Your Story is Still Being Written 

Renew your Toastmasters Membership by March 31st! 

Every great leader is, at their core, a storyteller. Whether you are advocating for a new project, mentoring a peer, or inspiring a room full of people, your ability to draw from your own life experiences is what makes your leadership authentic.

As we approach the March 31st renewal deadline, I encourage you to continue this journey. Your membership is an investment in your voice, your confidence, and your ability to lead with purpose.

Why Renew Today?

• Refine Your Narrative: Continue using the Pathways program to structure your unique experiences into powerful messages.
• Lead with Impact: Harness your growth to motivate your club and community.
• Stay Connected: Maintain your place in a supportive network of members dedicated to mutual success.

Don’t let the clock run out on your next chapter. Please submit your renewal by March 31st to ensure uninterrupted access to all our resources and District 2 events.

🌟 Celebrate Excellence: Nominations are Now Open!

It’s time to shine a spotlight on the stars of District 2! We are thrilled to announce that nominations for the "Of the Year" Awards are officially open.

Your participation in the voting and nomination process is vital. This is your chance to help us recognize and celebrate the outstanding members, clubs, and leaders who have gone above and beyond to make our district exceptional this year.

🗳️ How to Cast Your Vote

Before you submit, please read the instructions carefully on the nomination form to ensure your vote counts toward honoring our community's finest.

• Recognize leadership and growth.
• Celebrate club achievements.
• Inspire others by highlighting excellence.

Thank you for being an active part of our District 2 community and for helping us honor those who embody the Toastmasters spirit!

The recipients of these awards will be announced at the District 2 conference on May 16th. 

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 23, 2026!!

Submit your votes here!

March Madness & April Sweeps Incentive

March can be a pivotal month for Toastmaster clubs. The excitement of District contests and the upcoming conference can be offset with the challenge of membership growth and retention.

The key to both is making sure members achieve their goals and get fulfilment out of their Toastmasters journey. There are four factors that influence membership fulfilment.

·   Education: Engaging members in Pathways.

·   Environment: Creating a welcoming atmosphere and sense of belonging.

·   Enrichment: Encouraging members to learn from people outside their club.

·   Empowerment: Offering opportunities for continued growth after original goals are met.

The District 2 March Madness Incentive combines all for factors in a fun spring activity to inspire us all to march forth on our Toastmaster Journey. By hosting joint meetings, sharing available meeting roles with other clubs, mentoring members of new clubs, and hosting joint demonstration meetings to PROMOTE area clubs, we can influence membership engagement and fulfilment.

Click the link to see your Club and Area standing in the March Madness & April Sweeps Incentive campaign.

Welcome our Conference Emcee!

Nikki Malcom

Role

Nikki Malcom is a coach and business consultant who works with individuals and leaders to build self-awareness, strengthen communication, and grow with confidence. Her work focuses on helping people see new possibilities for themselves and to take meaningful steps forward.

Nikki’s own leadership journey began in an entry-level aerospace role and grew into executive leadership, shaping her practical approach to coaching and development.

Bio

In addition to her coaching practice, Nikki serves as CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance, bringing more than 25 years of experience in aerospace and manufacturing to her work with people and organizations.

Nikki is an active Toastmaster and co-founded the Women Who Lead Toastmasters club to encourage more women to develop their voices and confidence as speakers and leaders. She is a frequent speaker on leadership, emotional intelligence, and personal growth.

Nikki is passionate about helping people step into new opportunities and is excited to serve as your emcee for this conference.

Roxanne Spring, DTM

Conference Marketing Chair 2026

Building Leaders Through Trust

By Vincent Tang

True leadership isn’t found in the perfect execution of a process, it’s found in the moment you train someone and then trust them to figure the rest out.

I’ve found that "letting go" is one of the trickiest, yet most vital, responsibilities we have in building the next generation of leaders. I think back to the first time I covered for a colleague during their vacation. I grew exponentially in that moment because I knew the safety net was gone. I was the one in charge.

In Toastmasters, we often get too comfortable with how things should be. We’ve defined the processes and it can be painful to see them ignored. Perhaps you’re training a new Vice President Membership. You notice they didn’t CC the President on an e-mail or they missed the 24-hour follow-up window. Your instinct is to jump in and "fix" it, but I’ve learned that building a leader isn't about correcting their emails. It’s about watching how they reflect afterward.

One of my biggest regrets as a mentor was leaving a mentee to their own devices without a framework for growth. I thought I was giving them freedom, but without guided reflection, they eventually stopped experimenting. They weren't learning and eventually drifted.

To avoid that trap and truly lean into your role as a leader-builder, try these two strategies:

Create "Presence-Free" Space: Give the member time to navigate the meeting structure or a new role without you hovering. If a process is truly vital, its importance will eventually become clear through the natural flow of the system.

Prioritize Reflection Over Correction: It’s easy to follow a checklist, but it’s hard to understand why the checklist exists. Instead of pointing out a missed step, ask: "How did that process work for you? What would you change next time?"

Leadership is about trust and ownership. The next time you can’t make it to a meeting, don't worry about what might go wrong. See it as the greatest gift you can give your club–an opportunity for someone else to lead.

4-Week Communications Course

Diamonds in the Rough Toastmasters

Build real-world communication and leadership skills in just four weeks. This guided training

program helps participants become more confident speakers, stronger listeners, and more

effective professionals.

Even though the course has begun, feel free to drop-in to learn and build your communication skills!

Go to the DIRT website or Meetup Group for more info.

Microsoft Speakeasy Open House

🎤 You’re Invited!🎤

Looking to build confidence, sharpen your communication skills, or simply find your voice in a supportive community? Join us for the Microsoft Speakeasy Toastmasters Club Open House!

✨ Theme: Find Your Voice, Shape Your Story

📅 Thursday, March 19

⏰ 4:00 – 5:30 PM PST

📍 In‑person: Microsoft, Building 6, Floor 2, Room 2.1C, 15745 NE 36th Street, Redmond, WA 98052

💻 Online: https://aka.ms/MSSpeakeasyOpenHouse

Whether you’re new to Toastmasters or just curious, this is a great opportunity to experience a meeting, hear inspiring speeches, and connect with others in a welcoming environment. Light refreshments will be provided.

📩 Questions? speakeasyofficers@microsoft.com