Category: Div E Director

A message or missive from the Division E Director gets this category, and only this category.

May Greetings

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

Dear Toastmasters,

I hope this message finds you all well and thriving in your speaking and leadership journeys. As we move forward, I have some important updates and reminders to share with you all.

Firstly, I’m pleased to announce that I was elected to a second term as Division E Director for 2024-2025. I am excited to continue serving District 53! I encourage anyone who might want to be an Area Director next year to send their information to me, so we can have a conversation.

As we gear up for the District Conference on May 11, I urge you all to plan to attend. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Toastmasters, learn from inspiring speakers, and support our Division E champions in the contests. 

Now, let’s talk about Club Officer elections. Nominations should be made by the last meeting in April, with elections taking place by the first meeting in June. It’s crucial that the new officers are reported on the Toastmasters.org website by June 30. 

There are ten Club Officer Training events scheduled already. If you’d like to be involved in facilitating those events, please let Bettyann Peck and Mohan Padamati know. Make sure to mark these events in your schedules to ensure you don’t miss out on valuable training opportunities.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for your dedication and commitment to Toastmasters. I have learned that I cannot do this alone. I need your support to bring positive change and growth to Division E. 

Warm regards,

Elizabeth (Liz)  Keeling
Division E Director 2023-2024-2025!

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

Halfway!

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

Hello All!

Can you believe we are already at the halfway point of the Toastmasters year?

Here are a few key things to keep in mind coming up:

  • It is Officer Training season until the end of February — make sure you get as many officers trained for your club as you can, but at least four.
  • It is contest season!! Please see the Upcoming Events section and Contests pages for details on the Area Contests! They are all scheduled and running from January 25th through February 10th. Please reach out to your Area Directors with any questions.
  • The Division E Speech Contests are coming on March 2nd, 2024. Every club should send a representative or two, and alert me to your attendance, so that I can refer you to the chief judge for functionary and judging roles. Along those lines — I will be looking for someone to fill the roles of the Contest Master and the Chief Judge. These roles are a great way to work on your various Pathways projects, particularly at Level 4 and higher! Please reach out to me directly if you are interested.
  • The Division Conference is coming up, please check here for details, and plan to attend so you can cheer on our Division Contest winners and learn from some of the best speakers in our District!
  • I am planning an end of Year Picnic/Celebration for June 1st, 2024! If you are interested in giving a short 3 to 5 minute education presentation, please contact me directly.
  • Oh yeah, don’t forget to start thinking about your club succession plans, electing and reporting new officers, and building your club officer list for the 2024-2025 club year!
  • Finally, your Area Directors will be starting their Spring Visit and they will run through May!

All this to say, thank you so much for your help thus far. Let’s have an excellent second half of the year!

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Keeling
Division E Director 2023-2024

Happy New Year from Division E

Posted on | by Andrew Watt, DTM

Hello!

I am your new Division E Director for 2023-2024! Happy new Toastmasters year!

My journey in Toastmasters started at NYISO Toastmasters 764383 in 2017 and I have earned several educational designations, including PM5, PI5, and SR2. Division E has clubs in the Capital Region of New York all the way up to the North Country region, which is full of history and summer pastimes. Some of our most successful clubs include Bethlehem Toastmasters and NYS Forum Toastmasters, which regularly achieve President’s Distinguished designation. 
I want our clubs to focus on membership building over the course of the year to connect like-minded individuals and also those looking to improve their public speaking skills! I look forward to working with you all this year.  
You can contact me by email at divedir@d53tm.org or by phone.  

Yours sincerely, 
Liz Keeling
Division E Director 2023-2024