Blog Archives

July 7, 2023 by Sandra Orland, DTM

Attention Club Presidents and Club Secretaries: Have you made your Proxy Assignment? Did you review the Annual Business Meeting site and still have questions? You are invited to register to attend a District 10 Town Hall discussion. 

• Wednesday, July 26, 11:30am – 12pm
• Thursday, July 27, 6pm – 6:30pm
  OR
• Friday , July 28, 7:30pm – 8pm

Club Presidents (or Club Secretaries) have an important responsibility as representatives of your Toastmasters Club Members to assign who will be responsible for the 2 votes from your club. The Toastmasters International Annual Business Meeting (ABM) on August 18 at 7:00am ET will be electing our next International Officers and International Directors as well as any important items on the ballot. It is important at the International Level to achieve quorum. In order to ensure your Club Member Voice is heard there are three important steps.

1. Proxy Assignment
2. Acceptance of Proxy (Proxyholders or Delegates at Large)
3. Delegates Vote

Assign a Proxy – Who should you assign? 

Sandra Orland, DTM, District Director, along with Andrea Wells, Program Quality Director, and Preeti Venkataramani, Club Growth Director, have received training on how to best interview the candidates and have performed interviews. These international leaders are all well deserving of candidacy. Only ONE International Director will be elected from the candidate Regions (these Regions are up for elections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13) and only ONE of each position Second Vice President, First Vice President, and International President-Elect will be elected. We will be in person at the International Conference and plan to attend the meeting. 

In order to vote, you must assign yourself or someone whom you know that will be either online or in person for the ABM. I encourage you if you are not planning to attend the LIVE event in person or online, to discuss your voting preferences with your club membership. If you are not able to attend the ABM, you may consider assigning your Proxy Holder to me, Sandra E Orland, DTM, District Director, or another active member attending the meeting. They must be present from start to finish.  You have a choice, as a club, to select how your votes must be cast or defer them to your Proxy holder. Club President and Club Secretaries are the only ones from each club who have access to apply the proxy for your two (2) votes. Deadline: August 11 to perform the Assignment of Proxy. You must assign a proxy holder even if it is yourself.

If you assign to yourself we are happy to share our interviewing notes from all the candidates in a separate, non-recorded discussion. You are also welcome to review all the candidates and their materials. You may also sign up for interviews to ask questions.

See the July 2023 Leader Letter article for detailed instructions for assigning a proxy.

How can we ensure our Club can complete Proxy Assignment? 

To assign proxy your club for its two (2) votes must be an Active Club ( in good standing, 8 or more paid members, 3 of which are renewing members)  (see Membership chart )

• If you are not an Active Club, your club will be ineligible to vote. 
• If your Club Officer list is not submitted your club will be ineligible to vote.

What about the next two steps?

1. On August 12-15 the Voting Portal will open to allow all Proxies to accept their assignment, and confirm intent to vote.
2. On August 18, 7am ET, at the ABM
   1. Attend the meeting either onsite or online.
   2. Access the “ABM Voting Portal” on the Toastmasters website.
   3. Confirm their presence for a quorum.
   4. Consult their Proxy Summary Report.
   5. Complete the electronic ballot to cast their votes.

See the infographic shared from Toastmasters International regarding the ABM voting process.

The entries in this blog are the opinions of their respective authors. These opinions are not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise affiliated with Toastmasters International.

March 3, 2023, posted by Decolle Abbott

“WE CAN FIND MEANING AND REWARD BY SERVING SOME HIGHER PURPOSE THAN OURSELVES, A SHINING PURPOSE, THE ILLUMINATION OF A THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGHT… WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE. “-President George H.W. Bush

George Bruner, a long-standing bright light In District 10, passed away on January 15, 2023.  George found great joy in giving back to his clubs, the District, and most importantly other members. He always arrived with a brilliant smile and a can-do attitude. He made everyone he interacted with feel capable and empowered, and they walked away from any interaction with a lifelong friend, even if they had just met. 

Fellow club members shared:

” In just a short time of having George in our club, I learned so much from him.   He brought us many speeches on many topics.  I’m thankful I had this time with him!” – Wendi Polman, DTM

“George was a driving force in AM Akron Toastmasters. Before moving to Florida, George was our President and prior to that our VP of Education. He was responsible for moving us to an online presence almost immediately upon the Covid lockdowns. We only missed a couple of weeks. 

He moved to Florida shortly after and joined us frequently on ZOOM.  In fact, he last gave a speech in our club on Wednesday, the 28th of December titled “Forgive, Forget and Renew.” Little did we know it would be the last time we would hear from him.

George was known for his wicked sense of humor, sometimes perverse, and when he was Table Topics Master you could count on engaging topics with a twist. Last week, in his memory, the Word of the Day was “Bumfuzzle.” So appropriate, and so George.

I knew George outside of Toastmasters. We were both members of NSME (National Sales & Marketing Executives) and the Canal Fulton Chamber of Commerce, where he was a regular participant in a mastermind group I led. George had a curious streak and never stopped learning.

George and I shared our Marine Corps heritage, he in regulars, and me in the Reserves. We were both Mud Marines (infantry), though, after 4 years, he joined the Air Force (who said Marines aren’t smart) because the food was better, and they didn’t sleep on the ground.

I will truly miss George, his quick wit, fast smile, and kind heart. And, as he would often say, his “Arizona accent”, something I never quite understood.

Semper Fi, my friend!” – Craig D. Chamberlain , SR3

“A great friend and a great Toastmaster, he was a dearly loved member of AM Akron Toastmasters. He served as president of our club and took on responsibilities at the District as well. He was always present at contests at the Club, Division, and District.

George listened intently to each speech, and provided helpful, encouraging feedback to all of us. He also worked hard for his own growth as well. He was a Marine and thought his leadership style was too directive. He was used to giving orders and things would get done. He worked hard at speaking gently and quietly, and in making suggestions rather than giving orders. He grew a lot in that area!

I miss him so much—he left us too soon.” – Lynn Green

“He was a dedicated and conscientious Toastmaster who consistently demonstrated his commitment to the Toastmasters core values of integrity, respect, service, and excellence. He was always interested in learning and in helping others succeed. He will be missed.” – Vicky Nann, DTM, PDD

“Consummate Professional and Competent Leader:   George did what he said he was going to do, and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions.

Funny and Confident:  George could make us laugh and was also willing to laugh at himself.  I will miss his smile.  I will miss his laughter.  

George cared about the Club, and he cared about us.  He was a rule-following, goal setting, gem of a Toastmaster!  

George spoke with a Pennsylvania dialect that often made things interesting.   I am better for having known George!” – Cyndi Kane, PM1

“George will be missed. He was most dependable and a just-do-it guy. Always willing to help without ever complaining. George always had a speech in his pocket and a smile on his face. I remember meeting his daughters at a toastmaster picnic a few years ago. He did all the shopping, cooking, and cleaning. I will miss his great attitude and curious wit.” – Carole Hayden Rice, ACG, CL

“Dear George,

From the bottom of my heart, I just want to say Thank You!! Thank you for providing vibrant energy in every room you walked into. Thank you for your magnetic smiles. Thank you for providing humor in every speech you have ever given.

Here’s my favorite and most fond memory of George: One day shortly after covid came into our lives, AM Akron had to make some hard decisions about no longer meeting in person. Shortly after taking a few weeks off of meeting in person, George reached out to every member of AM Akron and asked them the same question. “We are considering moving our meetings over to Zoom since we can no longer meet in person. Would you be open to trying this out so that we can continue our meetings but have them virtually?”. My response was almost instant. I told him that Toastmasters seemed very much like an “in-person only” kind of meeting and that I would rather just wait things out until we met in person again. George’s response to this caught me off guard. He simply just said: “Ok, well we are going to try this Zoom thing out anyways and I really look forward to seeing you attend our first virtual meeting next Wednesday!”. I was shocked with his response but couldn’t argue! I immediately agreed to attend and told him I look forward to seeing him on Zoom!

The reason why I share this story is because that one decision that George made taught me a lot about leadership. At the time George was the president of AM Akron and without hesitation, he made a decision that he thought was the right decision for our group. In fact, if it wasn’t for his decision, We wouldn’t have had a meeting at all for close to 2 years!! It’s possible that this might have even led to the end of AM Akron..! Because of Goerge, I have still been able to attend Toastmasters weekly for the past 2 years and have loved every minute of it. George was a great leader, a great father, a great husband, a great friend, and such a wonderful and entertaining speaker. 

From myself and the rest of AM Akron Toastmasters, I would like to say this: We all Loved you dearly George, and you will be forever missed! 

Rest in Peace, my dear friend.” – Dominic Lofreso, PM5(Current President of AM Akron thanks to George’s inspiring leadership)

While we say goodbye to George Bruner, his light still shines on within District 10, and the individuals’ lives he has impacted. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/obituaries/pwoo0408450

Jenilee Taylor, DTM, PDD, PRA

The entries in this blog are the opinions of their respective authors. These opinions are not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise affiliated with Toastmasters International.

by Cori Arnold, PM2, Mount Vernon Club

published April 15, 2022

It’s that time of year – Spring!

The spring season comes with many exciting things. New life emerges as the outdoors become greener. Warm sunshine accompanies our walks, and we get motivated to clean our houses. 

For me, spring cleaning is an annual tradition. I don’t just clean though. I look for things I no longer use and either donate or dispose of them. Cleaning out my physical space makes me feel great. I don’t want to be held down with a lot of stuff that no longer serves a purpose. 

Cleaning up the space around me has an added benefit. I mentally feel better. My mind can focus on what’s important instead of being distracted with the physical stuff around me. I create more mental space for personal development and growth. I encourage you to make room for a new you, physically and mentally.

Join us at the District 10 Toastmasters Spring Conference, themed, “A Whole New World…Reimagine You.”

This event only comes around once a year. It’s your opportunity to get the most out of this new spring season. By attending, you’ll gain access to world-class speakers, abundant learning opportunities, and professional networking.

1. Inspiration This conference brings new life into your home with keynote speaker, Melissa McGavick, DTM, International Director, Region 6. She offers new perspectives with her content, as well as high caliber speaking ability, which provides insights for improvement in your own speaking journey. Spending time with like-minded individuals is a great catalyst for inspiration. You become similar to the people you spend your time with.  Choosing to spend your time with amazing speakers and District 10 Leaders will improve your mindset.
2. Education A variety of high-level education sessions offer growth in many areas, from improving your public speaking skills to enhancing your leadership skills.  This is your opportunity to gain knowledge and reap the rewards of these new skills. We all can learn something from these excellent training sessions.
3. Connection With the pandemic, the world has changed in many ways. In some cases, our relationships have changed. We may no longer stay connected like we used to. This conference is a place where you can rekindle old relationships and create new ones.

In addition, you can support your fellow Toastmasters as they compete in two speech competitions, the Humorous Speech Contest and the International Speech Contest. These teammates of yours have been working on these speeches for months and would love your support. 

And, if you aren’t convinced yet, you can experience all of this from the comfort of your own home. Where else can you gain inspiration, education, and connection – all in one weekend? I know I’m ready, and my spring cleaning is almost finished. Get ready, because this conference is coming to you. 

Join us for a fun weekend with District 10 April 28^th– May 1^st.

The entries in this blog are the opinions of their respective authors. These opinions are not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise affiliated with Toastmasters International.

Published 20 December 2021

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Past District Governor, Distinguished Toastmaster Theodore “Ted” Gardner. Ted served our District proudly and with honor for many years until his health no longer permitted. He leaves a great legacy for future leaders to follow. He will definitely be missed.

Please continue to keep Ted’s wife, Monica, their children, grandchildren and family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Public Viewing: 12/22/21 12pm to 6pm Miller-Mcfall Funeral Home 8608 Quincy Rd, Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Funeral Services: 12/23/21. Wake: 10:30a
Funeral Service: 11:00a Good Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church17822 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44112

The entries in this blog are the opinions of their respective authors. These opinions are not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise affiliated with Toastmasters International.

published August 30, 2021

Archived

Thank you for your nominations!

Award Recipients will be awarded October 23rd at our Club Quality and Member Recognition Event from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Let’s Celebrate together!

Dear Members of District 10,

Nominations for Division Director of the Year, Area Director of the Year, and Toastmaster of the Year for 2020-2021 concluded on the extended deadline of October 10, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.

We have the pleasure of recognizing the hard work of the members and leaders in District 10 who went above and beyond during the 2020-2021 Toastmasters program year; a uniquely challenging year. We will also recognize club achievement and Top Performers in Membership and Education along with the Area Director of the Year, Division Director of the Year, Toastmaster of the Year, and other special awards!

Visit our District 10 Calendar to REGISTER for our October 23rd Club Quality and Member Recognition Event

#d10strong #d10proud #TogetherWeAreMore #ManyHandsMakeLightWork

Alicia Smith-Kirk, DTM, IPDD
ipdd@district10.org

‘Of the Year Awards’

Dear Members of District 10,

Every year Toastmasters’ Districts around the globe honor achievement in the previous program year with ‘Of the year’ Awards. It is that time of year we have the pleasure of recognizing the hard work of the members and leaders in District 10 who went above and beyond during a uniquely challenging year.

• Toastmaster of the Year
• Area Director of the Year
• Division Director of the Year

Do you know a member who went above and beyond this past year contributing to club growth, high quality experiences, leadership excellence while demonstrating the Toastmasters core values?

If so, you can nominate him or her for Toastmaster of the Year. Any member in good standing can nominate another member in good standing! I am accepting nominations for Area Director of the Year and Division Director of the Year.

• View a list of Division Directors and Area Directors from last program year 2020-2021 click here.
• Division and Area Performance as of June 30, 2021 on the Toastmasters International dashboard – click here. 
• View results of the Area Director Exceptional Leader Awards and Division Director Exceptional Leader Awards.

Each nomination form has a brief checklist to help you select a candidate.

This past year has been a testament to our strength as we exemplified the Toastmasters core values and kept our Toastmasters promise also keeping #d10strong!

Yours in Leadership,

Alicia Smith-Kirk, DTM
Immediate Past District Director – District 10
Toastmasters International – Where Leaders Are Made.

District Mission:
“We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.”

Date: Saturday, July 17, 2021

Memorial Mass for John Volanski was held at St. Gabriel Church in Concord, OH on July 17, 2021.
Share your sentiments in the “Leave a Comment” section at the bottom of this post.

PDG Linda Johnson remembers Volanski…

John was a member of District 10 Toastmasters for more than 30 years. He had a love for the organization and love for people to help and view the minds of all Toastmasters that come his way. Linda prays many people will come out and support his family at the service. John was very dedicated to the cause of endearing the minds of people, young and old, whoever came his way, especially people from Lake County where he came from. John served District 10 as Area 3 Governor 1977-1978 and 1978-1979, and Lieutenant Governor Division B 1979-1980. In 1986, John was awarded a Presidential Citation from Toastmasters International for his exemplary service and dedication to the organization. Linda refers to John as a tremendous gentleman who believed in the program of Toastmasters International and gave his all to the cause of it! Linda wants people to remember him.

Linda Johnson, DTM, PDG served District 10 as District Governor in 1997-1998.

Note: I appreciate Mike Rafferty’s description of the Presidential Citation.

“Each year Toastmasters International recognizes with a special award those members who have demonstrated exemplary service and dedication at the club, district, or international level. These remarkable Toastmasters leaders have given their time, effort, and passion to the organization. As a result, they helped Toastmasters International maintain its reputation as the world leader in communication and leadership training.”

Frank Hirt, DTM, PDG, PID remembers John Volanski…

He was a child of God and an exemplary Toastmaster. I first knew him from the late 1980’s, and as District Governor in 1990-1991 as well as my time as International Director. I visited his club once or twice, and he was a wonderful leader with a contagious supporter of all the Toastmaster programs. His greatest compassion was for the YLS program (youth leadership). He promoted it, put on multiple programs himself, and encouraged District and Toastmasters International to do more to promote it. He continued to extol the benefits and importance of this program into all his many Toastmasters years. I continued the Toastmasters active years and later years with John as a good friend. We exchanged many emails about Toastmasters and everything else until a couple of months before he passed. I never knew he was ill until Linda Joseph told me he had died. I regret not being with you at his service but am praying for the family members he leaves behind. John Volanski was a Toastmasters’ Toastmaster!

Frank Hirt, DTM, PDG, PID served District 10 as District Governor in 1990-1991

Yours in Leadership,
Alicia Smith-Kirk, DTM
2021-2022 Immediate Past District Director

The entries in this blog are the opinions of their respective authors. These opinions are not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise affiliated with Toastmasters International.

published June 27, 2021

District 10 would like to acknowledge the following recipients of the 2020-2021 Can-Do-Club Coach Award.

• Todd Taylor
• Catherine Underwood Peterson
• Molly Ketcham
• Diane Jackson
• Monica Reusser
• Christine Walsh

District 10 would like to acknowledge and congratulate the 2020-2021 Communication & Leadership Award.

Nathan Jarosz

published August 5, 2020

Named for Toastmasters founder Ralph Smedley,  your club can achieve this year’s Smedley Award by adding five new, dual, or reinstated members between August 1 and September 30, 2020.

To qualify, clubs must submit new applications and payments for members who join between August 1 and September 30 to World Headquarters or online no later than September 30. Each member’s join date as listed on the application must be for August or September. Winning clubs will be announced online within a few weeks of the contest ending.

Why Should My Club Participate?

• Your Club will qualify to receive a “Smedley Award” ribbon to display on your club’s banner.
• Your club clubs earn a special discount code for 10-percent off their next club order. (The discount code expires six months from the date of issue and is not valid with any other offer.)

Why Should Your Club Want To Add New Members?

• More people to fill meeting and officer roles
• No one member has to take on too many responsibilities
• Meetings are more fun
• It’s easier for a club to help its members attain educational awards
• More people benefit from Toastmasters
• A ribbon for your club banner!