District 106

Newsletter

September 2024

Serving Parts of Minnesota and Ontario

Upcoming District Events

September 24, 2024

Leveraging the Branding Mini-Workshop

Virtual (Zoom)

May 2-3, 2025

District 106 Spring Conference

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Learn more about the 2025 Spring Conference

Renew Your Toastmasters Membership: Transform Your Future!

Membership renewals are due by September 30th to keep your club in good standing. Clubs with fewer than 8 members cannot compete in speech contests or vote at the District Council meeting.

Renew your membership dues for the next six months (October through March) for $60.

How to Renew Your Toastmasters Membership

Pay using the Self-Pay option on your member profile on www.toastmasters.org

Log in to your account.
Scroll down to “How to Renew" and select “Renew Membership.”
Follow the prompts to pay using a debit or credit card.

Join us on the path to personal growth—renew today and keep transforming your future!

Renew your membership today!

Current Club Growth Promotions

Smedley Award

(August-September 2024)

Add 5 new, dual, or reinstated members between August 1 and September 30 to earn the Smedley Award for your club!

You will also be presented with a ribbon for your club banner.

From the Desk of the District Director

Club meetings are warming up! Many people aspire to become more effective communicators. New members and guests are eager to learn how Toastmasters can help them be more effective communicators at work and school.

This fall, invite your friends and family to visit your Toastmasters club. Share your story at a Toastmasters meeting to help us all become better listeners, evaluators, and presenters.

Smedley Award - Last Chance!

If 5 guests become new members of your club between August 1st and September 30th, your club will earn the Smedley Award!

District Council Meeting on September 28th

Plan to (virtually) attend the District Council Meeting on Saturday September 28th at 9am. We will vote on the District budget and appointed District Officers. Come learn how District 106 is doing and who the new appointed district leadership team is for 2024-25.

Are you a Club President or Vice President-Education? We need you at the District Council Meeting to vote and help us achieve a quorum.

Katy Hursh, DTM

District Director, District 106

Email: tm.katy.hursh@gmail.com

From the Desk of the Program Quality Director

Fellow Toastmasters,

We have had a remarkable start to this year! Nearly 70% of our club officers were trained this round. And, more than 75% of clubs trained at least 4 club officers.

Congratulations to the following 10 clubs for training all 7 club officers!

FOCUS Toastmasters
North Star Evaluators
Minnesota Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Toastmasters Club
White Bear Toastmasters
PowerTalk Toastmasters
Tri-Dynamics
TicTalkers Toastmasters Club
Free Speech Club
Colleen Morse Golden Rule Toastmasters
Contest Mastery

Speech Contests are Coming!

We are entering speech contest season, and this year we are excited to introduce the brand-new "online" category. This speech contest is a virtual 5-to-7-minute speech. It can be any type of speech. Please reach out to me with any questions.

Toolbox Learning Opportunities and DTM Support

There are more toolbox learning opportunities coming! Please reach out if you would like to host one OR if you have an idea on what I can present. I plan to continue offering training throughout the year.

If you are looking for a road to DTM, please email me and I am happy to make an appointment to help you achieve your goal.

Keep up the good work, Toastmasters and remember to Dare to be Distinguished. Together, we can do this!

Matthew Villella, DTM

Program Quality Director, District 106

Email: tm.matthew.villella@gmail.com

From the Desk of the Club Growth Director

Dear Toastmasters of District 106,

I hope this message finds you well and thriving in your Toastmasters journey!

As we step into September, I’d like to celebrate a few key highlights and share some upcoming opportunities for our district.

Congratulations to New Members

First and foremost, a huge congratulations to all the brand-new members who joined in

July and August 2024! We are thrilled to have you in the District 106 family. As a token of our appreciation, please check your email for a special digital e-card from

Starbucks—enjoy a free coffee to kickstart your Toastmasters journey!

Membership Renewal Time

With September underway, it’s that time again—membership renewals! I encourage all members to renew your dues by September 30 to keep your membership active and in good standing. Let’s continue to learn, grow, and support each other through our Toastmasters journeys!

Calling Future DTMs – Serve as a Club Coach

Are you on the path to earning your Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation? Serving as a Club Coach is an excellent opportunity to complete your DTM

requirements while helping a club thrive. The deadline is approaching soon, so don’t

delay! Send your interest to our Club Coach Advisor, Daniel Grundtner.

Have a New Club Lead? Be a Club Sponsor!

If you have a potential lead for a new Toastmasters club or would like to sponsor a new club, let us know! Exciting incentives await those who help expand our district. Please reach out to Club Extension Chair, Jon Perry with your ideas and leads.

Meet the Club Growth Team

Please join me in welcoming and extending your best wishes to my Club Growth Team:

Club Extension Chair: Jon Perry
Club Retention Chair: Anna Gaichas
Club Coach Advisor: Daniel Grundtner
Club Quality Chair: Yves Prévost

Together, we are committed to supporting the growth and strength of District 106.

Wishing you all a wonderful and productive month ahead.

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

Hello District 106 Toastmasters!

As we dive into this exciting new Toastmasters year, I want to take a moment to encourage all Vice Presidents of Public Relations to promote your clubs by hosting an Open House! It's an amazing way to introduce new people to Toastmasters, grow your membership base, and showcase what makes your club special.

Here’s how you can get started:

Pick a date for your Open House and let our Webmaster know, so we can feature it on the District 106 Calendar.
Create a fun post about your event, and we'll share it on the District 106 Facebook page to get the word out even further! This is your time to shine, and we’re here to help you spread the word. If you have any questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s make this Toastmasters year one for the record books!

Open House Flyer Examples

I’m so excited to see the creative ways you’ll promote your clubs and connect with our community this Toastmasters Centennial Year! As we celebrate our 100-year milestone, it’s the perfect time to raise awareness of what Toastmasters can offer.

Mini-Workshop Alert: Leveraging the Brand - September 24th, 6 to 7 PM

We’re thrilled to announce a special mini-workshop just for you!

Click Here to Register for Leveraging the Brand Mini-Workshop

Leveraging the Brand

September 24th, 6 PM to 7 PM via Zoom

We’ll cover:

Where to find official Toastmasters-branded materials and centennial celebration resources.
How to use these tools to promote your club like a pro.
Q&A session for any branding questions you have!

This is your chance to level up your PR skills and make your club stand out, while ensuring

you’re following Toastmasters branding guidelines. Don’t miss it!

Keep an eye out for a special recognition meeting in October to commemorate the centennial. This will be a fantastic opportunity to highlight your club's achievements and contributions to this historic celebration!

Together, we’re going to make this year extraordinary for District 106! If you need help or have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Cheers,

Leo Smith, DTM

District 106 Public Relations Manager

Email: leo.w.smith@gmail.com

Phone: 651-600-0531

From the Desk of the New Club Chair

We are still looking for Club Mentors and Sponsors to help our new clubs get started.

Have you been thinking, "Should I get my Distinguished Toastmaster designation this year?"

Great news! District 106 can help you earn your DTM.

How do I earn my DTM?

To earn your Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award, there are five key activities you'll need to complete. Among these, two can be particularly challenging:

Sponsoring a new club
Mentoring a new club

The most challenging part often lies in finding or creating the right opportunities for these activities. That's where the district can help you!

Where do the new clubs come from?

What does the District expect from club sponsors and mentors?

First, you need to commit to 90% attendance at new club meetings during the first six months.You also need to be knowledgeable in a few areas to be an effective sponsor or mentor. You should be familiar with:

Distinguished Club Program: This is based on the Successful Club Plan, the foundation of a strong club.
Pathways: Able to guide the new club on how the communication & leadership program is organized & used.

What are some other benefits of becoming a club sponsor or mentor?

All of your previous training in communication & leadership can be put to good use! You'll build on your existing skills and learn what goes into creating a new club. You will be viewed as a guru by the new club members. Plus, you will make strong new contacts and even friendships!

How will the District help me as a new club sponsor or mentor?

There will be an orientation Zoom meeting to answer questions you may have. We are here to help you succeed as a new club sponsor or mentor!

At the end of it all, you will have checked off two of the most difficult activities required in earning your DTM. It takes some work and commitment, but in the end you will have accomplished something many have not.

I'm ready to be a club sponsor or mentor, what do I do next?

If this sounds like something you are ready to take on, join the new club sponsor and mentor team and we will help you become a DTM.

Send me an email to let me know you want to be a club sponsor or mentor.

Yves Prévost, DTM

New Club Chair, D106

Email: yprevost123@gmail.com