Award | Name | Club |
PWMENTORPGM | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
67555201 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
67583946 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
Abigail Burson, LD5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club | |
Michael Christ, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Noah Plen, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Peter Graziano, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Stephanie A. Roy, EC2 | Talk It Up Toastmasters | |
Vinicio Dias, DL5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
DL5 | Robert Ekblaw, DTM | Clifton Park Halfmoon Toastmasters Club |
Vinicio Dias, DL5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
EC5 | Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club |
Steve Burnell, EC5 | Speakeasy Toastmasters Club | |
EH5 | Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club |
Frank L. Palmeri, EH5 | NYS Forum Toastmasters | |
LD5 | Abigail Burson, LD5 | Nathan Hale Club |
Jacqueline Kessler, LD5 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
MS5 | Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club |
Jane Philion, DTM | West Hartford Toastmasters Club | |
Janice R. Dimock, DTM | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
PI5 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
PM5 | 67555201 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
67583946 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
Michael Christ, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Noah Plen, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Peter Graziano, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5 | LTIMindtree MegaMinds | |
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
TC5 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
VC5 | Russell B. Kenny, DTM | Greater Bridgeport Toastmasters |
DL4 | Beatriz Heredia, DL4 | Hartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club |
Vinicio Dias, DL5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
EC4 | Janice R. Dimock, DTM | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters |
EH4 | Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club |
Frank L. Palmeri, EH5 | NYS Forum Toastmasters | |
Janice R. Dimock, DTM | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
Kevin P. Shannon, DTM | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
IP4 | Chris Connor, IP4 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club |
LD4 | 05390520 – Name unavailable | iToast |
Abigail Burson, LD5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Ana Primeau, LD4 | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford | |
Jacqueline Kessler, LD5 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
Kevin P. Shannon, DTM | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
MS4 | Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club |
PI4 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
PM4 | 67555201 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
67583946 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
David M. Thornton, DTM | Greater Hartford Toastmasters Club | |
Jennifer DeMarco, PM4 | Capital Toastmasters of Albany | |
Michael Christ, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Noah Plen, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Peter Graziano, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Rochelle Murphy, PM4 | Aetna Speaks Up! | |
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5 | LTIMindtree MegaMinds | |
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
SR4 | Nora Adegbolagun, SR4 | Speakeasy Toastmasters Club |
Pratishtha Sharma, SR4 | NYS Forum Toastmasters | |
TC4 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
VC4 | Russell B. Kenny, DTM | Greater Bridgeport Toastmasters |
DL3 | 01678250 – Name unavailable | Valley-Shore Club |
Brett L. Kessler, DL3 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
Vinicio Dias, DL5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
EC3 | John Michaliszyn, EC3 | PROSPEAKERS |
EH3 | Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club |
Jocelyn Johnson, EH3 | Speakeasy Toastmasters Club | |
IP3 | Katherine Hogan, VC1 | ToasTRS Club |
Matthew Storms, IP3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
Sara Parent, IP3 | Energy Toastmasters Club | |
LD3 | Abigail Burson, LD5 | Nathan Hale Club |
MS3 | Deborah A. Furman, MS3 | IBM Poughkeepsie Toastmasters |
Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club | |
PI3 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
06515119 – Name unavailable | Talking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters | |
PM3 | 01195733 – Name unavailable | Hartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club |
06977960 – Name unavailable | Travelers Noontime Toastmasters | |
67513566 – Name unavailable | GE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club | |
67529489 – Name unavailable | GE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club | |
67555201 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
67583946 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
Jennifer Cimilluca, DTM | Colonel Ledyard Toastmasters | |
Le Minh Thu Nguyen, PM3 | Global Toasters | |
Michael Christ, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Peter Graziano, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5 | LTIMindtree MegaMinds | |
Vladimir-Ducarmel Joseph, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
TC3 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
Paul Horvath, TC3 | Cedar Hill Toastmasters Club | |
VC3 | 04345027 – Name unavailable | Energy Toastmasters Club |
Russell B. Kenny, DTM | Greater Bridgeport Toastmasters | |
DL2 | 06583986 – Name unavailable | Speakeasy Toastmasters Club |
Bonnie Mion, DL2 | ToasTRS Club | |
Brett L. Kessler, DL3 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
Linkesh Diwan, DL2 | One State Street Toastmasters | |
Sharon Long, DL2 | North Country Club | |
Vinicio Dias, DL5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
EC2 | Stephanie A. Roy, EC2 | Talk It Up Toastmasters |
Thomas Farrelly, DTM | Housatonic Toastmasters | |
EH2 | 03810046 – Name unavailable | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters |
05169243 – Name unavailable | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
Philip A. Sarnik, EH2 | Wooster Heights Toastmasters Club | |
IP2 | 06871175 – Name unavailable | UnitedHealth Group Club |
Kevin Houlihan, IP2 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
LD2 | 06871175 – Name unavailable | UnitedHealth Group Club |
Abigail Burson, LD5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Julia Wilkins, LD2 | Toastmasters of Downtown Springfield, MA | |
MS2 | Deborah A. Furman, MS3 | IBM Poughkeepsie Toastmasters |
Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club | |
Kyle A. Main, MS2 | Norwich Toastmasters | |
PI2 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
06515119 – Name unavailable | Talking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters | |
Wanda Campbell, PI2 | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
Zachary N. Fisk, PI2 | Housatonic Toastmasters | |
PM2 | 00353884 – Name unavailable | Eagle Club |
06977960 – Name unavailable | Travelers Noontime Toastmasters | |
07530561 – Name unavailable | Valley-Shore Club | |
67529489 – Name unavailable | GE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club | |
67555201 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
67583946 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
Daniel Mascaro, PM2 | Niantic Toastmasters Club | |
DJ Pannella, PM2 | Stag Toastmasters Club | |
Jennifer Blackburn, PM2 | Greater New Haven Toastmasters Club | |
Jennifer Cimilluca, DTM | Colonel Ledyard Toastmasters | |
Michael Christ, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Nathan Almirall, PM2 | GE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club | |
Peter Graziano, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5 | LTIMindtree MegaMinds | |
SR2 | Ann-Marie Gottlieb, SR2 | Stag Toastmasters Club |
Christopher McMahon, SR2 | North Country Club | |
TC2 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
04198049 – Name unavailable | ToasTRS Club | |
VC2 | 05555687 – Name unavailable | Mystic Aquarium Toastmasters |
Russell B. Kenny, DTM | Greater Bridgeport Toastmasters | |
DL1 | Bonnie Mion, DL2 | ToasTRS Club |
Butho Ncube, DL1 | Empire Toastmasters | |
Susanne Corrigan, DL1 | Empire Toastmasters | |
Vinicio Dias, DL5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Wanda Campbell, PI2 | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
EH1 | 67541955 – Name unavailable | NYS Forum Toastmasters |
Nathaniel Waring, EH1 | iToast | |
IP1 | Alan Hill, IP1 | Farmington Club |
Jocelyn Eppich, IP1 | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford | |
Ulric Lestrade, IP1 | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
LD1 | Bettyann Peck, DTM | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford |
Dr. Alaina A. King, LD1 | Niantic Toastmasters Club | |
Emmanuel Trinidad, LD1 | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
William J. Cowden, LD1 | Barnum Square Club | |
Yvette M. Fredericks, LD1 | Bloomfield Toastmasters Club 7139 | |
MS1 | Deborah A. Furman, MS3 | IBM Poughkeepsie Toastmasters |
Eva Menon, DTM | Nathan Hale Club | |
Nancy Cook, MS1 | Speakeasy Toastmasters Club | |
PI1 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
06515119 – Name unavailable | Talking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters | |
67654758 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
PM1 | 06781383 – Name unavailable | Inspira Marketing Toastmasters |
06977960 – Name unavailable | Travelers Noontime Toastmasters | |
67529309 – Name unavailable | Talking Tomorrow Together Toastmasters | |
67555201 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
67583946 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club | |
67610446 – Name unavailable | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford | |
67655629 – Name unavailable | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
Jennifer Blackburn, PM2 | Greater New Haven Toastmasters Club | |
Michael Christ, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Milena Lozina, PM1 | Bethel Toastmasters | |
Peter Graziano, PM5 | Nathan Hale Club | |
Philip B. Pape, DTM | Talk It Up Toastmasters | |
Ryan M. Smart, PM1 | Talk It Up Toastmasters | |
Sanjeev Chauhan, PM5 | LTIMindtree MegaMinds | |
SR1 | Amy Chiu, SR1 | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Robert Mcmillen, SR1 | Capital Toastmasters of Albany | |
TC1 | 03932494 – Name unavailable | Nathan Hale Club |
05169243 – Name unavailable | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
VC1 | 04198049 – Name unavailable | ToasTRS Club |
05555687 – Name unavailable | Mystic Aquarium Toastmasters | |
Katherine Hogan, VC1 | ToasTRS Club |
Tag: Zachary Fisk
A Toast to Women in Toastmasters
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:
- https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2020/nov/women-in-toastmasters#:~:text=In 1970—a time when,encouragement of her fellow members.
Q2 Education Awards for 2023-2024
Award | Name | Club |
PWMENTORPGM | 07470435 – Name unavailable | Hartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club |
Beatriz Heredia, DL4 | Hartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club | |
Donna Peterson, SR2 | New Dawn | |
Laura Prior, DL2 | Hartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club | |
Robert Knapp, IP5 | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
Simone Brooks, DL5 | Empire Toastmasters | |
DTM | John Murray, DTM | Capital Toastmasters of Albany |
Leslie Bryce, DTM | Kingston-Rhinebeck Toastmasters Club | |
DL5 | Melinda M. Burns, DTM | Toastmasters Lunchtime Club |
Simone Brooks, DL5 | Empire Toastmasters | |
EC5 | Donna Peterson, SR2 | New Dawn |
Ute Brinkmann, DTM | Eagle Club | |
EH5 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
IP5 | Kristev Hildenbrandt, IP5 | Empire Toastmasters |
Robert Knapp, IP5 | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
LD5 | Stephanie A. Roy, EC2 | Talk It Up Toastmasters |
MS5 | Tanya Bramble, MS5 | Henry Hudson Club |
PI5 | Richard May, PI5 | Henry Hudson Club |
PM5 | Frank H. Frazar, PM5 | One State Street Toastmasters |
TC5 | Sugan Kumar, DTM | One State Street Toastmasters |
DL4 | 07398523 – Name unavailable | Clifton Park Halfmoon Toastmasters Club |
Melinda M. Burns, DTM | Toastmasters Lunchtime Club | |
EC4 | Donna Peterson, SR2 | New Dawn |
Stephen Gondek, EC4 | Farmington Club | |
EH4 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Jennifer Tyes, EH4 | Travelers Noontime Toastmasters | |
IP4 | Amy E. Mackenzie, IP4 | The Bureaucrats Toastmasters Club |
Kenneth Morrison, IP4 | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
Vaughan I. Banfield, IP4 | The Bureaucrats Toastmasters Club | |
LD4 | Kris Bailey, LD4 | NYISO Toastmasters |
Stephanie A. Roy, EC2 | Talk It Up Toastmasters | |
MS4 | Tanya Bramble, MS5 | Henry Hudson Club |
PM4 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Annemarie Senol, PM4 | Bethel Toastmasters | |
Damien Morales, PM4 | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
Sarita B. Patel, PM4 | Speakeasy Toastmasters Club | |
SR4 | Eliza Yuliana Zubaidy, DTM | New England Advanced Toastmasters |
Elizabeth Keeling, SR4 | NYISO Toastmasters | |
TC4 | Catherine K. Burch, DTM | Saratoga Turf Talkers |
VC4 | Cynthia White, VC4 | Taconic Toastmasters |
DL3 | 07070764 – Name unavailable | West Hartford Toastmasters Club |
Scott Mason, DL3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
EC3 | 06546117 – Name unavailable | Talk It Up Toastmasters |
Donna Peterson, SR2 | New Dawn | |
Mark E. Wing, EC3 | Toastmasters of Downtown Springfield, MA | |
Stephen Gondek, EC4 | Farmington Club | |
EH3 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Frank L. Palmeri, EH5 | NYS Forum Toastmasters | |
Jennifer Tyes, EH4 | Travelers Noontime Toastmasters | |
Kevin P. Shannon, DTM | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
IP3 | Carley Heck, IP3 | Pfizer Flying Toasters Toastmasters Club |
Chris Connor, IP3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
Kenneth Morrison, IP4 | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
Stefan Brooks, IP3 | Capital Toastmasters of Albany | |
LD3 | Ana Primeau, LD4 | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford |
Jacqueline Kessler, LD3 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
Paula Zajac, LD3 | Cedar Hill Toastmasters Club | |
Stephanie A. Roy, EC2 | Talk It Up Toastmasters | |
MS3 | Tanya Bramble, MS5 | Henry Hudson Club |
PI3 | Courtney Haedke, PI3 | New Dawn |
PM3 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
05263755 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters | |
07754118 – Name unavailable | Global Toasters | |
Bettyann Peck, DTM | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford | |
Brian Holden, PM3 | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
Christa M. Walsh, PM3 | Saratoga Turf Talkers | |
Damien Morales, PM4 | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
Robert Taiman, PM3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
SR3 | Elizabeth Keeling, SR4 | NYISO Toastmasters |
TC3 | Jennifer Cimilluca, DTM | Norwich Toastmasters |
VC3 | Jim Parsons, DTM | Capital Advanced Toastmasters |
Joseph C. Boninti, VC3 | Hubbell Shelton Toastmasters | |
Robert Winslow, VC3 | Niantic Toastmasters Club | |
DL2 | 01678250 – Name unavailable | Valley-Shore Club |
07292993 – Name unavailable | GE Schenectady Speakers Club | |
David Speranza, DL2 | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
Scott Mason, DL3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
EC2 | Mark E. Wing, EC3 | Toastmasters of Downtown Springfield, MA |
Stephen Gondek, EC4 | Farmington Club | |
Tracey M. Wilkins, EC2 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
EH2 | 01954116 – Name unavailable | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters |
03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters | |
Jennifer Tyes, EH4 | Travelers Noontime Toastmasters | |
Joe Paul, EH2 | iToast | |
Kevin P. Shannon, DTM | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
Oscar Romero, EH2 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
IP2 | 01112075 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Cathleen Kittle, IP2 | NYS Forum Toastmasters | |
Chris Connor, IP3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
Danette Fitzgerald, IP2 | Eagle Club | |
Matthew Storms, IP3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
LD2 | Ana Primeau, LD4 | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford |
Jacquelyn Kingsley, LD2 | New Dawn | |
Stephanie A. Roy, EC2 | Talk It Up Toastmasters | |
MS2 | Daniel Terrell, MS2 | Mystic Aquarium Toastmasters |
Terry R. Goodemote, DTM | North Country Club | |
PI2 | Amy Chiu, SR1 | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Courtney Haedke, PI3 | New Dawn | |
PM2 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
07754118 – Name unavailable | Global Toasters | |
07886640 – Name unavailable | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
67513566 – Name unavailable | GE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club | |
Brent Hesse, PM2 | Inspira Marketing Toastmasters | |
Christa M. Walsh, PM3 | Saratoga Turf Talkers | |
Damien Morales, PM4 | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
Jennifer Phillips, PM2 | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
KEVIN M. FERRAROTTI, PM2 | Hartford HealthCare Central Region Toastmasters Club | |
Paul Tanner, PM2 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
SR2 | David Kolman, DTM | GE Schenectady Speakers Club |
Donna Peterson, SR2 | New Dawn | |
Jeremy Dubay, SR2 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
TC2 | Kristev Hildenbrandt, IP5 | Empire Toastmasters |
VC2 | Bettyann Peck, DTM | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford |
Jim Parsons, DTM | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
DL1 | 02643838 – Name unavailable | GE Schenectady Speakers Club |
Andreea Rotaru, DL1 | NE Toastmasters | |
Brett L. Kessler, DL2 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
Charlie Huang, DL1 | Greater Stamford Toastmasters | |
David Speranza, DL2 | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
Emily M. Spaulding, DL1 | Hubbell Shelton Toastmasters | |
Scott Mason, DL3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
EC1 | Kevin F. Finn, DTM | Cedar Hill Toastmasters Club |
Mark E. Wing, EC3 | Toastmasters of Downtown Springfield, MA | |
Sarah Sirignano, EC1 | Stag Toastmasters Club | |
Thomas Farrelly, DTM | Hubbell Shelton Toastmasters | |
EH1 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
03810046 – Name unavailable | Southern Dutchess Toastmasters | |
Jennifer L. Sheringham, EH1 | Capital Toastmasters of Albany | |
Matthew Duzniewski, EH1 | iToast | |
Megan M. Long, EH1 | North Country Club | |
Normand C. Thibodeau, DTM | UnitedHealth Group Club | |
Oscar Romero, EH2 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
IP1 | 01112075 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Kevin Houlihan, IP1 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
Lauran Woods, IP1 | Stag Toastmasters Club | |
Matthew Storms, IP3 | West-Conn Toastmasters Club | |
Richard Kornitsky, IP1 | NE Toastmasters | |
LD1 | Abigail Burson, LD1 | Nathan Hale Club |
Ana Primeau, LD4 | Park City Toastmasters of Stratford | |
Jacquelyn Kingsley, LD2 | New Dawn | |
John Murray, DTM | Capital Toastmasters of Albany | |
MS1 | 67555086 – Name unavailable | iToast |
Katherine Curtis, MS1 | Farmington Club | |
Michael Somma, MS1 | Greater Stamford Toastmasters | |
Molly Hayward, DTM | Stag Toastmasters Club | |
PI1 | Amy Chiu, SR1 | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
Tanner Jones, PI1 | Bethlehem Toastmasters | |
PM1 | 03117924 – Name unavailable | Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
07889375 – Name unavailable | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
67487174 – Name unavailable | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
67513831 – Name unavailable | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
Christa M. Walsh, PM3 | Saratoga Turf Talkers | |
Damien Morales, PM4 | Dutchess County Toastmasters | |
Denise DiNoto, PM1 | Fort Orange Toastmasters | |
Jennifer Phillips, PM2 | Medtronic North Haven Toastmasters | |
Juan G. Lastra febles, PM1 | KAPL Toastmasters Club | |
SR1 | Donna Peterson, SR2 | New Dawn |
VC1 | David S. Freedman, DTM | Henry Hudson Club |
Diane Ploch, VC1 | New Dawn |
Mastering Communication: Why Your Toastmasters Email Matters
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
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:
- 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?
- Examine the Content: Phishing emails often contain spelling or grammatical errors, an urgent tone, or vague requests for personal information or financial transactions.
- 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.
- 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:
- Do Not Respond: Avoid responding to the email or clicking on any links within it.
- 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.
- 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:
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC offers guidance on recognizing and reporting phishing scams on their website: FTC Phishing Scams.
- 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.
Our District’s Facebook Page and Group: What’s the Difference?
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.
On a Toastmasters Note,
Zachary Fisk prm@d53tm.org
Heather Turner socialmedia@d53tm.org
My Goals as D53 Public Relations Manager
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:
- Please inform me at prm@d53tm.org if our weekly newsletter is not reaching your inbox
- Please connect with our members-only Facebook group “D53 Toastmasters – A Place to Share”
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.