Today people are in constant contact with one another through Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, cellphones and numerous other electronic and digital devices. With so many methods of communication available to us, why do many people communicate so poorly? Is it possible that they’ve never had the opportunity to learn to communicate effectively? Good communication skills are essential to a healthy and happy life. Whether it’s on the job or with friends and family, good speaking AND listening skills are vital.

I’ve recently been elected VP/Public Relations for  the Medina Toastmasters Club 941. I am looking forward to an exciting year in which our Toastmasters International club helps it’s members build confidence and find their voices. Our members, through practice and diligence, become good communicators. Good communicators are happy employees, community leaders and successful business owners. To learn more please visit the website of Medina Toastmasters Club 941 or to find a club near you visit the website of Toastmasters International.

Thank you to all my readers, especially those who left comments on my earlier posts, for  giving me the encouragement I needed to take up illustration again. This Mother and Child drawing is the first thing that I’ve done in years! Just between me and you, what you see here wasn’t my first attempt — I had to start over a few times because I’m pretty rusty. It’s still not as good as I had hoped, but perhaps with practice I’ll get better and quicker too.

I plan on starting a series of similar pieces that can be used as clip art for events and holidays throughout the calendar year. This piece is my gift to you for being so supportive. Feel free to download it – just click on it.

Thank you to the bloggers who participated in the first “Blog Sharing Day” at the Komjati Design Facebook page. I had the opportunity to read and comment on three very interesting blog posts that were submitted. I’m going to give them a shout out and if you have time you can read them too. They are: It’s Hip To Be Square by AdTex Advertising, Sausage & Potato Packets by Helen’s Helpful Hints, The Wise Sage and A World of (Upholstered) Imagination by Furnitureland South.

Thank you Toastmasters Medina Club 941 for patiently listening to my speeches, for your compliments and especially for your kind suggestions for improvement. The speech that I gave last night has put me at Advanced Communicator Bronze level! Anyone interested in seeing Toastmasters at work should attend the Toastmasters Area 33 contest being held on Saturday, March 12, at the Medina County Library. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., it’s free and the public is welcome to drop in. I’m rooting for my Medina club’s president, Bob Moyer to win. Go Bob!

If you have questions about advertising, branding or graphic design, call me at 330.769.0344.

You may have heard of Toastmasters International and wondered what it was. You might have read that it’s an organization that helps you become better at public speaking. Or, maybe you’re like my creative friend Daryl who writes copy for Grabowski & Co., an award-winning marketing communications firm. I can always count on his whimsical comments about burnt toast and jelly in response to my Facebook posts about Toastmasters — he cracks me up.

As a Toastmasters Club member you’ll not only learn to speak in front of a group but also about listening, motivation, planning, building confidence and leadership. I’ve been a member of Medina Toastmasters Club 941 for four years. As a new member I once watched a visitor at her first meeting, shy, fearful, and even afraid to make eye contact just walking through the door and I knew she would never be back. Imagine my surprise when she became a member and within a year blossomed into a confident, well-spoken leader. This happens countless times at Toastmasters clubs around the world.

I would like to recommend Toastmasters to everyone of course, but especially to those who have lost jobs to this economy. Losing a job can be a demoralizing, confidence shattering experience. It’s a negative, life altering event that Toastmasters can help to turn around. If you know someone who has lost their job, please encourage them to join Toastmasters. As a Toastmasters member they’ll learn to think quickly on their feet and be able to ace even the toughest of job interviews with confidence.