JR Rosas Wins Division A Table Topics Contest!
April 12, 2008: In one of the most intense Division contests held in many years, BAC to the Future took home TWO trophies! The District 18, Division A International Speech and Table Topics Contests were held today with the top competitors from 26 Toastmasters clubs vying for the two titles and a chance to compete at the District level.
When asked the Table Topic Question “If you could change the sound of your phone to something other than a ring, what would it be?” JR Rosas answered using two of his many character voices and, by the time he finished, had the entire audience rolling on the floor laughing as he joked and sang a Marilyn Monroe song. It was truly a stellar performance worthy of an Academy Award! Great Job JR! Making JR’s feat even more impressive was the level of competition he was up against coupled with the fact he is one of BAC to the Future’s newest members! Awesome Job JR! We can't want to see what JR does at the District 18 competition!
Mike Futty competed in the International Speech Competition with the speech “Free Prize Inside!” He compared people to boxes of Crackerjacks- having free prizes inside that need only to be uncovered. Mike placed third among seven great speakers.
Congratulations to JR Rosas and Mike Futty on their wins!
What a Great Year it Was!
January 4, 2008: Now that we have officially moved into a new year, I wanted to reflect on the past 12 months of Toastmasters experiences and growth we have had in the BAC to the Future club.
 It begins with our first meeting in December 2006 where we jammed into that small room in the Sabre Wing; it was overflowing with excited and hungry new members ready to tackle their 2007 goals. We saw several new members join in the first 90 days of 2007 and developed a solid routine for meeting dates and times. We witnessed great icebreakers and a variety of table topics which inspired us, made us laugh and even had us crying at times.
We dove headfirst into contests by having our first club-level International Speech Competition in February and following Mike Futty as he proudly represented our club on his exciting journey up to the Regional level. We also held contests for Humor, Speech Evaluation, and the BAC National Speaking competition with Dayman McMasters, Laurie Wiker and Mike Futty moving up levels within those.
We began attending conferences for learning, competitions and Toastmaster interaction with members from all over the world with our club represented at the District 18 Spring and Fall events, Region VII and the International conferences in 2007.
In May, we had our first Competent Communicator (CC) with Mike Futty achieving this award.
Your officers also began learning and developing themselves as leaders of the club and mentors for new and existing Toastmasters to effectively move us along and to the next level. We participated in officer training with our fellow Toastmasters officers from all over District 18 and learned the nuts and bolts for our roles.
Membership ebbed and flowed with members leaving the company, relocating, and current members spreading the positive word on Toastmasters and the benefits therein. Word of mouth is very powerful and Dayman led the charge by bringing numerous guests with several signing up as members of our club. Thanks again, Dayman, and to everyone else for doing this. Keep the guests coming!!
In wrapping up the year, the BAC National Speaking Competition was truly a highlight for the year being a host club and having our own Mike Futty among the five finalists. We heard five inspiring speeches with 1st place going to Jonathan Tristan from Dallas, TX. The corporate support and exposure was AWESOME. Thanks again to all who participated and helped out with that very successful event.
So as you can see, “What a great year it was” with the accomplishments and events we were a part of and prospered from.
Have a great 2008 and I look forward to seeing you at the next BAC to the Future club meeting!
Michael Gamgort
BAC to the Future Club President
Bank of America 2007 National Speaking Competition
December 5, 2007: There were no signs of nervousness when five associate finalists competed in front of a panel of judges, a live studio audience and thousands of Bank associates around the country in Team Bank of America’s 2007 National Speaking Competition on Dec. 4th. The competition aired on a live Bank of America Knowledge Channel broadcast from Wilmington, Del. and focused on diversity with a theme of “Bank of America: One Bank, Many Faces.”
Earlier this year, several clubs held local competitions to select representatives to participate in a preliminary round of competition. Then, a virtual competition was held to narrow the 35 local winners to five finalists. A panel of preliminary judges evaluated each speech based on structure and presentation, and selected the final five to compete in the National Speaking Competition in Delaware. BAC to the Future member Mike Futty was among the five finalists!
Trisha Blackwelder, a Distinguished Toastmaster and member of the Saguaro Speakers club in Phoenix, AZ, hosted the competition, and judges included Delaware Market President and North America Card Operations Executive Ric Struthers, Southeast Commercial Banking Executive Katie Knox, East Division Consumer Executive Michelle De Santis Shepherd, Human Resources Executive and Diversity Executive Geri Thomas, and representatives from Toastmaster's International, Carmen Lee Powell and Nicole Figario.
The evening before the competition, a dinner held for the Delaware speaking network presidents, speech competitors and guests at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington. During the dinner, Delaware was recognized for the awesome amount of volunteer work they have contributed so far this year; out of the Bank’s 500,000 hours of community service logged to date, 90,000 hours (or almost 20 percent) were performed by Delaware associates alone! Delaware was also recognized for the hard work they put into preparing for the speaking competition. It was a great evening!
Being a live Knowledge Channel broadcast threw some new things into the mix of a speaking competition. Early Tuesday morning, the speakers had a technical rehearsal where they practiced the entire broadcast, learning where we could move on the stage and performing sound checks for the production folks. They put wireless microphones on the competitors and there was a professional makeup person there who applied powder to the competitors faces to keep reflections down from the studio lights. Mike’s daughter Amanda was there and got a big kick out of that one- informing him that he will hear about wearing makeup for the rest of his life!
As they neared the start of the competition, associates and guests started arriving. It was great to see so many executives, Toastmasters, and friends there to support the competition. It means a lot to a speaker to see familiar, friendly faces in the audience. Even more, there were many others who came to see what Toastmasters and the event was all about. When the contest began, the studio (which holds 250 people) was pretty packed. It is always exciting for a speaker to address an audience that large!
Speaking with bright lights in their faces, four television cameras aimed at them, and knowing that practically everybody they knew would be watching threw a new level of excitement and nervousness at the competitors! Before the competition began, the speakers were escorted outside of the studio and brought in one as a time as they were ready to enter the stage.
Mike remembers:
“Finally, it was my turn. I came into the studio while a video of Jim Key (a former international world champion of public speaking) was played. I sat in the back row for a couple of moments; then, a production assistant tapped me on the shoulder and told me to get ready. I stood up, took a deep breath, and as they announced me, ran down to the stage. As I turned around to face the audience, I realized that I had winded myself a little bit in my run down!! I had to begin my speech while silently trying to get my breath caught back up again!!
It was interesting that I didn’t even notice or pay attention to the television cameras or the monitor on the wall that was showing the live broadcast. I focused on faces in the audience and let it rip. The “audience participation” part got the biggest laugh I have ever pulled from an audience (humor has always been a weak spot in my speeches) and drove my point home about actions versus words. When I finished and sat down, I was very happy with the speech I delivered.
Even though I didn’t place in the end, it was an experience I wouldn’t have traded for anything in the world. I grew, I had fun, and the world of Toastmasters and Bank of America once again heard of those new kids on the block- the BAC to the Future and Take the Lead Toastmasters clubs.”
For those of you who were able to attend in person or watch, we hope you found it as exciting as it was for Mike on stage. Competitions are a great learning experience where you can witness advanced speaking techniques and tools you can use in your speeches. Even more, being a competitor forces you to learn, practice, and hone your skills- so I hope many of you will consider competing in future events. It is something you will never regret!
Again, congratulations to Mike!
Division A Humorous Speech Contest
 October 25, 2007: The District 18, Division A Humorous Speech contest was held today at the Bear County Library in Bear, DE. Toastmasters and guests traveled as far as 100 miles to compete and watch the competition, including Toastmasters dignitaries District 18 Governor Oscar Zalamia, CTM, District 18 Lt Governor of Education Ann Larrow, ATM-S, and many other Division and Area past and present Governors.
The competition was tough, with scoring being very close among eight very talented contestants. The audience had a spectacular time listening to humorous speeches that were worthy of a professional comedy club! Among the competitors was our very own BAC to the Future Toastmaster Dayman McMasters whose speech “Bold” was a hilarious look at the boldness of his youth, love, family life, and, well, where his hair went. The audience laughed continuously through Dayman’s speech.
When the awards were announced, Dayman had taken third place! This is an incredible feat considering that Dayman has only been a Toastmaster for just over a year, this was his first Humorous Speech contest, and the competition he was up against! The BAC to the Future club members in the audience could not have been more proud than they were watching him speak and receive his trophy!
Congratulations Dayman! Keep up the great work and we look forward with great anticipation to your future competitions!
Region VII Competition Results
June 24, 2007: The Toastmasters Region VII International Speech Competition was held yesterday in Philadelphia with eight speakers from the northeast US and Canada competing for the chance to advance to the finals. Among them was BAC to the Future club member Mike Futty who presented his speech “Pyromaniac”. In the audience were Jani Ubhayaratne and Laurie Wiker who also attended the conference.
When the results were announced, Mike didn’t place in the top three, but still walked away feeling great about the competition and his journey to becoming one of the top 82 ranked speakers in the world. Being his first year of competition, he was proud just to stand on the same stage with a previous regional and international finalist competing for the title of Region VII champion.
“The journey was a fantastic experience. The learning experience and friends I made along the way were rewards I walked away with. With that in mind, I couldn’t say I lost- in fact I won big! I also know what I need to go back for the International stage”
The speakers, shown in speaking order, were:
Shawn Doyle
David Romanchick (Third Place)
Vikas Jhingran (First Place)
Nana Danso (Second Place)
Sam Conner
Mike Futty
Charlie Vaughan
Clarence E. Featherson
Congratulations go to Vikas Jhingran who brought the audience out of Philadelphia and transported them to a picture-postcard scene in his native India – the Taj Mahal. His self-deprecating humor earned him plenty of laughs as he convinced the audience to savor the moments of their lives as they live them. His story included a personal experience and loss that moved everyone and closed with strong and profound statements.
We wish him luck as he represents district VII in the International competition!
BAC to the Future Wins District 18 International Speech Contest!
April 14, 2007: The Toastmaster International District 18 competition was held today between its top Division contest winners. Among those in the audience was Accredited Speaker and last year’s President of Toastmasters International, Dilip R. Abayasekara, DTM.
Mike Futty presented his speech “Change the World” where he continued to challenge fellow Toastmasters to change the world using their speaking talents. Using examples of the impact great speakers such as Dr. Martin Luther King and President John F. Kennedy have had on history; Mike extolled the awesome power of speech and urged his fellow Toastmasters to each make a difference themselves.
This competition represented the top talent from 102 area clubs. By winning, Mike and the BAC to the Future Club are now in the top 82, or one percent of the 11,124 worldwide Toastmaster clubs eligible to compete. That’s an incredible feat for a four-month old club!
He will next compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking semi-final competition to be held during the Region VII Conference on June 22-23, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA. This competition represents the top speakers from 8 districts and over 1,200 Toastmaster clubs.
“It was a great day and rare opportunity to be among so many talented Toastmasters and competitors. The honor of this award lays in the world-class talent that was there; to win among such great speakers has left me speechless, if you'll pardon the pun.” – Mike Futty
BAC to the Future Wins Again!March 31, 2007: Competition was held today between the top District 18, Division A area contest winners. Mike Futty placed first presenting his  speech “Change the World” where he challenged fellow Toastmasters to change the world using their talents. This was no easy task for a newly chartered club, particularly considering the seasoned and very talented competitors he was up against. Division A represents 23 area clubs.
Ask Mike what he attributes his success to and he’ll tell you two things helped him- a topic he is passionate about and the support of his family and fellow BAC to the Future teammates. “The feedback I received from my speeches was invaluable; it allowed me to fine-tune my content and delivery. I contined to receive feedback right up to the beginning of the competition.”
Even if you aren’t competing, there is a tremendous to learn by attending the competitions. Watching speakers with such variety of style provides a learning experience you can’t get elsewhere. Sitting there, you gain the full experience of how they engage and entertain the crowd.
Mike will be moving on to the District 18 International Speech contest to be held during the District 18 Spring Conference on April 13th and 14th in Timonium, MD where he will be competing against the top talent from over 100 district clubs. Wish him luck!
Area 12 Toastmasters Speech Contest
March 22, 2007:Our club had a strong presence with three teammates competing at the Area 12 International Speech contest in Elkton, MD. Christine Grisham and Mike Futty competed in the speech contest and placed 2nd (Mike) and 3rd (Christine). Lauri Wiker, stepping in to compete at the last minute, competed in the Table Topics portion and finished 4th. Those present from other clubs were amazed that a just-chartered club and its members were so strong in the competition.
Our club members did GREAT and represented our club to the highest degree. Congratulations to all of them for competing and placing!! With Mike achieving 2nd place, he will move on to the Division A contest to compete to get to the next level. Good luck Mike!
Speaking for a Cause
March 22, 2007:One BAC to the Future member, Mike Futty, had some very personal reasons for joining our club. Because of a tragic automotive accident their daughter Amanda was in, Mike and his wife Shelly ended up staying 100 miles from their home for eight months to be near Amanda during her initial fight for life and recovery in the hospital. To reduce some of the financial impact and be as close to their daughter as possible, they stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware located across the street from AI duPont Children’s Hospital.
Amanda, who wasn’t initially expected to survive, was in a deep coma for 74 days. Mike and Shelly worked with the therapists every day to increase the odds her survival and recovery. Mike asked the therapists to teach him everything they were doing and he continued working with Amanda long after they left every evening. In addition to that, Mike and Shelly read and spoke to Amanda in hope that she could hear them and keep trying to survive. Eventually, it paid off as Amanda began to recover and still continues to recover to this day, three and one-half years later. Upon leaving the hospital, the doctors credited 50% of Amanda’s miraculous survival and recovery to the additional work Mike and Shelly performed. Mike and Shelly knew that was only possible through the support and love they received from the Ronald McDonald House.
Since then, Mike and Shelly have been evangelists for the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware and have spoken to numerous groups to support them. This has included speaking to organizations, at restaurant openings, and at grant hearings. Mike joined our Toastmasters club to hone his speaking skills and have a more powerful delivery when speaking for the Ronald McDonald House.
He presented his speech to the club which provided invaluable feedback on how to improve it. Using that feedback, he presented his speech to 200 associates at a Business Operations all-hands meeting. Afterwards, Team Bank of America’s representative for the Ronald McDonald House received a flood of e-mails from people seeking to volunteer.
This evening Mike had the honor of being the keynote speaker at the Ronald McDonald House’s annual reception for its major and in-kind donors. Speaking to over 100 donors and volunteers, he delivered an emotional speech that touched the hearts of everybody to let them know how deeply they have affected the lives of thousands of people.
From tragedy, Mike has found good in experiencing the true magic of volunteering and people who care. He credits his BAC to the Future Toastmasters club experience with helping him tell his story with the style and impact it deserves.
To learn more about Toastmasters or to request Mike Futty to speak to your organization, please contact the BAC to the Future club president, Mike Gamgort.
Celebrating Our Club Charter
March 15, 2007: The BAC to the Future Toastmasters club celebrated today by holding its official charter meeting where it recognized the founding members and was presented with its official charter from Toastmasters International. We were honored with such guests as District 18 Governor Don Walton, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), Area 12 Governor Gene Manuel, DTM, , and our club’s mentor, President, Greater Newark Area Toastmasters Club, Carmen Lee Pow, DTM in addition to several managers and associates from Bank of America business units.
The BAC to the Future President, Mike Gamgort, opened and presided over the meeting. Amazingly without any prior coordination there was a common theme among all the speakers- breaking out of comfort zones. Renee Kyte delivered a motivational poem followed by Mike Futty’s speech “Break Out of Your Comfort Zone”. Ryan Corey and Pat Hall delivered great table topic speeches on the theme “Now That I Know”. Table topic speeches consist of speakers delivering speeches on topics they are given that moment to test their improvisational skills.
Each founding member of the club was presented with a Charter Member certificate and final comments were given by Don Walton, DTM, Gene Manuel, DTM, and Carmen Lee Pow, DTM. Afterwards, members and guests enjoyed snacks provided by the club. This meeting marked an important milestone as chartering a club of this nature is no easy task. It took a lot of work from our President and officers as well as our club mentor, Carmen. We would like to thank those who helped our club off to a very successful start!
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