What’s Up Wednesday!

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY!

RISE with 

Integrity.

Respect.

Service.

Excellence!

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn

Congratulations!

I am so excited to announce and congratulate our new District 50 leaders for the 2025 – 2026 Toastmasters year! Like in any organization, it takes a village, teamwork, and people with purpose, vision, and a willingness to serve, and support our leaders. Please take a moment to reach out and congratulate all of our 2025 – 2026 newly elected leaders. Every single leader below will need people to step up and say “YES”. Please see if there are roles that would be a great fit for you to lead and serve in the new Toastmasters Year!

District Trio

  • District Director, Denise Castille, DTM
  • Program Quality Director, Rhonda Bunte, DTM
  • Club Growth Director, Shane Gilmore, EH5, EC5, PI3

Division Directors

  • Eastern: Lou Drummond, DTM
  • Frontier: Deb Cadet, DTM
  • Metro: Open (will be appointed by District Director elect, Denise)
  • Plains: Sathya Kandasamy, DL4
  • Southern: Felicha Stanley, MS5
  • Town North: Nadum Charles, PM5

Annual Business Meeting – Recap

For those of you who were unable to join us via the Live Stream or would like to listen to specific elements of the meeting, we have the replay posted on the Annual Business Meeting page. We are working to also post the PDF of the slide deck in its entirety. Highlights from last evening were:

  • Finance & Mid-Year Audit Reports
  • D50 realignment report (look to see which division your club will be in next year)
  • Accepting the uncontested nominated slate of leaders to be elected into office
  • CGD, PQD, and District Director Reports
  • ReEngage – D50 History! By Past International Director, Monnica Rose, DTM
  • D50 Reformation details by Past District Director, DaWane Wanek, DTM

It’s Arrived!!!! The District 50 Spring Conference

Blooming in Leadership and Communication: – A Garden for Growth, Grow.Connect.Learn

Get ready for a weekend designed to inspire, equip, and celebrate YOU!!  

Friday May 9th – Kick-Off

Join us at St. Barnabas Church, 1220 West Belt Line Rd., Richardson, TX

  • 6 pm: Sow and Socialize
  • 7:05 pm: District 50 Tall Tales Contest
  • There will be light snacks and refreshments

All 6 Division Tall Tales finalists will be the main focus as they share their speaking skills with us through the art of Tall Tale storytelling, something not to be missed!

Saturday May 10th – Conference Day

Join us at Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center, 800 W. Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX

  • Free Parking on floors 3 and above, NO PARKING PASS NEEDED!

Conference Highlights

For the full Conference schedule, visit the schedule page and simply scroll down to see all of the speakers. Continue to scroll and select May 9 or May 10 for a full agenda by time.

Some Highlights Include

  • Breakfast/Banner Parade
  • General Session
  • Educational Sessions
  • Boxed Lunch
  • Grammy Style Hall of Fame
  • Keynote Speakers
  • DTM Ceremony
  • Catered Dinner
  • International Speech Contest

Let’s grow as leaders, connect with fellow Toastmasters, and learn new tools for success!

#GrowConnectLearn #District50Toastmasters #Bloominleadership

Take that word off your list!

This week’s Word of the Week is verisimilitude: noun. [ver-uh-sim-uh-luh-tood]

Definition: The appearance of being true or real; the quality of seeming believable or realistic — especially in storytelling, speech, or writing. When your speech or story has verisimilitude, it draws your audience in. It helps them feel like what you’re saying is authentic — even if it’s fiction!

In a sentence: Her vivid descriptions and natural dialogue gave the story a sense of verisimilitude that kept us hanging on every word.

Challenge of the Week: Use verisimilitude in a sentence during your next speech, Table Topics response, or even in casual club conversation.

Bonus points if you use it while telling a great story! Let’s celebrate the art of storytelling this week — and don’t forget to share your favorite Toastmasters tale with a fellow member!

Kick-off to Conference

Tuesday evening, we kicked off our Spring Conference, by holding our Annual Business Meeting. While we didn’t break the 1 hour and 5 minute shortest meeting of all time, we received a wealth of information for the 2025 – 2026 year such as the alignment of clubs, who our leaders will be, and the District Reformation project and what our District will look like, very soon. What I loved most about the meeting was that while we got kicked out of Zoom at the beginning, everyone was easygoing and able to just go with the flow. Our members were engaged, asked questions, gave honest and transparent feedback, and most of all, cheered each other on. That’s what I love, that is what inspires me.

I want to thank ALL of the role holders/leaders: Hermine, David D., Ram, Yvonne, Nancy, Tim, JZ, Walter, Bob, David A., Kellie, Rhonda, Denise, Tiffany, Monnica, DaWane, Roderick, Herb, Tommy, David H., Daniel, and Cle for giving 110% of yourselves to your roles, your reports, and to our members. My heart is full as we go into the weekend where we get to come together and Bloom.Grow.Connect.Learn. in this Garden tapestry that the Program Quality team has woven for us and will put on, for our members! I can’t wait to see you all on May 9th or 10th!! 

❤️With a full heart,

Kimberly Ross, DTM
District 50, District Director

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