District 106

Newsletter

February 2025

Upcoming District Events

From the Desk of the District Director

The Art of Enriching Toastmasters

 I recently became acquainted with the Great British Baking Show. Each week a selection of top bakers is given a new challenge to bake a cake, bread or other category. They are given a time limit to create a recipe that’s flavor, texture and appearance is judged to select the best and worst. The competition is real and brings great excitement and stress down to the last second as different variables come into play. When time is up the bakers must surrender their product to be tasted and sampled by the judge to pick that week's top winner.  

Like baking a mouthwatering bread or pastry, enriching your Toastmaster’s club to provide a delightful learning experience and stimulate personal growth is essential. This year our goal was to make every meeting quality and to have fun. How did we do that? First, at the end of every meeting we filled roles for the following meeting and sent out an agenda in advance. This prompted role holders to prepare for the meeting. Second, the SAA (Sergeant-at-Arms) gets to the venue or Zoom room early and meets with the team before the meeting starts. Third, during the meeting, members and guests respect the time and give their best performance. Being consistent every week has made our meetings higher quality and brought the fun back. 

The Duluth Club is in the midst of hosting our first SpeechCraft. It is the fourth week, and we have had 5 guests who are soon to be members. Every week a different member presents an educational session followed by guests presenting their icebreaker or speech for the week. It has brought excitement and new energy every week for the guests and members. I believe we will have a Speechcraft twice a year, like the Nanabijou club, to bring more new members and vitality to our club. 

If your club is lacking that special ingredient to thrive, start with the basics. Be consistent every week. Assign meeting roles, send out an agenda early, set up the room and invite guests. Create an atmosphere that everyone enjoys and let members know you are glad they came. Reach out to members who were absent and let them know you missed them. By taking these steps, you are strengthening your club and building a community of sorts. It's fun, rewarding and makes a difference. 

This month we are finishing the Club Officer Training. Please attend the second round if you are a club officer. March should be your club speech contest then Area contest. The contests are International Speech and Tall Tales. These contests are in person with the final contest ending in Thunder Bay Canada at the Spring Conference.

Be thinking about who you would like to nominate in your club to be TMOY - Toastmaster of the Year. This person is someone who has gone above and beyond to bring quality to your meetings, invited guests and actively participated in giving speeches and taking roles. We will be sharing more about that with you in March.

For now, do your part to enrich your club by being consistent, taking a role and letting others know they matter. When we take care of each other, the Toastmaster experience is at its best. 

Katy Hursh, DTM

District Director, District 106

Email: tm.katy.hursh@gmail.com

From the Desk of the Program Quality Director

Fellow District 106 Toastmasters

There are lots of exciting things happening in our District, and some clubs are doing some really great things.

Congratulations to Paul Bunyan, Nanabijou and Anoka Toastmasters for receiving the Pinnacle award. They have gone above and beyond to get educational goals in. 

We are entering speech contest season. Stay tuned to the District 106 website as it will be updated with all the information you will need to run a successful contest. If your area is having a contest, please help out by volunteering and donating some goodies to snack on.

If you are looking for more information, you can also join me with a Toolbox session on how to run a better contest. In addition, I am offering sessions on Pathways and of course DTM Alley. Check out D106tm.org for more details.

Club Officer training is wrapping up. Has your club had 4 or more officers complete training? We want as many people as possible to get training. If you have any questions, please reach out to me. I am happy to help. Also please keep checking the dashboard. If I miss you or an officer, kindly let me know.

Congratulations to Susan Scholz who won a free conference ticket just for registering to come to Thunder Bay. We are going to give away a few more early bird prizes so please register as soon as possible. We would love to have you in Thunder Bay with us to celebrate this wonderful year. 

If you need help trying to understand what your club needs to become distinguished or you have no idea how to get there, please reach out to me or the Trio. We are here to help you.

We are in this together and want to see our District continue to be one of the best. Thank you for all you do and keep up the good work. It’s a pleasure to serve for you.

Matthew Villella, DTM

Program Quality Director, District 106

Email: tm.matthew.villella@gmail.com

From the Desk of the Club Growth Director

Reinvest in Yourself – Renew Your Membership Today!

Dear District 106 Toastmasters,

As we step into February, we’re already seeing the energy and enthusiasm of 2025 shaping a fantastic Toastmasters experience! With speech contests in full swing and members achieving new milestones, now is the perfect time to reinvest in yourself by renewing your membership for April 2025.

Toastmasters is more than just a club — it’s a community that nurtures growth, builds confidence, and creates opportunities for every member to shine. By renewing your membership, you ensure uninterrupted access to all the benefits Toastmasters offers, including:

✅ Participation in Speech Contests – Whether you’re competing, judging, or cheering on fellow members, staying active keeps you engaged in the contest season.

✅ Personal and Professional Growth – Continue building leadership and communication skills that set you apart in both your personal and professional life.

✅ A Thriving Club Experience – Your renewal helps keep your club strong, ensuring that everyone has a supportive environment to learn and excel.

Your journey in Toastmasters is an investment in yourself. Let’s keep the momentum going—renew your membership today and continue making 2025 a year of achievement!

Reinvest. Renew. Rise!

If you have any questions about your renewal, reach out to your club officers. Let’s keep our clubs strong and our members inspired!

Best regards,

Ashok Sunkavalli

Club Growth Director, District 106

Email: tm.ashoksunkavalli@gmail.com

Phone: 319-431-2415 (call or text me!)

From the Desk of the Public Relations Manager

Pump up the Power of PR: Let’s Grow Together!

Fellow Toastmasters,

Public relations (PR) is more than just a buzzword—it’s how we share the incredible stories of growth, leadership, and connection that happen every day in our clubs. And here’s the best part: You are the heart of our PR efforts.

Why PR Matters

Think about it: What brought you to Toastmasters? Was it a friend’s recommendation, a social media post, or a story about someone’s transformation? That’s the power of PR. It’s how we inspire others to join, grow, and thrive.

But PR isn’t just the job of your District team or club officers. It’s a team effort, and every member can make a difference.

Your PR Action Plan

Here’s how you can help spread the word and grow Toastmasters:

1. Share Your Story Your journey is unique and powerful. Whether you’ve overcome the fear of public speaking, gained confidence as a leader, or built meaningful connections, your story can inspire others. Post your journey, blog about your growth, or record a quick video—every share can spark inspiration! Use #Toastmasters and tag your club or district to amplify your impact.
2. Be a Social Media Champion Social media is one of the most effective ways to reach new audiences. Post photos from meetings, share member achievements, or highlight upcoming events. Engage with District 106’s posts by liking, commenting, and sharing—it all helps!
3. Invite and Include Personal invitations are one of the most powerful PR tools we have. Invite friends, colleagues, or community members to visit your club. A warm welcome can be the first step in changing someone’s life.
4. Celebrate Your Club’s Wins Did your club host a successful open house? Win an award? Celebrate it! Share these milestones with your District PR team so we can help spread the word.

Together, We Can Make an Impact

PR is about more than just promoting Toastmasters—it’s about building connections and inspiring others to take that first step toward growth. Every post, every invite, and every story you share matters.

Let’s make District 106 a shining example of what’s possible when we work together. Let’s start today—share a post, invite a friend, and be the PR champion your club needs! 

Yours in service,

Leo Smith, DTM

District 106 Public Relations Manager

Email: leo.w.smith@gmail.com

Phone: 651-600-0531

Featured Guest Column

White Bear Toastmasters club celebrates 85 years!

In our current disposable society, it’s great to see some things that can stand the test of time. One such thing is White Bear Toastmasters #167. This Toastmasters club is the second oldest club in District 106. It originally chartered as First St Paul Toastmaster Club #167, on June 1, 1940.

To provide you a frame of reference, this was prior to the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the United States entering into WWII. White Bear Toastmasters is in its eighth decade as a Toastmasters club and going strong.

Jon Perry

Club President

White Bear Toastmasters #167

Email: perryjon@ymail.com

Follow us on the D106 Website, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for exciting updates, inspiration, and more.

District 106 Social channel presence by the Numbers:

Facebook: 490 | X (Formerly Twitter): 214 | LinkedIn: 230 | Instagram: 311 | YouTube: 169 TikTok: 51