🌟Momentum is Building: Excellence is Happening All Around Us! 🌟
Success leaves clues, and right now, our district is showing exactly what is possible when we work together. Across our community, clubs and leaders are stepping up, hitting milestones, and raising the bar for all of us.
Look at what we are achieving together:
- Leading the Way: A massive round of applause to Area 11, Area 22, Area 35, Area 42, and Area 83 for officially achieving Distinguished
Area status! Their proactive leadership is setting a powerful example
of what supportive guidance looks like.
- Congratulations to the following Area Directors -
- A11 - Paul Perry
- B22 - Patrice Tabor
- C35 - Kelly Fallucca
- D42 - Suzanne Hakam
- H83 - John Durrant
- The New Standard: An incredible 44 clubs across our district have already crossed the finish line to achieve Distinguished or higher status! Excellence is becoming the norm, and the momentum is catching on everywhere.
- Reaching the Pinnacle: Setting the ultimate benchmark, 4 clubs have pushed through to achieve the highest honor as Smedley Distinguished! They’ve proven that the path to the top is fully mapped out and achievable.
- Congratulations Smedley Distinguished Clubs
- Twin Speaks Toastmasters Club
- Costco Techmasters
- Conservatively Speaking
- Lake Pend Oreille Toastmasters
These 44 clubs and 5 Areas are showing us the way. They are proving that despite any challenges, growth and breakthrough milestones are happening right now in our immediate community.
Is your club next to join the leaderboard?
There is still time to map out your final goals, submit those last education awards, and secure your place alongside the clubs leading the charge this year. Let’s look to our Distinguished peers, draw inspiration from their blueprint, and finish this year incredibly strong together!
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"Choose Courage Over Comfort."
Brene Brown
We have come to Toastmasters for real growth, often pushing us out of our comfort zone. Why not take advantage of a resource that will allow us to learn in the safety of our homes?
EMBRACE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BY ATTENDING OUR CONFERENCE AT YOUR OWN PACE., ON YOUR OWN TERMS AND IN WAYS THAT YOU CAN MEASURE. CAPITALIZE ON A RICH INVESTMENT THAT YOU CAN HAVE FOR PENNIES COMPARATIVELY! BE BOLD AND GO BIG!
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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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DTMs ACHIEVED THRU 5/31/26:
Angela M. Ritchey, DTM Advancing Alaska Toastmasters
Sherrie M. Simmonds, DTM Anchor Toastmasters Club
Joanna L. Tavera, DTM Bremerton 63 Toastmasters
Jane Thomas, DTM Citizens of the World Toastmasters Club
Jeremiah A. Teas, DTM Columbia Basin Toastmasters
Kumarresen T. Kannadiapalayam, DTM CTS Club
Carolyn Curley, DTM Fairbanks North Star Borough Club
Aaron A. Anderson, DTM Gaveliers Toastmasters Club
Dano Rystrom, DTM Golden Bell Toastmasters Club
Edwin A. Keeney, DTM High Desert
Rekha Nair, DTM Sparkling Synergists
Marty Varela, DTM Story Weavers Toastmasters
Mary K. Morrison, DTM, PID Tahoma Talkers
Dinh Bowman, DTM Toastmasters International of Coyote Ridge
Marcus Morrison, DTM Verbal Architects
Debra L. Hartmann, DTM Word Weavers Club
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WE ARE GOING BIG IN 2026-2027
DISTRICT 2 MONTHLY NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
LAUNCHING IN JULY
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SPARKLING SYNERGISTS
| | | | COT - DIV H
HYBRID | SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM | REGISTER HERE | | COT ONSITE | SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH 8:30 am TO 11:00 AM | INFO HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | SATURDAY, JULY 11TH
9:00 AM TO NOON | REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | TUESDAY, JUNE 30TH
4:30 PM TO 5:30 PM | SOCIAL MEDIA
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH
NOON to 1:00 PM | SOCIAL MEDIA
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH
4:00 PM TO 5:00 PM | FTH/EASYSPEAK
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH
4:00 PM TO 5:00 PM | CANVA
REGISTER HERE | | COT VIRTUAL | MONDAY, JUNE 29TH
NOON TO 1:00 PM | CLUB SUCCESS PLAN
REGISTER HERE | | |
Club Officer Training has gotten a face lift and the revamped program is coming to District 2.
Three of the above, one-hour COTs, will equate to one of the new COT trainings that are on their way.
Alternate subject COTs have to support Club Officers in conducting their duties in order to count for the twice-annual COT requirement.
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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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✨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. 49
Presence in Action: Sparkling Synergists Toastmasters Keeps on Shining. Congratulations Rekha and Marty
This club continues to prove that excellence is not a one-time achievement. It is a
culture.
As an advanced, award-winning club, Sparkling Synergists is a place where experienced speakers, leaders, and communicators come together to grow, challenge one another, and raise the standard.
Now the club has even more reason to celebrate with the addition of two new
Distinguished Toastmasters: Rekha Nair, DTM and Marty Varela, DTM.
Earning the Distinguished Toastmaster designation is no small accomplishment. It represents commitment, service, leadership, communication growth, and years of intentional effort.
And Marty, the true overachiever that she is, is not earning this honor for the
first time.
Both remarkable women embody PRESENCE in action. They show us not only what is possible, but they also leave clues to their success through every contribution, every act of service, and every example they set along the way.
Congratulations,
Rekha and Marty!
This Week’s Challenge:
Connect with your mentor and create a plan for your next big goal.
Growth does not happen by accident. It happens when purpose meets intention, support, and action.
Before you know it, that big goal will not feel so far away. It will become your next
achievement.
Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Distinguished Area Director, C35
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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IMPROMPTUS NORTHWEST
🕒 Diversions: Activities that Consume Our Time🕒
🚀 Boost Your Communication Game with Impromptus Northwest!
Looking for a way to sharpen your thinking on your feet, master public speaking, and have a blast doing it? Join District 2 Toastmasters Club: Impromptus Northwest (Club #41) for our upcoming virtual meeting!
🎯 This Week's Theme - Diversions: Activities that Consume Our Time
No preparation? No problem! This session offers a no-preparation-required opportunity to test your processing, performing, and probing skills in an intimate, supportive, and safe speaking community. Whether you want to nail an interview, command a stage, or just tell better stories, this is just what the doctor ordered!
👥 Who Can Benefit?
Job Hunters: Ace your next interview by mastering spontaneous questions.
Comedians: Sharpen your timing and riffing skills in a low-stakes environment.
Stay-at-Home Parents: Reclaim some adult conversation and step up your daily communication game.
🗓️ Event Details at a Glance
📅 Date: This Thursday, June 25th
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM PDT A fast-paced, high-value 90 minutes.
📍 Location: Virtual
🎟️ Cost: Free for guests
🔗 How to Join Us:
👉Click the link to get your virtual seat and enter the Zoom room.
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Facilitated by Rebecca Murray
Come experience our club during a retreat plus a club meeting.
- A potluck - please contribute!
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The extraordinary Rebecca Murray will guide us in a powerful exercise to build connection as we design and define our shared vision!
- Time to collaborate and integrate the connections with reflections.
- Culminating with our June Sparkling Synergists meeting from 3-5pm!
Plan to come, stay to work, play and celebrate together! Guests are welcome to attend!
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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. | | | | |
