Author: Andrew Watt, DTM

Andrew Watt is a Past District Director (2020-21) of District 53.

Results of Area Contests 2023

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

District 53 and the webmaster have received the following results from Area-level contests in the International Speech and Tall Tales Speech contests:

Area Level Results: International

Division ADivision BDivision CDivision DDivision E
-1Area 11
Greg Hirshorn		Area 21
Chad Betz		Area 31
Donna Plein		Area 41
1st – Philip Pape
2nd – Martha Danielewics		Area 51
1st – Craig Moore
2nd – Frank Palmeri
3rd – Susanne McHale Corrigan
-2Area 12
Jeff Bradbury		Area 22
Heather Skaanning		Area 32
No Contestant		Area 42
Rose Day		Area 52
Nancy Baum Delain
-3Area 13
Oscar Romero		Area 23
Ann Canfield		Area 33
Chris Chessaro		Area 43
1st – John Michaliszyn
2nd – Sarita Patel		Area 53
1st – Linda Salzer
2nd – Jennifer Demarco
-4Area 14
No contestant		Area 24
Megan Scribner		Area 34
William Caro		Area 44
No contestant		Area 54
1st – David Kolman
2nd – Jesse Schechter
-5Area 15
Angel Mary		Area 25
Michael Whitehouse		Area 35
No Contestant		– N/AArea 55
1st – Terry Goodemote
2nd – Selvaraj Nagamuthu

Area Level Results: Tall Tales

Division ADivision BDivision CDivision DDivision E
-1Area 11
Poona Hassija		Area 21
Tom Farrelly		Area 31
Zita Bodonyi		Area 41
Yvette Fredericks		Area 51
1st – Roderick Rattlecat Kerrigan
2nd – Sudharsan Ramarao
-2Area 12
Cheryn Morgenstern		Area 22
No Contestant		Area 32
Saicharan Sirangi		Area 42
Chelsea Rule		Area 52
Linda Gingold Seaman
-3Area 13
Chris Connor		Area 23
Christine Austin		Area 33
Kevin Haven		Area 43
Michelle DeDominicis		Area 53
LeLe Luan
-4Area 14
Christina LaPerie		Area 24
Jack Cunningham		Area 34
Divanny Pena		Area 44
1st – Denise F. Mock
2nd – Gabriela Michaliszyn		Area 54
Jim Brooks
-5Area 15
No Contestant		Area 25
Larry Zaccaro		Area 36
Joseph Carfago		– N/A Area 55
No Contestant

Seminar on Community Forums

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

The Division E Public Relations Team is excited to announce that we are hosting a seminar on  how to use AmericanTowns.com and NextDoor.com to publicize your Toastmasters Club and help gain new members. Lisa Morahan, of the Saratoga Turf Talkers Toastmasters Club will demonstrate how to use AmericanTowns.com to share press releases with local media outlets (such as the Times Union, Saratogian, etc) and how to get the word out about your club on NextDoor.com!  Expected duration of the seminar is approximately 45 minutes.  Zoom meeting information is below.

Zoom Meeting Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82421023155?pwd=WWNOREFBR1IxRnhYQk9La0RENFplUT09

Meeting ID: 824 2102 3155
Passcode: 787497

District Conference Schedule announced

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

The District Conference “Springboard into Action” has announced the line-up of presenters and workshop sessions for the District 53 Annual Conference on May 6, 2023. The full line-up and schedule can be viewed here.

To register for the Conference, use this link.

Call to Annual Business Meeting: April 2023

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

Notice of the Annual Business Meeting of Toastmaster District 53 is Coming Soon!

Watch this space

About the District Council Annual Business Meeting

The District Council, consists of the District Director as presiding officer, plus the District Program Quality Director (PQD), the District Club Growth Director (CGD), the District Public Relations Manager (PRM), the District Finance Manager (DFM), and District Administrative Manager (DAM), plus the five Division Directors (DVDs) and the Area Directors (ADs) of District 53, plus the President (PRES) and Vice President of Education (VPE)of each club in good standing in the District.

The District Council holds two meetings a year: one before September 30 to finalize and approve the annual budget; and the Annual Business Meeting in April or May, to elect officers for the program year beginning on July 1. Quorum is one-third of the Club Presidents and Vice Presidents of Education. A majority of the votes cast is required to pass most motions.

In the event that any business is transacted at a District Council meeting when a quorum is not present, the action shall be deemed as valid as if a quorum were present if it is thereafter expressly approved. Approval can be granted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Member Clubs in the District on the basis of two (2) votes per club in writing, personally, by mail, fax, e-mail, electronic transmission, or by any other reasonable means. 

Proxies for District Council meetings are not permitted. The Club President and/or Vice President Education of any member club may vote on behalf of the club as its representative. Either club officer may carry the club’s two (2) votes or each of these club officers may carry one (1) vote, as determined by the club membership. The representative from any Member Club in good standing is entitled to a maximum of two (2) votes. District Executive Committee members are entitled to one (1) vote and may cast up to two (2) additional votes as a Club President and/or Vice President Education.

October 2022 DC Business Meeting Results

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM
D53-DC-2022-10-27-Meeting-ResultsDownload

These are “at a glance” business meeting minutes. The draft of the formal minutes will be presented as part of the meeting package for the May 2023 District 53 Business Meeting, and if approved will become formal minutes.

Need Club Officer Training? Check These Out

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

You can attend a Club Officer Training in another Toastmasters District.  If you do, be sure to post your training date and the District attended at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AlternateCOT.  We will reach out to the other district to validate your training attendance.  We can’t guarantee your club will get training credit unless you post your attendance in this AlternateCOT log.

Listed below are several opportunities that we selected because they are all online and have a format similar to what we use in District 53.  All times listed have been adjusted to EST.

DateTimeHost DistrictRegistration Link
Mon, 01-30-239:30-11:00pmDistrict 1 (CA)Register
Sat, 02-04-2310:00am-2:00pmDistrict 27 (VA, DC, MD)Register
Mon, 02-06-239:30-11:00pmDistrict 1 (CA)Register
Sat, 02-11-2310:00am-NoonDistrict 46 (NY)Register
Sat, 02-11-2312:30pm-2:30pmDistrict 46 (NY)Register
Sun, 02-12-232:00pm-4:00pmDistrict 36 (DC, MD)Register
Wed 02-15-236:00pm-9:00pmDistrict 10 (OH)Register
Wed, 02-15-239:00pm-12:00amDistrict 57 (CA)Register
Wed, 02-16-236:00pm-8:30 pmDistrict 10 (OH)Register
Sat, 02-18-2310:00am-1:00pmDistrict 14 (GA)Register
Sat, 02-18-2311:45am-3:00pmDistrict 39 (CA)Register
Tue, 02-21-239:00-11:00pmDistrict 101 (CA)Register
Wed, 02-23-236:00-9:00pmDistrict 10 (OH)Register
Thu, 02-23-239:00pm-12:00amDistrict 57 (CA)Register
Sat, 02-25-2311:00am-1:00pmDistrict 36 (DC, MD)Register
Sat, 02-25-2312:00noon-2:00pmDistrict 101 (CA)Register
Tue, 02-28-237:00-9:30pmDistrict 83 (NY, NJ)Register

From the PQD – 12 February 2023

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

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

Joe Grondin, our Keynote!

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM
Joe Grondin, DTM AS, in round black eyeglasses, a gray charcoal suit with a pink shirt and a pink-and-gray paisley tie, holding a microphone, smiling broadly, and standing in front of a blue-and-pink curtain with several indistinct national flags behind him at the 2017 Toastmasters International Convention.
Joe Grondin, DTM AS
Keynote Speaker at District 53’s Annual Conference

 Joe Grondin, DTM, AS is a retired educator and is now, with the guidance of his Toastmaster family, fulfilling his dream of being an international inspirational speaker. He is the author of the books “Living in Harmony With Our Children” and “Speak to Reach” and has been asked to speak throughout North America on these topics.   

Joe has been busy traveling the globe to pursue his passions. Destinations include Malaysia, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas to participate in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. Having qualified seven times for the world championships, he has successfully placed in the top 10 on two occasions. Joe is a three-time TEDx speaker and earned the prestigious Accredited Speaker designation from Toastmasters International in 2017 becoming one of 90 people in the world who hold this distinction. Joe does admit that his biggest accomplishment is getting hugs from his grandchildren.

Joe is a “FEEL GOOD” type guy and takes any opportunity to sing and dance in public, much to the dismay of my family. The last time Joe did his song and dance in public his children ran for cover.

Joeis a proud Toastmaster and he believes that Toastmaster audiences are the best audiences in the world. It is truly an honour for Joe to present in front of his toastmaster family because it matters not where you are in your journey, you are dedicated to self-improvement so that you can make a difference in this world. Joe is hoping that in some small way he can help you on that journey.

Saturday Morning Keynote – “Developing Your Signature”

This session will focus on how to develop our unique signature voice and encourage you to develop your unique presentation style.

Saturday Afternoon Keynote – “Mrs. Elliott’s Lessons

Mrs. Elliott, Joe’s favourite teacher, taught him four lessons on leadership at a time he needed it the most. Toastmasters further helped Joe to hone those lessons. This presentation combines leadership with wellness and are lessons about finding what shines within us, finding the possibilities, finding the strength within, and finding the positive.

Bonus Workshop & Breakfast: (Separate registration)

“Speak to Reach”

This presentation surrounds Joe’s book about providing us with tools to help us to become proficient public speakers but also, through self-reflection, enabling us to speak from our hearts to reach any audience. To reach an audience means using our unique heart-connected voice to touch others in a way that inspires them to make a positive change.

Register for the conference!

Obituary: Eugene Siemiatkoski

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

The leadership of District 53 Toastmasters is sad to report the death of Eugene Siemiatowski, on January 20, 2023. Brought into Windsor Toastmasters by his wife Wanda, Eugene was a regular competitor in District contests, and also served a term as an Area Director from time to time. He was an excellent professional chef and active in numerous other organizations besides Toastmasters.

His family will receive friends on Saturday, February 4, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., with a Celebration of Life at 3 p.m., at Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. 

A more complete obituary can be found at the Carmon Funeral Home page.