D2 Wishes our District Director a very Happy Birthday! | | |
District 2 Incentive Tracker - Training Session Recording Here
Attention Club Officers!
As clubs, you can earn District 2 Dollars by completing various incentives and then use those dollars to support your club’s goals. Clubs often spend these dollars on things like open house refreshments, Zoom accounts, or meeting space rentals.
In the past, however, many clubs found it challenging to track how much they had earned or to see which incentives were available.
The Incentive Tracker solves these frustrations! This new software will allow you to:
- Easily submit and review available incentives
- Track the status of your submissions and awards
- View your club’s progress in real time
To learn how to use the Incentive tracker effectively, we will be
hosted three short 30-minute training sessions last week.
Don't worry, if you missed them. The session was recorded and will be accessible on our District 2 YouTube site.
For a preview of the Incentive Tracker, here’s a 5-minute video.
Anu Jokinen
District Director, District 2 Toastmasters
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Member Development Day - Nov 15
Member Development Day offers networking for all members to build communication and leadership skills. Aligning with the District’s goals of unification, member centered, and being future ready, this year’s hybrid event features four onsite viewing locations. Insights from the event will guide planning for the District Conference at regional sites across our vast district.
For a $10 onsite or $5 online attendance fee, members will have the opportunity to participate in four interactive sessions.
· Pathways project workshop - explore a club meeting workshop format using Pathways projects to boost membership
· Toastmasters speed networking workshop – Learn networking basics, develop a 1-minute elevator pitch, and participate in live networking.
· Speech writing workshop – Get advice on creating speeches that inform, persuade, and inspire. We'll also review contest judging forms to help you reach the main stage of the World Champion of Public Speaking.
· Speech a-thon – Members deliver 5-7 minute speeches to build confidence. Attendees can vote for their favorite speaker.
Locations
Online ONLY
Washington West
Fairbanks AK
Anchorage AK
Washington East
Click links above to register for Member Development Day.
Program Quality Director, Roberta Craig
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Moments of Truth - Club Officer Training
part of mid-year club officer training incentive
As part of the District’s mission to support all clubs in achieving excellence, “Moments of Truth” reviews the standards necessary to create positive impressions about club service and provides a club evaluation exercise.
Clubs have the option to receive Club Officer Training by responding to the District Moments of Truth Survey* and having a district leader present their club results at a club meeting before February 28, 2026.
Register to learn more about Moments of Truth and how it can enhance your member experience at one our Moments of Truth training events:
*Minimum 8 surveys per club must be submitted to qualify for District Bucks incentive. Clubs with less than 8 members are encouraged to invite a district leader or guest to submit a survey response.
Program Quality Director, Roberta Craig
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Super 7 Bonus Incentive Winners
Congratulations to the following clubs for winning their division's Super 7 Bonus Incentive. In addition to having all seven officers trained, clubs had to submit a Club Success Plan and eight member payments by September 15.
•Div A: Edmonds Toastmasters
•Div C: Public Speaking Northwest Club
•Div D: Greater Issaquah Toastmasters Club
•Div E: Spotlight Toastmasters
•Div F: Laugh Lab Storymasters
•Div H: Talk of the Town
•Div I: Palmer
Divisions B & G did not have qualifying clubs.
Thank you to all clubs who participated in new year officer training.
Program Quality Director, Roberta Craig
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District 2 Conference Logo Design Contest
Calling all creative Toastmasters!
We’re inviting you to design the official logo for the 2026 District 2 Conference.
This year’s theme is “Stronger Together, Powered by the Future.” Show us your take on what that means for our Toastmasters community!
🗓️ Submit your design by November 8, 2025 using this form.
🏆 The winning design will be announced later in November and featured as the official conference logo.
Let your creativity shine — we can’t wait to see your vision come to life!
Roberta Craig
Program Quality Director, District 2 Toastmasters
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Road to Distinguished
Creative Ways to Encourage Participation in Club Meetings
Does your club struggle to get members to sign up for meeting roles? Changing up your club’s meeting format may be the key to engaging both new and longtime members.
Table Topics: Zombie Apocalypse Edition One of my club’s favorite October meetings is the table topics Zombie Apocalypse. In this activity, members select three items from a free Jeopardylabs.com board—similar to the concept of story cubes—and use them to craft a 1 to 2-minute table topic response. The twist is that if a member uses more than five filler words or does not meet the time requirements, they “become a zombie.” This adds a fun, competitive edge to the traditional table topics session.
Backwards Meeting: Another favorite among many clubs is the backwards meeting. The format is simple: flip the meeting upside down for a fresh and entertaining experience. Evaluators begin by identifying how a speaker can “improve” their speech, such as by reducing distracting body movements. Then, speakers deliver their speeches, incorporating the feedback from the evaluators. The focus of a backwards meeting is to emphasize fun and creativity over perfection, making it enjoyable for everyone involved.
Theme Speech A-Thon: Consider organizing a theme speech a-thon, where members can vote on the funniest, tallest tale, or most “spooktacular” speech. Speech a-thons offer a lively, engaging open house opportunity and provide a platform to showcase the speaking skills of both new and seasoned members. For example, Palmer Toastmasters has hosted a Laugh Out Loud open house every autumn for several years, highlighting the club’s spirit and camaraderie.
Wheel of Toastmasters: If your club is experiencing difficulties getting members to volunteer for meeting roles, one creative solution is to introduce a “Wheel of Toastmasters.” This interactive approach involves using a spinning wheel to randomly assign meeting roles to members for the next session. By incorporating an element of chance and fun, the Wheel of Toastmasters encourages participation and ensures all roles are filled, helping meetings run smoothly and engaging members in a lighthearted manner.
For more creative meeting ideas, check out the Road to Distinguished office hours Wednesday at 6-7 PM Alaska, 7-8 PM Pacific.
Click here to register for the Wednesday evening sessions!.
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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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NEW CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT
Welcome Apple Seattle to District 2
The Club Growth Team is thrilled to announce Apple Seattle, Club Number: 28679138, Area 26, Division B, chartered effective 1 October 2025. Apple Seattle is the first new District 2 Club in the 2025-2026 Toastmasters year.
District 2 extends a warm welcome to the charter members of Apple Seattle!
Cheers to the many speeches, leadership opportunities, and personal growth ahead!
Special Recognition:
- 2024-2025 Club Growth Team for cultivating the lead and transitioning smoothly to the 2025-2026 Toastmasters year.
- Wenting Zhao for being the catalyst to start the Apple Seattle Toastmasters Club.
- New Club Sponsors: Andrew Bry and Amit Karyekar. Thank you for your leadership and sharing your Toastmasters knowledge.
Good Fortune to the New Club Mentors: - Juniper Lear, D2 IPDD, and Françoise Muller
On behalf of District 2 and the Club Growth Team, may you have many successful years.
Club Growth Director, Joanna Tavera
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District 2 Club Recognition
November Charter Anniversaries
Congratulations to all the Clubs celebrating chartering in the month of November!
District 2 celebrates the dedication of every past and current member who has helped develop a supportive environment for growth. May you have many more years of transforming lives, one speech at a time!
District 2 Club Growth Director, Joanna Tavera
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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! Wondering what the new Path Enhancements mean for you or your club? We will have the latest guidance from Toastmasters International and a demonstration of the newly required Education Series projects. 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 this week for the next Pathways Office Hour:
•Date: Wednesday November 5th
•Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM Pacific Time, 5:00 – 6:00 PM Alaska Time
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. We will also present a project from the Education Series that are a part of the new Pathways Enhancements requirements.
Don't miss your chance for personalized support-register now!
Visit the District 2 Event Calendar for Pathways Office Hours in December. January and February dates are coming soon!
For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to Karen Lezon
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Feedback: From Flinching to Flourishing
By Vincent Tang
Have you ever avoided feedback – not because you didn’t care, but because you cared too much?
I still remember doing my mentor when I first joined Toastmasters. I wasn’t ready to hear all the things I could’ve done better. What if he pointed out every flaw I didn’t know I had? It felt safer not to know – at least for a while.
There are many reasons feedback can feel hard to accept – fear of inadequacy, wounded pride, or disbelief that others see something we don’t. Over time, I’ve found one tip that helps me overcome that discomfort and conveniently, it’s already built into the Toastmasters program.
If there’s one takeaway I hope you remember, it’s this: being specific about your speech goals and your feedback – changes everything.
- Ask for Specific Feedback
I used to ask my evaluator “Please give me general feedback.” That’s like bracing for a punch and saying, “Hit me anywhere.” You might survive, but it might sting.
When you ask for targeted feedback, for example, “Can you focus on my vocal variety and pacing?” – you’re guiding your evaluator. It helps them help you. You’ll also find that feedback feels less personal and more purposeful.
Does that mean general feedback has no place? Not at all. It’s valuable when you’re exploring blind spots or early in a project. But once you identify what you want to strengthen, narrowing your focus helps you see progress more clearly.
- Use Pathways Projects to Guide Feedback
One of the best built-in tools for this is the Pathways Program. Each project already gives you a feedback focus. For example, in “Introduction to Vocal Variety and Body Language,” the goal is simple: practice using vocal variety or body language to enhance your speech.
That clarity is powerful. When you (and your evaluator) both know the focus, feedback becomes less intimidating and more constructive. You can actually track growth from one speech to the next.
- Create a Culture Where Feedback Feels Normal
You can also shape a feedback-friendly environment by modeling it yourself. Don’t just rely on your evaluator – ask a few trusted members to watch for something specific, for example, “Can you let me know if transitions feel smooth?”
I once had a fellow member who asked for feedback after every role – whether as Timer, Toastmaster of the Day, or Table Topics participant. Their openness inspired me to start doing the same.
If you club meets online, you can even message someone privately before your role. Giving them a heads-up ensures they’re looking for exactly what you care about, and most members are happy to help when they’re prepared.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself recoiling from feedback – like I once did – or if you’re a mentor helping someone through that stage, start by anchoring the conversation in specific goals. Whether it’s the speech objectives in Pathways or a personal communication milestone, clarity turns feedback from a punch into a precision tool for growth.
Toastmasters is a culture built on feedback, but it only thrives when we embrace it. The more we normalize giving and receiving feedback, the more we grow – not just as speakers, but as people who can take a punch and turn it into power.
By Vincent Tang
VPPR, Story Weavers Toastmasters #00819229
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VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 16
GOOD work is fast. GREAT work takes time.
In leadership and life, speed can create results—but presence creates impact. Good work gets noticed. Great work gets remembered.
When we rush, we perform. When we pause, we produce.
Presence is the art of slowing down enough to think, connect, and create with intention.
The world celebrates the fast, but it rewards the focused.
✨ Weekly Challenge:
This week, trade speed for depth.
Before your next meeting, message, or project—pause.
Take one intentional breath.
Lead from stillness, not stress.
Because your presence is the difference between good and great.
Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Level Up! Auburn Morning Toastmasters Kicks Off a New Tradition
by Kate Curtindale
Celebrating every milestone from “Level Up” achievements to full “Game Over” victories in the Toastmasters Pathways journey.
Auburn Morning Toastmasters held our very first Level Up Ceremony, and we couldn’t be more excited to kick off this brand new tradition!
This ceremony was created to recognize the progress our members are making on their Pathways journeys. Each achievement, whether a member “leveled up” by completing a level or reached “game over” by finishing an entire pathway, is worth celebrating. These certificates showcase skills strengthened and goals achieved.
Congratulations to all of our recipients! We look forward to recognizing more accomplishments in the months ahead and hope this inspires other clubs to join in on this new tradition!
Kate Curtindale
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by Ann Piraino
Yes, No, Maybe?
Last Tuesday night, a newer member of my in-person club explained how he had always been overprepared and was trying to 'break the habit' so he did his project using ChatGPT AI to write the speech. It was not a Pathways project.
He did a great introduction, but then he READ THE ENTIRE rest of his speech. He had no eye contact. He held onto the lectern. He had no body movement-no gestures whatsoever. I thought his mentor would faint. His evaluator pointed out all the 'no-no's for that project, and my evaluation gave him the suggestion to at least try to memorize the part that AI wrote for him so he didn't seem to be reading. This was one of the reasons I joined toastmasters back in the 80s. I needed to learn how to memorize a speech for my international organization. A speech that was going to be printed in the program and handed out.
This brings us to the issue of use of AI to write speeches for our Toastmaster projects. Under what circumstances? We obviously wanted him to be using a Pathways project. Using Artificial Intelligence has become commonplace in many applications on social media, but it is based on some appropriate use of the query function to personalize the output which needs to ‘sound’ like the speaker.
We were willing to let him redo his speech – perhaps he could have been using it in level 1 of a Pathways on the Evaluation and Feedback project where he gives a speech, gets feedback, incorporates that feedback, and does the speech over? Would your club be that open to such a compromise? It is a bit of a conundrum. I do not believe there is an existing policy with TI about the use of artificial intelligence, but maybe there should be. If you've done any research on this, I would appreciate your feedback.
By Ann Piraino
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High Desert Toastmasters Hosted Powerful Suicide Awareness Event
Two Rivers Correctional Inst. Toastmasters Club #01348808
On October 25th, High Desert Toastmasters, in NE Oregon, held a deeply moving and informative Suicide Awareness Event, attended by approximately 40 inmates and guests. The Toastmaster of the Evening (TMOE) introduced the speakers and shared sobering statistics: nearly 49,000 lives are lost to suicide each year in the US, with nearly 900 occurring in Oregon alone.
The TMOE also highlighted key warning signs to watch for—changes in mood or behavior, expressions of hopelessness, or social withdrawal. Legal troubles or other major stressors should never be dismissed. These indicators can be cries for help.
Nearly everyone in attendance had been personally affected by suicide. Five courageous speakers shared heartfelt testimonials, recounting how suicide had touched their lives and how they had faced their own struggles. Their stories underscored the importance of compassion, connection, and early intervention.
The speakers urged everyone to reach out to those who may be suffering in silence. Sometimes, simply listening can be the first step toward healing. They also encouraged attendees to seek help for themselves, lean on their support networks, and engage in uplifting activities.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
By Cheri Liller
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YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY
Do you belong to a club with members who want to participate in a YLP program?
Serve as a coordinator or mentor, in a program to help youth in your community become better leaders and and more confident communicators.
Are you looking to get credit toward your DTM?
Please reach out to the YLP Chair, Anand Vijayachandran, to learn more.
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SPEAKERS BUREAU EXPANSION
Calling Speakers & Club Coaches
Are you a club coach eager for help in
building your club back to Distinguished? Or are you an experienced speaker seeking opportunities to spread your wings and speak your message outside your home club? Then the District 2 Speakers Bureau is for you.
Our mission this year is to bring struggling clubs and experienced speakers
together for the benefit of both.
If you are a club coach eager for guest speakers, or a VPE looking to fill speaker spots at an open house, please contact me, Bob King, DTM, Speakers Bureau Chair, with
details on the meeting time and date, and desired topics. Please let me know at
least 1-2 weeks in advance of the event, so speakers can be fully prepared.
If you are an experienced speaker in search of a speaking opportunity, please contact me with a brief bio, topics you would like to speak on, and a 2 minute video giving an example of your speaking style. Nothing fancy, just something to give us an idea of who you are.
Thanks - we look forward to helping District 2 grow and prosper:)
Bob King DTM
D2 Speakers
Bureau 2025-2026
425-830-2602
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Become a Powerhouse Evaluator
THIS Thursday, November 6, 2025
6:30 -8:00 PM Pacific or 5:30 - 7:00 PM AK Time
Hosted by Palmer Toastmasters & featuring Kyle Hall, DTM as Presenter, this fun and interactive workshop
will share truths and tricks of better evaluating.
During this workshop, we'll:
- Break the process of evaluation into its components,
- Review Do's and Don’ts of effective evaluating,
- Cover the difference between evaluating advanced speakers versus beginners,
- and more!
We'll leave this session with a greater understanding of powerful evaluations and more confidence in our ability to deliver them.
Questions? Call 907-539-7111.
Register in advance to receive the Zoom link.
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JOIN IMPROMPTUS NW FOR
SOMETHING NEW
on Zoom
on Thursday, November 6th, 2025
at 7:30 PM PDT Time/6:30 PM AKT
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GUARDIAN SPIRITS
Let's Talk about These Beings
Have you had an experience with Guardian Spirits? Come ready to share at the Frankly Speaking Open House on November 14, 7:00 – 8:30 pm PDT.
Frankly Speaking is a place to freely speak frankly, because what's said in Frankly, stays in Frankly.
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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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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. | | | | |
