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District 106
Newsletter
November 2025
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PR Pros Toastmasters
December Meeting: Master Club Branding!
Thursday, December 4, 2025
7:00 PM CT
Virtual via Zoom – perfect for members & guests!
Join us for a power-packed session on Club Branding – the key to growing your club’s visibility and impact!
🎤 Mini-Keynote: Matt Villella – "Club Branding – Key Success Element" (10-12 min + Q&A)
🗣️ Panel: Leslie Hahn leads "What are you doing for Branding, today?"
❤️ Member Voice: Hassan Barzani – "What branding means to me"
Plus: Guest Insights to Branding-Awards and Networking
All experience levels welcome! Bring a friend and let’s build stronger clubs together.
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District 106 Holiday Party
Saturday, December 6
5:30–8:30 PM CT
Larpenteur Estates Party Room
1276 Larpenteur Ave W, St Paul
Get ready to unwrap a night of laughter, fellowship, and full-on holiday magic!
Bring a Friend
Spread the cheer! Whether it’s a fellow Toastmaster or someone who’s simply ready for a fun night out, invite them along.
Potluck Goodness
Bring your favorite dish—sweet, savory, or a treasured holiday classic. Our potluck spread is sure to be as diverse and delightful as our members.
Ugly Sweater Contest
Search your closet (or your sense of adventure), because it’s time for the annual Ugly Sweater Showdown. Matt Villella will be judging, cheering, and awarding prizes for the most outrageous, festive, and wonderfully awful sweaters of the night.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
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Early Bird Tickets Now Available – D106 Annual Conference
Looking to connect with Toastmasters beyond your club? Don’t miss the District 106 Annual Conference, a full day of inspiration, learning, and celebration.
📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026
📍 Plymouth Community Center, Plymouth, MN
Enjoy an inspiring keynote, interactive breakout sessions, and thrilling speech contests as we celebrate the legacy of District 106.
Tickets are on sale now — follow the links below to our ticket sales site.
If you have questions, reach out to Spring Conference co-chairs Chrisa Walter and Stacey Neske.
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Want a FREE ticket to the District Conference? It’s easier than you think!
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Complete ONE educational level in Pathways by December 31, 2025, and you’ll earn ONE entry into the prize drawing.
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Complete MORE levels, and you’ll earn MORE entries—each level equals another chance to win!
Winners will be drawn at the January 2026 TLI (Toastmasters Leadership Institute)!
The more you learn, the more chances you have to WIN!
Take your skills to the next level, inspire your club, and maybe YOU will be one of the lucky three joining us at the conference for FREE!
Start today—log your goals in Pathways and get those levels completed!
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From the Desk of the District Director
A Time for Empowerment
As we move toward the end of the year, it's the perfect time to reflect on the immense growth and positive change happening within our district. The core of Toastmasters is empowerment—empowering you to find your voice, lead with confidence, and achieve your personal and professional goals. Let's capitalize on this powerful momentum by empowering not just ourselves, but our entire community!
Empowering Your Journey: Next Steps in Toastmasters
We are all on a journey of continuous improvement, and sometimes the next step is outside our comfort zone. Consider these ways to deepen your Toastmasters experience:
Seek advanced growth: Are you ready to take your skills to the next level? Explore the possibility of joining an Advanced Club. These clubs often have specialized focuses (like speech contests, evaluation mastery, or professional speaking) and offer a different kind of challenge and mentorship. Look on the District 106 website for a list of chartered Advanced Clubs near you!
Be a club champion: Some of our smaller clubs are doing important work but need our support. Consider becoming a dual member or simply visiting a low-member club to help revitalize their energy. Your presence, participation, and encouragement can be the key to their success and sustainability.
Challenge: Make it a goal this month to visit one new club—Advanced or developing—and share your knowledge and enthusiasm.
Give the Gift of Growth: Share Toastmasters This Holiday Season
The holidays are quickly approaching, and what better gift is there than the gift of confidence, communication, and leadership?
Imagine giving a loved one the ability to ace their next interview, deliver a memorable wedding toast, or lead their team effectively. That is the gift of a Toastmasters membership!
Give a membership: This year, consider sponsoring a friend's, family member's, or colleague's first six months of membership. It is an investment in their future that truly keeps on giving.
Bring a guest: The best way for someone to understand the value is to experience it. Encourage your guests to attend two or three meetings. Let them see the supportive, engaging environment we have created.
Throw Open the Doors: Host an Open House!
The most effective way to welcome new members is through an exciting, well-organized Open House! Open Houses are crucial for showing the public the energy, value, and fun of your club. Now is the perfect time to plan an event that showcases your club's strengths and attracts new blood.
Plan an event: We encourage every club to schedule an Open House between now and the end of January.
Focus on impact: Feature outstanding speakers, high-energy Table Topics, and a panel of members sharing their "Toastmasters success story."
Need resources? The District 106 Club Growth team has resources, templates, and support available to help you plan a successful event. Reach out to Anna Gaichas, Club Growth Director today!
Let's finish the year strong and build a truly empowered and vibrant District 106!
Hope to see you at the holiday party.
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From the Desk of the Program Quality Director
Contests, Conferences and Celebration: A Look of What's Ahead for District 106
As we move into an exciting close to 2025, there’s so much happening across our District to learn, grow, and celebrate together!
🎤 Division Online Speech Contests – Happening This November!
The stage is set, and our contestants are ready to inspire! Don’t miss the Division-level Online Speech Contests taking place in 3rd week of November. Check https://d106tm.org/calendar/ for dates and links to register. Let’s come together to learn and cheer on our amazing contestants and celebrate their speaking excellence!
🎄 District 106 Holiday Party – December 6, 2025
Mark your calendars for an evening of laughter, games, and holiday cheer! Join your fellow Toastmasters for our annual Holiday Party on Saturday, December 6 • 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Larpenteur Estates Party Room, 1276 Larpenteur Ave W, St Paul, MN 55113
👉 Register today
For any questions, contact our Holiday Party chairs: Leslie Hahn or Fred Luce
Get ready to unwrap a night of laughter, fellowship, and full-on holiday magic! Our District 106 Holiday Party is shaping up to be a warm, memorable celebration where members and friends come together to relax, connect, and share some seasonal joy.
Join us for a night filled with warmth, community, and holiday fun. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
🌟 Save the Dates – Winter TLI 2026 on Jan 19, 2026
Looking for volunteers and TLI Chair, please reach out to me if you are interested. Click here for more information.
🌟 Save the Dates – Celebrating D106 & Spring Conference 2026!
Our grand celebration continues into next year!
- Celebrating D106: May 1, 2026, at 6 p.m. CDT
- D106 Spring Conference: May 2, 2026 – A full day packed with exciting sessions, engaging topics, and phenomenal guest speakers!
Be sure to read the inspiring article above by our Spring Conference co-chairs Christa Walker and Stacey Neske for more details about the event. Save the date and get your early bird tickets before the prices go up!
🎓 Club Officer Training – 2nd Term
Leadership and learning never stop! Check the D106 Calendar for the 2nd term Club Officer Training sessions scheduled for January and February 2026. Strengthen your skills, connect with leaders across the District, and take your club to new heights.
Let’s continue to grow, celebrate, and inspire together as we close out a remarkable year for District 106 Toastmasters.
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With gratitude and enthusiasm,
Ashok Sunkavalli
Program Quality Director, District 106
Email: tm.ashoksunkavalli@gmail.com
Phone: 319-431-2415 (call or text me!)
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From the Desk of the Club Growth Director
Growing Strong Together!
As we move deeper into the Toastmasters year, November is shaping up to be a month of exciting momentum for club growth, support, and new opportunities across the District.
Club Coach Connections Are Underway
We are actively connecting club coaches with clubs that can benefit from renewed energy and focused support. If you’re interested in serving as a club coach, now is the perfect time to get your name in! Starting your coaching experience before January gives you the potential to successfully coach a club to distinguished status by June 2026.
Coaching is one of the most rewarding leadership roles in Toastmasters—whether you’re building toward your DTM, strengthening your mentoring skills, or simply wanting to make a meaningful impact, this is the moment to step forward.
Clubs: Request a Coach (or Any Support You Need!)
Clubs: Request a Coach (or Any Support You Need!)
If your club could use membership-building ideas, meeting support, or a full coach assignment, please reach out. We are here to help in whatever way your club needs—from one-time guidance to long-term coaching partnerships.
October Charter Parties: A Huge Success!
October brought two wonderful charter parties celebrating new clubs joining our District: Watermasters and Gen AI Speakers. These moments remind us how powerful our community is when we welcome new members, build new leaders, and expand the Toastmasters footprint. Thank you to everyone who supported these clubs on their journey to charter!
Have an Idea for a New Club? Let’s Build It!
Do you know a company, organization, or social circle that could benefit from the empowerment Toastmasters provides? Let’s talk about starting a new club together!
Whether it’s a workplace team looking to level up communication or a community group wanting to build confidence, we can help get the conversation started and make the process smooth and exciting.
Let’s keep November focused on connection, growth, and supporting every club to thrive.
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From the Desk of the Public Relations Manager
Celebrate Connection: Host a Social Toastmasters Meeting This Season
As we enter a season filled with holidays, traditions, and community gatherings, it is the perfect time for clubs across District 106 to embrace what makes Toastmasters special: connection. Our
meetings are where stories are shared, confidence grows, and friendships form. This time of year gives us a natural opportunity to open our doors a little wider and invite others into that experience.
I invite every club in District 106 to consider hosting a “social meeting” during the holiday season. Think of it as a relaxed, joyful gathering where members can celebrate together, share meaningful stories, talk about traditions, and highlight the communities and families that shape who we are. These meetings can take many forms—festive themed meetings, potlucks, storytelling sessions, gratitude round-robins, or any creative twist your club enjoys.
But most importantly, make it a moment for outreach. Encourage your members to bring friends, family, coworkers, or anyone curious about Toastmasters. When people experience the warmth and camaraderie of a meeting firsthand, they quickly see how empowering and welcoming our community truly is. This simple invitation often plants the seed for new members or reconnects former ones.
A social meeting can be a powerful tool for club vitality. It strengthens bonds among current members, showcases your club culture, and reminds everyone why we gather week after week—to learn, grow, and support one another.
District 106 is full of incredible clubs with vibrant personalities. I’m excited to see how each of you brings joy, creativity, and togetherness to your year-end celebrations. If your club hosts a social meeting, please share photos and a short recap—we’d love to feature your event on our District channels.
Let’s end the year with connection, community, and celebration. After all, communication is at its best when shared.
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Warmly,
Leo Smith, DTM
District 106 Public Relations Manager
Email: leo.w.smith@gmail.com
Phone: 651-600-0531
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Newsletter Archive
Did you know that that there is an archive of past D106 newsletters?
Visit this repository if you need to refer to a past newsletter. https://d106tm.org/newsletter/
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Follow us on the D106 Website, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for exciting updates, inspiration, and more.
District 106 Social channel presence by the Numbers:
Facebook: 490 | X (Formerly Twitter): 214 | LinkedIn: 230 | Instagram: 311 | YouTube: 169 TikTok: 51
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