What’s Up Wednesday!

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

What’s Up Wednesday!

“Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise ” —Kobe Bryant

It’s Club Officers Time! Get that 1st DCP for the 25 – 26 year!

That’s right, in order for your club to kick-off the coming 2025 – 2026 year strong, all you have to do is update your club’s officer list before July 1st. What happens if you don’t get to it until July???? You will miss out on the easiest DCP you’ll ever get! 🙂 Work to get all 7 officers listed and you will see that check mark in July, when the new year begins.

In Search of… YOU!

With over 1,000 members in our District, we are looking for under 30 of you to serve this year. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, connect with other members, and take your Toastmasters experience to the next level. The District is looking for 2 key roles. 

Finance Manager: It’s all about the Benjamins!! (sort of)   This person will serve on the Senior Leadership Board and earn 1 year of credit that can be used when pursuing their DTM. We have had amazing past Finance Managers such as JZ Zurita, Risper Abraham, Jen Hoch, and this year’s Finance Manager, Tim Lemon. Every person who said yes, took on a challenge, learned and grew. If you are interested in serving as the finance manager, please reach out to District Director Elect, Denise Castille at PQD@d50tm.org to have a conversation. We will connect you with people who can give you the scoop and the support you will receive. 

Area Director: The Area Director is the most pivotal role in the District. Every year, our District works with members who are looking for the experience of leading in a volunteer organization. Perhaps there are areas you would like to experience, improve, or simply get to know more people. Being an Area Director really is where so many of us “start” our leadership journey and is the backstage pass to understanding how things work as well as connecting with the heart of our District, our members. Please reach out to District Director Kimberly Ross at dd@d50tm.org and let’s have a chat about how you can get involved.

The Road to Distinguished…

Plains Division is Distinguished!

Congratulations to Division Director Cle Kimble, Team Collaboration level 5 and Motivational Strategies Level 3 for leading Plains to be our first Division to earn the level of Distinguished. Plains Division has 16 paid clubs and 7 Distinguished Clubs or higher. In fact, if 1 more club makes it to Distinguished, Plains will become a Select Distinguished Division! I said “first” because there are some Divisions who are very close to achieving Distinguished! Which club, area, or Division will be next?

Plains Distinguished or higher clubs are:

• Allen Toastmasters – Select
• Wylie Wisecrackers – President’s
• RKT Toastmasters – President’s
• Park Central – Select Distinguished
• COS Freedom Speakers – President’s
• Word Wranglers Club – President’s
• BCBSTX Toasties – President’s

3 Cheers for Area Directors Congratulations – to the following Area Directors for having Select Distinguished and Distinguished Areas! There are so many clubs that are very close either in members, DCP’s or both, that I know there will be more clubs and District team members to celebrate! 

• Area 41, Select Distinguished Archana Banubakode, Leadership Development Level 4
• Area 42, Distinguished Kristen Dong, Leadership Development Level 1
• Area 51, Distinguished The Southern Division Team, led by Roderick Goudy, Distinguished Toastmaster

What’s in a Word?

The Word of the Week is: Ignite. Verb. 

Definition: To spark or set in motion; to inspire passion or energy; to start something powerful. 

In a sentence: “Let’s ignite our goals and finish the Toastmasters year with purpose and passion.”

Challenge: With only a few weeks left in the Toastmasters year, now is the perfect time to ignite your club’s energy, your personal growth, and your final goals! Whether you’re delivering a speech, hosting a Table Topics session, or encouraging a fellow member—use the word “ignite” and bring some fire into your meetings this week!

What will YOU ignite before the year ends?

It’s the Journey, not the Destination

Over the past 50 weeks of this year, I have curated details that are relevant and important to keep our members, clubs, and leaders in the know. We’ve asked for your help, we’ve celebrated our members, our clubs, and our District’s success. This week is not too different. Watching all of our club’s goals and hard work come to fruition, is a joy for me and the Trio. Every week I check on you all, how many members? How are you doing with those DCP points and so many clubs are working VERY hard to cross that June 30th finish line strong. Your Trio team, Denise, Rhonda, and I are meeting weekly to discuss what we can do to help our Members, and our District continue to RISE and dare I say, be the Ripple into the coming year. What we do today matters and makes a difference tomorrow. This is the journey, and the path that we are all on. 

On the RISE to make the Ripple Connection,

Kimberly Ross, DTM
District 50, District Director

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