What’s Up Wednesday!

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

What’s Up Wednesday!

RISE with 

Integrity.

Respect.

Service.

Excellence!

“Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up, and get ready to rise up. ” —Germany Kent

District 50 History

Did You Know? District 50 is Home to Two World Champions of Public Speaking! 

When it comes to excellence in public speaking, District 50 has a proud legacy that reaches the very top of the Toastmasters International stage. Did you know two World Champions of Public Speaking hailed from District 50?

Jim Key – 2003 World Champion of Public Speaking

In 2003, Jim Key captivated the audience and judges with his powerful and heartfelt speech titled “Never Too Late.” His message, filled with inspiration and personal transformation, resonated deeply with listeners around the world. Jim’s blend of vulnerability, clarity, and polished delivery earned him the top spot in the prestigious international competition.

🎥 Watch Jim Key’s Winning Speech here

LaShunda Rundles – 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking

Five years later, in 2008, another shining star from District 50 emerged. LaShunda Rundles delivered a speech titled “Speak,” a deeply moving account of her journey living with lupus. Her message of perseverance and hope inspired countless people and secured her place as the first African American woman to win the World Championship of Public Speaking.

🎥 Watch LaShunda Rundles’ Winning Speech here

These two champions brought recognition to District 50 and left a lasting impact on the global Toastmasters community through their stories and their spirit. Their speeches continue to inspire members to find their voice, share their message, and aim for excellence.

So, the next time someone asks if greatness lives in District 50, you can proudly say, “Absolutely—and we have two World Champions to prove it!”

**Coming soon, our District 50 History Page

Don’t forget! Get your Officers Submitted?

The 2025 – 2026 year starts on July 1st! Don’t wait, get your officers into Club Central before so you don’t miss out on that 1st EASY DCP point. 

JOIN THE DREAM TEAM!

We still need YOU to say YES to being an Area Director. We have positions open in:

AREA DIRECTORS NEEDED

We still have open Area Director roles in the following divisions:

  • Southern click here to contact the Division Director, elect
  • Metro click here to contact the Division Director, elect 
  • Plains click here to contact the Division Director, elect 
  • Eastern click here to contact the Division Director, elect

The leadership team is passionate and will make sure you are not alone on this journey. If you are curious, craving new connections, learn and grow more, this is the role for you!

WEBSITE SUPPORT VOLUNTEER WANTED

We’re on the lookout for someone who can help us keep the District 50 website fresh and up-to-date. If you’re savvy with web design, enjoy working behind the scenes, and know your way around platforms like WordPress or similar, we’d love to hear from you! Your work will help our members and prospective guests have a great experience when they visit our site. If you are interested, contact District Director-Elect Denise Castille or current District Director Kimberly Ross.

Learning is for EVERYONE! 

Join us this Saturday, June 28th, for Jumpstart TLI. (Toastmasters Leadership Institute) is for EVERYONE! We want all of our members, especially our newly minted officers, to join us for training, where you can connect, learn, and be inspired to lead your club and members in the best way possible. Click here to view the schedule and register for our virtual Zoom sessions – or – in person!

TLI Schedule:

  • June 28 ~ 9 am – 12 pm *Jumpstart*
  • July 22 ~11:30 am – 1:30 pm
  • July 26 ~ 9 am – 12 pm
  • August 2~ 9 am – 12 pm
  • August 12 ~7 pm – 10 pm *Last Chance*

The Road to Distinguished…18 clubs to go!

Distinguished – 5 DCP Points and +3/20 Members

  • COPART TOASTMASTERS
  • Dallas ISD Talk It Up!
  • Expressive Toastmasters !
  • Oncor Dallas Toastmasters
  • The Storytellers !
  • Tyler Morning Toastmasters Club

Select Distinguished – 7 DCP Points and +3/20 Members

  • Arts District Club *
  • Big “D” Toastmasters *
  • Executive Toastmasters Club
  • Frisco Speaks Up
  • LUV Toastmasters *
  • Metrocrest Toastmasters
  • Park Central Toastmasters
  • PMI Dallas Toastmasters
  • Verbal Expressions Club #5736

Presidents Distinguished – 9 DCP Points and +3/20 Members

  • Allen Toastmasters
  • BCBSTX Toasties
  • Best of Dallas Toastmasters
  • COS Freedom Speakers
  • Frisco Speaks Up
  • Leadership Lambda Toastmasters Club
  • McKinney Motivators
  • Plano Talkers Club
  • RKT Toastmasters
  • Shreveport Club
  • Texas Dragon Toastmasters Club
  • TNT Toastmasters Club
  • Toastmasters of Rockwall Club
  • Unique Toastmasters
  • Waxahachie Toastmasters
  • Word Wranglers Club
  • Wylie Wisecrackers

! – New to the list

* = Moved from Distinguished to Select Distinguished

What’s in a Word?

The Word of the Week is: Ascend. Verb.  

Definition: To move upward; to rise or go to a higher level. To advance in position, rank, or dignity.  Origin: From Latin ascendere, meaning “to climb up”, combining ad- (“to”) + scandere (“to climb”).

As we close out another amazing Toastmasters year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how far we’ve come—and how much higher we’re ready to climb. With new leaders stepping up, fresh goals taking shape, and confidence growing stronger, we invite you to use this week’s word—ASCEND—as inspiration in your speeches, Table Topics, and reflections.

How have you ascended in your leadership journey this year?

What goals will help you ascend to new levels next year?

Let’s lift each other up as we keep climbing, learning, and leading—together.

Last Call!

When I was younger, and we’d be out on the town, there was always that “Last Call”. The call for everyone to finish up, to get ready to wrap the night, and close the place down.

This week is our last What’s Up Wednesday of the year! Can you believe it? 52 weeks of information, celebration, communication, and connection. Every week, I would wonder what I would say, how I would feel… would what these words say inspire? It has been such an honor to serve with our leaders, to experience trainings and meeting so many diverse individuals from around the world, passionate and eager to do their best, for all of our global members.

Change means growth, it means opportunity, and with the coming year, I know that the change will be designed with our members in mind. To bolster you and to continue to support you on your journey, whatever it may be. The word of the week Ascend has so many different synonyms, and guess what, RISE is one of them! Don’t stop moving, climbing, or heading upward; this is just another chapter in our journey together. 

RISE…and look forward to how the ripples that have started not only this year, but in previous years, can make an impact on yourself, your club, and others around you. 

Always RISEing with you,

Kimberly Ross, DTM
District 50, District Director

❤️Would you like to share something with us? Remember that D50 Cares. ❤️