February 2024

Issue 18

District Directors Message

Hello all,


In September 2019, the stage was set for the humorous speaker showcase, marking my eagerly anticipated debut in the world of competitive speaking. Brimming with excitement, I had meticulously crafted a humorous speech, rehearsing it over 35 times in preparation for the event. However, as I stood before the audience, the uninvited guest of anxiety seized control, a consequence of my lack of experience in the competitive realm.


Undeterred, I held on to the belief that my amusing narrative on the adventures of love would secure my victory. Alas, my hopes were dashed when the results were announced, revealing a second-place finish that left me heartbroken. Disillusioned and dispirited, the idea of participating in future competitions seemed unappealing.


Fast forward to February 2020, another contest season had arrived, and I found myself disinterested in the prospect of joining the international speech contest. It was during a Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) event that I crossed paths with Darren LaCroix, the 2001 world champion. Seeking guidance, I asked him about my dilemma, and his response resonated: "Always go for more stage time, stage time, stage time."



Empowered by this advice, I decided to re-enter the arena. The next day, fueled by newfound determination, I penned a speech titled "My Defining Moment." Seeking perfection, I sought feedback from seasoned Toastmasters, refining both content and delivery.



On the day of the contest, confidence surged through me until I noticed my boss in the audience. Despite the distraction, I persevered. Though I stumbled over a few lines during the delivery, I pressed on. When the results were finally revealed, a mix of anxiety and elation gripped me. To my delight, I was announced the winner.

Reflecting on this journey, I am grateful for not succumbing to defeat after the initial setback. Embracing Darren LaCroix's wisdom to always go for more stage time, stage time, stage time, I allowed myself to grow as a speaker.


Now, as I share my story, I urge you not to follow my early inclination to shy away from contests. Embrace the challenge, heed Darren's advice, and always go for more stage time, stage time, stage time. Participate in the international speech and evaluation contests held within your club this month. You will accelerate your growth as a speaker.


What is happening in the district?

As we host club officer training, let's weave a tapestry of shared experiences and ideas. Your unique insights, garnered from your journey, can become invaluable threads that bind us as newly elected officers. Your contributions, whether from the peaks of success or the valleys of challenges, will be the catalyst for our collective growth. Together, let's build a reservoir of wisdom, allowing each other to flourish in this vibrant community. Your voice is not just welcomed; it is the key to our shared success as Together we grow. Register here today.


regards,

Abhijeet

1st place

https://d101tm.org/why-do-i-stay/

2nd place

https://d101tm.org/what-a-difference-a-vpe-can-make/

3rd place

 https://d101tm.org/social-tailwinds/


Speaker: Raghunadha Raju

Date: February 5, 2024 from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, PST


Speechcraft is a condensed program that teaches speech writing and public speaking for attendees. Come learn how to teach others and pass on the skills of Speechcraft.

Visit this networking and educational event – free and open to all – to learn how Toastmasters International can benefit you. Toastmasters has been supercharging communications skills since 1924.


December 2023 – February 2024 Training Period

Join the Lucky 7 and earn $51 in District Credit by having all seven Club Officers attend Club Officer Training in the December-February period.


Questions?

Contact our Program Quality Director, Raji Bandanapudi, DTM at [email protected].


! FREEBIE !


BE OUR GUEST

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Congratulations to our toastmasters for achieving their educational goals.

Award

Member Name

Club Name

EH1

Te-Chuan Chou, EH3

Wharton QuakeMasters

EH2

Te-Chuan Chou, EH3

Wharton QuakeMasters

EH3

Te-Chuan Chou, EH3

Wharton QuakeMasters

IP2

Latha Sreekumar, IP2

SCC Speak To Lead

IP1

Souda Raj, IP1

PMI Silicon Valley Toastmasters Club

LD2

Nehru Chevanan, LD2

PMI Silicon Valley Toastmasters Club

DL1

Deogade Adhira

MacinTalkers Club

EH3

Richard Preston, DTM

MacinTalkers Club

LD1

Al Jose, LD1

MacinTalkers Club

MS1

Richard Preston, DTM

MacinTalkers Club

PM1

Jessica Adjiwibawa, PM1

MacinTalkers Club

PM1

Richard Preston, DTM

MacinTalkers Club

TC2

Kaijun Feng, TC2

MacinTalkers Club

IP5

Handjojo Daniel, IP5

Applied Materials Club

PM3

Chou Lana, PM3

SCUMBAT Club

TC2

Janet Luo, DTM

Now You're Talk[In]

PI4

Declan Shalvey, DTM

Cupertino Morningmasters

PM1

Tang Eveleen

Orbiters Toastmasters Club

IP1

Mark Escobedo, IP1

The Grummarians

DL1

Janelle Smith, DL1

Walmart Bay Blitzers

PM2

Chitravel Balasubramanian, PM2

Walmart Bay Blitzers

SR2

Veena Gopu, SR3

Walmart Bay Blitzers

PM5

Rochet Wells, PM5

Sage Toastmasters

TC1

Boss Alexandra Danielle, TC1

Sage Toastmasters

PM1

Langdon Blake,PM1

Roche Bay Area Toastmasters

PI2

Zhenqiang Ying, PI2

Fair Oaks Club

PM3

Rodgers Jasmin, PM3

Lumentum Toastmasters Club

PM1

Riya Wang, PM1

Los Gatos Toastmasters

PM1

Christopher C. Nakamura, PM1

Silicon Valley Toastmasters

PM3

Leschkies Jennifer,PM3

Da Vinci Toastmasters

IP2

Ahamed K Touseef, IP2

NVIDIA International Toastmasters

PI1

Vajpeyi Ayush, PI2

NVIDIA International Toastmasters

PM1

Sonia Jindal, PM1

Maps Toastmasters

DL1

Sai Navya Gourisetty, DL1

Amazon Cupertino Toastmasters

DL1

Sarableen Sahni, DL2

Amazon Cupertino Toastmasters

EC1

Carol Tsang, DTM

Intercontinental Advanced Toastmasters Club

DL1

Iype Seena, DL1

WIP Toastmasters Club

LD2

Sujatha Balakrishnan, LD2

Big Basin Toastmasters

SR1

Sujatha Balakrishnan, LD2

Big Basin Toastmasters

SR2

Sujatha Balakrishnan, LD2

Big Basin Toastmasters

SR2

Thomas Takashima, SR3

Big Basin Toastmasters

SR3

Sujatha Balakrishnan, LD2

Big Basin Toastmasters

SR3

Thomas Takashima, SR3

Big Basin Toastmasters

DL1

Erik Lamp, DL1

ADI Silicon Valley Toastmasters

PM2

Calenda Nick, PM1

Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters Club 934

EH1

LAURA CHANDLER, EH1

SCUMBAT Club

IP4

Vikram Arunkumar, IP4

Fair Oaks Club

PM1

Terri R. Stephenson, PM1

Sage Toastmasters

PM1

Bosnjakovic Andrija, PM4

NVIDIA International Toastmasters

PM2

Bosnjakovic Andrija, PM4

NVIDIA International Toastmasters

PM3

Bosnjakovic Andrija, PM4

NVIDIA International Toastmasters

PM4

Bosnjakovic Andrija, PM4

NVIDIA International Toastmasters

LD3

Jeff Sedayao, LD3

Toastmasters Insiders Club

VC1

Sarinlak O. Ordonez, VC1

Downtown Speechmakers

EH3

Jennifer Sun, EH3

Toasters R Us Club

PI3

Camacho-Aguilera Rodolfo, PI3

Maps Toastmasters

EH1

Jagan Kaja, EH2

Women L.E.A.D. Toastmasters Club

EH1

Ben Balester, EH1

Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters Club 934

PM1

Aparna Ankola, PM1

Downtown Speechmakers

PM1

Bryan Dosono, PM5

ToastItNow!

PM2

Bryan Dosono, PM5

ToastItNow!

PM3

Bryan Dosono, PM5

ToastItNow!

PM4

Bryan Dosono, PM5

ToastItNow!

PM5

Bryan Dosono, PM5

ToastItNow!

PI2

Vajpeyi Ayush, PI2

NVIDIA International Toastmasters

EH5

Scott P. Yang, EH5

Next Step Toastmasters Club

DL4

John Love, DL4

TGIF Management Club

PM1

Bodkhe Kapil,PM1

Milpitas Toastmasters Club

EC2

Pimparkar Ninad, EC2

nSpeak

DL2

Lance Milbrand, DL2

Silver Tongued Cats

DL2

Ashish Krishnan, DL2

ArtICCulators Club

LD3

Musini Simha,LD3

ArtICCulators Club

VC3

Sonya L. Stauffer-Acevedo, VC3

Cadence AHgorithms Club

PM2

Winkler Stevie, PM2

Speakeasy Monterey

MS3

Kartikeya Gupta, MS3

Optical Orators

EC4

Krueger Randi, EC4

Lumentum Toastmasters Club

PM2

Tomei Bonnie, PM2

First Street Speakers

DL2

Sarableen Sahni, DL2

Amazon Cupertino Toastmasters

PM2

Sharon Adams, PM2

Aptos Club

VC1

Kelvin K. Lei, VC1

Milpitas Toastmasters Club

PM2

Manpreet S. Sokhi, PM2

Silicon Valley Speak To Lead

PM1

Goel Sheetal, PM1

Amazon Cupertino Toastmasters

SR2

Fuentes-Rosado Jorge, SR2

Toastmates

PM1

Mike Turner, PM1

Sage Toastmasters

LD1

Jandhyala Sravanti, LD1

High Flyers

PM3

Shirlin Tan, PM3

Lumentum Toastmasters Club

PI2

Jennifer D. Deal, PI2

ToastItNow!

PWMENTORPGM

Leena A. Ambekar, EH3

Amazon Cupertino Toastmasters

PI1

Lori Woodle, PI1

Toastmasters of San Benito

PM1

Jenny Arbizu, PM1

Toastmasters of San Benito

EH1

Lisa Berti, EH1

Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters Club 934

EC2

Backer Shihas, TC1

Toastmasters for Professionals

TC1

Backer Shihas, TC1

Toastmasters for Professionals

PM3

Lane W. Andrew, PM3

Santa Cruz Downtown Toastmasters

PM4

Diane Bair, DTM

Speakeasy Monterey

PM5

Diane Bair, DTM

Speakeasy Monterey

LD2

Shanthi Sivanesan, LD2

I'm Feeling Chatty Toastmasters Club

EH2

Jagan Kaja, EH2

Women L.E.A.D. Toastmasters Club

SR3

Veena Gopu, SR3

Walmart Bay Blitzers

PM1

Sandhya Jukanti, PM1

VSF Toastmasters

MS1

Harry A. Holland, DTM

Orbiters Toastmasters Club

MS2

Harry A. Holland, DTM

Orbiters Toastmasters Club

MS3

Harry A. Holland, DTM

Orbiters Toastmasters Club

PM1

Lettitia E. Clarke, PM1

Toastmasters of San Benito

DL1

Krishnappa Pradeep

VentriTalks

EH4

Phillip Plath, EH4

VentriTalks

PM1

Lin Vera, TC1

Walmart Bay Blitzers

VC1

Sravasti Nair, DTM

Cadence AHgorithms Club

TRAININGS

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