It’s that time of year again. The weather is nice, we’re all planning our vacations, we’re spending more time outside, and….oh yeah – we need to hand off our club officer role to somebody.

I’m not a travel agent, and I have seasonal allergies – but I think I can help a bit with that last one.

We talk a lot about “passing the torch.” In my leadership journey, I’ve seen a few variants of this – not all of them good.

There’s “dropping the torch.” This is when you just stop doing things, and hope somebody else picks things up. But what happens when you drop a torch? Best case scenario, it goes out. Worst case scenario is that you get a huge fire.

There’s what I call the “drive by.” This is where you drive by somebody’s house, throw the torch (and a big box of Toastmasters stuff) at them, and yell “have fun!”. In this scenario, they might have the stuff they need to do their job – but are they ready to do it?

And there’s a true “passing the torch.” This is where you take the time to prep the other person, educate them about what they need to do, and make sure they have the tools they need to succeed.

“But wait,” you’re thinking, “isn’t this why we have officer training?” Yes, but also…. no. Officer training is there to make your handoff easier, not to make it unnecessary.

Think about the last time you got a new job. Did you learn everything you needed from the HR training videos? I’m guessing you picked up a lot of “institutional knowledge” from the people around you, and that’s exactly why you need to do a handoff. All clubs have institutional knowledge. Pass it on – including the fact that your successor should go to officer training!

None of this must be complicated. Meet up for half an hour. Maybe grab lunch or go hang out at a park. Talk about the role, what went well last year, and what didn’t. Answer their questions. And make sure the person has your contact info if they have questions during the coming year. Even if you’re doing the same role next year (you’re handing off to yourself!), grab a cup of coffee. Spend half an hour thinking about last year and make some notes about what you’d like to accomplish next year.

After all, life isn’t all about Toastmasters. The purpose of a handoff isn’t to give you more to do – it’s to minimize your Toastmasters-related stress, and let you maximize the rest of your summer. Of course, if you have questions, my door is always open. Otherwise, get your handoff done, then get out there and enjoy the weather!

It’s almost summer in District 35!

The air doesn’t hurt our faces or lungs! The sun is up when we awake in the morning, ready to welcome us to do new things! And it’s still light out when we leave work so we’re able to do more – socializing, hobbies, sports…. yes!

Have you started planning your summer? In clubs, all new officer lists must be entered at Toastmasters.org by the end of June, but from there, the plans are up to YOU!

• Plan a club picnic! Get out of your meeting space and connect with other members. Suggested agenda: food, Table Topics, more food! Invite former members to reconnect. This is just a chance to talk about hobbies, challenges in Toastmasters and maybe some professional networking. It could be a prelude for your Club Success Plan.
• Try something new! I was over 40 when first-time camping, and I was over 50 the first time I went on stage with a stringed instrument. We’re never too old. And for some of us, we’re never too young to say “yes” to developing new skills and meeting new people. Toastmasters tie in: you can talk up your adventure and your sherpa in the “Mentoring” speech in Level 2: How were you supported? What were the challenges?
• Reconnect! Get together with people you’ve lost track of! Just coffee? One of the incredible free music programs across the state? Team up and do a chore you weren’t looking forward to – have a rummage sale, organize the junk room, detail the car you’re about to sell. Then get together again and do something at the other house.
• Take a “nature bath” – Sit in your yard and stare at the stars. Take a walk through a larger park. Watch a lake or lagoon as it rhythmically reaches out to land. Give your brain a break, and it just might come up with a new solution to a challenge or maybe you’ll have a great idea for a speech!
• Enjoy some music! Maybe it’s one of the aforementioned free programs in so many communities, or maybe it’s a festival, or a local stop for a tour. Live music is a micronutrient.
• Contact me to chat about some options to support members throughout the District starting in the next month or two!

Get your plans made, because it’s not far from a joke that Wisconsin summers are only six weeks long! Make some experiences worthy of sharing in a speech!

On May 8, I presented a 10-minute talk about impromptu speaking to the West Allis Rotary Club. Following that, Laurie Baker, of Waukesha Toastmasters and Laugh of Laughter Clubs, led the Rotarians through a fun table-topics-like exercise. There were several willing participants, including one student from a local high school. This one- hour experience (and use of my paid time off) was the highlight of the week for me and the result of connecting with one of the Rotarians back in February. Having applied skills learned in Toastmasters to speaking to an unfamiliar audience, I now want to do more presentations for other Rotary Clubs as well as organizations in my effort to build clubs and open doors for people to realize their potential.

As we head into the summer months and with it the end of this Toastmaster year, take time to reflect on what you and your clubs have accomplished. Let that feeling inspire you to set the next goal.

Given that we have only a few months to enjoy the nice weather, it is easy to delay this goal until ‘later.’ While there is every reason to take time for yourself, I encourage you to keep that goal a priority. Support a newly elected first-time club officer by mentoring or going to the summer training with them, even if you are not an officer yourself. Embrace learning anew skill by helping with planning the next open house, presenting at summer training, or being a Zoom expert. Follow up with a member who has not been coming to meetings and ask what is going on in his or her world. Stay motivated, listen to people’s needs, and make learning enjoyable every time for yourself and others.

Had I waited until ‘later’ and said “no” to being Club Growth Director, I would not have gotten a chance to meet new people, build relationships, and help them become more confident communicators and leaders. There are goals I plan to accomplish by the end of the summer and share with you in the next edition of the Edge newsletter.

Now, please enjoy the picture of Laurie and me at the Rotary Club. Let it remind you of human connections and how confidence is built one step at a time.

It has been my honor to serve this year as your Immediate Past District Director.

As we wind down this Toastmasters year—and I wind down my time on the District Executive Committee—I find myself reflecting on my own Toastmasters journey. Soon, I’ll be wrapping up my time in District Leadership, a chapter that began at the Spring Conference of 2017. That’s when then-District Director Elect Keith Cumiskey, DTM, first spoke to me about joining the leadership team as District Finance Manager.

At the time, I was still a relatively new member, having joined Toastmasters in the fall of 2015. While I had attended a few District events and met some people, I really didn’t know what I was getting into—or where it would take me. But I appreciated that others saw something in me: that I could contribute, that I was valued. And so, I took the leap.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the District Executive Committee for seven of the past eight years. It’s been an incredible learning experience, one that brought personal growth, lasting friendships, and opportunities I never could have imagined when I first walked into a club meeting nearly a decade ago.

I never expected my Toastmasters path to unfold the way it did. That’s the beauty of it. There’s no one-size-fits-all journey. Whether you’re working to become a more confident speaker, stepping into a leadership role, or mentoring a fellow member, ask yourself: What’s the next step that will challenge and inspire me?

Whatever role you hold—club member, club officer, or District officer—strive to be the best you can in that role. And if, at the end of this Toastmasters year and those that follow, you can honestly say that you gave it your all, then you have truly succeeded.

When we stay grounded in the fundamentals of Toastmasters—communication, leadership, service, and mutual support—we all grow. And we grow together, because together, as Toastmasters, we are ALL stronger.

As Dr. Ralph Smedley, the founder of Toastmasters, once said:
“Let us share the benefits we have gained for ourselves with others.”

I can confidently say I’ve gained so much during my years in District leadership. I’m forever grateful for the opportunities many District Leaders and this organization have given me, and I will continue to give back—as best I can, for as long as I can.

If you’re looking for guidance, support, or simply want to explore new possibilities in your own Toastmasters journey, I’d be honored to connect. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—mentoring and paying it forward is one of the greatest joys of this experience.

As I pass the torch to the next wave of leaders, I do so with pride, gratitude, and hope. Thank you for making my journey so far and my time in District Leadership so meaningful. I can’t wait to see how each of you reflects, inspires, and shines into your own next chapter.