Welcome to District 50 Toastmasters

LUV Toastmasters, chartered in March 2013: ten years ago, is already a Select Distinguished club this year. They are a corporate Southwest Airlines’ club, so we all connect through our culture. They are open to all employees across the company and enjoy meeting and learning about each other. Toastmasters’ Dashboards show their club has thirty-two members. Club officers indicate fifteen, a mix of guests and members, typically attend their meetings. This article contains some insights which may help your club.

When asked why she wants to be a member of this club, Rachel McDowell, President, replied, “I love getting to meet members of Southwest Airlines from all different departments that also want to improve themselves and grow.” Phyllis McKenzie, Vice President of Education, said, “I love practicing my Communication and Leadership skills in a safe and supportive environment with like-minded Co-hearts. I also like mentoring and helping others see the potential in themselves.” And Claudia Sithy, Sergeant at Arms responded, “I want to improve my public speaking skills, especially for presenting in a professional setting. I also love the leadership skills that come along with the club!”

Each of these officers had subtly different opinions about the best sentence to describe this club. Rachel said, “‘Don’t speak for free.’ We use our work environment to get through our pathways and speak outside of formal Toastmasters meetings.” Phyllis added, “Attend LUV Toastmasters meetings to hear great Prepared Speeches and Table Topics and you’ll want to join in. It’s Contagious!” While Claudia proclaimed, “Take the leap, this is a safe space!”

What do the club members do for fun? “We like to bring some treats, we laugh at ourselves and make lots of jokes,” according to Rachel.

Phyllis attributes the club’s success to, “We all worked together to make the club a success. Members and Guests volunteer for meeting roles, Officers meet bi-weekly to plan future meetings. The Club is a Team and the Officers are a Team within the Team. Everyone is helping to make the club and ourselves a success.” Rachel added, “We have lots of very passionate people who motivate the new members, and the officers have been amazing at getting everything set up for everyone’s success.”

They hold open houses twice each year and encourage members to invite friends. In addition, they publish in the Corporate Newsletter. Members typically remain active for three to five years.

Here is their advice to other corporations considering Toastmasters. Claudia responded, “It’s crucial for us to have leadership support and incentives to join and grow. We offer SWAU (Southwest Airlines University) credit and send internal commendations for attendance.” Then Phyllis added, “Each attendee receives Kick Tails for attendance. Kick Tails are internal employee recognition which is measured by our Leadership.”

Currently, they are a hybrid club that meets on alternating weeks Tuesday at 11 am then Thursday at noon in rotation. Also, they have workshops or speech-a-thons during off weeks. If you have more interest in this club, you can contact them via their DG (distribution group): toastmasters@wnco.com.

Confident Leaders

  • Our club is rich with former, current and aspiring Toastmaster leaders, including district directors. We naturally focus on leadership. Thirty minutes is reserved at our meetings for discussion or a debate on topics related to leadership.
  • We meet the third Tuesday of each month. 7:00pm - 8:30pm.
  • Our hybrid meetings allow members and guests to join virtually or in person at Granite Park Building 1, 5800 Granite Parkway on Plano TX 75024.
  • Club website: CLeaders.toastmastersclubs.org
  • Contact for club: Dan Reeder, VPPR, dsreeder462069@gmail.com
  • Club number: 07479372
  • Membership requirements: Confident Leaders is open to past, current, and future leaders.

The Evaluators

  • Our advanced club is for evaluations. We offer everyone attending an opportunity to speak, including evaluations of the evaluators.
  • When: We hold a hybrid meeting every second Thursday, 7:00 - 8:15pm.
  • Where: La Madeleine’s, 8008 TX-121, Suite 100, Frisco, TX 
  • Website: https://TheEvaluators.ToastmastersClubs.org
  • Contact: Robert Srb,  President, 214.686.3098, groovy1004@sbcglobal.net
  • Club Number: 01761504
  • Membership requirements: no membership requirements

Park Central Toastmasters

  • Park Central offers 43 years of experience, excellence and Toastmasters educational programming to help support our members’ goals. We achieve this through our unique meeting format focused on providing members up to six opportunities to give formal speeches.
  • When: We meet online by Zoom the third Sunday of each month, 1:00 to 3:00pm 
  • A typical Park Central monthly program includes four to six prepared 5 - 7 minute speeches:
    • First speech focuses on “Tips on Excellence”
    • Two more speeches from Pathways program
    • One Pathways editorial speech which expresses an opinion
    • One Pathways rebuttal speech which expresses an opposing view to the editorial speech. The rebuttal speech is prepared after hearing the editorial speech with often only FIVE minutes to prepare. This can challenge the most experienced Toastmaster! It is a little scary!
    • Evaluations for each prepared speech:   The Evaluations given at the club are motivating, effective, and balanced.
    • Table Topics:   Park Central Members Are Known for Creative Answers to Challenging Questions.
  • Club website: http://parkcentral.toastmastersclubs.org/ 
  • Club Contacts:
    • Stephanie Moses, DTM, VP Membership: 214-498-3711
    • Anne Barab, DTM, Accredited Speaker, Treasurer: 214-293-9009
    • Jyotsna D. Pai, DTM, President: 214-403-0331
  • Club Number: 4095
  • Membership requirement:  Completed Pathways Level 2 and working on Level 3 (or completed Competent Communicator from the Legacy program)

Let's Talk Club

  • We are the enhanced advanced club. We can mentor Toastmasters on an array of speaking and leadership skills. Examples are creating and delivering speeches, impromptu speaking (We have an Impromptu Speech Contest most years.), evaluations, anything related to speech contests, TLI training, one-on-one mentoring, and many more areas. 
  • When: We meet on the second Sunday of the month from 2:30 to 4:00pm. 
  • Where: Our meetings are in-person only at Meadows Baptist Church, 3001 Los Rios Boulevard, Plano, TX 75074. We meet in Building 3001A (the “Love” portable building, just south and close to the main church building). The Meadows complex is directly across the street from Plano East Senior High School.
  • Club website: https://letstalktx.toastmastersclubs.org/ contact-695532@toastmastersclubs.org   (This goes to our VP Membership Lisette Cumberland.)
  • Club number: 695532
  • Membership requirements: At least two levels in Pathways.

Prostmasters

  • Networking, as well as giving speeches in a non-traditional environment, is our specialty.
  • When: Meeting time varies based on events, but the third Tuesday of the month is our standard, 7:00pm CT.
  • Where: Location where you meet: We meet at local breweries or pubs; therefore, it varies.
  • Contact: Robert Sessions, robertsessions@hotmail.com
  • Club Number: 06613239
  • We meet mainly in person, but we can set up hybrid.
  • Membership requirement: New members must be a member of another Toastmasters club.

Roving 49ers

  • Roving 49ers is a place where past, present, and future leaders gather in a relaxed setting in a member’s home to share their successes and challenges and to learn the art of successful leadership. Roving 49ers has become a forge where leaders are honed, all while relaxing in a fun atmosphere, and enjoying a great meal and the camaraderie of fellow Toastmasters. Over the past 35 years our unique combination has made us THE destination for Toastmasters interested in furthering their leadership skills.
  • When: We meet on the second Saturday of each month. In-person potluck starts at 6:00pm CT; hybrid meeting begins at 7:00pm CT.
  • Where: Members' homes in a hybrid meeting.
  • Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083688521307
  • Contact: Kathie Clark, DTM,  kaclark50@verizon.net
  • Club Number: 6590
  • Membership requirement: Roving 49ers is open to past, current, or future Toastmaster leaders.

Super DTMs

  • We assist and mentor Toastmasters who are working towards their DTM.
  • When: We meet online on the second Thursday of each month, 6:30pm
  • Where: We meet online only.
  • Contact: Diana Pritchard, pritchard.diana@gmail.com 
  • Club Number 07026328
  • Membership requirement: Membership is open to those who already belong to another Toastmaster club.

Tyler Advanced Toasties

  • We focus on thorough evaluations and leadership opportunities to motivate and assist members in growing their leadership skills. 
  • When: We meet on the second Tuesday of the month, 7:00pm
  • Where: Hybrid Meetings. We meet via Zoom and in person at Tyler Innovation Pipeline, 217 East Oakwood Street, Tyler, TX 75702
  • Facebook: Tyler Advanced Toasties 
  • Contact: Diana Pritchard, pritchard.diana@gmail.com
  • Club Number: 7463287
  • Membership requirement: Membership is open to all Toastmasters who are members of another Toastmaster club..