D53 Blog

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”

2024-2025 District Officers Elected

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

On Thursday 11 April 2024 by unanimous ballot, District 53 elected its slate of officers for the 2024-2025 program year during the spring business meeting of the District Council.

Serving in the District Leadership Trio are:

  • Bettyann Peck, DTM, District Director 2024-2025
  • Mohan Padamati, DTM, District Program Quality Director 2024-2025
  • Jackie Kessler, DTM, District Club Growth Director 2024-2025
Bettyann Peck, District Director 2023-2024
District Director
Bettyann Peck
Mohan Padamati, Program Quality Director 2024-2025
Program Quality Director
Mohan Padamati
Jackie Kessler, Club Growth Director 2024-2025
Club Growth Director
Jackie Kessler
  • Bettyann Peck joined Toastmasters in 2016 as a member of Park City Toastmasters in Division B and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Her proudest achievements in Toastmasters is seeing members she has mentored grow in their communication and leadership skills beyond anything ever expected to achieve. Her professional career spans over 40 years; as the owner of a renovation company, she enjoys designing and installing her clients’ visions of the perfect kitchen, bath or living space.   She lives in Seymour, CT with her husband Richard (also an active Toastmaster) and their dog Indi. Bettyann loves being mom to three amazing children and spends time with 5 grandchildren. In her spare time when she’s not renovating her own vintage home, she serves her town as an elected member on the Board of Finance, an active Lions Club member, World Vision International Board Member and an officer at various Veteran posts.
  • Mohan Padamati joined Talk It Up Toastmasters in Windsor, Connecticut in 2011. He is also a member of Screaming Eagles Toastmasters club & Talking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters club in Division C. He has completed the Distinguished Toastmaster award twice and he was a Division Director of the year in 2021. He is currently working for Cyient Incorporated as an Associate Vice President (AVP). He collaborates with multiple leaders on daily basis and works with very diversified human capital. He lives with his wife Madhu and their two boys in Glastonbury, CT.  His hobbies are Toastmasters, reading the books and watching Bollywood & Tollywood movies.
  • Jackie Kessler joined Bethlehem Toastmasters in 2016. Her journey has included completing five paths in Pathways; serving in nearly all club officer positions in her home club; being a charter member of New York State Forum Toastmasters; serving District 53 as an Area Director, Division Director, and Club New Source Research Chair; taking first place in two District-level speech contests; and receiving the District 53 Toastmaster of the Year Award for 2021-2022. For more than 20 years, Jackie has worked in marketing and communications, with skills including strategic communications, content development, and editorial. She lives with her husband Brett (also a member of Bethlehem Toastmasters) in Delmar, NY, along with their recent college graduate son, currently matriculating son, and two cats. 

Elected alongside them are four of the five Division Directors. Due to a last-minute withdrawal from the campaign, District Director-elect Bettyann Peck will appoint a suitable Toastmaster to the role of Division C Director, who will then be confirmed by majority vote at the fall business meeting of the District Council.

Serving for the Divisions are:

Melanie Lee, Division A Director 2024-2025
Division A Director
Melanie Lee
Scott R. Davis, Division B Director 2024-2025
Division B Director
Scott R. Davis
Division C Director (Open)
Stephanie Roy, Division D Director 2024-2025
Division D Director
Stephanie Roy
Elizabeth (Liz) Keeling, Division E Director 2024-2025.
Division E Director
Elizabeth Keeling
  • For Division A: Melanie Lee
  • For Division B: Scott R. Davis
  • For Division C:
  • For Division D: Stephanie Roy
  • For Division E: Elizabeth Keeling
  • Melanie Lee  joined Toastmasters in December of 2020 as a member of Greater Stamford Toastmasters in Division A.  She is most proud of being able to serve the membership of Area 11 as the Area Director from 2022 to 2024.  Melanie is a retired NYC certified English teacher having served for 25 years in Brooklyn and the Bronx.  She lives in Stamford with her husband Michael and their canine companion, Blue.  In her spare time, she talks up Toastmasters at her current place of employment, The Ferguson Library, church-Union Baptist Church and, as a member of the board of directors of C.O.N.E.C.T. (Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut).
  • Scott R. Davis joined Toastmasters in 2011 as a member of Greater Bridgeport Toastmasters in Division B, and is also a member of Park City Toastmasters.  The first time he passed through District leadership roles, he received Area Governor of the Year in 2015 and the U-Rock Award in 2016.  Professionally, he holds the unique role of being the Chief Encouraging Officer of Life (CEOOL). In his free time, he loves write, taking photos, solving puzzles and being surrounded by his faith community.
  • Stephanie Roy joined Toastmasters in November 2020 as a member of Talk It Up Toastmasters (2020-present) and Nathan Hale Toastmasters (2020-2023). She immediately fell in love with the opportunities for growth and D53 community. In April 2024, will also earne the distinction of Distinguished Toastmaster. Stephanie is a seasoned entrepreneur and a dedicated coach and consultant for entrepreneurs, helping them design businesses that align with their passion for making a positive impact. She owns a martial arts school and has a passion for building empowering, community-focused villages within brick-and-mortar businesses. She balances her professional pursuits with homeschooling her son, nerding out on Zettelkasten, and playing way too much Dungeons and Dragons.
  • Elizabeth Keeling joined NYISO Toastmasters in Rensselaer, NY in 2017. She is also a dual member of Capital Advanced Toastmasters in Division E. She was awarded District 53 Toastmaster of the year for 2022-2023 at the District 53 Annual Conference. She is currently working as a Project Manager for the New York ISO (NYISO) and brings experience from the healthcare and energy/utility industries. Elizabeth lives with her husband, Grant, and their two cats in Rensselaer, NY. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, playing video games, and reading.

The new District Trio and Division Directors will make their promises and be formally installed at the District 53 Annual Conference on May 11, 2024 in the afternoon; and take office on July 1, 2024 at midnight.

The whole volunteer staff of District 53, and all the Toastmasters membership of the District and beyond, wish them great success in 2024-2025!

Thank you

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

Fellow Toastmasters,

I want to take a moment to thank all the people that brought us to today’s Business Meeting, and the election of our District officers for 2024-2025’s program year: the District Leadership committee members who interviewed a total of ten candidates for Division Director roles and the District trio roles; the members who nominated their fellow Toastmasters to these offices; the functionaries and presenters who helped run Tuesday’s Candidate Showcase; and the candidates themselves, who approached the roles for which they’re running with thoughtfulness and humility.

On Monday, 8 April 2024 — I took time off from preparing for today to rush three hours north to see the total eclipse of the Sun. We spent three hours traveling north, before we found a suitable spot on an access road to a field outside Middlebury, VT. There was an unplanned encampment of about 100 cars along this gravel road, where my wife and I sat with a nice stranger named Mary whose brother asked her to go in his place (he was stuck at home with a fever of 100°), and some kids who were much more interested in playing in the mud and their harried parents, and a Indian family of maybe 30 people who had come in at least six cars in a caravan.  There were some teenagers who had road-tripped from Boston.  Together, we watched as the Moon took a bite out of the Sun through our eclipse glasses, and then swallowed the whole thing.  It took no more than two minutes, and it started ending almost as soon as it began.  We hung out another 15 minutes, but mindful of a long drive home getting longer with traffic by the minute, we pulled out onto the highway. Then we drove home, 3 hours of back roads, going the speed limit the whole way and uninterrupted by traffic or delay. 

Those two minutes changed me, even so. Six hours of driving on unfamiliar roads, for a sight — stunning in its majesty — of a ring of light in the sky with a darkness at its heart.  I think that at least one of the ways I’ll subdivide my life in the future is “before I saw a total eclipse of the sun” and “after I saw a total eclipse of the sun.” 

There’s no telling if being a District officer will change you in the same way — but I certainly think of my life as divided in two parts, “before District service” and “after District service.”  Yesterday I went to my town’s Annual Caucus, and agreed to be nominated to run in the election for Select Board, the committee of three that runs my tiny town.  I wouldn’t have had the courage to do that before I was a District Officer — and now I do.  My former fears… have perhaps been… eclipsed by a recognition of both my personal competence, and a desire to be of service.

May today’s Business Meeting, where we elect our slate of District officers for the 2024-2025 program year, be the start of something similarly large, for all of us — and especially our candidates.

Sincerely,
Andrew B. Watt, DTM
Past District Director 2020-2021
Interim Chair, District 53 Leadership Committee 2023-2024

Communication & Leadership Award 2024

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

For immediate release —

District 53 is pleased to announce the 2024 recipient of its Communication and Leadership Award. The Communication and Leadership Award is presented by the District to a non-Toastmaster in the community who is an outstanding communicator or leader.  The recipient will have distinguished himself/herself as a leader or spokesperson for a worthy cause or purpose, especially as it exemplified their communication and leadership skills. 

Alisa Klein, Executive Director of Grow Food Northampton (GFN), manages and stewards access to farmland and healthy food to create what they call a “local food system” in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The organization: 

  • Offers 320 organic community garden plots on six acres to provide gardening space to 400 community members; 
  • Leases prime farmland and provides infrastructure and resources to ten small farms on the 121-acre Grow Food Northampton Community Farm;
  • Manages year-long weekly farmers markets to connect local farms directly with customers;
  • Runs a free mobile farmers market that, weekly, delivers fresh local produce and other quality ingredients to hundreds of individuals and families grappling with food insecurity and hunger;
  • Operates a Giving Garden that grows and donates thousands of pounds of organic produce annually to local food pantries and community meal sites; and
  • Conducts collaborative research projects with academics and others on sustainable and climate resilience-enhancing agricultural practices.
Alisa Klein, executive director of Grow Food Northampton, and recipient of the 2024 District 53 Communication and Leadership Award
Alisa Klein,
executive director
Grow Food Northampton

On the Community Farm, GFN leases land to farmers who have traditionally been denied access to farmland, including refugees from war-torn places like Somalia, women farmers, and others. In addition to its farm-based Community Garden, GFN has established community gardens at nine public housing communities to enable low-income families to have access to green spaces and grow their own food. Working together with local business sponsors, Grow Food Northampton doubles the purchasing power of low-income individuals so they can afford more healthy local foods at GFN’s farmers markets. The organization also collaborates with the local school system to deliver hands-on education about nutrition, cooking with locally grown food, and gardening to all K-12 students, while also offering workshops to adults on a variety of local food system-related topics. 

Ms. Klein is a long-time activist and community organizer working on issues as diverse, yet interconnected, as the climate emergency and peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. She has been deeply involved in bringing restorative and transformative justice models to addressing harm in communities. Between 2014 and 2020, Alisa served as a Northampton, Massachusetts, city councilor where she established a Select Committee on Pesticide Reduction and wrote and sponsored legislation to prohibit the use of pesticides in municipal spaces. She has a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a Master’s in International Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

Alisa Klein will receive the award at the District 53 Annual Conference in Southbury, CT, on May 11, 2024.

District 53 Toastmasters is an administrative unit of Toastmasters International that supports the Toastmasters clubs in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, and the Albany, Hudson Valley and upper triangle of New York State. Clubs are open to all adults 18 years of age and older through the payment of membership fees; all members of clubs are members of District 53 Toastmasters. You can find a club near you through the Find a Club feature, or learn how to Start a Club in your community or in your corporate or government environment.

2023-2024 Candidate Showcase Agenda

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

Candidate Showcase

9 April 2024 – 7:00 pm

  • Chair: Andrew B. Watt, DTM
    Past District Director
  • Co-Chair: Jeff Sobel, DTM
    Past International Director
  • Functionaries
    • Sergeant at Arms: John J. Hogan, DTM Immediate Past District Director
    • Zoom Master: Norm Thibodeau, DTM
      District Administration Manager
    • Zoom Master: Zachary Fisk, PM4
      District Public Relations Manager
    • Timer #1: Tom Farrelly, DTM
      District Parliamentarian
    • Timer #2: Steve Lanning, DTM
      Area 43 Director, Club Coach Chair

Candidates

  • District Director: Bettyann Peck
  • Program Quality Director: Mohan Padamati
  • Club Growth Director: Jackie Kessler
  • Division A Director: Melanie Lee
  • Division B Director: Scott R. Davis
  • Division C Director:
  • Division D Director: Stephanie Roy
  • Division E Director: Elizabeth Keeling

Candidate Biographical Forms can be found on the web at https://d53tm.org/district-officer-candidates/

Presenters:

  • Morag Mathieson, DTM
    • International President 2023-2024
  • Angela Chute, DTM
    • District Director of District 45 2023-2024
  • Laura St. Louis, DTM
    • District Director of District 62 2023-2024
  • Matthew Storms, IP3
    • Club President of West-Conn Toastmasters 2023-2024
    • President’s Distinguished Club
  • Mary Angel, PM3
    • Club President of Dutchess County Toastmasters
    • Select Distinguished Club

Agenda

TimeEventSpeakers
6:30 pmRoom Opens to All Participants
7:00 pmCall To Order & WelcomeJohn J. Hogan
7:02 pmOpening Remarks by Co-ChairsAndrew B. Watt
Jeff Sobel
7:08 pmInterviews with Candidates
District Director candidateBettyann Peck
– Morag Mathieson, interviewer
Program Quality Director candidatesRick May
– Angela Chute, interviewer
Mohan Padamati
– Angela Chute
interviewer
Club Growth Director candidateJackie Kessler
– Laura St. Louis, interviewer
Division A Director candidateMelanie Lee
– Mary Angel, interviewer
Division B Director candidateScott E. Davis
– Matthew Storms, interviewer
Division C Director candidateRick May
– Mary Angel, announcer
Division D Director candidateStephanie Roy
– Matthew Storms, interviewer
Division E Director candidateElizabeth Keeling
– Mary Angel, announcer
Including equipment tests and transitions, each candidate should take approximately 5-6 minutes including 4 minutes of timed responses.
8:05 pm Concluding Remarks by the Co-ChairsAndrew B. Watt
Jeff Sobel
8:15 pmAdjournment
Candidate Corner to follow for approximately a half hour, ending no later than 9:00 pm

The Candidate Showcase is a formal annual event at which candidates for District office have an opportunity to show themselves and answer curated questions before an audience.

The Candidate Corner which follows is an informal event at which candidates for District office may meet one-on-one or meet in small groups with interested Toastmasters and engage in dialogue.

Both the Candidate Showcase and Candidate Corner are governed by rules laid down in Protocol 9.0 of the Toastmasters Governing Documents.

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

Realignment Plan for 2024-2025 Posted

Posted on | by Webmaster

The draft Realignment Plan for 2024-2025 has been posted. You can find it here.

Voting to accept this plan will form part of the District 53 Business Meeting on April 11, 2024.

There will be a Zoom meeting to discuss this plan and meet with members of the District Realignment committee on April 4, 2024. Please come and share your thoughts with District leaders. If there are local conditions the committee needs to know, this is the forum to explain them, so adjustments can be made.

Division C Results 2023-2024

Posted on | by Webmaster

Fellow Toastmasters,

I’m pleased to report the results of the Division C Contest, held on 9 March 2024. Thank you to the contestants, functionaries and audience members who all helped to make the contest a great success.  Go Division C!!

Evaluation:

  1.  Linkesh Diwan
  2. Aimee Soucy

International:

  1. Jerry Aiyathurai
  2. Kevin Finn 
  3. Silva Abadjian 
  4. Satish Sangappa

See the photos from the contest below:

First place winners (Linkesh Diwan and Jerry  Aiyathurai) will now advance to the District Contests on May 10 (Evaluation) and May 11 (International) at the District Conference in Southbury, Connecticut. 

District 53 Conference:

Sign up to attend the conference to listen to great speeches and cheer on your club/division contestants:  District Conference 2024! – District 53 Toastmasters (d53tm.org).   Also catch all the great workshops, and the keynote speaker Sheryl Roush!  Remember, if 3 members from your club register to attend, you’ll get 10% off later.

Club Member Dues: Renew your membership by March 31, 2024.  If a minimum of 8 members from your club renew by March 15th, the club will get a $25 gift card to the Toastmasters International store. 

Area Director Visits: Please plan for the 2nd round of visits from your Area Directors, reports due by May 31, 2024.

Yours in Toastmasters service,
Selina Tourjee
Division C Director 2023-2024

Results of Division E Contest

Posted on | by Webmaster

Fellow Toastmasters,

Division E held its speech contests on Saturday, March 2, in Colonie, NY. I am pleased to report the results to you all here:

International

  • 1st Place: Brandon Eastman
  • 2nd Place: Jim Brooks
  • 3rd Place: Barry Koblenz

Evaluation

Division E Contest 2024 dignitaries: Jeff Sobel, Past International Director; Jennifer DeMarco, Area 52 Director; Patti Walter, District Director; Bettyann Peck, Program Quality Director; Elizabeth Keeling, Division E Director; Mohan Padamati, Club Growth Director; Terry Goodemote, Contest Toastmaster
  • 1st Place: Megan Long
  • 2nd Place: Bill Daisak
  • 3rd Place: Marsha Pritchard

First place winners Brandon Eastman and Megan Long will now advance to the District level speech contests on May 10 and 11 at the District 53 Annual Conference in Southbury, CT. Attend the conference to cheer on our Division winners!

Let me remind you that Spring renewals are happening this month. Membership dues for the April 2024 to September 2024 are now being accepted. Please submit all payments on or before April 1. Area Directors will also be reaching out to plan their Spring club visits, please help make arrangements for their visits!

Yours in Service,
Elizabeth Keeling
Division E Director 2023-2024