Toastmaster Jokinen,

Read this email as Webpage

District 2 Toastmasters!

You're invited to our August Town Hall on Saturday, August 2nd at 9 am AK / 10 am PT.

Whether you’ve got a question, some feedback on how the first month of the 2025–2026 Toastmasters year has gone, or ideas for what you’d like to see on the District website — this is your space to share, connect, and collaborate.

✅ Ask questions

✅ Share suggestions

✅ Meet fellow members

✅ Help shape the year ahead

District Director Anu Jokinen will be there, ready to hear your thoughts, answer questions, and connect with members across the District.

Pop in for a few minutes or stay the whole hour — we’d love to see you there!

Let’s get 2gether on the 2nd and make it count!

Register here!

D2 SEEKING CLUB COACHES

District 2 is seeking Club Coaches to assist eligible clubs to grow and better serve their members.

What are Club Coaches?

Being a successful club coach is a step toward your DTM. It’s also another way to grow your leadership and communication skills. District 2 is looking for Toastmasters who are experienced members to assist in rebuilding club membership and restoring club quality. A successful club coach will:

• Build rapport with club officers and members
• Instill enthusiasm, camaraderie, and structure within the club
• Assess the club environment and recommend best practices for success
• Work with club officers to develop a Club Success Plan
• Motivate the club to strive for Distinguished Club Program (DCP) recognition

Coaches who assist clubs to achieve Distinguished status (or higher) in the Distinguished Club Program will receive credit in the education program and a digital certificate of  accomplishment.

Ready to sign up?

Our District Club Growth Director is ready to help you get started!

Joanna Tavera, CGD

A club officer has a very important role in Toastmasters International. By providing leadership and support, you foster a positive environment that’s conducive to members’ personal and professional growth, allowing them to achieve their Toastmasters education program goals.

Start off the new Toastmasters year with the right tools to have a thriving club on the path to Distinguished status!

More training dates have been added! See below!

THE SECRET OF CLUB SUCCESS

John L Beckley, author of books on communication and management, is quoted for saying, "People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan." At the moment it may seem as if the new Toastmaster year has just started, but soon the last days of summer will be upon us. Followed by the holiday season, speech contests, and before we know it... the presentation of distinguished clubs walking across the stage with their club banners at the district conference.

A Club Success Plan is your not-so-secret roadmap to the Hall of Fame walk at the District Conference on May 16th, 2026. The other secret to club success is tracking and celebrating your achievements monthly.

Here is my Club Success Checklist for July.

☑️ Determine education goals for each member

☑️ Club officers attend training (see d2tm.org/calendar/ for available dates)

☑️ Members approve Club Success Plan & Budget

☑️ Designate Club's proxy holder for Annual Business Meeting.

If it's been a LOOONG time since your club drafted a Club Success Plan, or you need assistance uploading your plan into Toastmasters International, the Roxanne Spring, DTM, and the Distinguished Club & DTM Committee is offering support. Check out the d2tm.org/calendar/ and register for:

Club Officer Training - Club Success Plan training sessions offered weekly throughout July and August

Road to Distinguished Support office hours, offered every Wednesday 6-7 PM Alaska, 7-8 PM Pacific.

Find a date that works for you! Register here

I look forward to seeing your celebratory stage walk at the District 2 Conference May 16, 2026.

Roberta Craig, PQD

Hello, District 2!

I am delighted to serve you as our District 2 Public Relations Manager for 2025-2026. It's been a whirlwind since June 1st, when I was invited to the opportunity and said 'yes.' I have had many experiences that I will share with you in the upcoming weeks. I have been impressed by Toastmasters and clubs alike. I have also been scouting other districts for ideas that we can make our own. One such surveillance trip resulted in me becoming aware that District 25 offers a monthly virtual FUNdamentals course for those wanting an introduction to all that Toastmasters has to offer. This month's session is on Wednesday, July 30th, 2025 at 4 pm AK/5 pm PT/7 pm CT. Please, register, attend, and keep your eyes open for ways that we can take good ideas and make them great in District 2!

On that note, we still need a few more good Toastmasters to join our 2025–2026 Public Relations Team. We're on the hunt for bold, curious, and creative minds ready to make some noise! PR isn’t just a role—it’s a playground for your imagination and a launchpad for your leadership. Want to craft stories that inspire? Design visuals that grab attention? Plan campaigns that get people talking? You’re in the right place.

There’s a spot waiting for you—whether you’re a seasoned storyteller, a social media maven, or just someone ready to try something new and fun. We’ve got several roles open, and every single one comes with growth, support, and the thrill of knowing your work helps our members shine.

This is your chance to shape how our district connects with the world. Ready to unleash your creativity? Ready to try something new? Ready to make an impact?

Reach out to our Public Relations Committee, today—let’s make some magic happen together!

Marty Varela, PRM

QUIET SPARKS FOR CURIOUS MINDS

THE MYTH OF HAVING IT ALL TOGETHER

Here’s something I wish someone had told me sooner: no one

has it all together. Not really.

We see polished speeches. Flawless graphics. Poised leaders

delivering powerhouse presentations like they were born with a mic in hand and

a teleprompter for a brain. And maybe, for a moment, we wonder…

“Am I the only one barely holding it together with sticky notes and glue?”

Absolutely not.

Half the time, we’re just hoping no one notices the slides

are out of order, the coffee’s gone cold, and we may or may not be wearing real

pants.

The myth of having it all together whispers that if you

don’t feel confident, you must not be confident. That if you

stumble, you should sit down.

But growth? It’s messy. It shows up in the wobble. In the deep breath before you click “unmute.” In the moment you almost canceled — but didn’t.

Perfection is a myth. Failure is just feedback. And

sticky notes? They’re a leadership tool.

If no one’s said it lately…: I see you. I’m proud of you. You belong here.

Now take a breath, and let the sparks fly.

Josh Hindman, PRM 2024-2025

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 2

by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

Look in the mirror. Does your personal and club presence reflect the Toastmaster brand?

Your personal presence and the Toastmasters brand are intertwined—whether you realize it or not.

Every time you give a speech, greet a guest, or log into a meeting, you’re representing something bigger than yourself. Presence is not just for executives or influencers...it is for everyone.

Your tone, leadership, and how you show up all send a message. 

The question is: What message are you sending?

Since the pandemic, we have seen more casual meeting appearances—but it is time to reset. 

While suits are not required, a clean shirt, tidy look, and confident posture go a long way. As Deion Sanders said,

“If you look good, you feel good.”

🔍 Presence Check-In: 

Ask yourself...

✅ Do you reflect Toastmasters’ values?

✅ Are you modeling leadership and growth? 

✅ Does your club website and social media attract new members?

Toastmasters is welcoming and professional.

Together, let’s lead with intention—and be mindful of both our personal and club presence.

Sparkle & Shine, Friends!

Kelly Fallucca

VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest

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.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters Website

Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters YouTube Channel

Notice an outstanding Toastmaster?

Nominate them to be featured here!

As our District transitions through an important realignment this month, we want to keep you in the loop about what this means for you and your club. Between July 1 and July 28, World Headquarters will be completing tasks that impact club bases, membership records, and Distinguished programs.

During this time, clubs will not be able to add new members or process membership payments through Club Central, and members using Self-Pay will not be able to submit dues payments either. Because these updates affect how our records are tracked, you may notice a short delay in presenting education awards or celebrating charterversaries until the end of this month.

Your club officers can still conduct all other club business, and once processing is complete by July 28, we’ll be back on track to honor your achievements and milestones properly!

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move through this exciting transition. Together, we’re building a stronger District for all!

Questions? Reach out anytime at clubofficers@toastmasters.org.

GET IN-PERSON PRACTICE!

REDMOND NIGHTS DELIGHTS IN DIVERSITY!

Do you have T-Rex arms from speaking on Zoom?

Do you miss the interpersonal interaction a live meeting gives you?

Do you want to see a Level Five Keynote?

If the answer to these questions is YES!, then do I have a meeting for you. I'd love to invite you to join us August 3rd. Our Table Topics are fun and engaging, our members warm and welcoming, and the only thing we're missing is YOU.

Sunday, 08/03/2025, 7:00 PM

Bear Creek United Methodist Church

16530 Avondale Rd NE, Woodinville

Join us!

Amanda Clothier

Get more info!

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

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:

• 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 Marty Varela

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 - 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.