Wednesday, February 5, 2025
What’s Up Wednesday!
RISE with Integrity. Respect. Service. Excellence!
“Vision is not enough, it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs.” – Václav Havel
YOU Are Meant to Lead – Step Up for a District 50 Leadership Role!
Are you ready to grow, inspire, and make a lasting impact? District 50 Toastmasters needs passionate leaders for the 2025-2026 Toastmasters year! This is your opportunity to develop leadership skills, support our clubs, and shape the future of our district.
We have a variety of leadership roles available, from District Director to Area Directors and more. Whether you’re looking to challenge yourself or give back to the community, there’s a place for you on our leadership team!
Elected Positions (Application Required):
- District Director
- Program Quality Director
- Club Growth Director
- Division Director (6 positions available)
Appointed Positions:
- Area Director (26 positions)
- Finance Manager
- Administration Manager
- Public Relations Manager
Take this step toward personal and professional growth! Applications are due February 15th – don’t miss this opportunity to lead and serve.
📩 Apply here today!
Elected positions have forms that need to be filled out. Please consider this opportunity to give back to District 50 as well as yourself and apply today by clicking here.
For questions, contact leadership@d50tm.org.
Your leadership journey starts now! 🚀
Follow District 50 on LinkedIn.
🚨 ONE LAST CHANCE – DON’T MISS OUT! 🚨
This is it—your FINAL opportunity to get trained as a club officer! Don’t miss out on critical discussions and the brand-new Base Camp training designed specifically for officers.
📢 Why does this matter?
A well-trained leader makes all the difference! Clubs with at least four officers trained in both summer and winter earn one DCP point—a crucial step toward club success. Right now, less than 50% of officers have completed training. EVERY CLUB DESERVES TRAINED LEADERS! That means YOU!
🔹 Final Training Date:
📅 Saturday, February 15th
⏰ 9:00 AM – 11:50 AM
📍 Last Chance Zoom TLI Registration
Don’t wait—this is your last shot to level up, support your club, and ensure a stronger, more successful Toastmasters experience for everyone. Be there! 🚀
CONTEST SEASON IS HERE!
Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, John Henry…. Create your own Tall Tales and compete in the upcoming Tall Tales contest. Have an inspirational or funny story to share? International speech contests are made for you! Get competing and we’ll see you soon at one of the Area contests! Clubs should have their Club contests or showcase to decide who will be representing them at the Area contests. Area contests begin Saturday February 22nd and will run through Saturday March 15th. Winners from the Area contests will advance to the Division level contests where you will compete against others within your District 50 Division.
For more information on the contest schedule, you can visit the Contest Page on the D50 website.
Speechcraft Opportunity
We need your help with Speechcraft.
Speechcraft began Tuesday, February 4th from 8:30 am to 10 am and will meet weekly for six consecutive weeks at 10379 Plano Road, Dallas, TX 75238.
If you’re not sure what Speechcraft is, it is conducted like a Toastmasters club meeting. This program is a great way to develop non-members into better communicators. Volunteering for a role is easy, you just need to complete the Google form(s) at https://d50tm.org/cg/ for a selection of roles and dates for the Speechcraft. By volunteering, you will get to learn the nuances of the program, and could replicate it in your own club!
If you have questions, Club Growth Director Rhonda Bunte has the answers. You can email her at cgd@d50tm.org.
What is Speechcraft? Learn more here!
Save the Date!
Calling all District Council members! Please save the date for Tuesday, May 6th for the Annual Business Meeting. This will be 100% virtual on Zoom. You can register today! You will hear reports from the District Trio, Finance, Admin, and Public Relations Managers, the Audit committee, Alignment committee, Division Directors as well as vote on the 2025 – 2026 leaders. Reserve your spot today!
What’s In a Word?
Word of the Week: Eloquence (noun) Definition: The art of speaking or writing in a fluent, persuasive, and impactful manner.
Example: Her eloquence during the keynote speech captivated the audience and left a lasting impression.
Your Challenge: Use “eloquence” throughout the week in conversations, Table Topics, speeches, and evaluations. Strengthen your vocabulary while enhancing your communication skills!
🎤 Overcoming Pre-Speech Jitters – 5 Powerful Tips!
Public speaking anxiety is common, but it doesn’t have to hold you back! In Toastmaster magazine, Dianne Glover shares how she transformed her stage fright into confidence. Here are her five key strategies to calm nerves and deliver powerful speeches:
1️⃣ Breathe Deeply – Use slow diaphragmatic breathing to activate relaxation.
2️⃣ Keep a Success Journal – Focus on past wins to boost confidence.
3️⃣ Move Your Body – Shake off excess adrenaline with physical activity.
4️⃣ Positive Self-Talk – Replace negative thoughts with affirmations.
5️⃣ Focus on the Audience – Connect with your listeners and shift the focus from yourself.
Next time the nerves hit, apply these techniques and make magic happen!
📖 Source: “5 Ways to Calm the Pre-Speech Jitters” by Dianne Glover, Toastmaster Magazine.
🔹 Protecting the Toastmasters Brand – What You Need to Know! 🔹
Did you know Toastmasters International has a Brand Manual and a Brand Portal to ensure consistency and professionalism in all materials? Maintaining the integrity of our brand is essential—it helps create recognition, trust, and credibility for our organization.
The Toastmasters brand isn’t just about the logo and colors (maroon, navy blue, and gray); it also includes our tagline (“Where Leaders Are Made”), core values (integrity, respect, service, excellence), and even the tone of our messaging. Every club, Area, and District should align with these guidelines when creating websites, flyers, social media posts, and contest announcements.
Why is this important?
A strong, unified brand helps us communicate our vision effectively and enhances the overall Toastmasters experience. Following the Brand Manual ensures all materials meet quality standards while representing our organization professionally.
Not sure where to start?
Check out the Toastmasters Brand Portal for guidance on logo usage, fonts, colors, and more:
Let’s work together to keep the Toastmasters brand strong and impactful!
Tiffany McPherson Damskov ☀️
District 50 Public Relations Manager💙🎤
❤️Would you like to share something with us? Remember that D50 Cares.❤️
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