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8 days left. 8 payments. Club Success Plan. Easy as 1-2-3!
Let's make this a GR8T year!
Strong clubs build strong members—and it all starts with a solid foundation.
To set your club up for success this year, make sure you’ve submitted your Club Success Plan and have at least 8 member payments in by September 30th!
Congratulations to the following clubs -
Club Success Plans Submitted - Click here for list
Clubs with at least 8 member dues submitted - Click here for list
A heartfelt thank you to all of you for inspiring growth in your members every day—your efforts are shaping confident speakers and leaders.
District 2 Director, Anu Jokinen
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Club Success Plans Are The Roadmap to Distinguished
District 2 is Smedley Bound!
We have one week before the window of opportunity closes for timely submission of your Club's Success Plan. Visit this week's Distinguished Office Hour to answer questions and/or work on your Club's Success Plan!
Join on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 , for the next Distinguished Office Hour
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM Pacific Time, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Alaska Time
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Unlock Your Potential At A Pathways Office Hour!
Bring Your Questions!
Curious about Pathways or need guidance on your Toastmasters journey? We’re here to help!
Pathways offers an innovative, interactive learning experience designed to boost your communication and leadership skills while fostering personal and professional growth within a fun, supportive community.
Hosted by: Karen Lezon
This session is the perfect opportunity to ask questions, gain valuable insights,
and enhance your Toastmasters experience, whether you’re new to Pathways or
seeking targeted advice.
Visit the District 2 Event Calendar for Pathways Office Hours in October, November, and December.
For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to Karen Lezon
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Would you like to help your Club grow, be more productive, and improve your Members engagement?
One of the tools that Toastmasters offers is the Moments of Truth (MoT) process.
The process is designed to help Clubs take an introspective look at how they work, how they believe they are perceived, and what they could do to improve.
To start a MoT process for your Club, please have a Club Officer send an email with your Club name, Club number, and contact name and email to the MoT Chair, Richard Ripley (Richard.Ripley@comcast.net).
Please use a subject line of “MoT process request, club name and number”
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Joining the Smedley Challenge
The Smedley Award program runs from August 1 to September 30. Toastmasters International provides details on eligibility and how to participate. To qualify, clubs need to add five new, dual, or reinstated members with a join date within the specified period. The addition of transfer and charter members does not count towards Smedley Award credit. Applications and payments for new members must be received by Toastmasters International or submitted online no later than September 30.
How to grow your club and earn the award?
- Host an open house
- Leverage social media
- Engage with potential members
By actively participating in the Smedley Award challenge, clubs can boost their membership, strengthen their programs, and earn well-deserved recognition for their achievements. This fosters a thriving and supportive environment that benefits all members.
Our District Club Growth Director, Joanna Tavera is ready to help you get started!
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Your Voice Matters
Let’s Shape District 2 2Gether!
What’s on your mind? What fuels your growth? What do you want more of in your Toastmasters journey?
Every week, we share one short survey to help us get to know you better — your goals, your challenges, your ideas. It’s our way of listening so we can build stronger clubs, better opportunities, and an experience that truly fits what you need.
Your feedback isn’t just data — it’s a spark for positive change. Take a minute this week to share your thoughts and help us keep Toastmasters member-focused and future-ready.
One survey. One minute. One stronger community.
Take the Survey of the Week!
We’ll be featuring a different survey each week and sharing the link on the District website. Your voice helps us grow together, one response at a time.
Please reach out to Roberta Craig, PQD, if you have any questions.
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VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 10
The Secret Superpower You Already Have (But Forget to Use!)
✨What’s the ONE thing that makes you instantly magnetic?✨
💰It’s not money.
🤩It’s not status.
🤔It’s not what you think.
This simple action boosts your mood, lowers stress, and makes people want to connect with you in seconds.
Curious?
🎥 CLICK HERE to watch the video.
Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35
Got questions or a topic you would love covered?
Email me at: k@kellyafallucca.com
Subject: Starburst Request
I would love to hear from you!
Let’s create the kind of presence that draws people
in and grows our clubs.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters Website
Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters YouTube Channel
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🌿 Monday Writing Minute with Amanda
How to Start a Journal Practice: A Gentle Guide to Reconnecting with Your Voice
In the whirlwind of meetings, deadlines, and daily demands, it’s easy to lose touch with your inner voice. Journaling offers a quiet space to listen, reflect, and realign. Whether you're a Toastmaster refining your message or a creative soul seeking clarity, this practice can be a powerful companion.
Why Journal?
- To hear yourself think
- To process emotions safely
- To explore ideas before sharing them
Journaling isn’t about being eloquent—it’s about being honest. It’s a space where your thoughts can land without judgment, and your story can unfold without interruption.
Getting Started
- Choose a notebook or digital space that feels inviting
- Set a time—5 minutes is enough
- Begin with a prompt or a feeling
Start small. Let your journal be a place of curiosity, not performance.
Prompts to Try
- “Today I feel…”
- “What I wish I could say is…”
- “One thing I’m proud of…”
- “If I could speak freely, I’d say…”
These prompts are invitations—not obligations. Use them as springboards into your own truth.
Tips for Consistency
- Keep it simple: no rules, no judgment
- Write at the same time each day or week
- Use visuals, doodles, or lists if words feel hard
Consistency builds trust with yourself. Even a few lines can shift your perspective.
Final Thought
Your journal is a mirror, not a performance. Let it reflect your truth, gently and without expectation.
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Debra Hartmann
Word Weavers Toastmasters, Club and their volunteer extraordinaire, Debra Hartmann, have been District 2's connection to an annual tabling event at the Puyallup Fair for the last five years.
Hundreds of Fair goers have been able to learn about Toastmasters and what it does for its members.
Using communication and leadership, Debra, and the volunteers that she coordinated, modeled the optimism and possibilities that our great organization realizes every day. Help me applaud Debra for her tenacity and temerity!
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PANEL DISCUSSION - ONLINE ZOOM MEETING
THE MEANING OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th
, 2025
Have you wondered how ethics should apply to your leadership? Make plans to join Advancing Alaska Toastmasters panel discussion on
Monday, 09/29/2025, 6:30 – 8:00 pm AK / 7:30 – 9:00 pm PT.
Three leaders from different backgrounds will discuss the role of ethics in their leadership.
Panelists include past International Director Mary Morrison, DTM; Business Owner Dawn Nelson; and Dr. Tom Nighswander, MD, MPH, teacher & leader in medicine.
All Toastmasters, interested friends and associates are
welcome.
Contact Karen Robinette or Sherrie Simmonds for more information and to request the Zoom link.
Join us to expand & develop your understanding of leadership.
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NATIONAL TUNE-UP DAY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 2025
7:30 PM TO 9:00 PM PDT
THE IMPROMPTUS NW
Bringing you an off-the-cuff experience that cannot be predicted, but is guaranteed to be fun! Who knew that tune-ups could offer challenge and victory all at once. Come curious and leave confident!
Please, join us on Zoom on Thursday, September 25th, at 7:30 PM PDT Time/6:30 PM AKT. Doors open at 7:15 PM PDT/6:15 PM AKT
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Sparkling Synergists Summon You!
Our First Meeting in South King County
We are building our brand new club. Would you like to see a Toastmasters experience as it's evolving?
Join Sparkling Synergists Toastmasters for an afternoon of connection, creativity, and communication. We are taking our club on the road and bringing our meetings to the neighborhoods of our members when they host..
We're meeting Sunday, September 28th, 2025, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Pacific (UTC -7)/ 2:00 p.m. Alaska (UTC -6), in person at IHOP, 610 Rainier Ave S, Renton, WA, 98057 and on Zoom.
Contact VP Membership Linda Vorthman, DTM with questions and for the password.
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Palmer Toastmasters Celebrates Our 15th Club Anniversary!
Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Palmer Toastmasters is located in the small, rural, historic community of Palmer, Alaska. We are a club of ROCK stars, & will soon celebrate our 15th anniversary!
We are rural--the nearest TM club to the south is 38 miles away, or 330 miles to the north.
Our youngest and one of our newest members is planning a special celebration, and we invite you to join us as we celebrate this milestone and create new milestone memories!
Join us in person or via Zoom, Thursday, September 25th, 5:30 PM AK Time/6:30 PM Pacific time. Our website provides the address/Zoom link.
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Toastmasters Extraordinaires Invites You!
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Our Advanced Club is activating our members and friends to help orient you to this wonderful thing we call Toastmasters.
Have you recently joined Toastmasters? Have you found yourself asking the question "What Does That Mean?" in the Toastmasters context. Have you encountered a time when you thought "I wish that I had known that sooner"? Have you wondered what exists outside of your club?
If this sounds like you, our hybrid training is for you!
Join us in person at the Lynnwood Library at 19200 44th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA, 98036 or via Zoom, Saturday, October 4th, at 10:30 AM PDT Time/9:30 AM AKT. Doors open at 10:00 AM PDT/9:00 AM AKT
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Is your club holding a special event? Celebrating a milestone? Or want people to know of a significant upcoming meeting they should join? Want to include your post here for next week's newsletter?
Fill out this form to submit your post request
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2025/2026 Starburst Submission Guidelines
We're excited to share our guidelines for submitting articles to Starburst, our official District 2 newsletter. Your club's special activities deserve the spotlight, and we're here to help you shine!
Guidelines for Article Submissions:
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Topic: Focus on club special events.
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Word Limit: Try to limit posts to 200 words or less.
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Images: You may include one image with your article. Ensure it follows the Toastmasters Brand Manual (You may have to login to the Toastmasters main Site to access) and contains minimal text. We're happy to help create one if needed. If the image doesn't meet TM guidelines, we'll work with you or recreate it if we don't hear back.
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Contact Information: All articles must include your club website and/or a contact email for more information.
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Event Posts: Submit up to three consecutive posts for a single event.
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Deadline to Submit: 5:00 PM on the Friday before the upcoming Monday Starburst release.
Submission Process:
- Use the submission form to send us your article requests.
- We look forward to showcasing your amazing events in Starburst!
If you have any questions or need more clarity, feel free to reach out to Marty Varela
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Starburst Suggestion Box
Have a Starburst suggestion? Please check out our Starburst Suggestion Box (only 5 questions), to help us improve the Starburst Newsletter!
| | How did you like this week's Starburst? | | | | This newsletter was edited by - Marty Varela, Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is for the sole use of Toastmasters members for Toastmasters business only. It is not to be used for solicitation and distribution of non-Toastmasters materials or information. | | | | |
