District 2 Events & News
Toastmasters Tuesdays: New Starburst Schedule
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Your Voice Shapes the Future and
Earns District Bucks
Toastmasters is a member-governed organization. Every club in good standing receives two votes at the Annual Business Meeting (ABM). These votes allow clubs to help choose the International Officers and Directors who guide our organization’s strategic direction. Decisions made at the ABM can directly affect your club, including changes to international dues, updates to the Pathways learning experience, and revisions to governing bylaws.
This year’s ABM will be held on Wednesday, August 19, at 12 p.m. (noon) Pacific Daylight Time (UTC -7). Voting will take place during the meeting through an electronic voting system and requires live attendance by all voting delegates.
Proxy Assignment Deadline: August 12 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (UTC -7)
The Club President or Club Secretary is responsible for assigning the club’s proxy to one designated proxyholder before the deadline. Because the meeting can last several hours, it may be difficult for a Club President or Secretary to attend the full session. In that case, the club may assign its proxy to:
- An active member from the club.
- The 2026-2027 District Director, Roberta Craig.
- Another active Toastmaster member from a different club.
Assign Your Proxy and Earn District Bucks
Because clubs have several proxy options, there is no default or automatic vote assignment. If a club does not designate a proxyholder by the August 12 deadline, its two votes will be lost.
This year, the District is offering clubs $10 in District Bucks for completing their proxy assignment by the August 12 deadline. District Director Roberta Craig issued this challenge at the July 2 Town Hall: “This year, we want 100% of our club votes to count.”
Visit Toastmasters.org / Events / Annual Business Meeting / 2026 ABM for more information about the Annual Business Meeting, Proxy FAQ, and International Candidates. You can also watch the Candidate Showcase before the ABM.
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District Leaders Needed
Toastmasters is the best place to gain hands-on managerial experience in:
- Team Building
- Goal Setting
- Project Mangement
- Problem-solving
- Networking among a global community
The District is looking for Area Directors for the following:
A11, A13, A14, A16
B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26
C31, C32, C35
D41, D43, D44, D45
F61
Submit your nomination to the District Director, Roberta Craig at d2tm.dd@gmail.com before July 31 for consideration.
Form 450C - District Leader Nominating Form
Form 450E - Candidate Application
Form 450D - District Leader Agreement and Release Statement
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Secure Your Savings: Renew Your Toastmasters Membership Early and Help Your Club Win!
As we look forward to another incredible year of growth, leadership, and public speaking excellence, we want to share an important update regarding our Toastmasters International membership dues.
Starting with the upcoming renewal cycle, standard international membership dues will increase to $72.00 per six-month period. However, Toastmasters International is offering an exclusive window for dedicated members to lock in the current rate and save!
Lock in Savings: Pay Early, Pay Less
You have a special opportunity to beat the price increase. If you renew your membership early, you can keep the current rate of $60.00 per renewal cycle for up to the next two cycles (one full year).
To take advantage of this rate, your payment must be processed by Toastmasters International World Headquarters (WHQ) before the hard deadline:
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Deadline: Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 10:59 PM AKDT / 11:59 PM PDT (Note: Toastmasters International WHQ operates on Mountain Time, making the deadline 12:59 AM MDT).
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The Deal: Pay $60.00 per cycle instead of $72.00, saving you up to $24.00 over the year!
Club Leaders: Earn District 2 Incentives!
Club officers, this is your time to rally your members! District 2 is offering a fantastic cash incentive for clubs that take swift action.
- 1-year Renewal Advantage Incentive ($20.00 Club Reward)
- Requirement: A minimum of 8 members pay their dues through September 2027 by the August 2, 2026, deadline (10:59 PM AK / 11:59 PM PST).
- The Payoff: Your club earns Briefly $20.00 in District credit to spend on club supplies, ribbons, or educational materials!
Securing these renewals early does more than just earn District credits—it sets the ultimate foundation for international recognition.
Every year from August 1 to September 30, Toastmasters International hosts the historic Smedley Award membership campaign. Named after our founder, Dr. Ralph Smedley, this program awards an elegant ribbon and a 10% discount on store orders to clubs that add five new, dual, or reinstated members during this window.
When your club proactively hits its 1-year Renewal Advantage goals by August 2, you establish a rock-solid, deeply committed member baseline. With existing members safely locked in and energized by their savings, your executive team can channel 100% of its focus into marketing open houses, converting guests, and capturing the Smedley Award. Early renewals show prospects of a stable, thriving environment, naturally boosting your recruitment power and fast-tracking your path to becoming a Distinguished Club.
Act Now to Support Your Growth
By organizing your dues early, individual members keep money in their pockets, and clubs secure extra funding to enhance their meeting experiences.
Reach out to your Club Treasurer or President today to submit your payment. Let's start the new Toastmasters year strong, supportive, and ahead of the curve!
Joanna L. Tavera
Program Quality Director
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TOWN HALL : Get 2gether
Time & Location
Aug 02, 2026,
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT | 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Alaska
Zoom
About the event
Online Town Hall Overview
Join us for an engaging online town hall as we outline our journey toward becoming a distinguished district ahead of our May conference in Anchorage, Alaska, where we will gather to discuss our goals and strategies.
Key Objectives
- Have Fun & Dream BIG - Bold Ideas for Growth
- Discuss key performance indicators for becoming a distinguished district.
- Provide ongoing training for district leaders to build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.
- Recognize clubs and members achievements as they Go BIG ahead of the District conference in Anchorage, Alaska May 15-16.
Event Details
Stay tuned for the date and time of the online town hall. Your participation is crucial as we collaborate to shape our future and storm the stage at the 2027 Toastmasters International Conference in Paris, France!
RSVP
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Designing Distinguished Clubs
Begins with a Plan
Architects Arise
Calling all club leaders,
From this day forward, please consider yourselves Architects! Architects who design your club’s future with intention and attention. Starting with one of the first and most important priorities is completing your Club Success Plan (CSP).
This isn't just another form to complete; it's your club's roadmap for achieving its goals, strengthening the member experience, and earning Distinguished recognition.
Because the Club Success Plan is time-sensitive and must be completed by September 30 at 9:59 pm AK/10:59 pm PT to be eligible to earn Distinguished status, we are hosting a series of Weekly Club Success Plan Workshops designed to guide club executive teams through the process.
Clubs can also earn the D2 “Great Start” Incentive by submitting their Club Success Plan by August 31.
Please attend an upcoming workshop, complete your plan with your executive team, and submit it by the appropriate deadline to position your club for success. Whether your club is starting from scratch or refining an existing plan, these interactive sessions will provide practical guidance, ideas, and opportunities to collaborate with fellow leaders. Together, we'll identify priorities, set meaningful goals, assign responsibilities, and develop strategies that support member growth
and club excellence.
Every club is unique, and every Club Success Plan should reflect the vision and aspirations of its members. My hope is that these workshops become more than planning sessions; they become opportunities to learn from one another, share best practices, and strengthen our community of leaders.
When we collaborate, people are inspired to grow, empowered to lead, and encouraged to share their talents for the benefit of all.
Roxanne Spring, DTM
Distinguished Club Chair
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New Policy - 2026 Club Officer Training
Toastmasters International has announced a new three-hour club officer training program. Attending one three-hour session satisfies the officer training requirements for the summer training period.
Alternative Training Options
The Program Quality Team has approved two alternative ways to meet this requirement:
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Traditional COT Sessions: Attending a traditional Club Officer Training (COT) session that covers your specific officer role objectives will fully satisfy the requirements for this round.
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Virtual Mix-and-Match Sessions: District 2 offers virtual, one-hour COT sessions focused on tools and resources club officers can use to enhance their role. You can mix and match any three of these one-hour sessions to fulfill the three-hour requirement.
While these virtual sessions are not designed for a specific officer role, some align closely with certain positions. You may attend the same topic multiple times, as each session is customized to the participants and covers foundational elements.
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| | COT VIRTUAL | TUESDAY, JULY 28TH
7:00 PM TO 8:00 PM | PREVENT SOCIAL MEDIA BURNOUT
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | TUESDAY, JULY 28TH
8:30 PM TO 9:00 PM | CANVA
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | TUESDAY, JULY 28TH
11:00 AM TO 12:00 PM | SOCIAL MEDIA
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH
11:00 AM TO 12:00 PM | FTH W/ V HARRIS
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH
2:00 PM TO 3:00 PM | PROSPECTIVE MEMBER MANAGEMENT W/ROXANNE
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH
8:30 AM TO 9:30 AM | ZOOM BEGINNERS W/DENNIS HAM
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH
10:00 AM TO 11:00 AM | ZOOM ADVANCED
W/DENNIS
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | THURSDAY, JULY 30TH
7:00 PM TO 8:15 PM | TRADITIONAL COT
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | FRIDAY, JULY 31ST
8:30 PM TO 10:00 PM | UNLOCK YOUR CLUB'S SECRET SAUCE
W/JOANNA
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST
1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM | ZOOM BEGINNERS W/DENNIS HAM
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST
2:30 PM TO 3:30 PM | ZOOM ADVANCED W/DENNIS HAM
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | SUNDAY, AUGUST 2ND
1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM | CANVA
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | MONDAY,AUGUST 3RD
7:30 PM TO 8:30 PM | EASY SPEAK
W/MARTY VARELA
REGISTER HERE | | | |
Unlock Your Potential
with Pathways Office Hours!
New Format!
New member onboarding plus bring your questions.
Join us for new member Pathways onboarding for the first 40 minutes, then any and all questions to fill out the hour. If you are new to Toastmasters, join us! If you just haven’t figured out Pathways yet, we will get you back on track. Have a burning Pathways question, see you there!
CLICK HERE
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WE WILL DREAM BIG IN 2026-2027
DISTRICT 2 MONTHLY NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
LAUNCHING ON JULY 31ST, 2026!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SPARKLING SYNERGISTS
REGISTER NOW!
| | Celebrating the People of District 2 Toastmasters | | |
Honoring Our Milestones: Happy Toastmasters Anniversary!
Every milestone matters on the journey to becoming a confident communicator and leader. This July, we are incredibly proud to celebrate the dedication, growth, and voices of our remarkable members marking their Toastmasters anniversaries.
From our newest members to those who have anchored our community for four decades, thank you for making our club a thriving place of learning.
🌟 40 Years of Excellence
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Katherine R. Pomeroy (Joined 7/1/1986)
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Ruth A. Vincent (Joined 7/1/1986)
💎 30 & 25 Years of Leadership
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Bobbie Moore – 30 Years (Joined 7/1/1996)
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Ed Plikaytis – 25 Years (Joined 7/1/2001)
✨ 15 & 10 Years of Commitment
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Adam J. Martin – 15 Years (Joined 7/1/2011)
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Joseph P. Carty – 15 Years (Joined 7/1/2011)
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Darcy D. Rubel – 10 Years (Joined 7/1/2016)
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Joel R. Carlson – 10 Years (Joined 7/1/2016)
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Tina M. Worthey – 10 Years (Joined 7/1/2016)
🌱 5 Years of Growth
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Elsa Cristina Rodriguez (Joined 7/1/2021)
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Radames Cruz Moreno (Joined 7/1/2021)
🎉 Celebrating 1 Year!
A huge shoutout to our incredible first-year milestone achievers who joined on 7/1/2025:
- Anderson Oliver Ader
- Carole Barrer
- KayCee Miller
- Lillian Steiner
- Manup Pavithran
- Payden Curry Waldo
- Peter Bomann
- Yuliya Manyakina
Thank you all for sharing your stories, conquering your fears, and lifting others up along the way. Happy Toastmasters Anniversary!
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VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 54
PRESENCE IN ACTION: AMIE BOURN
Amie Bourn is demonstrating what effective public relations looks like in action. As the 2026–2027 Vice President of Public Relations for Auburn Morning Toastmasters Club 329, one of her first projects was a complete refresh of the club’s online presence.
The redesigned website makes it easier for members and prospective guests to find meeting details, events, club news, member highlights, and helpful resources. Amie has also strengthened the club’s visibility across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This is a great example of how a fresh, consistent, and welcoming digital presence can help a Toastmasters club build credibility, celebrate its members, and attract new guests. Strong public relations is not simply posting—it is creating a clear and inviting path for people to discover your club.
Check out Auburn Morning Toastmasters website for inspiration: https://auburnmorning.toastmastersclubs.org/
Visual storytelling is just as important as choosing the right words—strong visuals capture attention, reinforce your message, and make it memorable.
Brava, Amie!
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE Update your club website and create one fresh Toastmasters-branded image or video. Make sure your meeting information is current, your visuals follow brand standards, and your content gives prospective guests a reason to visit.
Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca, DTM
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Distinguished Area Director, C35
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Eileen Thomas
Eileen is Distinguished Club Story Weavers President and a consummate leader! She has quietly propelled the administrative needs of the club as Secretary, VPM, and VPE.
During the tests of the Pandemic, she gently redirected us when we attempted to stray from our path, and was an everpresent champion of the smallest successes recognizing the import of celebration to maitain the connective features of a virtual club.
Usually, we don't celebrate a member's move to another state, but Eileen used her impending relocation to bring attention to our club during the contest season. Reaching the Division level with her speech about the move made memorable by too few choices and too many obstacles like wall color and closet count. Eileen was a paragon of optimism and steadfast production on behalf of our club.
I'm sure that we all have 'Eileens" in our clubs, but their behind the scenes, under the radar and in private momentum is incalculable in its value to our survival and thriving. We at Story weavers are so glad for the impact that Eileen has had and look forward to her leadership continuing to push us higher and making us stronger. Eileen is the wind beneath out club's wings!
Many thanks, Eileen!
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You don't need the whole path... just one next YES.
Speak Beyond the Club
You've built confidence, sharpened your communication skills, and discovered the power of your voice through Toastmasters. But what happens when you're ready to take your message beyond the club?
In this interactive workshop, you'll gain clarity on the topics you're uniquely qualified to speak about, identify what makes your perspective valuable, and explore how to transform your ideas into presentations that resonate with audiences outside Toastmasters.
Whether your goal is to become a professional speaker, expand your influence, or simply explore new opportunities to share your ideas, you'll leave with greater clarity, practical direction, and one concrete next step toward speaking beyond the club.
Participants Learn How To:
- Identify speaking topics that align with their experiences, expertise, and interests.
- Recognize audiences and organizations that could benefit from their message.
- Package, position, and ready themselves for opportunities beyond Toastmasters.
Save your seat for Speak Beyond the Club on Saturday, August 1st, 2026!
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Meet Two New Members and Hear Two Inspiring Speeches
Where Experienced Speakers Refine Their Edge
Whether you are a speech contestant, public or professional speaker, or someone looking to refine your craft, Professionally Speaking provides every speaker with 17 minutes of in-depth, topic-specific feedback designed to sharpen your skills and elevate your performance.
Our August 6 meeting features two new member introductory conversations and two speeches, each followed by four transformative evaluations.
You're invited to accelerate your growth, expand your reach, and achieve more with us.
Thursday, August 6, 2026
6:30–8:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time
Join us on Zoom or in person—details are available on our homepage: https://www.prospeakerclub.com
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Choose Your Adventure: Exploring the Many Paths to Distinguished Toastmaster
A workshop hosted by Advancing Alaska Toastmasters
Curious regarding Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) educational award requirements or looking for a DTM project? Join Advancing Alaska Toastmasters on August 31st, 6:30-8:00pm Alaska / 7:30-9:00pm Pacific.
Come learn about requirements from DTMs, ask questions, and leave with resources as well as your tailored plan towards DTM.
For Zoom link or more information reach out via the contact us link on
https://advancingalaska.toastmastersclubs.org/
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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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2026/2027 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:
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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 Karthika Pillai
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Register to receive the Starburst Newsletter
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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. | | | | |
