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District 106
Newsletter
March 2024
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Serving Parts of Minnesota and Ontario | |
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From the Desk of the District Director
Are your “eyes on the prize?!” We each had our reasons for joining Toastmasters. Remember that time? What has changed in the time since you first joined? Have you gotten a handle on filler words, by learning to pause? Do your communications more regularly include an opening, body, and conclusion? Are you comfortable speaking without notes? Do you find yourself volunteering for leadership tasks outside of Toastmasters? You’ve gained transferrable skills! Skills which are valuable in the marketplace. Skills which are desperately needed in public discourse. Have you improved your ability to pose questions to candidates who ring your doorbell? Are any candidates impressing you with their ability to be clear and concise? These are situations in which Toastmasters' transferrable skills work to make us better citizens.
We each came to Toastmasters with individual goals. Our goals may have grown or changed with time, but each of us still has personal communication and leadership objectives we are trying to achieve. Are we succeeding? I answer that question with a RESOUNDING YES! 43 of our clubs already have 4 or more Distinguished Club Plan points earned during this program year. They weren’t earned because a club officer somehow forced them to appear. They are earned by individual Toastmasters members persisting in presenting their communication and leadership projects. They are earned when we use our safe, supportive environments to offer constructive feedback and to applaud the growth we witness when club members apply that feedback and begin to achieve personal goals by completing curriculum levels and paths.
District 106 Toastmasters members have their “eyes on the prize!” Celebrate that in your clubs, areas, and divisions. I promise you we will celebrate that with gusto at our May 3rd and 4th District conference at Brooklyn Park, MN! Registration is open and there is an early bird option! Register today! Join in the celebration!
Edward Aylward, DTM
District Director, District 106
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From the Desk of the Program Quality Director
The Difference of One
In high school, I had a band teacher who was very supportive of me and my sister. She was kind, chaperoned several student activities, and came to our house for dinner. She became a friend and made such a difference in our school experience. I can’t imagine high school without her.
Toastmasters is the same way. There are members in every club who make a wonderful difference by showing up, filling roles, giving speeches, or supporting others. Be thinking about who you would like to nominate for Toastmaster of the Year in your club. The club nomination will be due June 1st. For more details, look on the District 106 website or CLICK HERE.
Ways to make a difference now:
- Vote for NEW CLUB OFFICERS & SUBMIT your new roster during the first week in May. Go to Club Central on the Toastmaster International website. You will earn a Distinguished Club Plan (DCP) point for being on-time.
Katy Hursh
Program Quality Director, District 106
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Save-The-Date
The Land O'Lakes Buttermasters are celebrating their 40th anniversary! Join us to reminisce and help chart the future for this storied club.
Register now!
Date: Wednesday April 17, 2024
Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Venue: Land O'Lakes Corporate HQ, Arden Hills, MN
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From the Desk of the Club Growth Director
March is here and it seems we are just around the corner of a new Toastmasters year!
But our work this year is not done. We are currently in the middle of a wonderful LinkedIn campaign with Toastmasters International. I receive a report weekly from TI, and I have followed up personally with clubs that receive a contact. I get notified every time a club gets searched. Now the question is, did we take advantage of these leads? Did we reach out immediately to bring them in as guests? Did we welcome them into our club? Finally, did we convert these guests into new members?
I notice that our new members are going up every week which is exciting. I just want to make sure we are taking advantage of our hot leads as they come in. This is a friendly reminder that when you receive an inquiry, please respond within 48 hours. If you are unable to, please have someone from your team do it. If you have any questions, let me know. Now is the time to make sure our web pages are updated, our social media is updated and populated, and we are taking pictures and sharing great things that happen at our clubs.
We have several low member clubs that are going to need some support in the next couple of months. If you are able, perhaps go as a guest, help them fill roles, and perhaps do a speech or two. This will go a long way in helping these clubs be successful.
Also, some suggestions might be to host a Speechcraft program or an open house. Remember, if you convert your guests to members, please let me know. I want to hear about it. We do have some incentives we can provide.
Every month I state this, but I am so proud to be in our district. We have so many great things happening. Did you hear about the re-imagining of the Tartan Club to a community club? Their main focus is to help the Next Generation Speakers to have a platform and develop their voice. This club meets the Second and Fourth Thursday from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Rondo Library in St. Paul or online.
Let me know if the Trio can assist in any capacity. We are here to support you. If your club is struggling or you find the meetings aren’t as high quality as you would like, please let us know. We are happy to help.
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From the Desk of the Public Relations Manager
Fellow Toastmasters and VP-PR’s!
Since we are getting close to the end of the current term, I hereby call upon fellow Toastmasters who are interested in serving District 106 for TM year 2024-2025 as Chief Web Editor, Newsletter Editor-in-Chief, or Social Media enthusiast to please reach out to me. My experience serving the District has been fun and rewarding - the experience you gain here is tremendous and it can be translated to your career growth.Trust me, this is a great opportunity! I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
PRM Team [Ashok, Margie, Jason]
Ashok Sunkavalli
2023-2024 District 106 Public Relations Manager
ashoksunkavalli@gmail.com
Cell: (319) 431-2415
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Follow us on D106 Website, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for exciting updates, inspiration, and more.
District 106 Social channel presence by the Numbers:
Facebook: 462 X (Formerly Twitter): 206 LinkedIn: 213 Instagram: 305 YouTube: 159 TikTok: 48
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From the Desk of the Club Growth Chair
Did you know that creating new clubs is part of every Toastmasters District's goals? However, the District needs you to assist with this goal. In return for serving as a new club mentor or sponsor, you get an important credit towards earning the Distinguished Toastmaster designation.
How does this work? First, contact me to say you are interested in serving as a new club mentor or sponsor at Yprevost123@gmail.com. I will add you to the list of candidates, and I will send you materials you will need to be successful. You should also be familiar with the Distinguished Club Program, the Club Success Plan, and Pathways. You will become the expert on helping the new club and its members to navigate Toastmasters programs work and ultimately succeed.
Second, I will have a chat with you to know what your goals are and how I can help you succeed at being a new club mentor or sponsor.
Third, when a call for help with demo meetings comes up, if you are available to attend to help, it would go a long way to assigning you to that club. Finding a new club to serve is not easy. By becoming part of the new club mentor/sponsor team, this obstacle is removed and you will be on your way to earning your DTM.
Fourth, you will serve as a new club mentor/sponsor for at least six months, attending at least 90% of their meetings. You do not need to become a club member. You will help them define their club protocol and to understand what is expected of a Toastmasters meeting. You will be their guru.
The process is easy, the rewards are great! If this sounds like something you want to immerse yourself in, please sign up now to help establish new clubs in D106. You will strengthen your knowledge of Toastmasters, and further develop your leadership and communication skills. What are you waiting for? This is your opportunity to shine.
Yves Prévost DTM
Club Growth Chair
Yprevost123@gmail.com
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From the Desk of the District Leadership Committee Chair
I'm excited to tell you about the awesome people who want to be our new leaders. We, the District Leadership committee, looked at their info and talked to them on Jan 17 & 18, 2024.
We're happy because all the candidates want to help the members of our districts and are ready to learn some advanced leadership skills.
Here are the candidates for 2024-25:
- Katy Hursh for District Director
- Matt Villella for Program Quality Director
- Anna Gaichas, Brian Perry, and Ashok Sunkavalli for Club Growth Director
- Lesley Harding for Division A Director
- Chengtao Wang for Division B Director
- Seth Baetzold for Division C Director
- Beth Plamondon for Division D Director
- Christa Walter for Division E Director
You'll get to know them better when they're introduced by Trio members in the Division Spring Contest. At the same time, you'll get some emails from contested positions like Club Growth Director.
Please join the Business Meeting on April 27, 2024. There will be a special part where candidates share their vision. After that, there will be an election. Make sure your Club President and VP of Education sign up and vote for the best candidate. You'll find the link on the D106 Calendar.
Yours in Toastmasters,
Gopu Shrestha, DTM
Chair, District Leadership Committee 2024-25
Toastmasters International District 106
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