Author: Zachary Fisk

Join Us for the District 53 Toastmasters Annual Conference – May 10-11!

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

Dear Fellow District 53 Toastmaster,

As Program Quality Director for District 53, I’d like to extend a personal invitation for you to attend this year’s District 53 Toastmasters Annual Conference on May 10-11 at the Heritage Inn & Conference Center in Southbury, CT. The Conference Committee has put together an amazing program and the theme “Breaking Barriers” is something we can all relate to, whether it is a barrier in the way we network with others or a barrier to our own personal growth.

You will have the opportunity to experience two special workshops with a world-class Toastmaster and Accredited Speaker, Sheryl Roush. Her engaging, heart-centered keynote message will make you feel re-energized and inspire you even beyond your Toastmasters journey.

There will also be two additional morning breakout sessions led by outstanding District 53 Toastmasters. These interactive sessions will provide great tips on how to take your presentations to the next level as well as more advanced and cutting-edge topics. Plus, celebrate this year’s Communication & Leadership Award winner Alisa Klein with an all-inclusive luncheon. We close the conference with the fourth level of competition in the International Speech Contest – come see some of the best speakers in the District!

As Cathy K., a 2023 conference attendee, said “At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend a whole day, traveling to another state for the District conference but I’m SO glad I did! It gave me an opportunity to enhance my Toastmasters experience, and meet cool, new people, and I was blown away by the speech contest participants. It was a fun day- well worth it!”

Ticket prices go up on April 27th to the At Door rate, so please register to join us for this exciting opportunity to meet new people and invest in your own personal and professional development. Looking forward to seeing you there! There is a club rate, three or more people from the same club get a 10% rebate. Bring your fellow members and share this experience!

Additionally, don’t miss out on the FREE Friday night District Evaluation Speech Contest and socializing gathering on, May 10th at 7 pm. Click here for directions. 

Yours in Toastmasters Service,

Bettyann Peck, DTM
Program Quality Director 2023-2024

Toastmasters District 53 | Region 9
Serving Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and Eastern New York
“We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence”

Q3 Education Awards for 2023-24

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk
AwardNameClub
PWMENTORPGM03932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67555201 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67583946 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
Abigail Burson, LD5Nathan Hale Club
Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Michael Christ, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Noah Plen, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Peter Graziano, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Stephanie A. Roy, EC2Talk It Up Toastmasters
Vinicio Dias, DL5Nathan Hale Club
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5Nathan Hale Club
DL5Robert Ekblaw, DTMClifton Park Halfmoon Toastmasters Club
Vinicio Dias, DL5Nathan Hale Club
EC5Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Steve Burnell, EC5Speakeasy Toastmasters Club
EH5Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Frank L. Palmeri, EH5NYS Forum Toastmasters
LD5Abigail Burson, LD5Nathan Hale Club
Jacqueline Kessler, LD5Bethlehem Toastmasters
MS5Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Jane Philion, DTMWest Hartford Toastmasters Club
Janice R. Dimock, DTMSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
PI503932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
PM567555201 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67583946 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
Michael Christ, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Noah Plen, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Peter Graziano, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5LTIMindtree MegaMinds
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5Nathan Hale Club
TC503932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
VC5Russell B. Kenny, DTMGreater Bridgeport Toastmasters
DL4Beatriz Heredia, DL4Hartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club
Vinicio Dias, DL5Nathan Hale Club
EC4Janice R. Dimock, DTMSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
EH4Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Frank L. Palmeri, EH5NYS Forum Toastmasters
Janice R. Dimock, DTMSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
Kevin P. Shannon, DTMSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
IP4Chris Connor, IP4West-Conn Toastmasters Club
LD405390520 – Name unavailableiToast
Abigail Burson, LD5Nathan Hale Club
Ana Primeau, LD4Park City Toastmasters of Stratford
Jacqueline Kessler, LD5Bethlehem Toastmasters
Kevin P. Shannon, DTMSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
MS4Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
PI403932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
PM467555201 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67583946 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
David M. Thornton, DTMGreater Hartford Toastmasters Club
Jennifer DeMarco, PM4Capital Toastmasters of Albany
Michael Christ, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Noah Plen, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Peter Graziano, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Rochelle Murphy, PM4Aetna Speaks Up!
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5LTIMindtree MegaMinds
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5Nathan Hale Club
SR4Nora Adegbolagun, SR4Speakeasy Toastmasters Club
Pratishtha Sharma, SR4NYS Forum Toastmasters
TC403932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
VC4Russell B. Kenny, DTMGreater Bridgeport Toastmasters
DL301678250 – Name unavailableValley-Shore Club
Brett L. Kessler, DL3Bethlehem Toastmasters
Vinicio Dias, DL5Nathan Hale Club
EC3John Michaliszyn, EC3PROSPEAKERS
EH3Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Jocelyn Johnson, EH3Speakeasy Toastmasters Club
IP3Katherine Hogan, VC1ToasTRS Club
Matthew Storms, IP3West-Conn Toastmasters Club
Sara Parent, IP3Energy Toastmasters Club
LD3Abigail Burson, LD5Nathan Hale Club
MS3Deborah A. Furman, MS3IBM Poughkeepsie Toastmasters
Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
PI303932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
06515119 – Name unavailableTalking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters
PM301195733 – Name unavailableHartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club
06977960 – Name unavailableTravelers Noontime Toastmasters
67513566 – Name unavailableGE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club
67529489 – Name unavailableGE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club
67555201 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67583946 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
Jennifer Cimilluca, DTMColonel Ledyard Toastmasters
Le Minh Thu Nguyen, PM3Global Toasters
Michael Christ, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Peter Graziano, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5LTIMindtree MegaMinds
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5Nathan Hale Club
TC303932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
Paul Horvath, TC3Cedar Hill Toastmasters Club
VC304345027 – Name unavailableEnergy Toastmasters Club
Russell B. Kenny, DTMGreater Bridgeport Toastmasters
DL206583986 – Name unavailableSpeakeasy Toastmasters Club
Bonnie Mion, DL2ToasTRS Club
Brett L. Kessler, DL3Bethlehem Toastmasters
Linkesh Diwan, DL2One State Street Toastmasters
Sharon Long, DL2North Country Club
Vinicio Dias, DL5Nathan Hale Club
EC2Stephanie A. Roy, EC2Talk It Up Toastmasters
Thomas Farrelly, DTMHousatonic Toastmasters
EH203810046 – Name unavailableSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
05169243 – Name unavailableSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
Philip A. Sarnik, EH2Wooster Heights Toastmasters Club
IP206871175 – Name unavailableUnitedHealth Group Club
Kevin Houlihan, IP2West-Conn Toastmasters Club
LD206871175 – Name unavailableUnitedHealth Group Club
Abigail Burson, LD5Nathan Hale Club
Julia Wilkins, LD2Toastmasters of Downtown Springfield, MA
MS2Deborah A. Furman, MS3IBM Poughkeepsie Toastmasters
Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Kyle A. Main, MS2Norwich Toastmasters
PI203932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
06515119 – Name unavailableTalking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters
Wanda Campbell, PI2Southern Dutchess Toastmasters
Zachary N. Fisk, PI2Housatonic Toastmasters
PM200353884 – Name unavailableEagle Club
06977960 – Name unavailableTravelers Noontime Toastmasters
07530561 – Name unavailableValley-Shore Club
67529489 – Name unavailableGE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club
67555201 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67583946 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
Daniel Mascaro, PM2Niantic Toastmasters Club
DJ Pannella, PM2Stag Toastmasters Club
Jennifer Blackburn, PM2Greater New Haven Toastmasters Club
Jennifer Cimilluca, DTMColonel Ledyard Toastmasters
Michael Christ, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Nathan Almirall, PM2GE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club
Peter Graziano, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5LTIMindtree MegaMinds
SR2Ann-Marie Gottlieb, SR2Stag Toastmasters Club
Christopher McMahon, SR2North Country Club
TC203932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
04198049 – Name unavailableToasTRS Club
VC205555687 – Name unavailableMystic Aquarium Toastmasters
Russell B. Kenny, DTMGreater Bridgeport Toastmasters
DL1Bonnie Mion, DL2ToasTRS Club
Butho Ncube, DL1Empire Toastmasters
Susanne Corrigan, DL1Empire Toastmasters
Vinicio Dias, DL5Nathan Hale Club
Wanda Campbell, PI2Southern Dutchess Toastmasters
EH167541955 – Name unavailableNYS Forum Toastmasters
Nathaniel Waring, EH1iToast
IP1Alan Hill, IP1Farmington Club
Jocelyn Eppich, IP1Park City Toastmasters of Stratford
Ulric Lestrade, IP1Southern Dutchess Toastmasters
LD1Bettyann Peck, DTMPark City Toastmasters of Stratford
Dr. Alaina A. King, LD1Niantic Toastmasters Club
Emmanuel Trinidad, LD1Southern Dutchess Toastmasters
William J. Cowden, LD1Barnum Square Club
Yvette M. Fredericks, LD1Bloomfield Toastmasters Club 7139
MS1Deborah A. Furman, MS3IBM Poughkeepsie Toastmasters
Eva Menon, DTMNathan Hale Club
Nancy Cook, MS1Speakeasy Toastmasters Club
PI103932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
06515119 – Name unavailableTalking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters
67654758 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
PM106781383 – Name unavailableInspira Marketing Toastmasters
06977960 – Name unavailableTravelers Noontime Toastmasters
67529309 – Name unavailableTalking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters
67555201 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67583946 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
67610446 – Name unavailablePark City Toastmasters of Stratford
67655629 – Name unavailableDutchess County Toastmasters
Jennifer Blackburn, PM2Greater New Haven Toastmasters Club
Michael Christ, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Milena Lozina, PM1Bethel Toastmasters
Peter Graziano, PM5Nathan Hale Club
Philip B. Pape, DTMTalk It Up Toastmasters
Ryan M. Smart, PM1Talk It Up Toastmasters
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5LTIMindtree MegaMinds
SR1Amy Chiu, SR1Greater Stamford Toastmasters
Robert Mcmillen, SR1Capital Toastmasters of Albany
TC103932494 – Name unavailableNathan Hale Club
05169243 – Name unavailableSouthern Dutchess Toastmasters
VC104198049 – Name unavailableToasTRS Club
05555687 – Name unavailableMystic Aquarium Toastmasters
Katherine Hogan, VC1ToasTRS Club

A Toast to Women in Toastmasters

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

As I think about the upcoming District 53 conference theme “Breaking Barriers” the main notion grabbing my attention is we are celebrating 50 years of women’s membership in Toastmasters. From my perspective, it seems ludicrous that at one time this was a men-only group. We are a professional organization and very inclusive. Times were different.

This thought led me to wonder who was the first woman, and this would be a great topic for a blog post. Entering a few choice search terms into my search engine of choice, hint it rhymes with bugle, I discovered a great article in a fraction of a second from Toastmasters. It covers everything you’d want to know. I’ll provide a link to this source but let’s explore the highlights. (1)

Way back, before I was even born, in 1970 Helen Blanchard joined a Toastmasters club at the encouragement of her “fellow” members, she used the name Homer. Her joining paved the way leading to Toastmasters eventually opening up for women members. Toastmaster Blanchard later became the first Woman International President in 1985. What an inspiration!

In 2017, I first joined this organization. Women were and are well-established members. From my perspective, they are part of the foundation and the fabric that weaves us together. Many have been mentors to me for my speaking projects, and leadership.

I’d like to recognize a few women Toastmasters. Elizabeth Reed, DTM, is my longest Toastmasters mentor. She has encouraged me to take on many club leadership roles, and district roles. She is well regarded in our club as a mentor for all. Toastmaster Reed, a self-proclaimed bull in a china shop always gets things done in a way that everyone learns from. As a new member our club was struggling, and several officers had to step away. Together we took on many of the needed roles until other members were recruited. This provided much insight into how Toastmasters worked and the importance of stepping up when the chips are down. A lesson that has served me well professionally.

When I stepped up as an Area Director I served under Amy Chiu. She demonstrated lessons of organization for leaders, which was a tremendous help. I carried this lesson into my term as Division Director and continued in my professional life.

Fast forward to today and as I work with District Director Patti Walter, DTM, Program Quality Director Bettyann Peck DTM, and Region 9 Adviser Lynda Starr, DTM. They each demonstrate many great qualities of leadership for our organization and me personally.

Cheers to our ‘fellow’ women Toastmasters! You and your contributions are appreciated.

Source:

  1. https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2020/nov/women-in-toastmasters#:~:text=In 1970—a time when,encouragement of her fellow members.

2024 District 53 Conference is Breaking Barriers

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toastmasters District 53 Announces “Breaking Barriers” as Theme for 2024 Conference

Southbury, CT February 13, 2024 – Toastmasters District 53 is thrilled to announce the theme for its highly anticipated 2024 conference: “Breaking Barriers.” This dynamic theme was carefully chosen to celebrate Toastmasters’ centennial year and to reflect on the remarkable milestone of 50 years of women’s membership within the organization.

“Breaking Barriers” holds profound significance as it resonates differently with each individual, capturing the essence of personal growth, empowerment, and achievement. As Toastmasters celebrates its 100th year, the theme serves as a poignant reminder of the organization’s enduring commitment to breaking down barriers to effective communication and leadership.

“We are incredibly excited to unveil ‘Breaking Barriers’ as the theme for our 2024 conference,” said Bettyann Peck, DTM, Program Quality Director. “This theme encapsulates the spirit of Toastmasters as we honor our rich history while embracing diversity, inclusivity, and the limitless potential of our members.”

The conference will feature a diverse range of workshops, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities designed to inspire and empower attendees to overcome obstacles, seize opportunities, and reach new heights in their personal and professional lives.

“We invite Toastmasters members and guests from across the region to join us for an unforgettable conference experience,” added Bettyann Peck, DTM. “Together, let’s break barriers, shatter limitations, and embark on a journey of growth, discovery, and transformation.”

The Toastmasters District 53 “Breaking Barriers” conference will take place May 10-11, 2024 at The Heritage Conference Center, Southbury, CT. Further details, registration, and updates can be found at https://d53tm.org/district-conference/

For media inquiries or more information, please contact Zachary Fisk, Public Relations Manager at prm@d53tm.org.

Mastering Communication: Why Your Toastmasters Email Matters

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

Many of us joined Toastmasters in an effort to become comfortable with public speaking. Along our journeys, we learn that Toastmasters helps us become better communicators overall. Today, we are confronted with many modes of communication, and one of the tried and true methods over the past couple of decades is email. Email is the primary mode of communication between Toastmasters International and you, District 53 and you, and many clubs and their members. An email address also serves as half of your Toastmasters International account credentials. This is particularly crucial for accessing associated websites.

Losing access to an email address can quickly disrupt communication, making it challenging to be notified of opportunities and restricting your access to your Toastmasters education records. In this post, I would like to encourage you to consider changing to a personal email address for your Toastmasters email if you are using a work-assigned address. Additionally, I encourage you to check your spam/junk folders to ensure that communication from Toastmasters International, District 53, and your club are not getting trapped in those folders.

Now, let’s explore several benefits of using a personal email address for your Toastmasters correspondence.

1. This safeguards your ability to access education records, even if you no longer have a connection with the company providing your email account. Having a network of other Toastmasters may help you land another opportunity or at the very least help you continue to prepare for future interviews.

2. Using a personal email address ensures you have privacy over your professional development from an employer. A corporate account is company-owned and may be reviewed by management.

3. It can offer you personal branding by choosing a vanity domain address, or how your username and signature are displayed. This can set you apart and show others your involvement with Toastmasters and commitment to personal growth.

4. It ensures that you have control over accessing news from Toastmasters International and District 53. Both sources provide many opportunities to continue your growth such as news of upcoming training, or interesting articles with valuable insights.

We’ve noticed when sending out District 53 news that some company accounts are completely blocking our newsletters. It may be difficult to convince IT departments to adjust firewall settings to allow newsletters to flow in. Many personal address providers such as Gmail allow all subscribed information to flow in but may filter to promotion or spam folders. In these scenarios, a simple search will enable access to the email, and it can then be marked ‘safe’ for inbox delivery in the future.

Uninterrupted access to this information is helpful to you, and your club, which benefits each of the members, “you”.

As you continue your Toastmasters journey, consider the power of a personal email address — a gateway to uninterrupted education, a shield of privacy, personal branding, and a key to unlocking Toastmasters communications. Take control, update your Toastmasters profiles, and share the wisdom with your Toastmasters friends and peers.

Stay Cyber Safe

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

Dear Members of District 53 Toastmasters,

We heavily rely on emails for communication, especially within our Toastmasters family. Cyber threats plague us everywhere from Social Media hacks that overtake profiles and various tried and true promises of inheriting wealth from foreign princes. Various email scams are referred to as phishing, these are attempts to gain access to financial resources. Such as asking for Bank Account numbers and other personal information or requests to make purchases. Regrettably, the latter recently occurred in our community. I would like to use this space to help you be diligent within your Toastmasters correspondence and elsewhere.

Our recent incident was a phishing attempt that began with an innocent email asking the recipient for a favor or a few minutes of time. A reply then progressed into requests for the purchase of gift cards. Toastmasters officers will never request the purchase of gift cards via email. Furthermore, in compliance with our bylaws, the purchase of non-Toastmasters’ gift cards is strictly prohibited. This same phishing attempt has been deployed all over the world in each Toastmasters district.

How to Identifying Potential Phishing Attempts

Here are best practices for identifying potential phishing attempts:

  1. Check the Sender’s Email Address: Examine the sender’s email address closely. Beware of addresses that appear suspicious or mismatched. Do you have the sender in your contacts, or a previous email which can be compared to the recently received message?
  2. Examine the Content: Phishing emails often contain spelling or grammatical errors, an urgent tone, or vague requests for personal information or financial transactions.
  3. Verify Links and Attachments: Hover over any links before clicking on them. Ensure they lead to legitimate websites. Do not download attachments unless you are certain of the sender’s authenticity. Do not click on any suspicious links.
  4. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off about an email, trust your instincts. If you suspect a message is a phishing attempt, take precautions. Reach out to the recipient with a new email, or better alternatives such as text and phone calls.

What to Do When You Encounter Phishing Attempts

In the event, you identify a potential phishing email:

  1. Do Not Respond: Avoid responding to the email or clicking on any links within it.
  2. Report the Incident: Notify your club officers immediately. If necessary, escalate the issue following the chain of command – Area Director, Division Director, and finally, District Officers.
  3. Educate Fellow Toastmasters: Share your experience with your fellow club members, encouraging them to remain vigilant.

External Resources for Further Information

For more information on recognizing and combating phishing attempts, review these sources:

  1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC offers guidance on recognizing and reporting phishing scams on their website: FTC Phishing Scams.
  2. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): CISA provides valuable insights into protecting against phishing attacks: CISA’s Phishing and Spoofing.

In Conclusion

By familiarizing yourself with these best practices, you can protect yourself and your fellow members from phishing attempts.

Stay safe and informed.

District 53 Announces 2022-2023 DTM Awardees

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

July 29, 2023 – Toastmasters District 53 is proud to announce the following members who have been awarded the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation for their outstanding contributions to Toastmasters International:

  • Patricia H. Walter, DTM, Blue Chip Toasters Club
  • Thomas Farrelly, DTM, Hubbell Shelton Toastmasters
  • Elizabeth J. Reed, DTM, Housatonic Toastmasters
  • Steve Lanning, DTM, Toastmasters of Downtown Springfield, MA

The DTM designation is the highest award that can be earned in Toastmasters. It is awarded to members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, communication, and presentation skills.

The four awardees were recognized for their dedication to Toastmasters and their commitment to helping others. They have all served as club officers, mentors, and volunteers, and they have helped to inspire and motivate others to achieve their goals.

“We are proud to have these four outstanding members as part of the D53 family,” said Zachary Fisk, Public Relations Manager of Toastmasters District 53. “Congratulations to Patricia, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Steve on their well-deserved achievements!”

About Toastmasters International


Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 280,000 in more than 14,700 clubs in 144 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.

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DISTRICT 53 ANNOUNCES 2023-24 LEADERS

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk
Patti Walter, District Director 2023-2024
Patti Walter, DTM
District Director
Bettyann Peck, DTM
Bettyann Peck, DTM
Program Quality Director
Mohan Padamati, DTM
Mohan Padamati, DTM
Club Growth Director

SPRINGFIELD, MA, MAY 6, 2023 (June 27, 2023)

Toastmasters International announces the District 53 Leaders for 2023-2024. The
District serves Toastmasters members in Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and
Eastern New York.

The 2023-24 District Officers were sworn in at the District 53 Annual Conference held in
Springfield, Massachusetts on May 6, 2023.

Distinguished Toastmaster Patti Walter, DTM, a Learning and Development Consultant,
has been a recipient of the District Toastmaster of the Year Award and previously served on
the Executive Committee as Club Growth Director and Program Quality Director.
Toastmaster Walter has been elected as District Director and will coordinate all of
the Division and Area Directors to help the members of all the clubs achieve the
Districts mission.
Distinguished Toastmaster Bettyann Peck, DTM, owner of a Design &
Renovation Company has served on the Executive team as the Public Relations
Manager and Club Growth Director. Toastmaster Peck has been elected Program
Quality Director and will oversee all of the Districts Club, Area, and Division Officer
training as well as Speech Contests held throughout the year, along with the annual
Conference next Spring.

Distinguished Toastmaster Mohan Reddy Padamati, DTM, is a Senior Director of
Business Development at Cyient, Inc. He was a recipient of the Division Director of the
Year Award, and previously served the district as the Public Relations Manager.
Toastmaster Padamati has been elected as Club Growth Director to establish marketing
strategies, build new clubs and help existing clubs achieve excellence over the
coming year. 

We invite you to learn more about Toastmasters International www.toastmasters.org
and our District at: https://d53tm.org/guest/

About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 280,000 in more than 14,700 clubs in 144 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.

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Our District’s Facebook Page and Group: What’s the Difference?

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

Toastmasters District Facebook Page vs. Your Facebook Group: What’s the Difference?

District 53, like many other districts, has both a Facebook page and a Facebook group. We plan to utilize these resources differently when promoting our members, clubs, and the district as a whole. As the PRM, I worked with our Social Media Chair, Heather Turner, to rename our Facebook group. The new name helps us all to better identify it as a group and distinguish it from the Facebook page. Our group is now named “D53 Toastmasters – A Place to Share,” while our page is called “District 53 Toastmasters.”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The Toastmasters district Facebook page is a public page. Anyone can view our district’s Toastmasters page, regardless of membership. District leadership will share news, upcoming events (such as open houses), resources, and achievements of clubs and members. We encourage readers to like and share our posts to help spread our message.

The District Facebook group. Group members can view and engage with posts. This is a great place to connect with other club members, ask questions, receive feedback on speeches, and support each other in their public speaking journeys. We will also share upcoming events here that are intended for members of the District. If you are not a member, please follow the link below to join and participate.

So, which one should you use?

In short, both! If you want to stay up-to-date on District 53 news and events that are relevant to your Toastmasters journey, join our group. If you have news and events that may be of interest to the public, reach out to me and our social media team to publish a post on the District page.

Follow our Facebook page here
Join our Facebook group here

On a Toastmasters Note,

Zachary Fisk prm@d53tm.org

Heather Turner socialmedia@d53tm.org

My Goals as D53 Public Relations Manager

Posted on | by Zachary Fisk

Hi everyone, my name is Zachary Fisk and I’m the new Toastmasters District Public Relations Manager for District 53. I’m excited to be a part of this organization and I’m committed to helping us achieve our goals.

As the District Public Relations Manager, my goals are to:

  • Increase awareness of Toastmasters in our district and beyond
  • Promote the benefits of Toastmasters to potential members
  • Generate positive publicity for Toastmasters
  • Build relationships with the media and other community organizations

I believe that Toastmasters is an amazing organization that can help people improve their communication and leadership skills. I’m committed to using my skills and experience to help us reach more people and make a positive impact in our community.

Some of the specific strategies I plan to use to achieve my goals include:

  • Having a Public Relations page on the District website.
  • Creating and distributing press releases about Toastmasters events and activities
  • Writing articles and blog posts about the benefits of Toastmasters
  • Using our Facebook pages more effectively.
  • Developing social media content that highlights the work of our members
  • Partnering with local businesses and organizations to promote Toastmasters
  • Attending community events to represent Toastmasters

I’m confident that with the support of our members, we can achieve our goals.

If you have any ideas on how I can achieve my goals, please don’t hesitate to contact me at prm@d53tm.org. I’m always looking for ways to improve and I appreciate your feedback.

I also ask:

I’m excited to get started on my new role as Toastmasters District Public Relations Manager. I’m committed to helping us achieve our goals.

Thank you for your time.