In This Issue:

Messages From The District 35 Trio

It’s the holiday season. Several years ago, I heard a comedian describe it roughly this way: “we take a day to celebrate what we’re thankful for. Then the next day we trample other people in a mad scramble to score a $5 toaster, in order to get us properly prepared to celebrate the brotherhood of man.”

And I think that encapsulates the dichotomy of this season.

In both our secular and religious traditions, the holidays set the cadence of the year. They’re not just arbitrary excuses to get together and celebrate, but rather occasions that bring to remembrance the high points of our cultures, the depths of our experiences, and the richness of our traditions.

In our ever-busier, socially distanced, always-online world, the holidays provide the periodic reminder that there’s something “out there.” There’s something outside of ourselves. There’s something that we share, and therefore something that connects us to others. But often the magic of that connection is buried by the busy-ness.

Here’s the thing though – that “connection” is what everybody is looking for. Yes, it’s more difficult. It gets easily buried in the busy-ness, which means that it needs to be un-buried. That takes a bit of work, a bit of time, and some intentionality. And that’s precisely what makes it valuable.

When we intentionally put in the work, when we take the time, we make a difference in others’ lives. To quote Ralph Smedley, “Let us share with others the benefits we have gained for ourselves.” My CGD year, I described it a little differently – “take your next step toward significance.” By investing in others, we continue to grow ourselves. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding.

So this holiday season, as the chaos circles, let’s look for the constant. At the height of the hubbub, let’s see the human. And amid the maelstrom, let’s find the meaning.

This holiday season, and for the rest of the Toastmasters year, let’s continue taking our next steps toward significance.

It’s December! The weather is getting colder, the chance of snow keeps increasing, and in a couple weeks, I might have a chance to relax under a large, weighted blanket. I know some of you are expecting a warm fuzzy holiday message, or maybe an inspirational “Make smart goals for the new year!” missive, but no.

Finish 2024 first.

Make sure you’ve already done what you said you’d do. Check your Club Success Plan. Maybe check through your emails. Set aside some time to make sure all your pledges and all the requests are taken care of. Look through your Toastmasters materials. Can you find things? Do you need to organize your evaluations better? Maybe you’ve put off meeting with your mentor or protege…no time like the present! Do you still need to type in and email an evaluation or three?

Me? I’m going to catch up on some scheduling, get my computer ready for a load of work, and convert and upload some videos. That’ll cover a couple weeks of free time. But by January, that task is going to be off my back. It’s like a present to myself!

Finish 2024 first.

January is named after the Roman god Janus, who looks both forward and backward. It’s fun to plot and make plans, research and look forward to new, fun, shiny stuff, but sometimes, we must look back and make sure we didn’t miss something. Look through your business meeting notes (you have business meeting notes, yes?) Scan through your emails if you see unopened or unanswered mail. Even get the ball rolling by starting a conversation with a club member or someone you met at a TLI. By connecting, recognizing, and appreciating the past year, what you’ve done and what you just need to finish up, you’ll lighten your load for 2025.

And, 2025 is going to be FUN!

On a Monday in October, my wonderful Toastmasters friend asked for help with two problems she was having on the Free Toast Host (FTH) website for her club.

Challenge #1: she created a special kind of agenda that included a panel discussion, unintentionally deleted it, and did not know how to get it back. After trial and error, I found the solution. It is possible to ‘undelete’ an agenda because FTH saves deleted agendas for at least 30 days.

Challenge #2: how to apply the desired meeting agenda template to all future meetings. After more trial and error, we solved this problem. Later that night I texted “Thank you for asking me to help you solve the FTH puzzle. It challenged me to take what I know and teach it well.”

Reflecting on this adventure, I am thinking how we are approaching the halftime of the Toastmasters year and what we have accomplished as the District. Many of us have made progress in our club’s goals, whether it is having all seven officers trained during the summer, completing a level in Pathways, delivering an icebreaker, gaining new members, and perhaps something else. As the Club Growth Director, my goals are to introduce more people to Toastmasters while motivating people on my team to go beyond their comfort zones to try something new. Overcoming fear of cold calling and learning to listen to key decision makers before offering Toastmasters as a solution is the skill I am practicing.

As we approach the end of 2024, it is important to celebrate what we have accomplished and think about the next goal and steps we can take to reach it. Complete another Pathways level. Have all seven officers trained in the winter. Mentor and help a new member give the icebreaker speech. For my part, I am intent on chartering at least one club before the first quarter of 2025 ends. Along the way, I plan to give people every opportunity to contribute to that goal and become more confident.

When my friend reached out to me, I got to practice problem solving. I encourage you to seek opportunities to challenge yourselves. Reach out to me, and I will give you those opportunities. Keep your focus on progress; help those in your life achieve their goals and remember to celebrate the wins, no matter how small they are.

Holiday Greetings fellow District 35 Toastmasters,

As we approach the end of 2024, this time of year often brings moments of gratitude and reflection. Spending time with family, friends, and colleagues reminds me how thankful I am for the opportunities I’ve embraced—whether in my career, through music, or in my involvement with Toastmasters.

The holiday season is always a balancing act. I find myself managing year-end work processes, planning for the year ahead, and fulfilling family commitments, all while enjoying evenings filled with band and choral rehearsals, holiday concerts, and the camaraderie and learning I gain from fellow Toastmasters at club meetings. Each of these pursuits has brought joy and growth, enriching my life in countless ways.

Looking ahead, 2025 will mark my 10th year as a Toastmaster. When I first attended the organizational meeting of my home club NM Speaks!, I had no idea about the journey I was about to embark on or that I’d still be reflecting on it a decade later. Like many who join, I initially had specific goals, expecting to achieve them and move on. Instead, Toastmasters exceeded my expectations. It has offered opportunities for growth and connection I hadn’t anticipated. Reflecting on this journey, I’m reminded of a lesson my parents instilled in me: If you’re going to do something, be committed and do it right.

Personal development is all about taking that next step, even when it feels uncertain. Early in my Toastmasters journey, a mentor encouraged me to attend a speech contest. With no plans that evening, I decided to go. When the Area Director asked if I’d help as a timer, I hesitated but agreed. That small decision became a ‘next step’ on my journey.

Taking any first step, as an infant or as an adult, is a significant milestone often accompanied by uncertainty. Yet, with the encouragement of family, friends, and mentors, we find the courage to move forward. In Toastmasters, these steps might include visiting a club, giving your first speech, volunteering at a meeting or contest, or taking on a club officer role. Each step, no matter how small, builds momentum and leads to growth.

With further reflection, I’m reminded of the transformative power of all the steps we take in life, big and small. They’ve taught me to embrace opportunities and stay committed to growth.

As we close out this year and look toward 2025, I encourage you to take your next step, whatever it might be. Whether it’s a small step or a giant leap, each one brings you closer to achieving your goals and discovering new possibilities.

Here’s to a year of growth, gratitude, and new beginnings. Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful New Year!

Club Celebrations: Steal These!

by Yvonne Lumsden-Dill, DTM, Menomonee Falls Toastmasters

It was calm and warm, unlike the expected windy, stormy, late-October Menomonee Falls Halloween! A comedian once quipped that the combination of sugar and the dark of night turns kids into the monsters they normally fear. Kids ran wild, shrieking through our neighborhoods, ecstatic not to be bundled in bulky coats covering their stylish and painstakingly designed costumes.

This beautiful Fall evening affected more than children. It inspired the ghouls and ghosts that temporarily inhabit our Toastmasters’ Monday night meetings. Our gifted guest Toastmaster in full hijinks mode dubbed every member at the meeting with imaginative monikers: Count Dracula Dave P., Doomful Dave H., Eerie Yvonne, Terrifying Tabrez, Menacing Mark, Ghostly Guide Xin, Rhonda the Reaper, Poltergeist Paul, Shadowy Susan.

Prepared Speeches were compelling: “Understanding Your Leadership Style” and “What Is Love? Baby, Don’t Hurt Me.” People expect project speeches to be practiced, while providing insight, foresight, fright, and proper use of the English vocabulary.

Toastmasters know that Table Topics require thinking on one’s feet and using imagination. Monday night’s Table Topics was thoughtfully prepared and conducted by Xin Li, a member for whom English is a second language. Xin’s introspective questions provided the opportunity to conjure up fun Halloween stories: your best Halloween experiences, something you would brag about if no one judged you, your version of heaven, what’s best about your culture, and your favorite personality trait. Excellent selections on the part of Xin.


Costumed as a priest or priestess, Xin conducted her Table Topics flawlessly and confessed being incredibly nervous. This was her first time in a role outside of an occasional speech or Timer role. She was our Sargeant-At-Arms last fiscal year, sharing that she chose the SAA role to not have to talk a lot! Being quite shy, she also likes the role of Timer because she is great with numbers … and the Timer’s report is short! Xin is much loved and appreciated as a member of our Club for about two years.

To our annual celebration we welcomed three experienced and one new guest. Our new guest shared her wonderful Toastmaster’s experience — having fun while learning the arts of Communication and Leadership. Thanks to our members who actively participate in meetings, effectively demonstrating to guests two tenets of Moments of Truth — First Impressions and Fellowship, Variety, and Communication. To all, a belated happy Halloween and wonderful and joyful Holiday Season ahead.

by Kris Pool, DTM, Cream City Communicators

Make your club’s invitations fun and inviting! Here’s an example of an engaging, theme-centered invitation that Cream City used for a recent improv night.

On Thursday, October 17th the Love of Laughter Toastmasters Club had their Halloween Dress-Up Meeting.  Meeting. Our members dressed up in costumes, enjoyed snacks and listened to speeches by members John Scott and Nancy Gregory.

Doug Anderson was our Humor Tipster (a meeting Self-Deprecation. Our members and guests laughed hysterically when Doug walked up to the lectern in a dinosaur costume. (See the picture.)

Did you know that you can earn District Dollars for
visiting another Toastmasters Club? Check out the details on the District 35 website.

https://district35.org/resources/incentives/
Just select Resources, and then Incentives.

What special events are you planning for the upcoming holidays?

Get Your Club's Name Out There

By Rick Grant, Sheboygan Toastmasters Club 2121

Something special happens when you get together in the same room a group of people who all share the same goal. We see it in every meeting of the Sheboygan Toastmasters. Over the years, we’ve become a group of friends dedicated to helping each other become better public speakers and leaders.

But we recently found that breaking out of the meeting room can be even better. Under the direction of Club President Kris Pool, Club 2121 broke free of our meeting room and became a hybrid club.

For many clubs, this was the only way they could meet during the COVID crisis. While some of our members do take advantage of our teleconference connection to attend a meeting, the real win has been our ability to hold joint meetings with other clubs and attract new members.

Since September, we’ve been able to host several joint meetings through our Zoom account, allowing us to support and be supported by Toastmasters from around the country. Most recently, we invited the Treasure Coast Toastmasters from eastern Florida to join us and had a great meeting.

The other big benefit is that guests who aren’t quite sure they want to commit to attending a meeting in person can jump on the conference link and meet us virtually. This recently allowed one of our members to invite her daughter, who lives in New Orleans, to attend a meeting virtually. She became a member!

That’s right! When you break out of the four walls of your normal meeting room, you suddenly gain access to a world of prospective new members.

The impacts on our club have been significant. Our members have made new friends in other parts of the country, expanding their ability to practice their craft and learn from others. They have gained the ability to share their Toastmasters experiences with friends and family across the country, and even the world, which has already resulted in club growth.

Want to see how it works for yourself? Visit our website. Our Zoom Meeting room link is on the home page, and it will get you into our twice-monthly meetings on Monday evenings. We would love to see you.

by Laurie Baker, DTM

If you have never visited the Love of Laughter Toastmasters Club, we would love to meet you. Our club meets in-person on the first and third Thursdays at Waukesha State Bank located at 18300 W. Capitol Drive in Brookfield.

A couple of things have contributed to our recent success. We know that getting the word out brings guests to our club meetings. Fun meetings attract guests that we can turn into members. And having a room full of members and guests equals a GREAT MEETING!

VP Public Relations, Laurie Baker, DTM publicizes on Meetup, Nextdoor. and Facebook. Since July 1, we’ve signed up three new members. Welcome, Susan N., Blessing W., and Nic J. All three of them have jumped in right away signing up for meeting roles and will be giving their Ice Breaker speeches soon.

Club President, John Scott knows the importance of staying in contact with the Club Officers, so we have monthly Zoom meetings giving the officers a chance to discuss how to make our club even better. We are already Select Distinguished, on our way to Presidents Distinguished!

One final thing that makes our club special is that most of our members and guests head over to Culvers after the meeting. It’s the time we catch up with everyone and continue the laughter.

We look forward to welcoming you to an upcoming Love of Laughter meeting!

by Nancy McCulley, DTM, Uptowner Toastmasters Club

At the November 9 DEC meeting, Nancy shared with participants how Kjersti ‘KJ’ Beth continues to promote Toastmasters. KJ mentioned our organization in an article published on October 23, 2024 by captimes.com Enjoy the full article at: https://mail3.spectrum.net/6f8d680c-2f54-45ad-83a6-e5768b11106c

Share how your club is promoting itself! Nice job, Kjersti!

Across the Ocean

By Susan Brushafer, DTM, Menomonee Falls Toastmasters

Three years ago, a joint club meeting took place between Leadership Toastmasters Club, Tokyo, Japan, and the Menomonee Falls Toastmasters Club. Out of these two warm and welcoming clubs a special friendship formed.

You may remember that my friend Mitsuko Kurihara and I co-authored an article for the D35 Edge last year. On Saturday, November 23, Mitsuko delivered to her club from the Engaging Humor Path a speech entitled “The Power of Eye Contact.” Mitsuko invited me to this ‘Wisconsin Friday, Japan Saturday’. Part of her speech focused on our on-going friendship. I was delighted! Mitsuko demonstrated not only superb eye contact, but voice variations and vibrant gestures. Her speech was both funny for all and heartwarming for me. I served as the General Evaluator for the meeting. I’ll share a little secret: Mitsuko and I met for a short Zoom the day before the meeting to ensure I would pronounce my Japanese Toastmasters friends’ names correctly! (Based on the feedback that was shared with me, I’m still a welcome guest.)

Mitsuko and I look forward to many upcoming years as our friendship, formed through Toastmasters grows, and our clubs continue their success.

Leadership Toastmasters Club – Mitsuko Kurihara (top, center)

DTM Look-Back

By Paul Arhnold, DTM

We had four guests at an early Fall Menomonee Falls Toastmasters meeting. One walked in the room and without hesitation asked me, “Are you the one who has four DTMs? That’s amazing; how is that even possible?”

To be honest, the first DTM was totally selfish. It’s all about receiving the award and checking the boxes along the way. The next DTMs came from serving others because others had first served me. It took me five years to earn my first Distinguished Toastmaster credentials, something that fewer than 1% of all members achieve.

It wasn’t even in my mindset to do so until I sat down with the District Director and Program Quality Director after a club meeting in District 62 (Michigan). I was given the challenge, “Paul you are closer than you think.”

Every new club I planted, sponsored or mentored was a step toward the goal. Every Toastmaster Leadership training I participated in, or club success plan I helped develop was one step closer. Serving as a Club and District leader was another step. Putting on a youth leadership event or Speechcraft made it all possible. Each step counted.

My ‘why’ may look different than yours; that is good. Looking back at my journeys, they all connected to ‘why’ stories.

I remember the club that was planning to dissolve the night I visited. I was asked by a Division Director to save it and was assigned as their club coach. In a short time, they were a passionate club that achieved President’s Distinguished that year and the next. I remember The Morning Cup Toastmasters Maryville, the club I had the vision to start in District 63 (Tennessee) with two other Toastmaster leaders. They remain one of the top clubs, getting continued recognition every year, a club where several District leaders got their starts.

If you ask me why, I’ll point to you the individual growth I have witnessed, each one worth every moment of time I’ve invested. What about you?

They're Back!

By Theresa Flynn, Club Quality Director Over 40 Toastmasters attended the in-person TLI in Madison on November 16, earning credit for about 60 officer positions. Four sessions — including two breakouts, and a panel discussion — gave everyone additional tools for the coming months. ‘Contests’ was the special breakout for the in-person session; other contest training modules will be shared at the virtual TLI sessions in January and February. Check District35.org Events/District Calendar for the latest information. A post-TLI lunch at Culvers gave 20 Toastmasters the chance to get to know each other and share a laugh or two. For the bowling enthusiasts, an afternoon outing continued the in-person mingling.
Secretaries, Presidents, and VPEs share best practices and challenges
Division A Director Susan Brushafer, DTM, RCC leads a panel discussion with Tim Bailey, DTM, Division C Director Nancy McCulley, DTM and Ken McKenzie VC5
Division N Director Rhonda Williams, DTM, PRA, kicks off officer discussion breakout

Way Back In 1953

The December Edge continues to share a bit of District 35 history, as provided by DTM Bob Palmer, a District 12 Historian and 51-year member of Club 130 in Riverside, California. Thank you for your comments regarding the 1954 Toastmasters Autumn Conference article included in the September Edge.
Bob Palmer, DTM

With the recent revamp of Base Camp in Pathways, it seemed appropriate to share a look at our District’s early education manuals.  District 35 members used these two manuals in 1953.

 

 

2024-2025 Triple Crown Awards

2024-2025  Second Quarter Triple Crown Awards

Dannielle M. Smith, PI3Sturgeon Speakers
Gloria J. Dohearty, MS5Love of Laughter
Gerald L. Ward, DTMReedsburg Area Club
Jim Kohli, DTM, PID 
Kathy Shine, DTMCream City Communicators
Ken McKenzie, VC5Stevens Point Toastmasters Club
Kristine R. Pool, DTMSheboygan Club 2121
Ranee Graf, DTMWisconsin Rapids Area Toastmasters Club
Rebecca Sperger, EC4Sturgeon Speakers
Robert J. Lambert, EH3Rolling Hills Toastmasters Club
Tracy Rothman, PM4Cream City Communicators
Kristin McCabe, PM5Ozaukee Toastmasters
Michael R. Prudhom, PM3Racine Club