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!
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Join Us for a Special In-Person Meet and Greet,
Sunday, May 18 — the day after the Pathways to Brilliance conference — with Toastmasters from Districts 2, 9, and 32!
This is your chance to:
🤝 Connect with fellow members from across the region
🎤 Mingle with leaders and guests who stayed in town after the D2 & D32 conferences
🌊 Enjoy the scenic waterfront vibes of the Des Moines Marina Pavilion
Whether you’re a longtime member or new to Toastmasters, this is a great opportunity to build connections, share stories, and get inspired!
Light refreshments provided. Bring your smiles and your questions—we can’t wait to see you there!
Many D32 attendees will be heading to the airport right after the event. If you can provide a lift, let us know how many you can carry when you register.
| | Pathways to Brilliance Conference Zone | |
New Option Added + Ticket Prices Go Up On May 1st!
We have now concluded all Division Contests! Congratulations to all who participated.
If your contestant advanced to the District level and want to cheer them on at the District level, we have just added a ticket option for the contest only.
Keep in mind that there is very limited access with this ticket and no food will be included.
- International Speech Contest ONLY (2:30 - 4:30 pm) $30
- Awards and Table Topics ONLY, no dinner (6-9 pm) - $30
The tickets will go up in price on May 1st. Get yours before it all closes up!
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Your One-Stop Shop Is Live:
Grab Raffle Tickets & Tee's in a Snap!
Ready to level-up your Pathways to Brilliance experience? Hit our brand-new One-Stop Shop purchase page and lock in everything with a single click:
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Raffle Tickets – Each ticket could land you a club-crafted gift basket bursting with $50+ in goodies. Must be present on May 17 to win, so keep that ticket handy!
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Limited-Edition Tees – Shine bright in our official logo tee (sizes XS–3X). Supply is very limited—pre-order now and pick up at the conference registration desk. No shipping. No hassle.
Why wait? Every purchase infuses a little magic in District 2 fundraising and guarantees you’ll stride into the Lynnwood Events Center looking like a star. Click below to visit the one-stop shop, and check “conference swag” off your list today!
Good luck in the raffle—and we’ll see you at the registration desk with your shirt and raffle tickets in hand!
| | Magic Behind the Mic: Speaker's Spotlight | | |
Hey Toastmasters!
Get ready to level up at the Pathways to Brilliance conference!
We have got an incredible lineup of educational workshops—three powerhouse speakers in the morning and three more in the afternoon.
Whether you are sipping on a coffee or cocktail, sit back and soak in all the amazing content created just for YOU.
To view speaker session head on over to our Facebook page:
https://lnkd.in/g4iJMeUW
Haven’t grabbed your conference ticket yet? No worries—you can still get yours here:
https://lnkd.in/d7Zg5Px2
Let’s learn, grow, and shine together!
– The Conference Team
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ALL ABOUT MARTY
Marty Varela, DTM - Speaker at the Upcoming Pathways to Brilliance Conference
The Backstory…
Marty Varela has been helping small and midsize businesses in the Pacific Northwest navigate growth and success since 2016 as the owner of a boutique consultancy. Committed to empowering business owners and professionals, she has also coached resource-limited companies through a local nonprofit since 2020. With a passion for leadership development, Marty equips individuals with the mindset and strategies needed to drive innovation, elevate performance, and create lasting impact.
Session Description…
Innovate, Elevate, Activate: Unlock Your Leadership Mindset
In leadership, innovation, elevation, and activation drive lasting success. This interactive session explores how these key elements shape your leadership mindset. Learn to innovate, elevate performance, and activate strategic tactics for real impact through discussions, hands-on activities, and real-world examples.
Key Takeaways:
- Convert challenges into opportunities with creative problem-solving.
- Cultivate influence, foster growth, and empower others.
- Channel ideas to execution for measurable results.
Congratulations, Marty on being selected as one of the amazing speakers at this year's Pathways to Brilliance conference to be held on May 17, 2025!
Sincerely,
The Conference Team
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ALL ABOUT JOSH
Josh Hindman, IP5 - Speaker at the Upcoming Pathways to Brilliance Conference
Toastmasters Clubs
- Aspiring Leaders (Home)
- Providence Toastmasters
Why does Josh love Toastmasters?
"Toastmasters has empowered me to step beyond my introverted shell, embrace creativity, advance my career, and support both my own growth and the growth of others in ways I never imagined possible!"
The Backstory…
Josh helps Toastmasters, public speakers, and speech coaches harness the power of AI to craft compelling speeches, enhance content creation, and streamline club marketing—without sacrificing authenticity.
Understanding common speaker challenges—writer’s block, time-consuming content creation, and the struggle to keep audiences engaged, Josh empowers speakers to leverage AI to enhance their storytelling, refine their message, and elevate their Toastmasters experience.
Session Description…
Simply AI: The Edge for Influence & Impact
Learn More by Checking out this Video!
Discover how AI can sharpen your communication, marketing, and leadership with clarity and efficiency. This hands-on session skips the tech jargon and dives into interactive exercises that amplify your influence—instantly. Ready to gain the edge? This session will be a lot of fun and filled with amazing information, join us!
Key Takeaways
1. Watch AI generate compelling speeches and marketing
posts in real time.
2. Test an AI tool on your phone to refine speeches,
spark ideas, and boost delivery.
3. Debunk AI myths and discover how it enhances—not
replaces—creativity.
4. Learn the 5 Keys to Effective AI Prompting for clear,
impactful results.
5. Engage in a live activity where AI generates
unexpected speaking prompts: see how fast you can respond.
Congratulations Josh, on being selected as one of the amazing speakers at this year's
Pathways to Brilliance conference to be held on May 17, 2025!
Sincerely,
The Conference Team
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ALL ABOUT AMANDA
Amanda Clothier, EH5- Speaker at the Upcoming Pathways to Brilliance Conference
Toastmasters Clubs
- Redmond Nights
- Lightworkers
The Backstory…
Amanda Clothier is a published author of four books and a sought-after conference speaker who helps adults unlock their creativity through storytelling, writing, and business planning. With a passion for guiding others past creative roadblocks, she shares simple yet powerful techniques to bring ideas to life. Whether through fiction or real-world narratives, Amanda empowers individuals to craft compelling stories with confidence and clarity.
Session Description…
Unlock the Stories Within You: Simple Storytelling Techniques
There is a continuing river of story within each of us. In this workshop, learn simple exercises to help you connect with those stories and bring them to life. Walk away ready to share them in your club, in your profession, and to enhance your conversations.
Key Takeaways:
- Connect with your inner River of Story.
- Mine your life for the stories you hold within you.
- Unlock your innate ability to see and tell your own stories.
Congratulations Amanda, on being selected as one of the amazing speakers at this year's Pathways to Brilliance conference to be held on May 17, 2025!
Sincerely,
The Conference Team
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Congratulations Educational Achievement Recipients
See the full list of recipients
Pathways Education award recipients for last week:
Dani M. Holder, Warren W. Lewis, Janis Flagg, Amanda E. Kratochvil
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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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The other day, my wife caught a first-hand glimpse of something I wrestle with daily: the swirling, bouncing chaos of living with attention deficit disorder (ADD).
I never use it as an excuse — I know my responsibilities; I get my work done. (Sometimes with a little last-minute adrenaline magic.) But staying focused? That’s another story. One minute I’m laser-focused on a project — the next I’m deep-diving into how to code a video game or craft the perfect ghost story... because obviously that's critical right now.
I bounce between tasks, chasing curiosity like a squirrel after shiny acorns. It slows me down sometimes. It frustrates me often. But it also fuels creativity, resilience, and — ironically — some of my best last-minute performances.
ADD doesn’t define me — it challenges me, sharpens me, and sometimes humbles me.
If you find yourself battling the squirrels too, here’s my advice:
- Break tasks into tiny, ridiculous steps.
- Set short timers to race against.
- Celebrate small wins.
- Be kind to yourself when your brain takes a detour.
Straight lines are overrated anyway. Stay brilliant — even if you zigzag a little getting there..
Empowering voices by Josh Hindman, your Starburst Editor
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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:
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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 Josh Hindman.
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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 - 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. | | | | |
