District 106

Newsletter

October 2022

 From The Desk of the District Director

We have completed our 1st quarter (July – Sep), and now we are in the entire phase of conducting contests. So here are our accomplishments to date. First, we have new candidates for district leadership. Ed Aylward declared his candidacy for District Director, and Katy Hursh announced her candidacy for Program Quality Director.

We recently conducted an Award Distribution Ceremony, which includes Toastmaster of the Year 2021-22, Area Director of the Year 2021-22, Division Director of the year 2021-22, Triple crown winners, and much more. Activities worth noting are listed below.

• Moment of Truth (North Shore Evaluators and TCO Speakos)
• Speech Craft (Eloquent engineers)
• Area Director visits started

We achieved and submitted 135 members' awards to World Headquarters.

Division Count of Awards:

Division A 19

Division B 41

Division C 24

Division D 22

Division E 29

This quarter we added 44 new members.

New members added by Division:

Division A  4

Division B 14

Division C  8

Division D 10

Division E  8

We saw 190 members not yet enrolled in Pathways.

Division A 24

Division B 36

Division C 45

Division D 41

Division E 44

Our Program Quality Director and Area Director may approach your club leadership; please help new members enroll in Pathways. You can help them to achieve their awards and move to their next project. This way, members will benefit from Pathway's Education program.

We are trying our best to serve members with different goals so every member can receive actual value and quality experiences from Toastmasters.

I am appealing to all experienced members to help our Area Directors fill speech contest roles like Contest Chair, Chief Judge, Ballot counter, Voting Judge, and Timer. It's teamwork, and it needs excellent coordination. Here are the dates and times of October's Calendar of speech contests.

At the same time, we are appealing to new members to attend speech contest events and observer the events. You never know if you could be the next International Champion or District 106 Champion.

Last but not least, feel free to reach out to your District Officers and provide us with your feedback. We are here to serve you. District Officer Directory

Best Regards,

Gopu Shrestha,

District 106 Director

From the Desk of the Program Quality Director

At our recent District 106 Awards Dinner, Immediate Past District Director Distinguished Toastmaster Kimberlee Redington presented multiple well-deserved “Resilience” awards. You missed a fantastic celebration of our District’s resilience and achievement during the past three years. Catch the Canva video here: D106 Awards Dinner and Awards Celebration 2022 

We are a resilient district. It is evident in the many educational and leadership achievements that you, our dedicated Toastmasters members, are reporting. How is your club doing? Find statistics regarding District 106 clubs and their progress in meeting Distinguished Club Program goals at district performance.  

Two District 106 clubs have been achieving educational awards at a rate of more than one per member this Toastmasters program year! Join me in congratulating and celebrating the success of The Informers; and Data Park Toasters! What dedication! These are just two fantastic District 106 Toastmasters clubs you’ll want to visit! Learn what they do to succeed, and use those ideas to help you and your club meet your goals!

Please get out and enjoy our autumn speech contest season! Keep celebrating your educational goals! District 106 will become distinguished because it reflects YOUR distinction!

Ed Aylward

District 106

Program Quality Director

From the Desk of the Club Growth Director

Moving Mountains

Have you heard the saying “The mountains are calling and I must go?” There is something surreal about mountain climbing. Though not everyone who sees a mountain decides to climb it. Growing up out west in Idaho the Rocky Mountains were right outside my front door. There was a season I would climb/hike up one of the mountains near our home every day. At first, it was a challenge and my footing wasn’t the best. The trail would sometimes be on a narrow ledge that challenged me to keep my balance. For some internal reason, I kept on walking every day until it got easier and I knew every part of the mountain, the ravine below, and the next mountain. There was always another ledge, bolder, or cave to explore. I loved the challenge and sense of adventure. Eventually, I conquered my mountain and it was time for a new challenge.

With a neighbor, we tackled a steeper mountain 3 mornings a week. It was 1 mile up and 1 mile back. It was a steeper climb and took more endurance. I soon learned I was being challenged again. It took weeks for us to make it to the top without being exhausted. In the process, we got stronger and gained more skills. 

Later, another friend taught me how to ride a motorcycle. It took a few days of riding in the cow pasture before I attempted the roads and then through mountains, boulders, and creeks. The places we rode were something I never imagined myself going to, especially on a motorcycle. I crashed often, but I kept on going. One of our rides was so challenging. When we got to the canyon's end, I was so exhausted. I had a bad fall and just wanted to be home. There was no way out of the canyon but to return to the grueling trail we had come. I gathered myself and maneuvered through the large boulders on the narrow trail. It was insane, but I soon discovered that the second time was much easier than the first time.

Why am I talking about mountains? Because these immovable giants have stood the test of time. The only way to move a mountain is to show up again and again and again. Determine you've already reached the top and have another mountain in sight to conquer after this one.

What is your mountain? Low membership? Inactive club members? Public speaking? It's time to get moving and decide to move that mountain. Our careers, relationships, or health can all be compared to a mountain. You can move the mountains one step at a time. Just keep showing up and change your perspective. Look beyond this small mountain to what the next mountain or opportunity could be.

If your club needs help or you're not giving speeches, it's time to ask for help from me, your Area Director, or your Division Director. We are here for you and want you to succeed. Toastmasters is a place that can be challenging. It can get complicated, but if you need help, we are here to help you succeed so that you can move this mountain with confidence and skill and then conquer the next one.

Katy Hursh 

District 106 

Club Growth Director

29029everes inspired this article 

From the Desk of the Public Relations Manager

Fellow District 106 Toastmasters and VP- PR Officers, 

Thank you all for doing all the internal and external promotional activities for your clubs, be it word of mouth, leveraging the social platforms, and newsletters.

Halloween is on October 31st. I wish you all a very Happy Halloween. Since I like Halloween, I want to share with you how your club can use the social media platforms used by District 106 to publicize celebrating Halloween. 

Let’s start with Facebook. Here the content you are most likely to post is about things you like, so you can think of Facebook as where you would share that you enjoy celebrating Halloween. Images and videos are the most popular, but text and links get some attention, too. With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the most popular social media platform that D106 uses. So how do you engage on Facebook? Like, comment, and share the content.

Instagram was designed for images and videos (short) and can also be suitable for images/videos with links. For example, your club might share a photo or a story (short video) of your Halloween favorite costumes. People use Instagram most on their mobile devices (phone/tablet), so they usually look for entertainment, relationship building, or conversation on the go. With about 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram uses content based on whom you follow and which posts you like, comment on, or share. 

The District PRM team is hosting a special PR Practical Workshop on Oct 26th at 6:30 pm. I highly recommend all VPPRs register and attend the workshop. Click on the  link to register. Learn the basics of creating club newsletters, developing club websites using Free Toast Host, and increasing awareness of your club through social media.

District 106 Social channel presence by the Numbers:

Facebook: 396 Twitter: 159 LinkedIn: 156 Instagram: 256 YouTube: 122 TikTok: 5

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

We are excited to announce that we are now on TikTok as well. Promote! Promote! Promote!

D106 PR Homepage   

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, Dr.Sherri, Margie, Ashok]

Hybrid Meetings Information

Many clubs have been asking about converting to holding Hybrid Meetings. Click on the Hybrid Meeting link here for information on how to go from virtual or in-person meetings to hybrid meetings.

Ashok Sunkavalli

2022-2023 District 106 Public Relations Manager

ashoksunkavalli@gmail.com

Cell: (319) 431-2415

Message from the Youth Leadership Program Chair

Dear fellow D106 Toastmasters,

I had the good fortune to revisit the non-profit where I held my first Youth Leadership Program - YLP - this past week. The Non Profit had its annual fundraiser featuring the interns and the staff that tutor them. The interns and staff were each represented by two of their own for the Q & A segment of the evening. The moderator was an intern who had attended my first YLP six years ago. I still think of her as the 16-year-old in my class. Yet, here she was, not only moderating the Q & A session, she is now the office administrator! Who knew? She most certainly is not the same 16-year-old from my class. She is now the grown-up version of herself. 

I found this non-profit at a Saint Paul Saints game six years ago. I was looking for a youth group to conduct a YLP. The interns at the booth directed me to the Executive Director nearby. She was intrigued, and we exchanged contact information. That winter, we ran our first YLP with an eight-week course. It was exhilarating, entertaining, and rewarding. Just like our TM meetings, some prepared more than others. However, I am sure even the least prepared learned a lot.  

After three years, I was ready to step away; I found other competent Toastmasters to pick up the torch.  

At the fundraiser last week, three of the four speakers in the Q & A session referred to Toastmasters and how it helped them and other interns. The staff member on the panel told the story about how the moderator wanted the key to the building someday. Now, as the office administrator, she has ALL the keys to the building.  

When I spoke to the moderator after the event, she told me she was very grateful for what all the adults in her life had done for her, including me. Aw shucks! I was swelling with pride in her newfound career, knowing I had some small part in her success.  

I felt I created something enduring by beginning and finding other Toastmasters to participate and take over. I thought I left a legacy better than money. I was laying the path to help youths learn to speak for themselves. A skill all of us dedicated Toastmasters can appreciate. I felt I left a Legacy at that Non Profit. 

How about you? Would you like that warm fuzzy feeling long after you accomplish a YLP? Would you like to leave a legacy? Here is an opportunity knocking on your door. I hope you will answer it and let me help you get started. The first step is as easy as sending me an email.

Daniel Grundtner

YLP Chair '22-'23

dan.grundtner@gmail.com

651 487-3068

A Message From the Speechcraft Chair

Fellow District 106 Toastmasters,

My name is Mel Fiecke; I am the 2022-2023 District 106 Speechcraft Chair.

Can we be a positive impact on our communities? How do we make a difference? By walking with our fellow toastmasters in sponsoring Speechcraft in our clubs.

Speechcraft is an extended communication and leadership workshop that centers around reaching into our communities by sharing a glimpse of our own Toastmasters success stories. It is a fun and relaxed hands-on workshop. Speechcraft teaches us to present confidently while learning the fundamentals of being a better communicator and leader and gives us, as Toastmasters, a driving force to work together, share, and inspire together. It is a win-win for Speechcraft and Toastmasters alike. There is no time like the present to take that Speechcraft step toward helping others.

As Speechcraft chair, I can help you with resources for exploring and planning Speechcraft in your club.

Mel Fiecke

2022-2023 D106 Speechcraft Chair

melbyf@comcast.net

(763) 439-0696 

 2022 District 106 Fall Speech Contests

Speech Contests can't happen without volunteers. Learning how to conduct different roles for the Tall Tales and Table Topics contests is a great experience. 

Consider becoming a contestant and develop your skills as a public speaker. You will gain experience and learn from more experienced speakers. Learn more about how you can participate in the Fall Speech Contests by clicking on the link below. 

                          D106 Fall Awards Dinner Photos