September 2025

District 27 Leaders and members. This August 17-23 we attended the Toastmasters International Convention where we celebrated the accomplishments of our members and the District ending the 2024-2025 year as a Distinguished District. Because of your efforts during the 2024-2025 we were able to achieve this recognition on your behalf.Those present “Stormed the Stage” (crossed the stage in front of an International Audience). We were also able to support Len Tran our representative from District 27 who made it to the Semifinals of the World Champion of Public Speaking. I wished that you were all there to experience this event.This year 2025-2026 we wish to repeat this experience at a higher level - Smedley Distinguished.To do this we are asking for your assistance.

We need to take care of each other, ensure that we are gaining the experiences from our Toastmasters programs, bringing in new people to experience Toastmasters, attending district and

club sponsored events. There is a whole wide Toastmasters world out there to experience, and we wish for all of you to experience the beauty of Toastmasters. If each one of us does our part to get our clubs to the distinguished status, we can achieve our goal.

During the last Convention at the annual business meeting. 88% of the clubs completed

their proxy assignments – 22 votes were not assigned. Of the assigned votes only 85%

were accepted, leaving 24 votes not accepted. The 2025-2026 President is Aletta

Rochat DTM, President Elect Stefano McGhee DTM, 1st VP Gauri Seshadri DTM, 2nd VP

Jean Gamester DTM. International Directors were also elected for the following regions:

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13.

We asked for clubs to submit their Club Success Plans to Toastmasters International by

August 31, as of August 30, thirty-three (33) clubs have submitted their success plans to

Toastmasters International for a total of 36% of clubs. Kudos to those who completed

the task ahead of time. Remember the club success plan is a pre-requisite for

participating in the Distinguished Club Program and this year we want no member left

behind and no club left behind as we work our way to being a Smedley Distinguished

District. We can do this District 27!

The Toastmasters International Convention next year will be held in Vancouver, British

Columbia, Canada, from August 19-22, 2026. See you on the stage!

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Yours in Service,

Beverly Byam-Hercules, DTM

D27 District Director 2025-2026

As summer comes to a close, I want to congratulate all clubs that managed to have all seven officers trained. As I write this on August 20, there are ten clubs but I expect there will be others by the time you read this. If you belong to one of these

clubs that achieved this milestone for showing excellence in supporting their club members, congratulate yourself and your fellow club members. Information on club officer training will be on the website. Please let me know if you were trained and not

credited.

What does the DCP mean? The DCP is simply a set of metrices that attempt to measure how well clubs are helping their members gain communication and leadership skills through the Toastmasters Program. Are members developing communication

skills through giving speeches and doing projects? Are guests attracted to the club and

wanting to join? Are meetings exciting and energetic? Clubs that have these qualities

are fulfilling the mission of the club and the DCP will reflect these actions. To help clubs focus on helping their members, our District will be scheduling workshops on the Club Success Plan (CSP). The CSP helps clubs focuses on specific actions that need to be done to help support club members .Training dates will be on the website and look for emails from the PQD.

Finally, are you moving through Pathways but need some Level 4 or 5 projects to work

on? Do you need an idea for a DTM project. You can accomplish this and help

out District Toastmaster members and clubs. Some ideas for projects could include

helping out on the club officer training team for the winter training season, leading a

virtual or in-person workshop, being a committee chair for the spring conference, or

being a Pathways maven for one of our Divisions. I also welcome additional ideas.

Please contact me at PDG@d27-tm.org.

This year, we want to leave no member behind and leave no club behind. I cannot do it

by myself but if we all hold hands and work together, magic will happen.

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🌟Are you looking for a High Performance Leadership or DTM project? Are you having trouble figuring out how to complete your Level 4 or Level 5?

Team Program Quality Director could use your help. Here are some ideas for projects and roles open to you.

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Yours in Service

Jenny Genser White, DTM

Program Quality Director, 2025-2026

Greetings D27 members,

CLUB GROWTH DIRECTOR TEAM – “MAKE THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING”

As your Club Growth Director, I am excited to introduce the Club Growth Director’s

Team:

 Retention Chair: DTM Alonzo White

 Extension Chair: DTM Naomi Carrington-Hockman

Both have kicked off the 2025–2026 term with outstanding momentum!

A special thanks goes to our District Director, DTM Beverly Byam-Hercules, and our

Program Quality Director, Jenny White, for their strong leadership as part of the District

TRIO.

The Retention and Extension Teams have already hit the ground running – preparing

to work closely with Coaches and Mentors, following up with leads, and supporting new

clubs as they charter. Over the next few months, you will be hearing more about their

efforts and accomplishments in club growth and retention.

I have already met with our Division Directors to invite them to join us in District 27’s

mission to “Leave No Club Behind.”

Club Growth Incentive: Lead to Charter

 Submit a lead for a new club to Extension Chair, DTM Naomi Carrington-

Hockman, at tmcarringtonhockman@gmail.com.

 If your lead becomes a chartered club by 15 April 2026, you’ll receive a $50 Toastmasters gift

certificate!

Important Update

The new member fee will increase by $5 (to $25) starting November 1st 2025.

Let’s get those clubs chartered as soon as possible!

⏰ DUES RENEWAL TIME - It's time to renew your Toastmasters dues, on or before September 30th. For the October 1st dues renewal period. If your club has enabled self-pay please login to Toastmasters international, go to My Home, Scroll down to the pay dues tab, follow the instructions to pay your dues. If you are able I would encourage you to pay your dues for one year until September 2026.

No Member left behind! No club left behind!️

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Sincerely,

Dr. Janice Boss, DTM

Club Growth Director, CGD 

Contact: CGD@d27-tm.org

🤪Joke Corner!🤣

😊 A magician was working on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

The audience would be different each week, so the magician allowed himself to do the same tricks over and over again.

There was only one problem: the captain's parrot saw the shows every week and began to understand what the magician did in every trick. Once he understood that, he started shouting in the middle of the show: 

"Look, it's not the same hat!" 

"Look, he's hiding the flowers under the table!" 

"Hey, why are all the cards the Ace of Spades ?" 

The magician was furious but couldn't do anything; it was the captain's parrot, after all !

One day, the ship had an accident and sank. The magician found himself on a piece of wood in the middle of the ocean, and of course, the parrot was by his side. They stared at each other with hate, but did not utter a word. This went on for several days. 

After a week, the parrot finally said, "Okay, I give up. What'd you do with the boat?"🤣

🌳 The Seasons of ife🌳

Life is filled with seasons. Sometimes it’s summer and you love it. Then there are times

when it’s winter, and you are trudging through storm. Perhaps the leaves of your life

are falling all around you, and you don’t know what to do. HOLD ON! You are just going

through what the Bible calls things that are “common to man.” If you find yourself in a

situation that you would not have chosen, just know that you’re not stuck, but going

through. We like to say that “We’re going through” and that is very accurate. When we

say it, we don’t say it like we know there is “the other side.” This too shall pass! Hold on

and know that as long as you don’t give up, there is a promise from God that you will

reap a harvest. You see, everything we go through has the potential to shape us into

more productive, caring, loving, sincere people if we cooperate. Seek to learn the best

lesson from every circumstance. God desires to make us better, and He is so in control

that He can take every situation and make it for our good. Yes, even the terrible,

bitter and painful things in life. He is just that Good! It has been said that you’re either in

a storm, just come out of a storm or going into one. These are just seasons of life.

Prepare for them, dress for them, govern yourselves accordingly as you do in the

natural. You will be better for it. Be Encouraged! Love and Blessings to you.

Rev. Don Hutchins, District 27 Chaplain

Respectfully,

Rev. Don Hutchins

District 27 Chaplain