Toastmasters District 56 offers many ways for members and the public to learn about Toastmasters, including our website, social media communities, press releases, and mobile alerts.
You can also find out about news you can use each month in the District 56 Messenger. This month's newsletter is full of useful information, including many accolades and achievements and the introduction of your Area Directors!
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District Leadership Opportunities
Looking for a way to share your time and talents with Toastmasters District 56? Join a District 56 Leadership Team to build leadership skills, expand your network, contribute to our community, and maximize your potential.
Opportunities are available to serve as members of the Club Growth Director and Public Relations Manager teams.
CGD Team Opportunities
PRM Team Opportunities
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Public Relations Manager Team opportunities include newsletter, website team, social media, blog, media relations, and photographer. Anyone interested in volunteering as part of the PRM Team may express their interest by completing this form or can email prm@tmd56.org.
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ATTENTION TOASTMASTERS: 6 MONTH DUES DUE ON OCTOBER 1!
Membership renewals are due by October 1. Club members' dues must remain active for both the club and the member to remain eligible to access and participate in Toastmasters International programs. Plus, on-time membership renewals help clubs earn partial Goal 10 credit in the Distinguished Club Program. Dues for October 2023-March 2024 are $60.
Learn more on the District 56 Calendar. Be sure to check the calendar often for more important dates and events.
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Make Plans to Attend the 2022-2023
Year-End Celebration
Mark your calendars for the 2022-2023 Year End Celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. September 30, at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Rd, Houston. We will celebrate and recognize District 56 Toastmasters for their outstanding contributions at the Club, Area, Division, and District levels.
Awards and medals pick up! If you or your club won an award in 2022-2023, you may be able to pick them up at this event.
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Smedley Membership Building Award
If your club can add five new, dual, or reinstated members between August 1 and September 30, you qualify to receive a Smedley Award ribbon for your club banner and a 10% discount code for your next order from Toastmasters International.
Your club may also receive a Toastmasters International gift certificate from District 56.
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Clubs Encouraged to Host Open Houses
Clubs in District 56 are encouraged to plan and host open houses to increase awareness, build excitement, and gain new members. Clubs that conduct open houses by September 30 and add new members may be eligible for an incentive from District 56.
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Online Leadership Elective - How to Earn Your DTM Award
How to Earn Your DTM Award - 9 to 10 a.m. September 16 and from 7 to 8 p.m. September 25.
Register today to learn more about earning your Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award. The speaker for this OLE is Cynthia Abdon, DTM, DTM Chair.
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In-Person Club Coach Training
Club Coach Training - Noon to 4 p.m. September 23 at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston.
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Tale Tales, International Speech Contests Set for 2023-2024
Speech Contest Season is approaching. This year, we have the Tall Tales Speech and the International Speech. Area and Division Speech Contests will be on the District Calendar soon. For more information, download the Speech Contest Rulebook Toastmasters International -2023-2024 Speech Contest Rulebook.
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Pathways Refresher Courses for Leaders and Members
Members who joined Toastmasters BEFORE May 2023 are invited to attend Pathways Enrollment and Refresher Training on Zoom from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. Thursdays through June 2024.
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New Member/Pathways Orientation - Monthly Zoom Meetings
New members who are excited to start the Toastmasters’ journey are invited to attend the online New Member & Pathways Orientation to activate your communication and leadership goals.
This is open to all new members who joined a District 56 club AFTER May 2023. You must have received an email from Toastmaster International and assigned a mentor by your Club VP Education.
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Save the Date for Start of Round 2 Club Officer Training
Round 2 Club Officer Training is planned, scheduled, and open for registration. It begins in 2 months, November 4, 2023. Register Now!
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Toastmasters Represent District 56 at International Convention |
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District 56 leadership, including the Trio, a Past International Director, Administration Manager, Finance Manager, Division Directors, and Area Directors, represented our district at the annual Toastmasters International Convention in August in the Bahamas.
The next convention will be in August 14-17,2024, in Anaheim, California, and will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Toastmasters International. Learn more and register TODAY at the Toastmasters International website.
Toastmasters leaders and members attending the convention always learn a lot. District 56 Toastmasters attending this year 2023 said their favorite things about it were:
- Learning how Toastmasters International handles business
- Networking with other Toastmasters from around the world
- Helping with the Convention through the Helping Hands program
- Watching the World Championship of Public Speaking contest
- Participating in and watching the opening ceremonies
- Everything!
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Clubs, members, and leaders who reach certain milestones can celebrate doing a great job AND may be eligible for certain incentives from District 56.
Program Quality Director Incentives
New Member & Pathway Orientation Awards for Clubs and Members - Members who join Toastmasters between May 2023 and June 2024 and complete Pathways Level 1 and 2 within four months of attending a New Member & Pathways Orientation will participate in a drawing for a $200 Toastmasters International (TI) gift certificate. Incentives are also available for clubs.
Triple Crown - Any member who achieves three educational awards in a Toastmaster year (July-June) will receive a Triple Crown Pin and recognition at the end of the year celebration event. Limit one per member.
Club Growth Director Incentives
Area Director Club Visits, Round 1 - All Area Directors who complete 100% of their club visits and submit their reports by September 30, 2023, receive Early Bird recognition and a Toastmasters International gift certificate.
September Loyalty Challenge - Clubs that renew 20 or more members, or their member base plus 3 members by September 30, 2023, earn a Toastmasters International gift certificate. Amount TBD. Offered to the first 50 clubs. Note: You may check your club’s base membership on the TI dashboard Club Performance Report.
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PQD Achievements
Triple Crown: Congratulations to the 9 District 56 Triple Crown Award Recipients.
- Emily Murello, SR4
- Janice Poscovsky, DTM
- Jenn Aguilar, VC1
- Max Lopez, EH2
- Patricia Clarkson, PM1
- Samantha Traylor, DTM
- SivaJanani Uppalapati, IP5
- Vincent Belt, PM3
- Zaida F. OConnor, LD2
Almost Distinguished: Congratulations to the first three Clubs that are almost distinguished for District 56. Clubs with 4+ DCP goals or needing more members to be distinguished. The "members needed" properly accounts for the +3 net increase over the July 1 base or at least 20 total.
- American General Toastmasters
- Dining Out Toastmasters
- Houston Galleria Project Management Toastmasters
Highest Education Awards: Congratulations to the top 10 clubs with highest education awards per July 1, 2023, base membership.
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- H-Town Toastmasters Club
- Cane Island Path Blazers Toastmasters
- Sound of Greenway
- Mainland Toastmasters
- Deerwood Toastmasters Club
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- South Main Speakers Club
- Baker Hughes Speakeasy Toastmasters
- Talking Heads Club
- Speak Up Houston Toastmasters
- Phillips 66 HQ Toastmasters Club
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Planning for Success: Congratulations to these 17 Clubs who earned the Plan for Success Award: These clubs submitted their Club Success Plans to the PQD by the September 1 deadline.
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- Blue Frog Toastmasters Club
- Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Toastmasters
- Clear Lake Communicators Club
- Dance and Toast Masters
- Daybreakers Toastmasters Club
- Determined to Master Speaking
- Diamond Club
- Dining Out Toastmasters Club
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- Firm Speakers Toastmasters Club
- Houston Police Dept Toastmasters Club
- Kingwood Toastmasters Club
- Mente Abierta
- Pearland Toastmasters Club
- Southeast Houston Toastmasters
- Speak Up Houston Toastmasters
- UHCL Toastmasters
- Woodforest Toastmasters Club
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Thanks to the Club Officer Training Team: Gratitude and Appreciation to the 33 Round 1 Club Officer Training TEAM members.
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- Angela Tornes, DTM, PDD
- Becky Fields
- Chandra Munagavalasa, DTM, IPDD
- Cynthia Abdon, DTM
- Fatimar Jones, DTM
- Gail E. Lover, DTM, PDDG
- Harold Eaton, DTM
- Jennifer Nelson, DTM, DOD
- Jessica Quevedo, DTM
- Jocelyn Williams, DTM, CGD
- Jose A. Betancourt, DTM
- Jose H. Funez, DTM
- Joshua Saenz
- Keith Romaine, DTM
- Louis Cioletti, DTM
- Luisa Natali Ortiz
- Luz Bobadilla
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- Maria Peña, DTM
- Mariela Rovira, DTM
- Mark Vine
- Mary Craney, DTM
- Mary Jubb
- Mey Carrizal
- Pamela Williams, DTM
- Pooja Doshi
- Raul Rivera, DTM
- Roop Roy, DTM
- Scott D. Livingston
- Steve Jones, DTM
- Tere Benza
- Terrie Green, DTM
- Veronica Betancourt, DTM
- Yashar Golestani
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Training Around the Globe: The power of networking and sharing the District 56 Round 1 Club Officer Training graphic with other District Leaders on the PQD WhatsApp group resulted in Club Officers from 30 Districts trained in District 56 Round 1 Club Officer Training!
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- District 1 - California
- District 6 - Minnesota
- District 8 - Missouri and Illinois
- District 10 - Ohio
- District 11 - Indiana and Kentucky
- District 13 - Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio
- District 18 - Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania
- District 19 - Iowa and Nebraska
- District 20 - Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Egypt
- District 25 - Texas
- District 26 - Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nebraska
- District 30 - Illinois
- District 35 - Wisconsin and Michigan
- District 38 - Pennsylvania and New Jersey
- District 43 - Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee
- District 46 - New York
- District 50 - Texas and Louisiana
- District 51 - Malaysia
- District 52 - California
- District 54 - Illinois
- District 58 - South Carolina
- District 68 - Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas
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- District 74 - Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Madagascar, Seychelles, Réunion, Mauritius, Comoros Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da-Cunha, Bouvet Island, French Southern Territories, and Heard and McDonald Islands
- District 81 - Turks and Caicos Islands, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, United States, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Curacao, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Saint Barthélemy, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana
- District 84 - Florida
- District 102 - Malaysia
- District 109 - Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, Malta, Austria, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Türkiye, Cyprus, Israel
- District 119 - New York
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Club Officer Training: Congratulations to the 131 Clubs that have earned DCP (Distinguished Club Program) Goal 9a: Four or more officer roles trained in Round 1 of Club Officer Training. (These training reports reflect business from June 1, 2023, to August 31, 2023, and are not yet final. PQDs have until October 31, 2023, to add entries for Round 1 Club Officer Training.)
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CGD Achievements
Area Director Recognition: A special "shout out" goes to the 1st Early Bird Area Director, AD O11 Marcia Hudgens, DTM, PDDG! She is the first Area Director to complete and submit 100% of her Round 1 Area Club Visit Reports! Marcia gets Early Bird recognition and a Toastmasters International gift certificate.
July Jumpstart: Sixty clubs and more than 1,080 members of D56 leapt into 2024 and completed their October-March dues renewal before August 1, saving $15 before the price increase. The following clubs will receive a TI gift certificate.
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- A+ Toastmasters
- American General Toastmasters
- ANICO Articulators Toastmasters Club
- AspenTech Houston Toastmasters
- Blue Frog Toastmasters Club
- C & F Leaders Club
- Cane Island Path Blazers Toastmasters
- Cheniere Toastmasters Club
- CITGO VOICE
- City of Bryan Club
- Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Toastmasters
- Clear Lake Communicators Club
- Conroe Speaks Club
- Dance and Toast Masters Club
- Daybreakers Toastmasters Club
- Deerwood Toastmasters Club
- Diamond Club
- Dining Out Toastmasters Club
- Find Your Voice Toastmasters
- Firm Speakers Toastmasters Club
- Frankly Speaking Toastmasters
- Health Wealth and Happiness Toastmasters
- High Noon Club
- Houston Galleria Project Management Toastmasters
- Houston Police Dept Toastmasters Club InNOVators Toastmasters
- Katy Toastmasters Club
- LaPorte Toastmasters
- Mainland Toastmasters
- Marathon Speaks! Club
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- Market Street Toastmasters
- Master Evaluators
- Medically Speaking Toastmasters Club
- Memorial City Toastmasters
- Mente Abierta
- Missouri City Toastmasters Club
- Pearland Toastmasters Club
- Pensadores de Houston Toastmasters Club
- Phillips 66 HQ Toastmasters Club
- Post Oak Toastmasters
- Professionally Speaking Singles Toastmasters Club
- Sharpstown Club
- South Main Speakers Club
- Southeast Houston Toastmasters
- Southwest Project Management
- Speakers Connection
- Spring Ahead Speakers Toastmasters Club Storytellers
- Successfully Speaking Toastmasters Club
- Sugar Land Toastmasters
- Sugar Speakers Club
- T. rex Talkers
- TACL Club
- Talking Bull Club
- The Friedkin Group
- THE Tomball Toastmasters
- West Houston Toastmasters Club
- West Pearland Toastmasters
- Woodforest Toastmasters Club
- Woodlands Lakeside Toastmasters Club
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Will you see your name or your club's name here next month? |
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From Division N
I have served as an Area Director in Division N for three years, so the club officers are now like extended family. Our division is 80% corporate clubs, and 20% historically Distinguished community clubs. All our active clubs have submitted officer lists and are on target to have at least 4 officers trained. Our Area Director team is just as stellar as the club’s they support. They are 100% trained and are performing their duties with excellence in spite of family situations, work travel commitments and personal health issues. Vernetta Showers, Lina Papaioannou and Richie Wyke, I salute you all for your service to Division N and thank you for taking this journey with me
Samantha Traylor, DTM, Division R Director
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From Division Q
Congratulations to Area Q50 Director Elizabeth Smith on celebrating her 25th Toastmasters anniversary! You are an inspiration. Way to go!
Erin Neyhart, IP5, Division Q Director
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District 56 offers many resources for members, including branding resources, toolkits for clubs and members, Pathways resources, Spanish resources, and more. Visit Toastmastershouston.com, click on “Resources,” and browse through the available content.
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If you are interested in promoting your club, you can find branding resources on the D56 web page, including links to editable Canva templates. Just visit the Branding Tool Kit to learn more.
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Sometimes, life gets in the way. If you or another Toastmaster encounters a life event (i.e., the birth of a child, marriage, divorce, family loss, loss of a job, moving to another state, diagnosed with major illness, etc.), please email our Compassion Outreach Chair (compassion@tmd56.org) to let us know.
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