Hello Toastmaster!

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Many thanks to all of you who attended Saturday's District 2 Town Hall! 

It was great hearing updates from our District Director, Anu Jokinen, and our Program Quality Director, Roberta Craig. 

They also answered questions submitted by our District 2 members. 

If you missed it, please view the recording here!

Join us next month on September 2nd at 11 am AK / 12 pm PT for our September "Let's Get 2gether on the 2nd" Town Hall! Register here

More Town Hall News From The PQD

How quickly time flies when you are having fun at club meetings under the summer sun. All too soon, Club Success Plans will be due into Club Central. To encourage clubs to participate in the Distinguished Club Program, District 2 is offering the Great Start Incentive:

Here are the details:

$75 D2$*/club that meets the following requirements by 9/15

• Club Success Plan Submitted 
• 4 Club Officers Trained**
• 8 member payments submitted

*Dependent on budget approval 9/18

**Officers must complete training by 8/31

For more information see PQD Town Hall News: Survey Winners & Great Start Dashboard and more.

Joining the Smedley Challenge

The Smedley Award program runs from August 1 to September 30. Toastmasters International provides details on eligibility and how to participate. To qualify, clubs need to add five new, dual, or reinstated members with a join date within the specified period. The addition of transfer and charter members does not count towards Smedley Award credit. Applications and payments for new members must be received by Toastmasters International or submitted online no later than September 30.

How to grow your club and earn the award?

• Host an open house
• Leverage social media
• Engage with potential members

By actively participating in the Smedley Award challenge, clubs can boost their membership, strengthen their programs, and earn well-deserved recognition for their achievements. This fosters a thriving and supportive environment that benefits all members.

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

Joanna Tavera, CGD

ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW CLUB MENTOR OPPORTUNITY

Seeking passionate Toastmasters: Mentor A New Club To Success!

Experienced Toastmasters can enhance their leadership skills and contribute to the District 2 community. Dedicated Club Mentors are needed to guide and support newly forming Toastmasters clubs through their initial six to twelve months.

Club Mentors act as guides and advisors, helping new clubs implement the Toastmasters program effectively. Responsibilities include:

• Building rapport with the club and attending meetings regularly.
• Ensuring the club is strong and functional, connecting members with helpful resources.
• Familiarizing the club with the Toastmasters International website and its resources.
• Encouraging club officers to attend district-sponsored training and coaching them on their roles.
• Helping the club develop positive habits, e.g. prepared speeches, evaluations, and enthusiastic participation.
• Fostering a culture of membership-building within the club.

Being a Club Mentor offers a rewarding experience with several benefits:

• Enhancing communication and personal skills.
• Developing leadership and management qualities.
• Reinforcing Toastmasters knowledge.
• Increasing confidence and motivation.
• Earning credit towards the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award.
• Making a lasting impact on new Toastmasters and contributing to the growth of the program.

How to get started

Contact D2 Club Growth Director to express interest, learn more, and get started. 

This is an opportunity to share your Toastmasters journey and help shape new clubs. Join in making a difference!

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 will help you get started!

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!

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!

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 3

by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

✨Shine Online: Make Your Virtual Presence Pop✨

Want to show up like a pro on Zoom? A

strong virtual presence helps your message land with clarity and confidence.

Here’s how to make it count:

• 💡 Light it

up. Good lighting isn’t optional, it’s essential. Bright, even lightning

keeps you looking sharp and your background from glitching.

• 👋 Keep it crisp. Avoid the “ghost effect” (you know—vanishing arms

and fuzzy edges). It’s more distracting than cool.

• 🎬 Back it up. If your virtual background isn’t cooperating, go real!

A simple wall, curtain, or screen keeps the spotlight on you.

• 🎤 Focus on what matters. Your voice, your message, your presence, that’s

the real showstopper.

• 🌟 Lead by example. Whether you're speaking, hosting, or tuning in,

how you show up represents Toastmasters—and you.

Presence = Impact. Let your setup support your message—not compete with it.

Your visual presence is part of your personal brand—and it reflects the

excellence of the Toastmasters experience.

Following are two YouTube videos

to help get you from now to WOW!

5 SIMPLE Tips To Stand Out Like a Pro on Zoom!

How To Use Zoom Virtual Background With Green Screen

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!

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.