What’s Up Wednesday!

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY!

“I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour… is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.” ~Vince Lombardi

Club Visits and Reports Kudos

Congratulations to Frontier Division for recently completing their club visits and reports!  Frontier team includes: 

• Tommy Kenyon, Division Director
• Sri Lalitha Borusu, Assistant Division Director
• Prakash Acharya, Area 21 Director
• Venkat Parsumarthi, Area 22 Director
• Sathya Kandasamy, Area 23 Director
• Eileen Elledge, Area 24 Director
• Cindy Vogel, Area 25 Director

Congratulations to these other area directors who also submitted their visitation reports by May 31, 2025:

• Hazel Cotton, Eastern Division, Area 11 Director
• Freddy Berrum, Metro Division, Area 34 Director
• Michelle Campbell, Town North Division, Area 62 Director
• Praneetha Meka, Town North Division, Assistant Area 62 Director
• Nadum Charles, Town North Division, Area 63 Director
• Karan Santra, Town North Division, Assistant Area 63 Director

That’s a Wrap!

Friday Night & Tall Tales

This past weekend was a whirling dervish of a weekend! Friday night kicked off at St. Barnabas’s Church in Richardson where we were kicked off the meeting with the Tall Tales speech. Past Quality Contest Chair, Ram Venkat, curated a contest of epic proportions, led by the GOAT, Contest Master, Gene Gray in his garden wear! Judges had a TOUGH job determining the top 3 winners!

Congratulations to:

• Third Place: Scott Sloan, Plains Division, speech title “Many Lives”
• Second Place: Candy Bradshaw, Southern Division, speech title “I’m Not Pregnant”
• First Place: Alvin Thomas, Metro Division, speech title “What could go Wrong?”

Saturday Morning and Hall of Fame

We kicked off the day with our banner parade and delicious breakfast buffet in the morning, with education sessions leading up to our afternoon keynote from District 50’s own Past District Director and winner of The Presidential Citation Award, Dr. Gaurav Shekhar. 

Corporate Sponsor of the Year – UTD

District 50 also awarded UTD as our Corporate Sponsor of the year. UTD has donated their facilities to our District so many times over the years, and has been a true champion and friend to all of our members. Being able to show our gratitude to Dr. Shekhar, and UTD for all they have done to support our District, was fun!

Hall of Fame – Grammy Style

Our Awards Chairs, Ram and Deepa Venkat, hosted our first ever Grammy Style Hall of Fame where we learned not only who the winners were of each category, but who was nominated as well!

Immediate Past President: Scott Jordan, EC5, Leadership Lambda – Winner

Nominated:

• Richard Goodrum, DTM, nominated

President: Nadum Charles, PM5, Texas Dragon – Winner

Nominated:

• Dan Reeder, VC5
• Chester Chambers, VC2
• Seldon Short, PM2
• Sally Mathews, EH2
• Joan Bradee, PM3

Vice President Education: Anant Gorakh, PM1, Unique Toastmasters – Winner

Nominated:

• Yvonne Broach, DTM
• Bill Bodwell, DTM
• Janet Adams, DTM
• Raymond Dukes, DTM

Vice President Membership: Mardalee Burwitz, Confident Leaders/Allen Toastmasters – Winner

Nominated:

• Caroline Hughey, DTM
• Christina Nunerly, PM2
• Daisy Xiao, DL3
• Don Deadman, DTM

Vice President Public Relations: Vanessa McCoy, Toastmasters of Rockwall – Winner

Nominated:

• Connor French, TM
• Yvonne Broach, DTM
• Vanecia Johnson, TM

Secretary: Amber Hyland, LD5, Verbal Expressions – Winner

Nominated:

• Maryssa Crews, LD2
• Rita Taylor, DTM

Treasurer: Judith Mercer, TM, Divine 9 and Family – Winner

Nominated:

• Nancy Bateman, DTM
• David Gray, MS1
• Chi Yan, PM1

Sgt. at Arms: Amy Bemis, DTM, Richardson Ice Breakers – Winner

Nominated:

• Joe Nave, ATMS, ALB
• Adriana Valladolid, TM
• Ervin Mercado, TM

Best Social Media: Leadership Lambda – Winner

Best Website: Big D Toastmasters – Winner

Saturday Evening

We capped off the evening with an Italian Buffet dinner, a fantastic DTM ceremony, hosted by Past District Director, Kristy Pedersen, had the passing of the gavel for incoming officers, and the grand finale….

“A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet”

It may smell sweet, but it wouldn’t be our “Rose”. District 50 is rich with history, past leaders who are always willing to be our keynote and featured speakers! Saturday evening didn’t disappoint when our very own, Past International Director, Past Region Advisor, Past District Governor, Monnica Rose, DTM shared the importance of being a mentor, and a mentee. What are some stretch goals that we could go after? After her keynote, I found myself, with a new mentee…. and I’m thrilled!! It just fell into place naturally, and I was so thankful for that inspiration. How can you give back to yourself, others, our community and in other places?

Three letters, BIG Meaning!

The highest education level of achievement in our organization is becoming a “DTM” a Distinguished Toastmaster. Many may say it stands for “don’t time me”. However, this event was simply the best. All Distinguished Toastmasters in the room, lined up to greet and congratulate our newly minted DTMs. This achievement takes a lot of work, patience, practice, and teamwork. Congratulations to Distinguished Toastmasters All – District 50 is so proud of you! 

• David Dunn
• Amy Bemis
• Jaya Eripilla
• Bob Beideck
• David Adams

International Speech Contest!!

All of our Division finalists brought their “A” Game! Contest Chair, Michelle Chadwick had amazing role holders and our Contest Master of the hour, Akash Navneeth was fantastic! Congratulations to all of the finalists and our winners!

• Third Place: Kenny Ray Morgan, Eastern Division, speech title “OPO”
• Second Place: Joe Yoder, Metro Division, speech title “Happy Place”
• First Place: Chester Chambers, Frontier Division, speech title “Toastmasters Wrestle with the Questions”

Take that word off your list!

Word of the Week: Nurture

In honor of Mother’s Day, our Word of the Week is nurture — a word that captures the essence of motherhood: to care for, to encourage growth, and to support with love.

This week, we challenge you to use the word nurture in your speeches, Table Topics responses, and conversations. Think about the way your mother — or a mother figure in your life — has nurtured you, your dreams, or your spirit.

Did she nurture your curiosity?

Did she nurture your confidence during difficult times?

Or perhaps you have had the opportunity to nurture others in the way she once nurtured you.

Let this word inspire stories of gratitude, warmth, and reflection. Whether humorous, heartfelt, or heroic — your stories can help us celebrate the quiet strength and enduring legacy of mothers everywhere.

Bonus Challenge: Use the word “nurture” in a metaphor or simile during your next speech — stretch your storytelling muscles!

What a Weekend

I had the best time mingling with so many of you this past weekend at our annual District 50 Spring Conference! I want to thank the Program Quality team for all of their hard work and efforts to put on a heartfelt event. There was an electronic program also known as a flip book that you can view here. What’s fun about this electronic version is it will allow all of our members to take a peek at our sponsors, speakers, Hall of Fame, DTMs, and so much more. 

There are 6 short weeks left in the year and we all have work to do! Get those speeches and levels for your clubs, go after those new guests and ask them to join your club for one of the best experiences around! Don’t let off the gas, the finish line is in sight, just keep going, strong!

With Integrity, Respect, Service, and Excellence,

Kimberly Ross, DTM
District 50, District Director

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