July 18, 2022
For immediate release
Dear Toastmasters of District 53:
Our program year is off to a robust start. Round 1 of Club Officer Training is in full swing. If you receive a call from Chad Babcock, District 53 Training Chair, won’t you please consider accepting the opportunity to be a trainer at one or more of the sessions?
One area where I am focusing my attention is the Toastmasters Annual Business Meeting (ABM). This is your opportunity to participate in Toastmasters’ democratic process. Your Club President and Club Secretary each have a vote, a vote for the International Director Candidates as well as the International Executive Committee and the various proposals to our bylaws. In a separate communication, I will be reaching out to your Club Presidents with information on exercising their proxy votes. At the heart of this is the opportunity for you and I to be informed and knowledgeable regarding candidates and proposals. Keep an eye on the website for an opportunity for you to meet with Bettyann, Patti, and me to have your questions answered.
In Toastmasters Service,
John J. Hogan, DTM, District Director 2022-23
Meet this year’s Leadership Team











Business Meeting Open House
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.
Club officer forums do not take the place of formal trainings… see below.
Club Officer Training Begins 1 June 2022
Registration Now Open!
Get at least four club officers trained at a training event between 1 June and 30 August, 2022, as part of your commitment to the Distinguished Club Program (DCP) — and you could earn bragging rights for the 2022-2023 program year!
Review your club’s current training status here (search for your club’s name or number).
Would you like to be a facilitator or trainer at Summer or Winter Club Officer Trainings (COTs)? See our Volunteer Opportunities page!
Monthly Member Education Program
MMEP is a members monthly educational program. Each month a topic will be discussed. No preregistration is needed — just 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 September 7th at 7:00 pm!
September’s topic is Outside the Club– a look at Toastmasters International and a tour of where to find events and resources.
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 – 27 July 2022.
Please consider applying for the role of Club Mentor for a club in the process of chartering.
The summer Club Officer Training sessions are looking for a few good presenters.
If you have additional volunteer opportunities to post, let us know!
Recent District News
- Panel: Why Be An Area Director?
- Club Officer Training Elsewhere
- District Officer Training Dates
- Farewell from Aki Ishii, DTM, DD 2021-22
- Club Officer Forums
- Sales Tax Info for Toastmasters
- Open Houses in June – July – August
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Results of the District Business Meeting
- Winners of the District International Speech Contest
Click HERE to see All District News
Upcoming District Events
- August 13, 2022, 9:00 AM: Online Club Officer Training
- August 23, 2022, 7:00 PM: VPM Club Officer Forum
- August 24, 2022, 7:00 PM: VPPR Officers' Forum
- August 25, 2022, 6:00 PM: District Officer Training I
- August 27, 2022, 9:00 AM: District Officer Training I
- September 7, 2022, 7:00 PM: Monthly Members Education Program
- September 10, 2022, 9:00 AM: District Officer Training II

Using Toastmasters Gift Certificates
District 53 celebrates and recognizes member and club achievement with gift certificates to the Toastmasters International store. Stumped by how to make the best use of these valuable rewards when you or your club receives them. How to use TI Gift Certificates…

We’re Ready to Serve Incoming Club Officers
We’ve curated a collection of resources designed to help club officers get off to a running start as they take office. Find links to downloads from the Toastmasters without having to search. Click to view the collection…
Our District Mission…
We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.
District Director – John J. Hogan, DTM
Program Quality Director – Patti Walter, DL4 EC3
Club Growth Director – Bettyann Peck, DTM
Public Relations Manager – Mohan Padamati, DTM
Immediate Past District Director, Akihiro Ishii, DTM
Division A Director – Jackie Kessler, DTM
Division B Director – Paul Terman, DTM
Division C Director – Chad Babcock, DTM
Division D Director – Paula Zajac, DTM
Division E Director – Beth VanKempen, ACB, ALB
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.