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May 8th - New D2 Town Hall Event

Join us for an engaging Toastmasters town hall hosted by District Directors from all three Districts!

D2: June Lear, DTM (FKA Sara Rantschler)

D9: Nancy Shatto, DTM

D32: Melissa Jean, DTM

This event will feature an insightful 8–10-minute address on the current status of our realigned district, followed by an interactive Q&A session. 

Craving the lowdown on the district merger?

Swing by Kyle’s Blog now for your exclusive backstage pass!

The Final Keys Must Be Forged

In the Emerald Kingdom of the Pathways to Brilliance Conference, where voices shimmer like stardust and courage unlocks new realms, six enchanted gates stand between us and the radiant heart of the Kingdom—our District Conference.

Four keys have already been forged in fire, focus, and fellowship. Now, only two gates remain—and both must open on a single fateful day.

📅 April 26 – Morning & Afternoon Division F & C Contests respectively

To complete the circle, we need guardians of the realm—volunteers ready to lend their heart and hands. Whether you serve as a timer, judge, ballot counter, greeter, or Sergeant at Arms, your role is more than support. It is spell work—shaping stories, summoning inspiration, and guiding champions on their path.

Every action lays another golden brick on our yellow-brick road to brilliance.

As one wanderer recalled: “I came to help… and left forever changed.”

No magical experience required. Guidance will be given. All you need is the spirit to serve. Two gates. Two keys. One last chance to be part of the legend.

Will you help unlock the kingdom?

Reach out to a Division Director listed below or contact Anu Jokinen at d2tm.pqd@gmail.com to claim your place on the path.

The kingdom is near, let’s unlock it—together.

Listed in date order. Division links take you to the registration page, while Director links start an email with that director.

Last week our District Director sent notifications to our District Council (All Presidents, VPE's, ADs and DDs) to notify you about two DC meetings in May.

Everyone is welcome to attend these events that will shape the future of the New D2!

May 12 - Candidate Showcase

May 16 - Hybrid Business Meeting Party - D2 only

May 18 - Post Conference Meet and Greet in Person

May 20 - D2/9/32 Business Meeting and Election on zoom



Mark your calendars for these events! We look forward to seeing you all soon.

ALL ABOUT MONICA

Monica Meas, Speaker at the Pathways to Brilliance Conference to be held on May 17, 2025

Home Club – Constructive Communicators

The Backstory…

Monica Meas is a dynamic speaker and expert in social communication, leadership, and human connection. With a deep understanding of how behavior shapes influence, Monica helps leaders go beyond authority to create genuine impact through authenticity, vulnerability, and relatability.

Drawing from research in social intelligence and real-world leadership experience, Monica empowers individuals to communicate in a way that builds trust, strengthens relationships, and inspires action. Whether on stage or in conversation, Monica brings a fresh, engaging approach to leadership—because great leaders aren’t just heard, they’re felt.

Session Description…

Social Communication: The Biology of Leadership

Learn More by Checking out this Video!

Great leadership isn’t about commanding the room; it’s about connecting with it. Explore how authenticity, vulnerability, and relatability are the true building blocks of influence. Learn practical strategies to naturally draw people in, communicate with impact, and create

meaningful experiences for those you lead.

Key Takeaways:

1. Discover how social intelligence shapes effective leadership.

2. Build trust through authenticity, vulnerability, and relatability.

3. Engage and influence with practical communication techniques.

4. Apply real-world tools to enhance leadership presence.

Please join us in congratulating Monica!

Sincerely,

The Conference Team

ALL ABOUT OMAR

Omar Rivas, DTM, PDD Speaker at the Pathways to Brilliance Conference to be held on May 17, 2025

Home Club – WRY Toastmasters

Why does Omar love Toastmasters?

“Toastmasters provides a safe environment to explore and exploit hidden communication assets.”

The Backstory…

Having delivered over 3,000 speeches on leadership, business, and interpersonal skills and presented over 8,500 speech evaluations in the military and professional worlds, Omar Rivas understands the needs of an audience and how behavioral psychology plays into the engagement so necessary for presenters and the audience.

Session Description…

Deliver your Message - Use Words if Necessary

Learn More by Checking out this Video!

Many leaders focus solely on content, but audiences engage with the presenter first. What you convey matters more than what you say. In this session, learn to leverage your unique strengths and assets you already possess to deliver a world-class talk.

Key Takeaways

1. Identify what you are truly projecting.

2. Discover how others perceive you.

3. Improve key areas to become more engaging.

4. Leverage your strongest communication assets.

5. Practice daily habits to enhance your communication skills.

Please join us in congratulating Omar on being selected as one of the six amazing speakers at The Pathways to Brilliance Conference.

Sincerely,

The Conference Team

We’re Calling on the Magic-Makers… That’s You!

In every great journey, there’s a moment where wonder meets generosity—and this is yours.

Help us light the way to Pathways to Brilliance by donating a prize basket valued at $50 or more (gift cards totally count!). Your club’s gift will not only spark joy and support our cause—it will be honored in the official Conference Program for all to see.

Whether whimsical or wise, cozy or clever—your basket is a thread in the brilliant tapestry we’re weaving together. And the best part? It’s your club’s chance to be part of something truly unforgettable.

DEADLINE to commit is APRIL 25th.

Submit your magical promise to Christy Halajian using this enchanted Form Here

• Let your creativity soar.
• Let your generosity shine.
• Let your club be part of the legend we’re building together.

Have questions or want to chat about your idea? Reach out to Christy at christy.helvajian@gmail.com.

Together, we’re building brilliance—one basket at a time.

Reminder: You must be a *registered conference attendee and present to win!

Click the link below to get your raffle tickets! Thank you for supporting District 2’s fundraising efforts—every ticket makes a difference.

Good luck! 

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/wqrt6te

The Conference Team

Notice an outstanding Toastmaster? Nominate them to be featured here! Don't forget to provide us an image of your nominee!

Congratulations Educational Achievement Recipients

See the full list of recipients

Pathways Education award recipients for last week:

Eta Ghanooni, Gregory Tompkins, Kylie Keyzer, Peter Horne,

Sunit Sivasankaran, Tracy Spinella

UNLEASH THE FORGES OF CREATION!

No Charterversaries this week? Then Destiny is Calling You.

The embers of greatness are glowing, waiting for a bold spirit to strike the first spark.

What if your workplace, your community, or even your favorite hobby group became the next launchpad for confident speakers and inspiring leaders?

What if you were the one who brought that dream to life?

This is more than starting a club.

This is about starting a legacy.

Imagine:

• A club for healthcare heroes.
• A club inside a comic shop or a co-working haven.
• A club for multilingual storytellers.
• A club that meets at sunrise, fueled by coffee and courage.

The forge is open. Will you craft something legendary?

Club Growth Director Roxanne Spring is ready to hand you the hammer, the blueprint, and a team to help you build it.

.

All it takes is the will to shape the future.

Be the architect. Be the spark. Be the story others will tell.

Reach out to Roxanne today and let’s build something unforgettable together.

We’re excited to host the AREA CONTEST for District 2 Gavel Clubs, featuring the International Speech and Evaluation Contests.

Participating Clubs:

• Bothell Gavel Club of Future Leaders
• Gurukul Gavel Club
• Voice Masters Gavel Club

The contest will include Junior, Intermediate, and Senior categories.

Date: June 7, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location: Park Ridge Church, Bothell, WA

We warmly invite Toastmasters to volunteer as judges to support this inspiring youth event.

Contact: Vivek Garg – bgcfl@hotmail.com

Let’s come together to inspire the next generation of confident speakers and future leaders!

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

2024/2025 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:

• Topic: Focus on club special events.
• Word Limit: Try to limit posts to 200 words or less.
• 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.
• Contact Information: All articles must include your club website and/or a contact email for more information.
• Event Posts: Submit up to three consecutive posts for a single event.
• 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 Josh Hindman.

Starburst Suggestion Box

Have a Starburst suggestion? Please check out our Starburst Suggestion Box (only 5 questions), to help us improve the Starburst Newsletter!

This newsletter was edited by - Josh Hindman, 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.