October 2025

🌺Smedley Distinguished, District 27 Toastmasters

As of July 1, 2025, new requirements and prerequisites have been implemented by Toastmasters International

regarding the Distinguished Club Program (DCP).

1. The first prerequisite is the submission of the Club Success Plan (CSP) by September 30. If clubs miss this September 30th date, they have taken themselves out of the Distinguished Club Program for that Toastmasters year.

2. The next change involves new requirements for a

club to be distinguished or better (see chart below).

3.The third is that a new level of Distinguished has been established for clubs – The Smedley Distinguished Status.

It is important that we, as leaders (and every Toastmaster is a leader), take seriously our

responsibilities to each other and ourselves in making sure that we all succeed.

The district requested that our clubs submit their CSP by August 31st to avoid the last-minute rush

As well as issues with system slowdowns and crashes at Toastmasters International.

However, by September 29th, only 80 (88%) of clubs had submitted their success plans

11 clubs (12%) of our clubs have not submitted their club success plan. There is

an old saying: if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.

We have our plans. The district’s motto this year is "No Member Left Behind! No Club Left Behind!" With this motto in mind, the next order of business to address is Club renewal dues. Kindly ensure that your dues have been paid.

Please ensure that you have a personal email address on your Toastmasters profile.

With the possibility of a government shutdown that will affect some of our members,

government email systems may be unavailable. I also urge you to continue meeting as

a Toastmaster Family. This is a support system.

We have here, a place to feel safe, discuss emotions, frustrations, dreams, plans, and to execute new beginnings and strategise as to how you will continue to meet. Whether it is in person, on a personal Zoom, Google Meets, another online platform or a hybrid format.

Please stay connected. We know that when things get tough, having family around makes the load lighter.

We are your Toastmasters family.🌺----------

Yours in Service,

Beverly Byam-Hercules, DTM

D27 District Director 2025-2026

As you read this, a quarter of a year has passed. This is a time for reflection as the days grow shorter, and we pull out our sweaters. A lot is happening in District 27 Club officer training. District 27 had a great first round. An amazing 29 clubs had all seven officers trained in the first round of training. If your club was one of them, it may

be eligible for a prize! Clubs that have all seven officers trained in both rounds of club officer training will be placed in a drawing in March, and the winner will receive two free tickets for the annual District Conference in May. All but ten clubs met the minimum of

having at least four officers trained. You can find your club’s officer statistics on the District 27 website at https://d27-tm.org/training-tli-tracker/.

If you’ve been trained and it doesn’t show up, please let me know so I can correct it.

Round 2 training dates are set.

Pathways. Fifty-two members completed a level in July and Forty in August. Each member who completes a level in Pathways is put in a drawing for the month, and the lucky winner receives a free Path.

For July, the winner is PRM Maria Allsopp-Whittington; the winner for August was Gerri

Wallce. As you read this, the September drawing will be about to take place. If you

submitted a level completion in September, you may win a free Path!

If you're having trouble navigating Pathways, please get in touch with me. District 27 is committed to helping all members progress in Pathways.

Fall Celebration: District 27 will host a fall celebration and educational event on

October 25. We will recognise accomplishments for individuals, clubs, areas, and divisions. We will also have speakers, a panel discussion, and a chance to meet each other in person. The location is the Surratts-Clinton Library, located near Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, near Camp Springs.

Stay tuned for more details!

Contests: District 27 will hold in-person Evaluation and International Speech contests

in the spring. Clubs should hold contests before February 15 or appoint contestants

before their Area contest. Areas will hold contests between February 15 and March 15.

Divisions will hold theirs between March 16 and April 15.

District Conference: The winners of the Division contests will compete at the District Annual Conference, which will be in person on May 2 at George Mason University

Mason Square in Arlington. Look out for more details



Moving Ahead: Do you need ideas for your Level 4 or 5 projects or your DTM project?

You can complete a project and help out your fellow District Toastmaster members and

clubs. Some examples of projects could include coordinating logistics for the fall

celebration, leading a virtual or in-person workshop, heading a committee for the spring

conference, or helping an Area or Division Director by coordinating the contest.

Choosing such a project is a win-win; you will gain leadership experience and move forward in your Path and District 27 will better support its members

Let’s leave no Member or Club behind! 🍁🌺

• Saturday November 1 – Saturday morning virtual TLI with breakout rooms and electives. 9:00 am – 12:30 pm. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DvUMoa1zSQWQimN2cqzW0A
• Saturday November 15 – Saturday morning virtual TLI with combined office training. 9:00 am – 12:30 pm.  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zJPXVMa2Rw-wUryl00ejNQ
• Wednesday December 10 – Wednesday evening virtual club officer training with breakout rooms. 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DZ3Z4i6MT0uXzmMYZ6QnTA

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Yours in Service

Jenny Genser White, DTM

Program Quality Director, 2025-2026

🍁Greetings D27 members,🍁

There was a Successful Tabling Event at Six Flags on September 19, 2025 under the Prince George's County Parks and Recreation’s Celebrating Seniors’ Day. District 27 reserved a table for the event.

The Tabling Event generated many Leads for recruiting new members for D27, as well as potential for Chartering New Clubs. In addition, there was some interest in some of the prospective members publicising Toastmasters in their community clubs.

The Club Growth Director’s Retention Chair, DTM, Alonzo White, and the

Extension Chair DTM Naomi Carrington-Hockman and their Team Members,

Robin Hylton and Gwendolyn Peacher are currently working on their Goals for

The 25/26 Toastmasters year.

DTMs, Alonzo White and Robin Hylton are planning to assess Clubs for Coaches

and Mentors for the 25/26 year. Please contact the Retention Chair if your Club

needs a Coach

DTM, Naomi Carrington-Hockman has already chartered 1 Club, Steps to Success.

The Charter Ceremony is planned for October 2025.

.

Speech Craft Chair, DTM Monica Cutchember invites you to register your Club for a

Speechcraft Workshop to increase your Membership. Contact her at

deshle183@verizon.net.

There are Incentives for Clubs that host a Speechcraft with at least 5 prospects as

potential members and recruits at least three members.

Reach out ASAP before the calendar is filled, so that your

Club becomes Distinguished by year's end on June 30, 2026.

The Club Growth Director’s Team is excited about this year, with many incentives

to help your Clubs grow. Our District will become Smedley Distinguished.

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

Entry Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwCHr4IP3wH1_Xq2QNyLCaFQVzf18eo-qt6dF09tmNL4OZsw/viewform?usp=header

Registration Link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/district-27-celebration-with-education-recognition-tickets-1751253148309?aff=oddtdtcreator

Featuring:  Laura Clancy – Discussing – Digital Publishing – Book Witt & Fitt

Enter-trainer | Keynote Speaker | Mindset Strategist | TEDx Speaker | Author | Musical Show Creator | One-Woman-Show Performer

Laura Clancy, founder and C.E.O. of Muffin Toppled® Enterprises, Inc. Her Mission is to Educate, Inspire & Entertain MILLIONS to Laugh More, Cry Less and Become Weightless.

Audiences learn How to Step Into a World Where They Take Center Stage and Hold a Pen to Their Story.

CLICK TO JOIN or cut-n-paste: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82020792289?pwd=A5Rnrk3EpYssjyZcpyTrgSFynk0Jjw.1  

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Upcoming Highlights – All are welcome!

November 23, 2025 – Native American month! 

November is National Novel Writer's month (NaNoWriMo). The focus of this program is for aspiring authors try to write 50,000 words in 30 0days (1-30 November). In December, members who take part talk about their stories that they attempted to write. By Rudy Gonzales

 December 28, 2025 – Holiday Gala!

 March 2026 – Banned Book – members will each select a banned book

🤪Joke Corner!🤣

🦜 The Toastmaster Parrot 🌳

A Toastmaster bought a parrot to practice speeches with. Every evening, the parrot sat quietly while the owner rehearsed. Finally, one day the parrot interrupted:

“Excuse me, but your *introduction is too long, your body is too short, and your conclusion doesn’t tie back to your opening!”

The Toastmaster gasped. “How do you know so much about speeches?”

The parrot puffed up proudly: “I’ve been to more club meetings than you think. I’m a Distinguished Bird Master!”

Do you know how powerful your thoughts are? Let me tell you. Your thoughts have the capacity to make you extremely successful, boringly average, or at the bottom of anything you participate in. The single most important factor is your thinking. In his book “The Magic of Thinking Big” Dr. David Schwartz gives concrete examples of incredible positive achievements and tremendous failures. The most notable reason for the successes and failures is the thought life of the participants. It has been said, “If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right.” It’s entirely up to you. No one can resist a made-up mind! The purpose to change your mindset and thought life to propel yourself to greatness. Expand your possibilities as you expand your thinking. I think you can….No, I know you can!

Respectfully,

Rev. Don Hutchins

District 27 Chaplain