Click here to learn about the Talk Up Toastmasters program, from February 1 to March 31!

5 January 2023

Greetings Toastmasters of District 53,

My family and I wish you the very best, YOUR very best life in 2023!

I find myself amazed that half of the 2022-2023 program year is written in the past. Immediate Past District Director Ishii told me that this year as District Director would occur as passing quickly. 

John J. Hogan, District Director

He was spot on!

Nevertheless, there is much to come in the next six months! Your Club Speech Contests are in full swing. Area and Division Speech Contests will follow, culminating with District Speech Contests, conducted at the Spring Conference in May. Club Officer Training events are happening too, throughout January and February. FebFest 2023 planning for February 4 is in the works, and it will be online. Program Quality Director Walter is busy with her conference (“SPRINGBoard Into Action!”) and contest committees, putting together the high quality programs that District 53 Toastmasters cherish. Club Growth Director Peck is making great strides with placing Club Coaches, and supporting new clubs through the chartering process. 

And finally, fellow Toastmaster, what is YOUR personal goal that will be realized through your participation in one of our 11 Pathways educational opportunities? I’ll share mine in my next newsletter. 

All for now!

In service,

John J. Hogan
District Director, 2022-2023

12 February 2023

Fellow Toastmasters —

We are 2 months into 2023 and there is so much that has happened — and so much to come. Here is what is going on with Program Quality, which deals with our education, training, and contest programs.

Patti Walter, Program Quality Director

Officer Training: Officer training is completed. My thanks for the help of Chad Babcock. Stephanie Roy and Mohan Padamati, who put the program together. Also, thanks to the number of facilitators that stepped up to present at one of our sessions. Missed training? Don’t worry! If you missed training you can find other Districts’ trainings on our website.

Conference: COME ONE COME ALL!!!! TICKETS ARE ON SALE!!! Come join us at our 2023 spring conference. “SPRINGboard to Success.” The committee has planned a jammed pack day. Make a weekend of it and spend Sunday at the Basketball of Fame or MGM studios. Accredited Speaker Joe Grondin DTM will be doing our keynote along with other sessions. Come see old friends and make new ones. Looking forward to seeing you all.

Contests: The contest season is upon us. Area contests are under way and Division Contest will follow shortly afterwards. Consider volunteering for a functionary position or a judge if you are qualified. Send me an email at pqd@d53tm.org and I will get your name to our Chief Judge Andrew B. Watt DTM. A list of the scheduled contests is on our d53tm website. Come enjoy some great speakers.

Also remember we have other monthly events going on such as MMEP and Officer Forums. MMEP is open to all members and is held the first Wednesday of the month. This is a great place for members to get their questions answered and learn more about Toastmasters. It is held the first Wed of the month. The Officer Forum was created to give officers a chance to network. With elections coming up soon this is a great place to introduce potential officers to the role. So bring a guest or two…Dates and details can be found in our monthly newsletter and on this District calendar. (Note: if you are not receiving our monthly newsletter, please let me know so we can add you to the list at pqd@d53tm.org.

Remember, we are a village. I am asking you to step up to the plate and help us. The District has many volunteer positions open. Many will fit nicely into your Level 4 and Level 5 projects. Even if you only have 1 or 2 hours a week or 2 hours total, we can find something for you to do to build your confidence as a public speaker, and develop your leadership skills!

Patti Walter
District 53 Program Quality Director

16 January 2023

Greetings fellow Toastmasters!

Bettyann Peck, Club Growth Director

We all know Toastmasters love to connect, so take advantage of it — Let’s Talk Up Toastmasters! This exciting membership program starting February 1, 2023, is the chance to encourage your members to invite guests to a special meeting where prospective members can learn about Toastmasters’ many benefits.

Here’s how it works for your club:

  • When you add five new, dual, or reinstated members with a join date between February 1 and March 31, you’ll receive a special Talk up Toastmasters ribbon to display on your club’s banner.
  • Qualifying clubs can also earn a special discount code for 10% off their next club order.

The discount code expires six months from the date of issue and is not valid with other offers
Applications and payments for members with a join date between February 1 and March 31
must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than March 31. The addition of
transfer and charter members does not count towards Talk Up Toastmasters credit.

I look forward to seeing the remarkable results of your efforts that will benefit you and your
clubs!


Yours in Toastmasters Service,

Bettyann Peck
Club Growth Director, 2022-23

2023 Conference
6 May 2022 — Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place —
Springfield, Massachusetts

Conference Registration Is Live!

Get the SuperSaver discounted rate for a limited time!  Rate ends January 31, 2023.

Register here.

The Call for Presenters is open!

Each year, District 53 hosts a conference for Toastmasters — we hold our spring business meeting, attend the District-level round of the International Speech Contest and other contests, and attend workshops and training events. We’d like you to apply to be a presenter! Read more here.

Recent District News

Click HERE to see All District News

Congratulations: New Clubs!

We are excited to welcome two new clubs…

  • Big Y Toastmasters of Springfield, MA!
  • Voya Toastmasters of Windsor, CT!

We congratulate and welcome the charter members of these clubs to District 53, and we look forward to seeing them at upcoming events like Club Officer Forums, Monthly Member Education, and Club Officer Training days!

Sincerely,
Bettyann Peck, DTM
Club Growth Director, 2022-23

Upcoming District Events

District 53 Podcast

Club Officer
Forums

Read about our new offering, the Club Officer Forums, where club officers can meet and connect with other officers in the same role from across the district from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. You’ll have a chance to share your best practices, work through your concerns and obstacles, and develop new ideas into action plans. Read more about them here.

Monthly Member Education Program

MMEP is a members monthly educational program. Join using the link on our District Calendar for the specific date! Or put it on your calendar, and use the Zoom Link provided here:  https://tinyurl.com/D53-1st-Wed

1st Wednesday. of each month — next on February 1st at 7:00 pm! (December’s Topic: How and When to Use our Social Media Sites)

March topic: March 1st at 7 pm! Navigating Pathways, come with any questions you have. We promise to either answer them or get answers to them.

Need more information or want to suggest a topic? Contact PQD Patti Walter at pqd@d53tm.org

Volunteer Opportunities

The Volunteer Opportunities page has been updated – 18 August 2022.

If you have additional volunteer opportunities to post, let us know!

Our District Mission…
We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.

Coronavirus Update – Revised November 21, 2021 – Review New Information

As vaccinations proceed apace across New York State, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, there is hope for a return to in-person meetings in the future. Public health agencies and officials are starting to loosen mask restrictions and travel limits, and more facilities are opening to semi public meetings.

Since each Toastmasters club is an independent entity, each club may decide to return to in-person meetings by a majority vote at a regularly scheduled and announced business meeting. The District suggests that a committee of club members develop a procedure that meets local public health guidelines and satisfies any requirements imposed by the host venue. Please include processes for members and guests to attend virtually wherever possible in your club guidelines. Know also that your club and its officers have insurance to protect you against physical damage to your host facilities, but that this protection may not extend to claims arising from a member or guest’s health care.

District 53 Toastmasters has a more complex route back to in-person meetings than individual clubs. Many of our historic venues for TLIs, Club Officer Training, and District meetings are still closed to outsiders, and are choosing to remain so until later this year.

For a complete update with important new information, go to the District 53 Coronavirus Update.