31 August 2022

Dear Fellow District 53 Toastmasters:

John J. Hogan, District Director

There are three things that I wish to communicate with you. Interestingly, they are interrelated.

Of immediate urgency is a phishing scheme that is currently being perpetrated on some other districts across the globe. I have posted a screenshot of the phishing letter here. This communication purports to be sent by District Directors to the Toastmasters of their districts, soliciting funds through the purchase of gift cards. To be absolutely clear, if you receive one of these solicitations, do not respond to it. Do not forward it. Delete it. Do not purchase gift cards in response to it. Additionally, know that Districts are not permitted to spend your funds on gift cards other than to the Toastmasters store.

We do have other resources to access, though, and you as members have a say in how they get used! At the District 53 Fall Council Business Meeting, we’ll be examining the budget of District 53 for the 2022-23 program year. The Business Meeting will be conducted on Thursday, September 22, 6:30-9:30pm. Due to technical difficulties with the budget software and the District Success Plan, the Fall District Council Business meeting has been rescheduled to October 27, 2022, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. All Club Presidents and VPEs, and all DEC members (Division and Area Directors, and senior team) are expected to attend as voting representatives. The meeting is open to interested Toastmasters. On the agenda are the following items.

  • Approval of the May 2022 District Council meeting minutes.
  • Approval of the final 2021-2022 Financial Audit.
  • Approval of the 2022-2023 District Budget.
  • Approval of the 2022-2023 District Success Plan (DSP).
  • Confirmation of appointed 2022-2023 District Officers.

How do we get money for the District Budget? A portion of your bi-annual dues come back to the District to pay for the programs, services, and incentives that we offer to each member and all clubs in our District. When you pay your dues on time, it helps us maintain the services your club’s officers draw on to fulfill your club mission, and the mission ff the whole organization! The October 1 Membership Renewal Campaign helps make sure Dues arrive at World Headquarters (WHQ) by this date. Club Growth Director Bettyann Peck has put together an exciting incentive package to reward those clubs who attain certain paid membership levels by the Earlybird date of September 15. Check the District Newsletter that was sent out on August 29. If you are a gmail user, and cannot locate the newsletter in the Inbox, check the Promotions folder.

In Toastmasters service,
John J. Hogan, DTM
D53 District Director 2022-2023

Dues Renewals Deadline!

Remember that the Dues Renewal Period is open, and that clubs are expected to pay dues on behalf of their members before 30 September 2022!

Clubs pay $45 in dues for each member of their club; this can be done in Club Central on the Toastmasters.org website by any officer. New members also pay a $20 new member fee, and any club fees required, as well.

Recent District News

Click HERE to see All District News

Upcoming District Events

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 October 5th at 7:00 pm! (October’s Topic: Speech Craft)

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.