District 2 Excellence: Celebrating Angela Ritchey! | | |
District 2 Toastmasters are thrilled to extend our warmest congratulations to our very own Angela Ritchey for being awarded the prestigious Toastmasters Presidential Citation Award!
To put the magnitude of this achievement into perspective, this honor is intensely selective: out of more than 270,000 members spanning over 14,000 clubs worldwide, only about 15 individuals are selected globally each year by the International President. This means recipients represent roughly the top 0.005% of Toastmasters worldwide, making it one of the rarest and highest forms of recognition for exemplary service and dedication in the organization.
Shining a Light on the Great Pacific Northwest Angela’s unwavering dedication serves as a powerful reminder of the leadership talent thriving in our neck of the woods. Angela takes on officer roles, to training and facilitation, to chairing alignments and elegantly representing the unique needs of Alaska and District 2. Bridging the vast landscapes of Alaska across the waters of District 2 and throughout Region 1, our communities are built on a foundation of mutual support, bold storytelling, and structural excellence. Angela personifies just such foundational capacities.
Angela, thank you for your incredible commitment and for putting a brilliant spotlight on Alaska, District 2, and the greater Pacific Northwest Region. Your leadership inspires us all to reach higher, speak bolder, and serve our communities with distinction.
Please join us in celebrating Angela’s historic achievement! Drop her a note of congratulations, or give her a well-deserved shout-out at your next club meeting.
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It’s time to announce our newest 'Leader in the Wild.' This recognition is all about spotting those members who are out in the field, taking bold action, and showing us what leadership looks like in the real world.
Today, I am thrilled to announce Ed Hagstrom as our next recipient!
“I realized that the most important thing in life isn’t about what I get out of it, but what I give. My focus is on what I can help others achieve, and what our club earns together.” - Ed
When Ed started his Toastmasters journey in 2002 at AT&T Wireless, his goals were entirely personal. As an hourly employee, he spent a year just trying to get into a management-only club, even trading his comfortable day shift for a 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM night shift for an entire year just to attend.
That sacrifice lit a spark, but his move to Costco turned it into a fire. In 2015, Ed turned a long corporate commute roadblock into a massive opportunity by founding Costco Techmasters.
While he originally joined to boost his resume, Ed never expected to find a family. Years later, when his six-year-old son was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, his Techmasters family rallied around him, organizing fundraisers, visiting the hospital, and serving as his absolute bedrock.
Driven by this deep culture of support, Costco Techmasters has dominated over the past decade. The club has achieved President’s and Select Distinguished status multiple times, culminating in Smedley Distinguished honors this year.
More importantly, Ed’s "give-back" philosophy has turned Techmasters into an executive incubator, successfully helping at least six peers upskill into IT Managers and three advance to Directors.
From flipping his work schedule for personal ambition in 2002, to building a thriving powerhouse that elevates everyone around him, Ed proves that true leadership is measured by the success we build together.
Congratulations on being our newest Leader in the Wild, Ed!
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Deadline for Concur Requests is June 10th
All reimbursement requests are due 9pm, June 10th. This includes requests for D2 Dollars (Incentives) and reimbursement for travel or contest expenses, If you don’t have them in yet, now is the time!
In order to request reimbursement, enter a Concur report. If you don’t already have a Concur account, request one by following the Concur Guidelines and please plan accordingly; getting an account can take several days and there are no exceptions to the deadline because of the lack of an account.
D2 Dollars Information:
Your club can request reimbursement for expenses up to the amount that it has earned incentives. For instructions on seeing your incentives balance, go here. For instructions on entering reports into Concur, go here.
The title of the report must be: D2 Incentive [Club Name}.
If you have any questions, please contact me. Caryn Axelrad, D2 Finance Manager
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More Conference Highlights Coming! | |
Roberta's Reflections
As the Program Quality Director, Roberta Craig is reviewing the past program year. There are many highlights including training, member development, and last month's conference. As the District Director-Elect, she has set a bold vision for the 2026-2027 Program Year. She wants to GO BIG! Looking back to propel us in the future, she shares a little of her vision below. It all starts with planting seeds and nurturing their growth.
"This weekend I finally got around to planting the vegetable seedlings I started back in May. Honestly, if half survive to produce a harvest, I will be pleasantly surprised. While bracing the tender sting bean shoots from the blustery Westside winds, I thought of the new members that have joined Toastmasters this past year.
Transplanting vegetable starters and welcoming new members in a Toastmasters club share several similarities, both processes requiring care, attention, and specific techniques to ensure successful growth and integration. Consider these similarities:
1. Preparation: Just as vegetable starters require proper soil preparation, adequate light, and water before transplanting, new members need a welcoming environment, orientation, and resources to feel comfortable and informed.
2. Timing: Transplanting is best done at the right time to ensure the plants can adapt to their new environment. Similarly, integrating new members effectively depends on timing—introducing them during a supportive meeting or event can enhance their experience.
3. Nurturing: Both processes involve nurturing. Vegetable starters need consistent watering and care to thrive after being transplanted. New members benefit from mentorship, encouragement, and constructive feedback to grow their skills and confidence.
4. Gradual Transition: When transplanting, it’s often helpful to gradually acclimate plants to their new environment. New members may also need time to adjust, learning the club’s culture and procedures at their own pace.
5. Community Support: In gardening, surrounding plants provide a micro-ecosystem that supports growth. In a Toastmasters club, a supportive community fosters connection, helping new members feel valued and engaged.
6. Monitoring Progress: Gardeners regularly check on their plants to identify any issues early on. Toastmasters leaders and members should also monitor the progress of new members, ensuring they are feeling included and addressing any challenges they may face.
In essence, transplanting vegetable starters and integrating new members into a Toastmasters club require thoughtful planning, nurturing, and community support to ensure successful growth and development. As we transition from one Toastmaster year to the next, consider the seeds you have planted, and what your club can to do to prepare your club to support new and existing members. Incorporating these measures into your Club Success Plan expands your members capacity for boundless, inspirational growth. "
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Unlock Your Potential with Pathways Office Hours!
Get your questions answered!
Curious about Pathways or need guidance on your Toastmasters journey? We’re here to help! Wondering what the new Vintage Paths and the Path Enhancements mean for you or your club? Come on by!
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.
Join us for the next Pathways Office Hour:
•Date: Wednesday, June 10th
•Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM Pacific Time, 5:00 – 6:00 PM Alaska
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.
Don’t miss your chance for personalized support—register now!
Visit the District 2 Event Calendar for Pathways Office hours in July.
For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to Karen Lezon at kmlezon@comcast.net
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✨Sparkling Synergists Shined Bright at the D2 Stronger Together Conference! ✨
Congratulations!!!
🏆 Toastmaster of the Year: Marty Varela
🎤 Second Place, International Speech Contest: Katie Watson
🎓 New Distinguished Toastmasters: Rekha Nair and Marty Varela
⭐ Division Director of the Year: Lisa Chen
🌟 Gold Star — Starburst Contributor: Kelly Fallucca
🌟Gold Star — Member Engagement: Shakil Basha Pogaku
Every award may recognize one person, but no accomplishment is truly a solo prize.
Each achievement is strengthened by the mentors, evaluators, encouragers, fellow members, and friends who share ideas, offer feedback, and cheer one another forward.
That is the power of a club community.
Congratulations to each of our honorees—and to everyone who helped them rise.
We are proud to celebrate the talent, leadership, and heart within Sparkling
Synergist! 🎉
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PRISON CLUBS PROVIDE UNIQUE VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY
Toastmasters provides learning, speaking and leading opportunities in communities and businesses around the world. Did you know that we even have clubs in prisons in District 2? These four corrections centers have Toastmasters Clubs: Twin Rivers, Monroe, WA; Two Rivers, Umatilla, OR; Coyote Ridge, Connell, WA; and Airway Heights, WA. These clubs are open to visitors upon advance request, an application process and a background check. Outside volunteers (or sponsors) are needed to enable the clubs to meet in person.
Recently, I attended The Insiders Club's 19th anniversary at the Airway Heights Corrections Center. At this special event, over 40 inmates attended. What a celebration it was! All the inmates made me feel very welcome and many introduced themselves to me. It was an ethnically diverse group of individuals. There were openings for volunteers and I applied and completed the necessary paperwork. Currently, three Toastmasters Clubs meet all together at Airways Heights from 12:15 – 2:15 p.m. every Saturday: Insiders, Verbal Architects, and Veritas Warriors. The clubs meet in formal Toastmasters fashion and all the inmates in attendance who had roles were professional, organized and respectful. Table Topics, Speeches, Evaluations, Timer, Grammarian, Ah Counter. They try to give as many opportunities for inmates to participate and thus had five formal speeches. The Table Topics Master even asked the corrections officers in attendance if they wanted to speak! The Area Director is also an inmate. The clubs at Airway Heights also have a speech contest once a month as none of the inmates can participate in contests outside the prison. Data show that inmates who attend a professional organization like Toastmasters while incarcerated have lower recidivism rates once released.
Several inmates asked me publicly and privately on numerous occasions to be a “sponsor.” At Airways Heights, the clubs can meet only if an outside volunteer or sponsor is attending. With one volunteer or sponsor, 20 inmates can meet. With two, 30 can meet. The clubs are grateful to the three current sponsors: Viki Leuba, DTM; Pam Beasley, DTM and Nancy Shatto, DTM. But as they meet every Saturday, they are looking for more volunteers or sponsors to spread the load with the current sponsors. Viki, Pam and Nancy are truly dedicated but they can’t attend every meeting. Sometimes only one can attend and thus that severely limits the inmate participation.
As volunteers, you do not join the clubs as members, you don’t have regular meeting roles, you are not officers. You attend in person and offer to speak or take a role upon request. This does not add significantly to your other Toastmasters activities. I was very impressed with the professionalism and flow of the meeting and even though I live 1 hr 40 minutes away, I signed up to be a volunteer and will try to attend once a month to assist the sponsors. I am looking forward to this opportunity to show support, engage with a community separated from the outside, and be a communication link to the outside.
Will you please consider this, too, whether you belong to one or several clubs? Find the point of contact for the prison clubs nearest to you and request to attend one meeting first. It may take time, some paperwork, but it’s well worth it. Be a prison club volunteer today!
David Core, DTM
VP Membership
Frank E. Balmer Toastmasters Club #95
Pullman, Washington
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VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 47
LEADERSHIP PRESENCE: Do Not Be a Dread Dumper
Toastmasters teaches us how to speak with intention. Leadership presence requires us to communicate challenges with intention as well.
When a meeting goes sideways, membership numbers dip, volunteers are stretched thin, or an event suddenly develops ten new problems, it is tempting to march into the room carrying a giant emotional trash bag and dump every worry onto the nearest available Toastmaster.
I have done it too.
Overwhelm can make every issue feel urgent, enormous, and personally assigned to ruin your day.
Leadership presence is not pretending everything is perfect. It is learning how to pause, sort the pile, and lead the next move.
Before you broadcast the panic:
- Take a breath.
- Separate the real issue from the dramatic storyline.
- Identify the one action that will move the needle first.
- Ask for support with clarity, not chaos.
- Bring a proposed next step—not just a bag of dread.
Your fellow Toastmasters do not expect you to arrive with
every answer.
They need you to bring steadiness, perspective, and a
path forward.
CTA: This week, whether you are leading a club meeting, planning an event, or supporting your officer team, pause before you unload. Carry the solution forward—not the dread.
Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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A Culture of Listening
By Vincent Tang
Have you ever been in a meeting where the Ah-Counter reports, "There were no ahs caught whatsoever"? While that's certainly possible, it often doesn't accurately reflect the state of the meeting. I know I've heard more than a few stumbles during meetings, and a lack of count could mean the Ah-Counter genuinely didn't hear them or wasn't fully diligent in the role.
I've noticed that active listening can be difficult in an age where multitasking is easier than ever, yet I believe it is absolutely necessary. Unlike some work meetings, where we may be pulled into large group discussions that don't always align with our responsibilities, Toastmasters meetings require our attention and participation. It's easy to zone out or begin working on other tasks, especially in a virtual environment.
Active listening is a sign of respect. It's something we should show not only to speakers who are polished and immediately capture our attention, but also to those who are still finding their style or delivering their very first speech.
Imagine giving your Ice Breaker and noticing someone constantly switching to another tab or checking messages on their phone. It can be discouraging, right? As speakers, we often ask others to listen to us with patience and attention while we develop our communication skills. In return, we should strive to offer that same attention to others.
One of the dangers I worry about if this behavior continues is that:
- As a role holder, you may not be able to provide accurate feedback to your fellow Toastmasters.
- You may develop a subtle belief that if you're not listening, others probably aren't listening to you either.
- You may create a habit of zoning out or multitasking whenever someone shares a story.
It's a practice that can easily be lost. Truly paying attention to a speaker in a Zoom meeting doesn't mean staring into the camera. It can mean observing their gestures, listening carefully to their words, and being fully present in the moment.
Now, this isn't to say that we'll remember every message or catch every "ah." Rather, it means approaching each speech ready to give it our full attention. Not only does this show respect for the speaker, but it also helps create a culture where attentiveness is the norm–where we consciously choose to pay attention because what is being shared matters.
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Leaders in Action Panel Discussion
Real Leaders, Real Stories, Real Impact
Hosted by Forever Improving Toastmasters
Join us on our 17th Anniversary for an inspiring evening of leadership insight, communication growth, and engaging discussion at Bellevue City Hall (& Zoom) on June 11th from 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
This special event will feature a Leadership Panel of six experienced members sharing real-world lessons, leadership strategies, personal growth experiences, and communication techniques that have helped them succeed.
Whether you’re an experienced leader, an aspiring speaker, or simply looking to grow professionally and personally, this event is designed to inspire and motivate.
Guests are welcome! Come learn, connect, and grow with us.
Contact Corina Stretch for more details. 206-331-1224 / corina.stretch.d2tm@gmail.com
Bellevue City Hall – 450 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
Join Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 791 754 900 Passcode: 903443
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IMPROMPTUS NORTHWEST
Are you curious about how we can have a meeting without pre-assigned roles?
Do you have occcasion to speak without oreparation for more than two minutes?
Caught yourself admiring someone who seems to be able to seamlessly respond to unpredictable questions on a moments notice?
If these scenarios are familiar, Impromptus NW has something for you!
Join us to discover the answers to these questions and more!
THURSDAYS
7:30 PM PDT ON ZOOM
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The Freedom to Show Who You Are
Have you ever wished you could just relax and show your own true self?
Frankly was created for you! No need to pretend here, because we enjoy diversity. And at our next meeting we’re going to Reflect on who we are and where we want to go.
Frankly Speaking is a place to freely speak frankly, because what's said in Frankly, stays in Frankly.
June 12, 7 - 8:30 pm Pacific
Join us! You belong here.
| | Join Story Weavers on Thursday, June 18th at 6:00 pm PDT on Zoom as we celebrate what we've accomplished and set the bar higher for the future! | | |
Edmonds Toastmasters is celebrating our 42nd anniversary as a club in June. Come join us for an open house on Friday, June 19th.
We are a hybrid club, so you can join us in person at the Pancake Haus in Edmonds or online on Zoom at 7am.
We will host two District 2 Speakers Bureau members: Benny Mobley, the 2024 District International Speech winner, and Paul Perry, a 2024 International Speech contestant and current Area 11 director.
Come celebrate with us, and have breakfast if you are there in person.
Pancake Haus address:
530 5th Avenue, Edmonds
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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:
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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 Marty Varela
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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. | | | | |
