Your Legacy Speaks

Boy, it has been forever since I wrote a post.  Life changed, I went back to work as a full-time Business Analyst and forgot about posting. Fortunately, my new Toastmasters project is to blog with some frequency so here goes.

In March of this year, I was encouraged to run for Toastmasters International as an International Director, Region 4.  I had planned to run this year from Region 3, but last…

     By Jim Christine, DTM, Lieutenant Governor, Marketing

In Toastmasters, we learn the importance of “on time”: run meetings on time, finish speeches on time — and reach membership goals on time. The “Beat the Clock” campaign is a great motivator for finishing the year on schedule—on time and with record numbers! Make it your club’s goal to earn the “Beat the Clock” award and encourage…

Presentation Coaching for the Left-Brained

Sheryl Sandberg in her inspirational book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead  notes that “Done is better than perfect.”  For many of us who are techies at heart, this mantra is contrary to our beliefs. Our world is changing as we move from the Waterfall development methodology to the Agile methodology. This methodology allows us to work in smaller pieces, delivering projects more quickly…

Yesterday was perfect weather for a 7 mile walk through neighborhoods near home as well as the portion of Line Creek Trail between 68th Street and Barry Road. I was surprised that there were not more folks on the trail. My dog and I love the trail. It is wide, follows the stream, and is full of smells.  As we near Barry Road, the trail becomes truly beautiful.

We did encounter many cyclist, but not as many walkers or dogs as we expected. Maybe they all walked on Saturday while I was judging high school speech, but any day in March that is that warm and nice should be a day for walking. KC Parks and Rec has done a wonderful job of building a wonderful trail.  

Yesterday I walked to Park Hill High School for a Speech Tournament - my favorite time of the year. As I walked along Barry Road from I-29 to the school, I walked along a wonderful bike lane. This area has some nice lanes because the road was reconstructed there years ago when Zona Rosa was built.  Guess what?  Zona has few if any places to lock up your bike if you rode there.  Kansas City really needs to encourage biking in other areas than the wonderful trails like Line Creek and the downtown area.  Hopefully more of ohs will be using public transit, walking, and bike riding to commute to work. We need to encourage the plans that have been drafted to improve and making biking a reality. I admit, I prefer to walk given that I live in the hills north of the river, but I should have a safe choice.

Tuesday I walked from US-169 to 72nd and Oak Trafficway in Gladstone, MO.  I was surprised that at the intersection of Broadway and 72nd Street by the Post Office and Gladstone Bowl, there is not a single crosswalk. Not a one. There are poorly taken care of sidewalks, it is on a KCATA bus route 37X, but no cross walks.

Leaving for Lady and the Champs

As I am sitting in the airport in Kansas City waiting for my flight, I realized, I have been so busy that I have not posted in a while. I feel like my business is finally taking flight which means I am busy.  I love it!  I am heading for a conference I have attended since 2011 with the exception of one year. I am attending the Lady and the Champs conference in Las Vegas this weekend with 2 or 3…

Yesterday when I left at noon for the bus it was 50 degrees in Kansas City. I carried my coat for the 1.5 mile walk. I knew I would need it and my scarf since a front was coming in in the evening. Sure enough in less than 2 hours the temperatures fell. By the time I left my Toastmasters meeting, it was freezing rain. A nice fellow member gave me a ride home.

Today my son dropped me off at the local Panera so I can wait for a bus. I have a rolling suitcase and my carry on for a trip to Las Vegas to meet up with fellow speakers and friends. I will get my 5 miles in today, but with it being 9 degrees in the morning and with all of my 'stuff', it was just too cold to walk to the bus stop. Instead, I am enjoying a nice bagel and a cup of coffee.  

I cannot wait to meet up with friends and walk the strip. I haven't been there in about a year and a half. No, I do not gamble or really drink. I am sort of boring, but I do my share of shopping though, and walking, and shows. I am usually zonked by the time I get back home.

Last night it was freezing, bone-chilling cold. The bus I ride home, 142, at 8:32 from Crown Center up north was unusually full. Typically there are 4 or 5 us getting on at Crown Center. Some of us get on going south just to get on the bus 6 minutes earlier (we just turn around at 27th street), and other get on going north. Last night there were 14 of us.  Another 10 or so got on or off as we went north.  It was nice to see.

When I went to my Toastmasters meeting at Ronald McDonald house it was lightly snowing, but not as cold. By the time I left the sky was clearing and it was really cold. Everyone watched out for everyone else. The regulars made sure they guy with the amp that falls asleep got off at the right stop. The guy who dropped his gloves when he put his money in was gently told he dropped them.  He then moved when a guy hauling his double bowling ball bag got on so it was easier for him.