What’s Up Wednesday!

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

What’s Up Wednesday!

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela

The Time is NOW!

March 31st is just around the corner and less than a week away! 3 reasons to make sure you and your club are renewed….

1. It’s Contest Season!! According to Toastmasters International Speech Contest Rulebook, “(t)o be eligible to compete in any official Toastmasters speech contest, a member must be a paid member of a club in the Area, Division, and District in which they are competing. The club must also be in good standing.” Therefore, contestants must have paid their dues by March 31, and the club of which the contestant is a member must have at least 8 members paid dues by March 31 for the Division contests scheduled for April 5, 2025. District 50 highly recommends that all club members’ dues be paid.
2. Be Distinguished! One of the criteria to qualify as a Distinguished club is timely submission of dues.
3. Don’t get jammed up! Avoid the March 31st madness dues rush which triggers Toastmasters slow processing time.

LAST CALL All Outstanding Officers DUE MARCH 31!!

Make sure you take the time to nominate your Club Officers who embody our Toastmasters values of Integrity, Respect, Service, and Excellence. Simply click HERE to make your nominations. Winners will be announced and awarded a plaque at the spring conference in May.

HERE WE GO!

Division contests kick-off Saturday March 29th for Metro and Southern Divisions. Your Trio will be dividing our time and between the three of us, will be at every Division contest, this Spring! We cannot wait to see all of the speaking chops the best of the best each contestant will bring! If you want to see some amazing speakers, you won’t want to miss out. Join us this Saturday. Simply get to the Contest Page to find locations and even more details.

March 29th 

• Metro Division Contest 10 am
• Southern Division Contest 11 am

April 5th

• Plains Division 10 am
• Frontier Division 1 pm
• Town North Division 4 pm
• Eastern Division 12 pm

Blooming in Leadership and Communication: A Garden for Growth

The wait is over! The link for registration is now LIVE for our Spring Conference: Blooming in Leadership and Communication: A Garden for Growth.

This conference promises to be an enriching experience, full of opportunities to grow your leadership and communication skills, all while connecting with fellow members. Whether you’re looking to network, learn, or simply have a good time, we can’t wait to hang out with you!

Register now and secure your spot!

Let’s plant the seeds for a brighter future, together! See you there!

Everyone has a story…

District 50 is so happy to celebrate our nominated candidates for District Director, Program Quality Director, Club Growth Director, and Division Directors. Take some time and meet the candidates by visiting our Candidates Page. If you are interested in joining District leadership as an Area Director or member of the team and are curious, please email dd@d50tm.org and let me know and we will reach out and make sure we understand your goals and where you would like to serve. This is an excellent way to connect more within the District and with each other.

What’s in a word?

This week’s Word of the Week is Nonplussed: adjective.

Definition: Completely confused, unsure, or speechless, often in a surprising or unexpected situation. In a moment: That moment when a tough Table Topic question leaves you staring blankly… or when a speaker’s punchline catches you off guard!

Challenge: Use nonplussed at least twice in your speeches or Table Topics this week! Share a story about a time you felt nonplussed, or use it humorously when a speech leaves the audience stunned! 

Bonus Challenge: Recall a famous moment in history where someone was nonplussed—or make the audience feel that way with a clever twist in your speech! Let’s keep our composure, even when we’re feeling nonplussed!

Goggle Moments

Have you ever had an idea of how something was supposed to happen, like a family trip or a home improvement project? Before you know it, things aren’t going the way you thought they should. I call these “goggle moments”. Why goggle moments? When a swimmer’s goggles flip down and fill with water during a race, they face a less-than-ideal situation. Michael Phelps once practiced with cracked goggles to prepare for such moments. Peyton Manning shared recently on a podcast how the team would practice for 8 years the wet ball drill. They played in domes, where it doesn’t rain. But, one year, when they were in the Super Bowl, and it was pouring, they didn’t drop a snap. Why? Because they practiced for that moment for that time when the situation may not be favorable. These moments of challenges and less than favorable conditions, are those times where we evolve, learn, and grow. They make us better. 

Several years ago, I gave a speech on this “Goggle Moment” topic. As I write this week’s What’s Up Wednesday, I’m reminded of my own words. Change isn’t always easy, and life throws us curve balls. It’s our grit and ability to rebound that measure us. Maybe the tough time is preparing us for something better, something great! Whether it’s practicing for these times or perhaps the moments we need to rest and lean on friends and family, these are the points in time when we are quiet, listen, and hear that are so important. As fellow Toastmasters, I’m in awe of how we show up for each other in crazy times. You embody our values and rise to the occasion to make sure others know they matter. Keep going, and know that no matter how tough it may be, the race is still worth it. In the end, we have each other, and that is worthwhile!

Warm and toasty wishes for you all!

Kimberly Ross, DTM
District 50, District Director

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