget you. I love everything about Toastmasters. It was an awesome experience.
Best Wishes,
Jada
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Dear Mr. York,
I really liked Toastmasters. I now have the courage to stand up and speak. Thank you for teaching me how to speak correctly. Toastmasters was fun. I will use these skills.
Sincerely,
Madison
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.Dear Mr. York,
You taught me how to be a better writer/speech giver. I thank you because now I can put more of me in my writing. I really think that you did a great job. And I think you are really funny.
Thank you,
Katie
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.Dear Mr. York,
Thank you so much for helping me and teaching me how to speak in front of people. Also, for teaching me how to write speeches. The Liz Murry speech helped me with grades because thinking that she got good grades makes me get good grades. And the nicest thing you did was giving me the Toastmasters book.
Your friend
Juliana…..............................
Dear Mr. York,
Thank you so much for helping me speak up. I have always had a fear of speaking in front of people, but after Toastmaster, I'm not as freaked out! Toastmasters has been a great experience for me and my classmates. Even though Toastmaster is ending, I hope to see you again. Remember when I saw you at Panera? Hopefully, I will be able to enter the speech competition.Best Wishes,
Hailey
…......................................Dear Mr. York,Thank you for teaching us the main points of Toastmasters. I really enjoyed improving my speaking skills. I think you did a great job! Say “no” to 'ums' and 'ahhs'!
Thanks!
Erin
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.Dear Mr. York,
Thank you for taking your time to teach us how to speak clearly and professionally. I really enjoyed your time and so did all my other classmates. I hope that next year in middle school we can have Toastmasters again. I learned a lot inToastmasters.
Sincerely,
Charlee
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Dear My York
,Thank you for teaching us how to do public speaking. I had a great time. I hope you did too. I think Toastmasters has helped me in the way I speak. It was pretty fun to write all of those speeches and table topic questions.
Thanks,
Madison
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Mr. York,
I really liked Toastmasters. Every week was very exciting. I felt like I could express myself with words and props when I shared. I got suggestions every week to help fix my speeches and I came back with better ones each week. I'm so happy I did Toastmasters class.
Thank you.
Sincerely,Grace
…...................................Mr. York,Thank you for teaching me about Toastmasters. The one thing I really learned about was how to write a good speech, speak loud and strong, and not to say 'um' and 'uh' as much.
Thank you Mr. York.
Sincerely,
Marlee
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To a awesome mentor,Thank you for making us all better speakers. I enjoyed making all of my speeches; from my “All about Me” to my “ Persuasive”. I also enjoyed evaluating speeches and answering Table Topics. I loved talking about the X-Factor.
Sincerely,
Skylar
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Dear Mr. York,Thank you so much for coming to our classroom! I learned a lot and I have not said 'uh' or 'um' in a long time. I really enjoyed having you as a guest teacher! You really taught me how to stretch out my speaking.
Thanks,
Jansen
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Dear Mr. York,
You helped me so much with speeches and talking in public! You made me a better person. I really think you are a hilarious person. Thank you for taking your free time and teaching us about Toastmasters. Thank you so much.
Your friend,
Dahlia
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.Mr. York,I have learned a lot in Toastmasters. Without you I would still have my stage fright. But you helped me through it. You probably are the most funny and knowledgeable Toastmaster I have ever meet.
Your Friend,
Bryson
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Mr. York,I thank you for helping me with “public speaking”. I really needed help because I'm shy when it comes to standing in front of a group and giving a speech. But made speaking fun and easy. I will keep practicing and I will become a great speaker. Thank you for everything you have done. Go Giants!
Sincerely,
Janson
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Hey Mr. York,Thanks for being so funny while you were with us. And thanks for teaching us how to give speeches so well. If you are for the Giants, I have to disagree, Go Patriots! I like it when you come because you make gifted more fun!
Thank You,
Jimmy
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.Mr. York,Toastmasters is awesome and you're awesome. Thank you for teaching us about speeches and table topics. You taught me a lot of weird facts about random things. Thank you for all you taught us.
Sincerely,
Alex
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Dear Mr. York,
Thank you so much for teaching us to write speeches, be a respectful audience, and write unique questions. You are an inspiring person who has a big sense of humor. I love how that “Yoooo” because it sounds like a mixture of 'booing and saying 'yo what's up'. I hope you have a good rest of the year.
Thank you very much! You were always happy and you had good stories to tell. You taught us about giving speeches and having eye-contact. You helped us by giving us good techniques. Thank you very much!
Thanks for being our Toastmaster mentor. I had lots of fun sharing speeches with the class. I also learned a lot and now I am way more comfortable writing and sharing speeches.
From
India
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Mr. York
By: Lauren B.
I love Toastmasters thanks to one special person. Mr. York. Over the past several weeks, our class has had the honor of the mentoring of Mr. York Somerville in Toastmasters youth leadership program. Mr. York as we called him, always came to our class with a positive attitude. It was almost like he enjoyed working with us! :) Something not many people would do. Mr. York taught us many things; like organization, organizing our speeches, being good listeners, voice project, and use of gestures. We learned how to give and receive constructive criticism through our evaluation guide. Most importantly, he taught us speaking in front of people is not our number one fear, number two being death according to many studies. At this time we would like to show our appreciation of Mr. York with a few memorable gifts. Mr. York please join me at the lectern. First a shirt. You are now officially part of the Pasadena family!!!! Second, a stopwatch. That way you no longer need to endanger your fancy phone. And third, a photo album so you never forget us.. Franklin Delano Roosevelt said this about public speaking, “Be sincere, be brief, and be seated.” As will I.
These students are my American Idols, when they call you “ awesome, funny, a great teacher, exciting, hilarious, most funny and most knowledgeable Toastmaster, weird!
Recently my fellow Toastmaster in Tampa, Joe Jones was presented an outstanding leadership award. Below is the letter he wrote to his area Governor, John Morse DTM, and the response from the student.
John,
When I was presented the Toastmaster award by you, I mentioned Aldo Colon, the 14 year old kid that started me on this youth program journey, who turned 18 recently. I told him how he was instrumental in starting the youth program which contributed to the Toastmaster honor. Yesterday I received this email (copied below) from Aldo. This is proof that these youth programs have an impact beyond what we know. I’m going to Aldo’s district competition, and I’m going to pay his first years dues in the Toastmaster club of his choice.
York, keep up the good work – you know how these programs work better than anyone.
Best,
Joe
Hi Joe,
I am extremely glad to hear from you! I am touched that the club was able to expand and influence more people than I would have ever imagined. I am thankful to God that he used me to pour blessings beyond comprehension to you! Out of all the Toastmasters I have become familiar with over the years, there is still not one that I have met as great as you. In all honesty, if it were not for your help I would not be in the position I am today. The Toastmasters training I have received has helped me grow as a student, leader, and person. I am astounded at the things God has done for you through the seeds I sowed. However, I would like to take the time to tell you the fruits of the seeds you sowed four years ago.
Coming into high school I had more courage than any of my peers when it came to public speaking. I was able to skillfully give presentations, and hold conversations with my superiors with confidence and dignity like no one in my class could. For some time this was all I was able to make use of my training. However, as I progressed in my studies, my English teacher Mrs. Ledman noticed my skill in public speaking at a poetry reading. Mrs. Ledman suggested I use my "talent" more often. At that moment, the skills you taught me brought back exponential results. As part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program examinations, I needed to converse with my teacher about literature we had studied in class. I was able to effortlessly pass with flying colors. Although there were many other speaking exams which I had passed, the fruits of the seeds you sowed were not confined to solely the academic realm. I joined the debate club at my school and won the "Best Speaker Award." I then was elected in to offices of clubs such as the office of Treasurer of the National History Honor Society and the office of President of National Spanish Honor society. My reputation as a speaker began to grow around school. It grew to the point where I was personally asked to guest speak at clubs around the school, and I was eventually able to establish mini-seminars helping students around my school gain confidence in public speaking modeled after the 8-week course I enrolled in as a fourteen year old. Public speaking molded my resume and allowed me to gain acceptance into top universities such as Brandeis University and the University of Florida. I was even able to beat out seven other competitors in a group interview for a job. However, the fruits continue to yield.
This week was the school wide Tropicana Speech competition. Mrs. Ledman had signed me up for the competition but I had put the competition in the back burner as I am in the midst of preparing for college and finishing high school strong. Eventually, the day of the competition came and I had no speech to give because I had completely forgot about the competition. I showed up to the competition to tell Mrs. Ledman that I would be dropping out because I had no speech and was totally unprepared. Mrs. Ledman told me to "wing it" as she had faith in my skills as a public speaker. So, I was forced to compete without a speech. I kept thinking of your impacting quote, "People will never remember what you said, but people will always remember how you made them feel" which has now become the motto and foundation of my public speaking career. I gave myself a topic I was extremely familiar with, and treated the competition as a four-minute table topic. I watched my competitors as each one spoke. Although they were prepared with power point presentations and note cards, they did not have the poise, grace, and elocution that only proper training from a polished expert such as yourself can bring. I took to the lectern with confidence and gave my four-minute impromptu speech. I won first place. Below is the link to my school web site acknowledging my victory.
That being said, it would be an honor to have you come watch me at the district level competition on May 10th. You have impacted my life beyond comprehension and I know without a shadow of a doubt that without your place in my life, I would not be where I am today. You too have impacted a number of other students and I know that your training will bear even more fruit in my life as I begin my collegiate career.
Thank you for all you have done in my life and continue to do in the life of others! You deserve that award! Thank you!
My warmest regards,
Aldo
Joe teaches his Toastmaster Youth Leadership Program in Tampa. If you know students who might be interested, please contact him.
