District 106

Newsletter

November 2022

From the Desk of the District Director

We have completed our Fall Speech contests. Thank you to all of our officials for helping our new Area Directors and Division Directors. It takes a village to run a speech contest. Thanks to our contestants for competing in the Area and Division contests. Way to Go! We will run the final district contests on May 12, 2023, in Duluth.

As you all know, we have membership renewals twice a year. The first renewal is in October, and the second is in March. Our October renewals show an impressive result. The paid club renewals were 86%. We had 91 paid clubs (8+ members) out of 105 clubs.

Statistics showing clubs with gains in membership are listed below:

Statistics show club membership renewal losses for the following clubs:

November is the month for round 1 club visits. Your area directors will be visiting your clubs. Please share any club concerns with them and any help you need to rebuild your clubs. Reach out to your area director and contact them via https://d106tm.org/directory/

If you need help, you may reach out to the following key people:

1. Club Quality Chair: Yves Prevost, DTM, PDD

2. Club Retention Committee Chair: Greg Scholz, DTM

We found outstanding performance from the following clubs, who already achieved 5+ goals and heading towards “Distinguished Status” in the first half of the program year.

Those outstanding clubs are:

Thank you to the leaders and mentors of the above clubs.

Finally, WHQ Store is open, and here is the link https://www.toastmasters.org/shop. Recognize members in your club. Feel free to order from this store. In addition, you can request a few more promotional materials to rebuild your club.

Best Regards,

Gopu Shrestha

District 106 Director

From the Desk of the Program Quality Director

Our district mission is "We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence." Ever reflect upon the "We" in that statement. As District 106 Toastmasters, "We" is "Us," all of us! We elect teams to help guide us to distinction: our club officers, division directors, and their network of assistants serving as area directors. As we settle into the end of the calendar year 2022, I wish you joy and happiness as you plan and enjoy various family traditions and celebrations. 

We are between contest seasons. No more pressure to help fill a speech contest role for a few months. Your Area Directors will be completing their club visit reports. Receive them warmly. Provide honest feedback regarding any struggles your club may have, whether it is completing communication and leadership projects or attracting and retaining new members. The more dialogue we have regarding problems faced in one club, the more likely we are to develop and embrace creative solutions that benefit all of us.

Our district had 58.5% of our club officers complete officer training in round 1. I want you to know that your commitment to the program is significant. Click here to view Round 2 of officer training, which begins this month and lasts till February 28th. Please position your club to become distinguished by assuring that at least 4 of your club officers complete training in round 2.

I have been mailing ribbons to those who have completed a Pathways level or a path. I'm pleased to report that you are completing education awards at a rate that I can't keep up! I could rush my handwritten notes, but they would be even less legible than my regular hen scratching! So I'm replenishing my ribbons stock and will continue to recognize your achievements. I'm switching to typewritten notes. Please feel free to communicate with me, however! Make sure your club is celebrating every member's achievement! Growing your skills is worth celebrating any day and in any way!

Ed Aylward

District 106

Program Quality Director

District 106 Fall Speech Contest Winner Results

The contestants listed below will represent their divisions at the District 106 Spring Conference Speech Contests on May 12th in Duluth, MN.

From the Desk of the Club Growth Director

Thankful for Toastmasters

November is that time of year when we witness a change of season if we are fortunate to live in a part of the world with four seasons. As the temperature drops, the leaves on the trees change color from green to gold, brown, and some even red. Soon the trees lose their leaves and become bare as they prepare for winter. My garden and flowers are gone. It's time to put the garden hoses, rakes, and lawn mower away until spring. If we didn't know better, it would be alarming and seem like something was wrong. 

Knowing that it is autumn, we have learned to welcome the change and prepare for the seasons ahead. So I planted over 100 bulbs of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. Lord willing, the bulbs will remain tucked in the flower beds all winter and be ready to bloom come late April or May. 

Looking back on your toastmaster journey so far, what have you learned? Has Toastmasters equipped you to be successful in your everyday life or career? If so, how? Like the bulbs/seeds planted in my flower bed, the nuggets of gold we learn as toastmasters will bloom one day when you need it the most. This is when you get to see the proof in the pudding or put into practice your 'WAX ON, WAX OFF' as done by the Karate Kid movie. The character Daniel realizes washing cars, painting fences, and painting the deck were not done in vain. His teacher shows him that his movements transfer to effective positions of defense in Karate. But his teacher says, "Not everything is as it seems." 

The past weeks of my job have been extremely challenging for me. However, knowing Toastmasters equipped me with the confidence to resolve workplace conflicts. I worked with my supervisor to come to a solution with a fair representation of all parties involved. I am thankful Toastmasters has given me the confidence and skill to know the best steps to preserve relationships in a work environment.

This month take time to count your blessings in Toastmasters. As a toastmaster, you are improving your speaking skills, communication, and speaking skills, and leadership skills. So take advantage of the opportunities this fantastic organization offers. It will prepare you for your future career, leadership roles, and whatever else life brings.

Be sure to read the monthly TOASTMASTER MAGAZINE. There are some excellent articles on each issue from which you can grow. Remember, Toastmasters is a tool that will equip you to be a success in the days to come. "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson.

Warm regards,

Katy Hursh

District 106

Club Growth Director

From the Desk of the Public Relations Manager

Fellow District 106 Toastmasters and VPPR officers! 

Greetings from the Office of the District PRM [Bob, Margie, Johnny, and Ashok]. We hope you all are doing well.

Thanks to my PRM team for hosting the Practical PR Tool workshop on October 26th and making it successful. Kudos to all who could attend the event. For those who missed it, please feel free to access the presentation here. 

Have you seen our latest D106 Video Cast Series, "Mentoring Minutes"? If not, check it out here. Share, subscribe, and like it.

Next, I'd like to call all VPPRs to start looking at your club websites and ensure they are up to date with content following Toastmasters brand guidelines. The key for your club website to show on top is SEO (Search Engine Optimization). It works better if you have some keywords about your club and how it can help folks looking to join the Toastmasters. If you need any guidance or help with Club Website (FTH), please feel free to reach out to us by sending an email to prm@d106tm.org.

District 106 Social channel presence by the Numbers:

Facebook: 401 Twitter: 165 LinkedIn: 166 Instagram: 262 YouTube: 128 TikTok: 6

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for exciting updates, inspiration, and more. For exciting updates, inspiration, and more.

If you have any questions, comments, feedback, or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out! 

Together we keep the Toastmasters brand strong!

PRM Team [Johnny, Bob, Margie, Ashok]

Ashok Sunkavalli

2022-2023 District 106 Public Relations Manager

ashoksunkavalli@gmail.com

Cell: (319) 431-2415

Message from the Club Quality Chair

Hello, District 106 Toastmasters! I hope you had fun with the speech contests. We have some fantastic speakers in this district, and it was a pleasure to participate in the contests as an official or an audience member.

Several people wanted to join the team of new club sponsors and mentors but felt it needed to be more to organize club contests. Now that the club contests are over, l ask that you consider joining our team of new club sponsors and mentors for upcoming new clubs. We have a team in place, but this team needs to grow to meet the district's new club goals. 

Have you thought about how you can help shape the future of District 106? By becoming a new club sponsor and mentor, you can ensure the success of new clubs while helping new clubs discover their personalities. The success of new clubs creates, in turn, club diversity in the district and strengthens the district's leadership and communication programs. Don't you want to be part of that?

As a sponsor and mentor, you can pass your knowledge on and make new contacts while enjoying another facet of Toastmasters. I promise you will learn many transferable skills and learn how Toastmasters works. Did you know that successfully serving as a new club sponsor and mentor earns you credits toward your Distinguished Toastmaster designation? Fulfilling this credit is usually an obstacle in achieving a DTM as the opportunity presents itself infrequently. We want to invite you to take advantage of this rare opportunity. 

You may have eyes on serving the district in the Trio leadership. It is an essential experience to know how clubs are formed and succeed when you get elected. In addition, being a sponsor or mentor shows your interest in district leadership and your desire to improve the district. Then, when you present yourself as a candidate, you will have a massive advantage over those who lack this unique experience. 

If you are working towards earning your DTM, want to serve as part of the District Trio, or want to help the district meet its new club goals, please consider becoming a new club sponsor and mentor! You will enjoy the experience while helping build District 106. Please get in touch with me at yprevost123@gmail.com to get started. 

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Yves Prevost DTM PDD

District 106

Quality Club Growth Chair

Congratulations to all of the District 106 Toastmasters clubs and members for your excellent achievements during the 2021-22 Toastmasters year!