District 106

Newsletter

April 2026

Serving Parts of Minnesota and Ontario

Upcoming District Events

It’s Not Too Late to Join Us at the District 106 Spring Conference!

There’s still time to grab your ticket for the District 106 Spring Conference, happening Saturday, May 2 at the Plymouth Community Center—and trust us, you won’t want to miss it. This year’s theme, Inspiring Our Future, brings together learning, connection, and celebration as we gather for one final conference as District 106. Whether you’re a seasoned Toastmaster or newer to the journey, you’ll leave feeling sharper, more confident, and ready for what’s next.

Keynotes You Won’t Forget

We’re excited to feature two standout keynote speakers:

KDWB Radio Host Dave Ryan sharing humor, authenticity, and real-world communication insights
Corporate Speaker Sarah Centrella inspiring bold action toward your future

Breakout Sessions That Deliver Real Value

Our breakout lineup is packed with practical, engaging sessions you can apply right away:

Jon Perry – Small, strategic adjustments to achieve greater results
Greg Scholz – Elevate engagement in hybrid meetings
Leo Smith – MADISON AVENUE: The Club Marketing Showdown
Mike Fotis – Build real public speaking confidence with fun, practical tools
Mindy Dykes – Living in the After – finding purpose and moving forward after pivotal moments

Don’t Miss Your Chance

From skill-building sessions to meaningful connections (and optional professional headshots), this conference delivers value at every turn.

👉 Learn more: https://d106tm.org/2026-annual-conference-in-plymouth-mn/

🎟️ Buy tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/district-106-conference

Join us in Inspiring Our Future—together.

See the D106 calendar for more events

Meet the Candidates – April 18

Join us Saturday, April 18, from 9:30–10:30 AM (online) for the District Candidate Showcase, followed by the District Business Meeting at 11:00 AM. Meet the candidates as they share their goals for the upcoming Toastmasters year.

This election is especially exciting as District 6 and District 106 merge into a new District 6, with candidates from both districts on the ballot. All members are welcome to attend. District Council members (Club Presidents and VPEs) will vote at the end of the business meeting.

We thank all nominees for their willingness to serve and support our Toastmasters community. 🎉

View candidate bios

From the Desk of the District Director

Finishing the year strong

We are officially in the homestretch of the year. I am hoping that this year has been rewarding and meaningful for you. We still have a few months left of the Toastmaster year. I know I have said this before, but we can have a lasting impact with our decisions and choices for the next couple of months. We can maybe reach our goal, help our club reach its goal or support someone else in their goal. We are all in this together, and let’s finish strong.

Some exciting things that are coming up and I would like to invite you to:

Speech Contests: We have our Division Contests coming up. Please check out the D106 website and come and cheer on the competitors. There are some outstanding speeches and speakers. You won’t regret it.
New District Business Meeting on April 18: Come and see what the new district will look like and who will lead.
D106 Business Meeting on April 29: Join us on zoom for some info about our Past year and have an opportunity to have some fun.
Celebration and Conference: Join us for both the celebration of District 106 and our conference in Plymouth. Amazing keynote speaker, opportunities to network with Toastmasters from around the district, have some amazing food and enjoy fellowship. Please sign up today. You won’t regret it.

If you would like me to visit your club virtually, please send me a request, I will do what I can to come say hi. Also, if you need anything from us, please reach out.

Let’s finish the year strong, help out a club that is a low member club or help mentor a new Toastmasters. Thank you for your service to District 106.

Humbled to be your District Director,

Matthew Villella, DTM

District 106 Director

Email: tm.matthew.villella@gmail.com

From the Desk of the Program Quality Director

Spring is an exciting time in District 106, filled with growth, connection, and opportunities to elevate your journey—and I’m thrilled to invite you to one of our biggest events of the year!

🌟 District 106 Spring Conference – May 2, 2026

Mark your calendars for our 1-Day Spring Conference happening at the Plymouth Community Center on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

This is more than just an event—it’s an experience designed to inspire, educate, and connect our members across the district.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

🎤 Speech Contests showcasing top talent in our district
🎯 Two dynamic keynote speakers
🤝 Unmatched networking opportunities
📸 FREE professional headshots
🎉 Fun activities and engaging sessions throughout the day

⚠️ Important Reminder:

Seats are limited, and registrations are filling up quickly. We also need to finalize our food count by the end of this week, so I strongly encourage you to secure your ticket as soon as possible.

👉 Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate Toastmasters excellence!

For any questions about the conference, please feel free to reach out to:

Myself
Christa Walter
Stacey Neske

We’re happy to help and look forward to seeing you there!

👏 2nd Term Club Officer Training – Congratulations!

I’m proud to share that our 2nd term Club Officer Training has been successfully completed!

A heartfelt kudos to all club officers who invested their time in strengthening their leadership skills. Your commitment directly impacts the success of your clubs and the growth of your members.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to:

Our QUAD leaders
Our dedicated training team

Your efforts, planning, and passion ensured we delivered high-quality training experiences across the district—thank you for going above and beyond!

📌 Action Item:

Please take a moment to review your training status on your dashboard. If you notice any missing credit, don’t hesitate to reach out to me so we can get it resolved promptly.

Let’s continue building momentum as we head into an exciting conference and a strong finish to the Toastmasters year. I look forward to seeing many of you on May 2nd!

Ashok Sunkavalli, DTM

Program Quality Director, District 106

Email: tm.ashoksunkavalli@gmail.com

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

From the Desk of the Club Growth Director

New Beginnings. Clear Goals. Stronger Clubs.

April is a season of new beginnings—a chance to reset, refocus, and move forward with purpose.

In Toastmasters, growth happens when we set clear goals, take small steps, and support each other along the way.

We are already seeing growth in action across our district:

The MN Road Scholars club at the Minnesota Department of Transportation has submitted their charter paperwork to become our next new club!
The Wright County Administrators demo meeting on March 25 had a great turnout. We’re looking to build on that momentum to help turn the interested observers into enthusiastic new members.
The True Crime club's monthly meeting, held on a special Thursday night, April 2, also saw strong participation. Meetings usually are at 6-7 p.m. Central on the first Friday of the month. Friday, May 1 is the D106 celebration night, so watch https://truecrimetoastmasters.com/ for the next meeting date.

Renewals: Getting Clubs Back to 8 Members

As we move forward this spring, many clubs are just 1–2 members short of the 8 needed to remain in good standing after renewals. This is your moment to refocus on a simple, powerful goal: Get to 8. Build from there.

If you haven’t already:

Please submit late dues as soon as possible.
Reach out to former members or recent guests who may be ready to return.

Growing Forward: Simple Actions, Real Results

Here are a few ways to build momentum:

Set a clear goal – 1 new member this month, 2 guests at your next meeting.
Invite with purpose – Focus on the value Toastmasters can offer .
Create a welcoming experience – Every guest should feel like they belong the moment they walk or Zoom in.
Follow up quickly – Thank guests for visiting within 24-48 hours and invite them back.

What’s Next Starts Now

This is a season of opportunity.

New club leads are always welcome – if you know a workplace, community, or group that could benefit, let’s explore it.
Want to help others grow? Consider stepping into a sponsor, mentor, or club coach role. Reach out to me to find out more.

Every new club, every new member, every goal achieved starts with one decision:

to begin.

Let’s make April a month of intentional growth, clear goals, and meaningful new beginnings.

I’m here to support you—reach out anytime with ideas, questions, or leads.

Let’s build what’s next—together.

Anna Gaichas, DTM

Program Quality Director, District 106

Email: Anna.Gaichas@gmail.com

Phone: 651-206-8310

From the Desk of the Public Relations Manager

One Simple Thing That Can Grow Your Club

If you’re a VPPR—or just someone helping your club stay visible—you’ve probably wondered:

What should we be posting?

Here’s a simple answer that works:

Just show what already happens at your meetings.

Most clubs promote Toastmasters with phrases like “build confidence” or “improve communication.” Those are true … but they’re hard to picture. What people respond to is something real.

A first-time guest speaking.

A strong evaluation.

A moment of laughter or encouragement.

That’s what makes someone think, “I could see myself there.”

So here’s something every club can try this week:

Capture one moment. Share one post. Invite one guest.