District 42 Toastmasters

Monthly Dispatch

January 2025

Kickstart Your Year with District 42 Toastmasters!

Happy New Year, District 42 Toastmasters!

The Dispatch Team is excited to welcome you to 2025, a year full of opportunities to grow, connect, and thrive in your Toastmasters journey. As we kick off the second half of the Toastmasters year, we have an exciting lineup of events and initiatives to inspire your personal and professional growth.



Here’s what’s happening this January:

• Leadership Training

January and February bring opportunities to strengthen your leadership skills with Club Officer Training (COT). Whether you’re a new officer or a seasoned leader, this training will provide valuable insights to help you and your club succeed. Check the District 42 calendar for upcoming training dates and locations.

• Turning Pages Finale Event Recap

Thank you to everyone participating in our 'Turning Pages with District 42' workshop series and finale event in December. The energy and enthusiasm for writing and publishing were truly inspiring.

• Leadership Opportunities

As we plan for the next Toastmasters year, consider stepping up to a leadership role in your club or district. It’s your chance to make a difference while developing invaluable skills. Contact your club or area director for more information.

As always, the Dispatch Team is here to share your stories, celebrate your achievements, and keep you informed. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember in District 42!

Here’s to your success,

Warm regards,

The District 42 Toastmasters Dispatch Team

Upcoming Events

See what's happening in January 2025

DISTRICT DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

GAME CORNER!

Ellen Lambert

Dispatch Co-Editor

Challenge yourself! How many times is the Word of the Month used throughout the Dispatch? 

The word I chose is noun: ASPIRATION; plural noun: ASPIRATIONS; (verb) ASPIRE



• a hope or ambition of achieving something.

"He had nothing tangible to back up his literary aspirations"

• direct one's hopes or ambitions toward achieving something

"We never thought that we might aspire to those heights"

The answer is at the end of the Dispatch.  

REPORTS

Welcome to 2025: A Busy and Exciting Second Half of the Toastmasters Year!

Debbie Stearns, DTM

D42 Program Quality Director

As we enter the new year, we’re also diving into the second half of our Toastmasters year - a crucial time for clubs aspiring to Distinguished status. There’s so much to look forward to, and we’re here to support you every step of the way!

Club Officer Training – Don’t Miss Out!

Empowered leaders build successful clubs! Our Club Officer Training sessions are in full swing, and we encourage all officers to attend and get equipped for the remainder of the term. Join us at one of these upcoming sessions:

• January 9 or 11 (Online)
• February 8 (Online)
• February 1 (In-person, Calgary)

These sessions are an excellent opportunity to connect, learn, and share best practices. Register and fulfill this essential requirement for your club’s Distinguished Club Program!

Pathways Orientation Sessions Coming Soon

This January, we’re launching Pathways Orientation Sessions to help members make the most of their educational journey. Whether you’re a new member exploring Pathways or a seasoned Toastmaster looking to complete a path, these sessions are designed for you. Keep an eye on the event calendar for details and registration links.

Contest Season Is Here!

It’s time to showcase your skills in the most exciting part of the Toastmasters year: contest season!

• Table Topics and International Speech Contests will be held in person - a great opportunity to experience the energy of live competition.
• For members preferring an online format, we also host a separate online contest.

If you’re a club contest chair or judge, mark your calendars for our Judges Training sessions:

• January 25 (In-person, Calgary)
• January 29 (Online)

These sessions are crucial for ensuring a smooth and fair contest experience, so please plan to attend.

Let’s Work Together for a Strong Finish

The second half of the Toastmasters year is packed with opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve. With club officer training, Pathways sessions, and contests, there’s something for everyone. Let’s stay focused and finish the year strong as we work toward building Distinguished clubs and creating remarkable experiences for all our members.

Here’s to a successful 2025 and an exciting Toastmasters journey ahead!

DISTRICT EVENTS

Empowering clubs for success!

Michelle Ryerson, DTM

D42 Administration Manager 2024-2025 

I am excited to continue serving as the District's Administration Manager for another year. This role allows me to give back to an organization that fosters leadership and supports our clubs.

One of the key initiatives we've introduced is the 30-60-90 day plan. This tool is designed to help clubs stay informed of upcoming deadlines, minimizing surprises. While this plan will be a valuable resource, I also encourage you to regularly check the District Calendar for any updates or changes.

Together, we can make this a successful and convivial year for all our clubs!

Your 30-60-90 days Plan snapshot:

January 2025:

• Leadership Training events:
• January 09 - Leadership Training hosted by Division D & E
• January 11 - Leadership Training hosted by Division A
• January 15 - Division B Celebrates 100 Years
• January 16 - Pathways Orientation Session #1
• January 18 - Battlefield Of The Funny Bones
• January 20 - Division Director Leadership Meeting
• January 25 - Judges Training In-Person
• January 29 - Judges Training Online
• January 31 - DCP Go-Getter Award deadline

February 2025:

• February 01 - Talk Up Toastmasters Program Begins
• Leadership Training events:
• February 01 - Leadership Training hosted by Division C
• February 13 - Pathways Orientation Session #2
• February 17 - All Leader Call (Division & Area Directors) meeting

March 2025:

• March 13 - Pathways Orientation Session #3
• March 20 - Division F Circle Of Gold
• March 22 - Club Contest Deadline
• March 31 - Talk Up Toastmasters Program Deadline

The District Calendar is available for you to continue to be updated with District events. If your club is celebrating an upcoming special event (ie: Open house, anniversary) you would like to post on the District Calendar, simply fill out the Submit New Event Form.

District 42 Conference - Registration Available!

Richard Lee-Thai

D42 Conference Chair

Registration for the 2025 Conference is now available at https://d42tm.org/d42-conference-2025/! In the coming weeks, more information will be available, such as a discount code for the hotel, the keynote speaker, and educational sessions.

Join us in Lethbridge from Friday, May 2 to Saturday, May 3, 2025, for an unforgettable in-person experience. If you have any questions, please email DCconferencechair@d42tm.org.

AROUND THE DISTRICT

District Candidates

Eugene Sicat, DTM

Immediate Past District 42 Director

It took me years to muster the courage to fully commit to advancing my leadership journey in Toastmasters. Doubt lingered in my mind—would I have the time to dedicate to this? That was back in 2008. For years, I stayed in the shadows, watching as my peers soared ahead, their progress a stark reminder of my own hesitation. But in 2018, something shifted. I could no longer ignore the calling. I stepped up, determined to make my mark, and from that moment on, everything changed. Through my interactions with diverse leaders, I discovered the power of persuasion. Facing countless challenges, I honed my ability to think strategically and act purposefully. The journey has been transformative; the rest is nothing short of history.

Consider stepping into a more prominent leadership role within our district. By doing so, you'll have the opportunity to make a more profound, more lasting impact on our community while also growing personally and professionally. Leadership isn't just about guiding others—it's about embracing challenges, fostering collaboration, and shaping our district's future direction. Visit our District Opportunities page now: https://d42tm.org/opportunities and complete the nomination form.

Taking on additional responsibilities will allow you to enhance your problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills, all of which will be invaluable in both your current and future endeavours. Furthermore, leadership offers a unique chance to inspire and motivate those around you, creating a ripple effect that can drive collective progress and innovation.

As you step into these roles, you’ll find that the experience gained will advance your career and equip you with the tools and confidence to tackle more complex challenges ahead. Together, we can continue to push for positive change and ensure our district remains a place of growth, opportunity, and success for all.

Thank You for Making Turning Pages with District 42 a Success!

Vesna Ivkovic

D42 Webmaster/ Dispatch Designer

As we bring the Turning Pages with District 42 workshop series to a close, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to its success.

To the incredible presenters: Your expertise, stories, and willingness to share your knowledge have inspired countless aspiring authors. Your insights and experiences were truly the heart of this series, and I am deeply grateful for your contributions.

To the engaged participants: Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and thoughtful questions brought energy and meaning to every session. Thank you for your support and for making this project such a rewarding experience.

To my dedicated team: Your behind-the-scenes work, tech support, and organizational efforts ensured the series ran smoothly and professionally. I couldn’t have done it without you!

If you missed any of the workshops or would like to revisit the sessions, recordings are available in the workshop booklet. This resource is filled with valuable insights from our presenters and is a perfect way to catch up on what you may have missed. BOOKLET LINK

Additionally, we’ve created a photo album from the Holiday Book Fest to capture the festive finale of this project. You can view it HERE. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the event such a joyful celebration!

Thank you all for making this project a success and for supporting me on my Distinguished Toastmasters journey. This experience has been unforgettable, and I hope the Turning Pages series has inspired you to pursue your own creative goals.

Division B Toastmasters Celebrates 100 Years

Division B Toastmasters celebrates 100 years by having an All You Can Eat Pasta & Pizza event at Four Seasons Restaurant, 909 Arcola Ave, Regina, SK.

This is a fundraiser for the 2025 Conference in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Tickets can be purchased from Debbie Stearns, Stacey Kaminski and Lynnette Zotzman.

Pathways Orientation - For New and Existing Users

Chuck LeBlanc, DTM

District Education Committee Chair

Pathways orientation session dates:

• January 16, 2025
• February 13, 2025
• March 13, 2025
• April 24, 2025
• May 15, 2025
• June 12, 2025

This Pathways orientation session is divided into 2 segments.

Segment Number 1: (5:30-7:00 PM MT)

• This portion of the training is geared toward the new members not already using Base Camp. It takes the learner through the process of creating and signing up for their first path.

Segment Number 2: (7:00-8:30 PM MT)

• This portion of the training is for existing users of Base Camp who want to learn how to learn to use the features of the system. Here we will take a more comprehensive look at what Base Camp has to offer.

Registration is required. Register HERE.

We look forward to seeing you there!

D42 CLUB OFFICER TRAINING

Click the image below to register for Club Officer Training!

DID YOU KNOW

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Answer to Word of the Month: 4