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A Season of Gratitude: From One Thanksgiving to the Next
As your District Director, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the power of gratitude in leadership and in life.
In my day job, I have the privilege of working with school systems throughout the Northwest U.S. and Canada. This unique territory gives me a front-row seat to the incredible work educators do every day to empower students. It also connects me across borders, and that connection inspired me to begin what I call my “45 Days of Gratitude.”
From Canadian Thanksgiving to U.S. Thanksgiving, I dedicate this time to posting daily on LinkedIn about something I’m grateful for. It’s a simple but powerful practice — one that keeps me grounded, reminds me of the people and moments that shape my journey, and brings a renewed sense of purpose to how I lead.
Starting today, October 13th as we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of this year’s 45 Days of Gratitude. Between now and the U.S. Thanksgiving, I invite you to take a moment each day to reflect on what you’re thankful for — perhaps a mentor who encouraged you, a club member who inspires you, or even the courage it took to step into leadership.
Gratitude has a quiet strength. It doesn’t just lift our spirits; it transforms how we see challenges, how we connect with others, and how we serve. As leaders, in our clubs, areas, divisions, and beyond, we set the tone. When we lead with gratitude, we invite others to do the same.
Together, let’s make these 45 days a celebration of appreciation, connection, and growth. After all, gratitude doesn’t just change our perspective, it changes our impact.
Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian Toastmasters today!
#45daysofgratitude #thanksgiving2thanksgiving
With gratitude,
Anu Jokinen
District Director, District 2 Toastmasters
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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.
| | | Division C | Area 31 | Amazon Toastmasters Day 1 Club | 7 Members | | Division D | Area 42 | Costco Techmasters | 16 Members | | Division D | Area 44 | Rhetoracles Toastmasters Club | 5 Members | | Division F | Area 62 | Bainbridge Island Club | 5 Members | | | |
Celebrating Club Achievement: The Smedley Award
Congratulations to Outstanding Clubs
We are proud to recognize the following clubs for their remarkable achievements in membership growth. Between August 1 and September 30, these clubs successfully added five or more new, dual, or reinstated members. Their dedication to expanding the Toastmasters community is truly commendable.
Understanding the Smedley Award
The Smedley Award is named after Ralph Smedley, the founder of Toastmasters. Toastmasters International established this award as a way to encourage club growth through a special membership-building contest period. It marks the first of three membership-building contests held throughout the Toastmasters program year. Earning the Smedley Award is a significant honor and represents a high distinction within the organization. To learn more, click here.
Well done! May your clubs continue to have success and growth.
Joanna L. Tavera, DTM
District 2 Club Growth Director 2025-2026
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Would you like to help your Club grow, be more productive, and improve your Members engagement?
One of the tools that Toastmasters offers is the Moments of Truth (MoT) process.
The process is designed to help Clubs take an introspective look at how they work, how they believe they are perceived, and what they could do to improve.
To start a MoT process for your Club, please have a Club Officer send an email with your Club name, Club number, and contact name and email to the MoT Chair, Richard Ripley (Richard.Ripley@comcast.net).
Please use a subject line of “MoT process request, club name and number”
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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. 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 November 5th
•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.
Visit the District 2 Event Calendar for Pathways Office Hour in December.
For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to Karen Lezon
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VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 13
🍌When Your Audience Goes Bananas 🍌
Ever had an audience turn into a pack of wild apes—chatting, laughing, or swinging off topic?
Do not panic. Pause. Smile. Breathe. Then, reclaim the jungle. Step forward, plant your feet, and lower your voice instead of raising it. The sudden calm draws attention faster than shouting ever could.
Add a touch of humor—“I see we’ve reached the monkey business portion of tonight’s meeting!”—and redirect their energy back to you.
Remember: control is not about force—it is about presence.
🪄 Master your calm, and you’ll master the crowd.
Until next time… ✨ Sparkle & Shine, Friends ✨
Got questions or a topic you would love covered?
Email me at: k@kellyafallucca.com
Subject: Starburst Request
I would love to hear from you!
Let’s create the kind of presence that draws people
in and grows our clubs.
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35
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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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Katie Munoz
Katie Munoz consistently goes above and beyond the call of a Toastmaster. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and generosity of spirit shine through in everything she does.
Katie is an active member of multiple clubs, including Public Speaking Northwest, where she currently serves as Sergeant at Arms. Beyond the club, she holds the role of Area Director and co-mentors another club alongside the VPPR, demonstrating her deep commitment to helping others grow and succeed within Toastmasters.
What makes Katie exceptional is not just the number of roles she holds—but the heart, professionalism, and energy she brings to each one. She is the first to volunteer, always willing to lend a hand, offer guidance, or step in wherever needed. Her leadership style is collaborative and encouraging, creating an atmosphere where others feel supported and inspired to do their best.
Katie is the embodiment of a true Toastmaster—someone who continuously learns, leads, and lifts others along the way. She is both a seasoned speaker and a seasoned officer, modeling excellence in communication, leadership, and service.
Public Speaking Northwest deeply values Katie’s presence and the many ways she contributes to their success. Her accomplishments, dedication, and positive influence deserve to be celebrated—not just by the club, but across the entire District.
Sparkle & Shine, Katie!
| | Join us on Zoom on Monday, October 13th, at 7:30 PM PDT Time/6:30 PM AKT. Doors open at 7:15 PM PDT/6:15 PM AKT | |
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THE DIVINE FEMININE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2025
7:30 PM TO 8:45 PM PDT
LIGHTWORKERS
Join us in person:
2401 S. Jackson St
Seattle, WA 98144
Join us on Zoom
Tuesday, October 14th, at 7:30 PM PDT Time/6:30 PM AKT. Doors open at 7:00 PM PDT/6:00 PM AKT
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TWENTY YEARS!
2005 to 2025
STORY WEAVERS
It's our charterversary! Two decades of using stories to amplify our talks!
We are on Zoom on the first and third Thursdays. Next meeting is October 16th, at 6:00 PM PDT Time/5:00 PM AKT. Virtual doors open at 5:45 PM PDT/4:45 PM AKT
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Sound Advice
We Are All Change Agents!
Foster a Positive Change Attitude
Join us on Thursday, October 16th, 2025 at 5:30 pm PDT as we explore how we're all change agents, with the ability to influence the outcomes, whether we are change sponsors, facilitators, participants.
Sound Advice 1594 is a club focused on developing leadership skills. Our monthly meetings for 2025-2026 feature change as a theme. We meet 3rd Thursdays, 5:30-7 pm. PDT/4:30-6 pm Alaska.
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🕵️♂️ Contest Confidential: Session Two – Humor Unlocked
Presented by Leading Edge Toastmasters
Ready to add more laughs to your next speech? Join us for the second installment of Contest Confidential, Leading Edge Toastmasters’ contest prep series—this time, we’re diving into humor.
🎤 Featured Speaker: Sayee
Sayee will reveal his “secret sauce” for crafting humorous speeches that connect and entertain. Whether you're prepping for a contest or just want to punch up your punchlines, this session will deliver practical techniques you can use right away.
📅 Event Details
When: Saturday, October 18th
Time: 8:30–10:30 a.m. Pacific
Where: Online via Zoom
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
📘 Facebook Event
🌐 Leading Edge Website
🚀 Elevate Your Contest Game
Thinking about competing in upcoming Toastmasters speech contests? From now through December, each Leading Edge Toastmasters monthly meeting features a keynote designed to sharpen your contest skills—from structure and storytelling to delivery and humor.
📩 Questions? Contact Kyle McEligot for more information.
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Join us for an evening full of Scary Tales and Camaraderie on Oct 21st (Tue) - 6 - 7:30 pm PDT At Bellevue Library (Room 2).
Eastside Leaders Toastmasters is an advanced club focused on crafting leaders through the art of communication.
Club meets monthly online on the 2nd Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. PDT
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WHAT COLOR IS YOUR SAUCE?
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd, 2025
7:00 PM TO 8:30 PM PDT
Join us next Wednesday as we strengthen our Toastmasters foundation.
We are on Zoom PW legolego
Wednesday, October 22nd,
at 7:00 PM PDT/6:00 PM AKT.
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Seattle International 10 Toastmasters
Spooktacular Open House on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 1 to 2:30 pm.
Please join our virtual meeting with a costume and a willingness to learn from some exceptional speakers and storytellers. Prizes will be given to the best costumes.
To attend the virtual event, please use our Zoom room.
Contact Event Chair, Molly George. for more information.
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Toastmasters Extraordinaires Invites You!
BACK TO BASICS
Saturday, November 1st, 2025
We are using the tried and true meeting format for our Back to Basics hybrid meeting.
Join us in person at the Edmonds Library at 650 Main St. Edmonds, WA, 98020-3056 or via Zoom,
Saturday, November 1st, at 10:30 AM PDT Time/9:30 AM AKT.
Zoom doors open at 10:00 AM PDT/9:00 AM AKT
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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:
- 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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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. | | | | |
