District 42 Toastmasters

Monthly Dispatch

May 2025

Hello District 42 Toastmasters!

As May kicks off, we’re heading into one of the most exciting times of the Toastmasters year! Contest season is wrapping up, and the District 42 Conference (May 2–3) is where it all comes to a thrilling conclusion.

We’ll be crowning our District champions in both the International Speech Contest and the Table Topics Contest — and our International Speech winner will move on to the next level to represent District 42 on the global stage!

Meanwhile, clubs across the district are electing their new executive teams, and our leadership team is busy planning training sessions to prepare incoming leaders for success.

Do you have something special happening in your club? We’re always looking for stories! Whether it’s a unique celebration, milestone meeting, or inspiring member achievement, we’d love to feature it in a future Dispatch.

And one last thing… Are you registered for the District 42 Conference yet? Don’t miss the contests, education sessions, keynote speakers, and connection with members across the district!

See you in the next issue — and hopefully at the conference too!

Send your article ideas or submissions to ivkovic@shaw.ca. Your voice matters, and your fellow Toastmasters want to hear from you!

Enjoy the read,

Your Dispatch Design Team

Upcoming Events

See what's happening in May 2025

DISTRICT DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Serve with Gratitude

Daisy Wei, DTM

District 42 Director

In my nine years with Toastmasters, I’ve climbed from nervous speaker to confident leader—but the journey has been far from linear. There have been highs and lows, moments of triumph and lessons carved from challenge.

Along the way, I’ve been privileged to meet members who’ve dedicated 30, 40, even 50 years to this organization. When I asked what kept them rooted in Toastmasters for so long, their answers were universal: mentorship, service, and the joy of seeing others grow. Their wisdom humbled me. Here were individuals who’d given decades to lifting others up, yet spoke of gratitude, not for recognition, but for the chance to make a difference. It struck me then: I, too, was standing on the shoulders of giants. Every role model who patiently guided me, every peer who challenged me to improve, and even those who tested my resilience contributed to my growth. In this community, I found more than skill development; I found family.

As a District leader, I’ve faced storms but also shelter. When obstacles arose, the encouragement of those warmhearted souls reminded me that progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, serving with gratitude, and passing the light forward.

To those who’ve walked this path before me, thank you. You’ve shown me that the true measure of leadership isn’t tenure, but the lives you’ve touched along the way.

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 an adjective: SERVE (Verb)

Verb:

1. perform duties or services for (another person or an organization).
2. present (food or drink) to someone.

Noun:

(in tennis and other racket sports) An act of hitting the ball or shuttlecock to start play.

The word "serve" is found 4 times. Twice as is, once plural, and once inside another word. Which articles feature the word "Serve"? 



The answer is at the end of the Dispatch.  

REPORTS

Springing Into Growth: Club Updates and Exciting Times Ahead

Lynnette Zotzman, DTM

Club Growth Director

Spring has sprung, and the District conference is ahead of us. I am excited to see many of you again and meet new friends.  

I want to thank Daisy Wei and Debbie Stearns for covering the Club Growth Director responsibilities while I was away for six weeks. I travelled to Japan and collected family memories that will last a lifetime.  

Congratulations to Stanley Vong, my successor! Over the remaining two months, Stanley will shadow me and the club growth teams to ease his transition to this role.  

After April renewals, the District went from having 103 clubs to having 93 clubs in good standing. Since April 1 and to the time of this writing, we have 95 clubs in good standing and are working to help eight clubs get back in good standing by the end of the year.  

The Club Extension Committee has five hot leads and is working diligently to get them chartered soon. Keep your eye out for an announcement of a new club very soon! 

The Club Retention Committee is still seeking club coaches. If you are interested, please contact district42clubcoach@gmail.com or speak to your Area or Division Directors. 

It's two months before this term ends, and I'm enthusiastic to see our growth continue! 

Thanks everyone! Hope to see you in Lethbridge this weekend

What is the advantage?

Marg Ustupski, DTM

District 42 Training Committee Chair

Training offers learning that assists with leading a team and planning dynamic meetings.

When club officers attend training, they gain knowledge and ideas from others. This provides benefits to the club members. Meeting agendas are more varied and interesting. Understanding the Pathways learning system educates experienced members. These members mentor newer members. Members who are learning stay in the club and contribute to the success of the club.

Understanding the dynamics of working as a team provides skills that are used within the club, at home and work.

Planning for success with the club success plan means providing opportunities to grow in leadership skills.

Take advantage of the upcoming training sessions by going to the District 42 Website and checking the event calendar to register for upcoming training events.

• June 2 - Division B online training.
• June 7 - Division C in-person training
• June 11 - Division A online training
• June 18 - Division F in-person training

DISTRICT EVENTS

Excitement is building as we approach the District 42 Conference!

Arobo Ako

D42 Administrative Officer

**May we have your attention, District 42! **

The flowers aren’t the only thing blooming this May; so is the excitement, and the countdown to the event of the season! That’s right, the District 42 Conference is happening THIS WEEKEND, and if you’re not already hyped… consider this your official permission to go ahead and shimmy with excitement.

But wait, there’s more! Below is your 30-60-90 Day Snapshot of what’s coming up in District 42. This handy guide highlights important events, key deadlines, and program launches to keep you in the know.

• Red indicates important deadlines that require your attention.
• Green marks the start of a program you won’t want to miss.

While this serves as your one-stop shop to view upcoming events, remember, the District Calendar is your best friend for the latest updates or changes. Staying informed keeps everything running smoothly at the club, area, division, and district levels.

Let’s May-ke it a month to remember!



Your 30-60-90-Day Plan Snapshot

May 2025:

• May 01 - Beat the Clock Program Begins
• May 01 - 50 & Fabulous: Celebrating Grant Hanna's 50 Years of Toastmasters Service
• May 02 - District 42 Conference (Lethbridge)
• May 03 - District 42 Conference (Lethbridge)
• May 03 - District 42 International & Table Topics Contests (Lethbridge)
• May 12 - Plains Toastmasters 65th Club Anniversary
• May 15 - Pathways Orientation – For New & Existing Users Pathways Session 5
• May 17 - PR Mastermind
• May 22 - Core Leadership Team Meeting

June 2025:

• June 02 - Division B Leadership Development & Club Officer Training (Online)
• June 07 - Division C Leadership Development & Club Officer Training (In-Person)
• June 11 - Division A Leadership Development & Club Officer Training (Online)
• June 12 - Pathways Orientation – For New & Existing Users Pathways Session 6
• June 16 - All Leader Call, District Leadership Meetings
• June 18 - Division F Leadership Development & Club Officer Training (In-Person)
• June 26 - Core Leadership Team Meeting
• June 30 - Beat the Clock Program Deadline

Fun Fact: You can filter events by colour code on the District Calendar. Just click on a colour-coded category and like magic, the calendar will automatically sift through and show you only what you’re looking for. No more scrolling through the entire list. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!. Cheers, my co-toasties!

Also, don’t forget to connect with the PRM team for your event posters, and reach out to me for any questions and administrative support

DISTRICT 42 CONFERENCE

District 42 Conference 2025 

Richard Lee-Thai

D42 Conference Chair

The District 42 Conference kicks off tomorrow in Lethbridge — are you ready? This exciting weekend will feature inspiring keynote speakers, educational workshops, and speech contests showcasing the incredible talent across our district. We’ll also have the opportunity to mingle with fellow District 42 members, meet some of our newly elected District leaders, and connect with special guest Past International President Lark Doley. It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable event — we can't wait to see you there! Check out the Agenda for more information.

Where: Lethbridge, AB

When: Friday, May 2 – Saturday, May 3, 2025

Got questions? Reach out to DCconferencechair@d42tm.org.

BLOG

AROUND THE DISTRICT

Pathways Orientation - For New and Existing Users

Chuck LeBlanc, DTM

District Education Committee Chair

Pathways orientation session dates:

• May 15, 2025
• June 12, 2025

Each 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 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!

Mastering Newsletter Creation: From Concept To Completion

Vesna Ivkovic, DTM

D42 Webmaster/Dispatch Designer

Join us for this exciting PR Mastermind session led by Olanari Okungbova, incoming District 42 PRM and VP Public Relations for Fluor Communicators!

Learn the essentials of building a newsletter from scratch — from brainstorming ideas to delivering a polished final product. Whether you're new to newsletters or looking to sharpen your skills, this session will give you practical tips you can use immediately.

• Date: Saturday, May 17th
• Time: 9:00 a.m.

Open to everyone, but you must register to attend! REGISTER HERE

Of the Year Awards: It Starts with the Basics!

Shelley Musfelt, DTM MVP Advanced Club

I attended the Nominate Like a Pro training session for the District 42 “Of the Year Awards”. 

It was an in-depth training with Christina Kruis, DTM and Vesna Ivkovic, DTM, focusing on how to write the “best” nomination for your club candidate to advance from winning at the club level to being the selected winner at the Area, Division, and District levels.

After 90 minutes, I realized that most clubs should focus on the fundamentals of selecting winners at the club level. A perfect example is the Rookie of the Year award. If your club has new members, encourage a vote from the entire club membership on who they believe deserves this award. 

Sometimes, we become so concentrated on the outcome—winning at the District 42 ceremony—that we overlook how beneficial it would be for most clubs to incorporate these awards at their final meeting in June to conclude the Toastmaster year.

DID YOU KNOW

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Answer to Word of the Month:

1. Director's Message - Serve with Gratitude (Heading and Article Title)

2. 30-60-90

3. Of the Year Awards