District 106

Newsletter

February 2026

Upcoming District Events

Inspiring Our Future: District 106 Celebration & Conference

Our 2026 District 106 Celebration & Conference is built around one clear theme: Inspiring Our Future. This theme is all about intentional growth—strengthening our communication, expanding our leadership impact, and confidently shaping what comes next.

We’re excited to bring this theme to life with two featured keynote speakers, each offering a powerful and complementary perspective.

Dave Ryan, longtime KDWB radio host and former Toastmaster in the Twin Cities area, brings decades of experience connecting with audiences. His morning keynote promises an engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking experience grounded in the power of communication and connection.

Sarah Centrella will share insights from #FutureBoards, one of her bestselling books. Her afternoon keynote will guide attendees through envisioning and intentionally designing a future that aligns with their values, goals, and purpose—an inspiring and practical message for Toastmasters at every stage.

Alongside the keynotes, the conference delivers a full day of impact with speech contests, workshops, networking, professional headshots, and a silent auction. 

Have you purchased your ticket yet? 

• Click here to get your general admission ticket for the Conference on May 2, 2026 in Plymouth, MN
• Click here to get your general admission ticket for the D106 Evening Celebration on May 1,2026 in Plymouth, MN

Questions or interested in volunteering opportunities? Contact stacey.neske@gmail.com or christa.j.walter@gmail.com

From the Desk of the District Director

What Does Toastmasters Mean to You? I Have a Challenge for You.

We are now in February, the shortest month of the year, but so much potential.

We have a few months left of the Toastmaster year, what are we going to do to finish strong, impactful, and meaningful for our members?

What is Toastmasters to you? Is it an opportunity to sharpen your voice? Perhaps it’s an opportunity to enhance your confidence or maybe it’s an opportunity to say things you never would be able to say without Toastmasters. Whatever the reason for Toastmasters, we should share it with other people. Why are we going to keep it hidden?

My challenge to you is to write something small—100 to 300 words—and share the impact on social media. What has Toastmasters meant to you? Please feel free to tag me and District 106 in your post. Let’s invite one or two friends to attend in the next couple of weeks. If all of us talk up Toastmasters, we can make our clubs strong and dynamic. 

We have so much exciting things happening in the next couple of months—speech contests and our celebration and conference. Pleases join us and celebrate, learn and grow. 

Thank you for being a member of Toastmasters in District 106. You have made this an honor and a privilege.

Matthew Villella, DTM

District 106 Director

Email: tm.matthew.villella@gmail.com

From the Desk of the Program Quality Director

Officer Training and Speech Contests—Investments in Your Club's Growth

As we step into February, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all our dedicated club officers across District 106. Your commitment to learning, leading, and serving your members continues to strengthen the quality and impact of every club meeting.

Congratulations to Trained Club Officers

A big congratulations to all club officers who have successfully completed their officer training this term. Your effort to sharpen leadership skills and understand your roles more deeply is truly commendable. Well-trained officers empower club members, create engaging learning environments, and ensure meetings run smoothly and effectively.

For those who have not yet completed the training, I strongly encourage you to do so at the earliest opportunity. Officer training is not just a requirement—it is a powerful investment in your club’s success and in the growth of every member you serve.

Click here to register for an Officer Training session.

Speech Contest Season is Here

February also marks the exciting beginning of the Speech Contest season. I encourage every club in District 106 to conduct their club-level contests with enthusiasm and excellence. These contests provide members with a platform to challenge themselves, build confidence, and showcase their communication and leadership skills.

Let us also ensure that each club is represented at the Area level by sending at least one contestant for both:

• International Speech Contest
• Evaluation Speech Contest

Your support and encouragement can inspire members to take that courageous step onto the contest stage—an experience that often becomes a defining moment in their Toastmasters journey.

Together, through strong officer leadership and vibrant speech contests, we continue to elevate the learning experience across District 106.

Thank you for your service, your passion, and your unwavering commitment to excellence.

Let’s make February a month of growth, participation, and achievement!

Ashok Sunkavalli, DTM

Program Quality Director, District 106

Email: tm.ashoksunkavalli@gmail.com

Phone: 319-431-2415 (call or text me!)

From the Desk of the Club Growth Director

Dream BIG: Building, Imagining, and Growing!

We have demo meetings planned for February and March with other potential new clubs continuing to meet as they work toward the 20 members needed for chartering.

You can help by serving in a meeting role at a demo, attending pre-charter club meetings, recruiting new members, or serving as a sponsor or new club mentor.

Imagine the Possibilities, a club focused on helping people with disabilities find the possibility of achieving their dreams, is having a renewed kickoff meeting, tentatively planned for Feb 24. from 2-3:30pm Central at the Roseville library.

Watch for promotions about this kickoff and consider how you can help make this dream of a club become reality. Contact courtneywilke34@gmail.com for more information.

True Crime Toastmasters is one of the clubs hoping to charter. They meet the first Friday of the month at 6pm Central. The next meeting is March 6.

Please follow and interact with them on LinkedIn and Facebook. The True Crime club is looking for a hybrid meeting venue within District 106 boundaries, possibly in St. Paul. Please reach out to Jen Flo jflodpm@gmail.com if you have venue suggestions.

The Wright County Administrators in-person demo meeting that was cancelled due to a winter storm looks to happen at last in late March. 



The Minnesota Department of Transportation club continues to meet on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays noon-1pm Central in downtown St. Paul as they build up membership to charter strength.

Contact me at anna.gaichas@gmail.com if you'd like to help with either of these clubs.

We have other club leads we are following and can always use ideas for potential new clubs. Everyone can help be a club builder.

We also have club rebuilding efforts in place with our 7 club coaches and other low member club support efforts. The coaches had their first monthly peer group meeting last month to share struggles and offer ideas. Collaboration has continued through email discussions. Low member clubs are always happy to have visitors to help with roles or serve as guest speakers. You could practice your contest speech for them, for example.

As the dues renewal approaches, please be in touch with your members to ensure you are meeting or even exceeding their needs. Especially check in with any members who haven't been attending lately. Remember that each meeting is an opportunity to introduce a new person to Toastmasters. Let's keep building and growing together to help more people build and grow into more than they can imagine.

Anna Gaichas, DTM

Program Quality Director, District 106

Email: Anna.Gaichas@gmail.com

Phone: 651-206-8310

From the Desk of the Public Relations Manager

PR Is How We Grow—And You’re Already Doing It

Public Relations isn’t about slogans or schedules—it’s about stories. Every confident speech, every leadership stretch, every supportive meeting moment is a story worth sharing. And those stories are how Toastmasters grows.

Think back to what brought you here. A recommendation. A post. A conversation. That was PR in action.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a title or a template to make an impact. PR works best when it’s personal.

Three Simple Ways to Strengthen Our Reach

1. Share one moment.
   A breakthrough speech. A leadership win. A lesson learned. One post, photo, or short reflection can inspire someone who’s quietly searching for confidence.
2. Show your club in action.
   Clubs don’t grow because they’re perfect—they grow because they’re welcoming. Photos, celebrations, open houses, and milestones tell that story better than any flyer.
3. Invite one person.
   The most powerful PR tool we have is still the personal invitation. One guest. One visit. One warm welcome.

Why This Matters

PR isn’t promotion—it’s connection. It’s how we open doors for future members and ensure our clubs remain vibrant, visible, and thriving.

When we all share just a little, District 106 shines a lot.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Share a story. Celebrate a win. Invite someone new.

That’s how we grow—together.

Best,

Leo Smith, DTM

District 106 Public Relations Manager

Email: leo.w.smith@gmail.com

Phone: 651-600-0531

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