In This Issue:
- Messages From the District 35 Trio & IPDD
- Volunteering is Learning (Theresa F)
- Putting the ‘SPIN’ on Member and Club Growth (Yuriy K)
- Plant Principles for Growth (Robert W)
- D35 Club Celebrations
- Celebrating a Legacy and Embracing Our Future (Darian Houle)
- Celebrating The La Crosse Toastmasters Club (Kelly Leibold)
- Stevens Point – The Toastmaster Town (Dick Hawley)
- Putting the Spice In Speaking
- DJAB Speak-a-Thon – A Fun-Filled Success! (Jill Keating)
- One Club’s History ‘Recorded’ – How About Yours?
- Looking Back – 73 Years of Wausau Morning Toastmasters (Darian Houle)
- Toastmasters Inspired
- How Toastmasters Inspired Real-World Confidence (Adriana DeHaven)
- The Road to Distinguished (Christa Vanderheiden)
- Writing For the Ear (Ken McKenzie)
- Motivating Future Success Ideas
- Taking the Plunge Into A Larger Network (Rick Grant)
- Don’t Let Those Di$trict Dollar$ Di$appear
- Use Your Club’s District Dollars By July 1 (Theresa Flynn)
- A Heartfelt Thank You
- Thank You to All D35 Edge Article Contributors (Susan Brushafer)
- 2025-2026 Triple Crown Awards
- Fourth Quarter Recipients (Susan Brushafer)
Messages From The District 35 Trio
by Theresa Flynn, District Director
I love volunteering. I’ve volunteered at many organizations, and I manage to learn something every time! It’s not because I don’t value my own time, it’s because volunteer organizations aren’t as siloed or restricted as regular jobs.
At my college paper, I learned the basics of accounts payable and receivable with ads and printer bills; that expanded my skillset to QuickBooks. As a result, I no longer had to be the receptionist. I moved up to having an office at my day job!
Volunteering at a community center meant I gained confidence because I could feed 50 people at a time (a skill I carried to some Division contests in Toastmasters.) When helping with a neighborhood Parade of Homes booklet, I met a whole bunch of people who are still in my circle today!
Volunteering means freedom to pick projects, learn new skills and meet people you never would have otherwise. And that’s what I love about Toastmasters. You have the opportunity to work on tasks you’re very comfortable with, like greeting guests at an event’s reception table, or bringing cookies for an open house. You can also try something different to see if you can develop a new skill. Or, if maybe once was enough, give a longer speech, learn new websites like MeetUp and software like Canva or MeetUp. You can lead a committee! You don’t know if you’re good at something until you actually try it.
As that great philosopher Jake from the animated series Adventure Time says, “Sucking at something is the first step to being sort of good at something.” So, don’t crash and burn at work. Try new things with us. We want you to succeed!
Think about what your goals are at work or in your personal life. Do you want to meet new professional contacts? Do you want to step into team leadership at work? How about helping others reach their goals? All of your goals can find their way to success in Toastmasters.
If you’d like to reach out to me to brainstorm, we can do that, or you can watch for announcements or emails for different opportunities. The new Trio of Ashley, Matt, and Varad are all looking for team members, and they and the new Division Directors will be reaching out with opportunities and events for you to expand skills and your social circle. It’s up to you: Say “Yes!”
by Yuriy Ksenidi, Program Quality Director
I recently went to my 8-year-old nephew’s Little League baseball game. Instead of the pitcher throwing to the catcher, a machine launched pitches from the mound (an adult fed the ball into the slot). However, there was a player near the mound handing the balls to an adult. This got me thinking that between now and end of the season, every player on the team will grow and improve in some way. Fielding, batting, running, or even framing (for the catcher). Every game is an opportunity to apply skills learned in practice. For example, a player threw the ball from third base to first base to get the batter out. This led to an eruption of applause from the stands. Quite an arm for an 8-year-old. Somewhere a Brewers scout is watching and taking notes.
I will come back to baseball later. In the meantime, you may remember the acronym SPIN.
S – Situational Questions
P – Problem Questions
I – Implication Questions
N – Needs-payoff question
You can use it to help current members define and understand their goals. Once they do, they are more likely to help your club meet its goals. For example, a newer member seeking to be a more organized speaker can be motivated to complete Level 1 in Pathways. A member who wants to improve technical skills can be tasked with updating the club website. Finally, who in your club can you ask to get outside of their comfort zone? Perhaps they can be an Area Director or volunteer at club officer training. Use SPIN to prepare your Club Success Plan and continue to update it throughout the year. Make sure every member is expected to contribute even if there are only seven signatures.
Furthermore, at your next club meeting, during Table Topics ask, “How is Toastmasters contributing to your success?” I bet any guest, on hearing the answers, will want to immediately sign up to join. When you show people real examples of the value they get in being and staying in Toastmasters, you are one step closer to helping them grow forward. Hint: also use the SPIN method.
Going back to the baseball example. Even though the player on the mound only hands the ball to the adult, they still are learning, growing, and succeeding. This summer, invite more people to be part of a thriving community: YOUR Club!
by Robert Wall, Immediate Past District Director
As Toastmasters, we talk a lot about “growth.” “Joe is growing.” “Sally seems stuck.” Since it’s Spring, I thought it might be illustrative to think about plants for a minute. Plants grow in several different ways, a lot like people:
Plants grow down. Ever plant a seed? Even though it’s just a fraction of an inch below the surface, it’ll take a few days or even a few weeks before you get any visible confirmation that anything is happening. During that time, it’s growing. The seed germinates, and it sends down a root in search of food and water. Once it’s rooted, then….
Plants grow up. Once they have the root, they grow up. They’ll shoot off new stems and leaves in the hopes of getting exposure to the sun, which they use for photosynthesis. And as a general rule….
Plants grow toward food. If you put a plant in a window, it will “lean” toward the sun. If a plant’s roots are dry, it will shoot down deeper roots to try to find more water. It’s looking for as much water, sun, and nutrients as it can find.
Plants only grow with the right resources. Ever accidentally grow a tomato plant that didn’t yield any tomatoes? Plants need specific nutrients, acidity, weather, etc. to flower or grow fruit, and if they don’t have it, they won’t achieve their potential. Too many of the wrong resources can even burn them out so they stop growing entirely!
“Thanks for the science lesson,” you’re saying, “but how does this apply to people?”
My experience is that when we look for growth in people, we’re mostly looking for “up.” Do we see stems? Leaves? Flowers? Success! That’s growth!
But what about the people putting down roots? The “down” gives stability and a solid foundation for a future “up” – and it’s still growth, just not visible.
What about growing toward food? People tend to grow in directions where they see an advantage or a benefit. And they’re usually growing in some direction – just maybe not a useful one. What “food” will help them grow in a useful direction?
And what about “the right resources?” Is your club environment providing an environment that encourages growth, without burning members out?
I’m not suggesting that this stuff is easy to figure out. But unlike plants, you can talk to people about why they’re not growing. I’d suggest you sit down with your club members – especially the ones that seem “stuck” – and ask some of the above questions. And if it’s you who’s stuck, ask yourself the questions. How do you create an environment where growth is inevitable?
We’re wrapping up this Toastmasters year, and this will be my last official article as Immediate Past District Director. But if there’s anything I can help you with, either now or in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Have a growth-filled summer!
D35 Club Celebrations
Our morning meetings are going to feel a little quieter, and a lot less lively, without Bob Henning. For an incredible 53 years, Bob was the absolute heartbeat of the Wausau Morning Toastmasters Club #782. He earned his Advanced Toastmaster (ATM) designation and stepped up to serve in every single officer role the club had to offer.
On a personal note, Bob did the evaluation for my very first speech, 
welcoming me with the exact mix of constructive feedback and warm
encouragement he was legendary for. We will deeply miss his booming voice, his endless supply of advice, and his presence at the podium. Bob passed away at the age of 83 on May 3, 2026.
As we honor the foundations Bob built for us over the last
half-century, our club is also stepping into an exciting new
chapter. Starting July 1, 2026, District 35 will officially transition
into District 212 as part of a wider Toastmasters International
realignment.
Change can be daunting, but this new designation brings wonderful opportunities:
- Fresh Energy & Connections: We will be grouped into newly aligned Areas and Divisions, opening the doors to fresh networking and collaborative events.
- Strengthened Support: The localized boundaries ensure each club gets optimized, targeted support from District leaders.
- A Renewal of Purpose: Just as Bob dedicated his life to helping the club evolve, this transition is the perfect moment for us to reinvest in our individual goals and welcome new members into the fold.
While our District number might be changing, our commitment to finding our voices remains exactly the same. Here’s to remembering our history and boldly stepping into District 212!
Here’s to the legacy that shaped us, and the new chapter ahead. We celebrate D35 and welcome in D212. Cheers!
You’re invited; bring a friend! The La Crosse Toastmasters Club is hosting an 80th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday September 19, 2026 at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center on La Crosse’s northside, 1433 Rose Street. Doors open at 2:00pm and refreshments will be served until 4:00pm. Because we meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, we also invite everyone to the following Open House on September 22 at 7:00pm in the basement of the La Crosse County Admin Center; enjoy free parking in the surface lot off 7th Street.
Keep a close eye on our club’s Facebook page for details and developments as the celebration planning begins in earnest. Members have been hard at work compiling into a timeline and display historical information from the La Crosse Public Library archives. As you know, Toastmasters’ learn-by-doing philosophy was created to help you gain the skills needed to achieve your personal and professional goals, while creating more confident communicators, public speakers, and leaders. We are proud to foster an incredibly welcoming and encouraging club environment in La Crosse.
A Tribune article from April 1946, noted that twenty men from the Eau Claire Club visited the La Crosse YMCA to get the ball rolling locally. The La Crosse Toastmasters Club was officially chartered in September 1946 and celebrated with a banquet at the Stoddard Hotel. Situated at the southeast corner of 4th and State Streets in La Crosse, famous guests of the Stoddard have included Presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, Elvis Presley, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Louis Armstrong. Over the years, notable members of the La Crosse Toastmasters Club have included Dr. Eric Gundersen and Professor Tom Thibodeau.
During District 35’s 2026 Spring Conference, our club received the best social media award. Please scroll through our Facebook page to see other candid moments from past meetings! You might even see the “67” photo collage. This is more than just a trend: it’s the setting on a thermostat or the age you hit retirement. Thank you to club member Daryl for all the fun memories his Humorous Contest speech gave us!
Learn more about our shenanigans at www.facebook.com/lacrossetoastmasters.
Stevens Point, a town of a little over 25,000, is proud to have three Toastmaster clubs. What makes it unique in all of Toastmasters International, besides the fact of having three clubs in a relativity small community, is that all three clubs have been in existence for over 40 years.
When Gauri Seshadri DTM, Toastmasters International First Vice President, visited District 35 for our Spring Conference, she made it a point to honor the community by visiting the three clubs.
Her first stop was a meeting with the President and CEO of Sentry Insurance, Pete McPartland. The Sentry Club #4596 was chartered in 1981. It is a hybrid club allowing the over 6,500 Sentry associates nationwide to benefit from the Toastmaster experience. It is open to community members as well. Pete has long been a champion of the club and attends at least one meeting every year.
Gauri’s second meeting was with members of the UW-SP University Toastmasters Club #6141. It was chartered in 1986 and recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary. University clubs are a challenge because of the short tenure of its members, but the club has been able to overcome that challenge for four decades. Strong leadership from local community Toastmasters and committed faculty advisors ensures the continued success of the club. It is now the third oldest University Toastmaster Club in all of Toastmasters International.
Gauri’s final stop was attending the meeting of the Stevens Point Toastmaster club #570 which was chartered in 1948. She served as a speech evaluator at the meeting and ended the meeting with a general question and answer session, inspiring those in attendance to continue their leadership track in Toastmasters.
Thanks to the strong Toastmaster leadership in Stevens Point, these three clubs will continue of offer communication and leadership development to residents of this special community in Central Wisconsin.
Putting the Spice In Speaking
Let’s go, Speak-a-thon! On May 8, the night before the Spring Conference, DJAB and guests got together in Platteville. The club held a 10-speech gala, complete with a pizza bar and ice cream drinks. What a blast! Even some visitors from other clubs got in on the action by giving speeches of their own.
There were a whopping 25 people or so at the event, with at least half of the crowd being guests or former members that DJAB is trying to entice back into the fold. DJAB even managed to score some new members during the fun, and there was a sign-up list for people interested in hearing more about the club.
DJAB knows how to turn a rollicking party into a membership event!
A few of the people at the after-Speak-a-Thon party, plus Carl, the sheep/yak
One Club's History 'Recorded' - How About Yours?
On July 1, 1952, Toastmasters District 35 was officially established, setting the stage for new clubs across the region. Less than a year later, on March 1, 1953, a small group of individuals gathered with a shared purpose: to become better speakers, stronger leaders, and more confident communicators. That gathering marked the beginning of Wausau Morning Toastmasters, a proud chapter of Toastmasters International, and the start of a legacy that now spans 73 remarkable years as of March 1, 2026.
Back in the early days, Toastmasters International membership dues were tiny, from 1950 to 1953, it was about $1.50 a year, and through the 1960s, dues stayed around $1.50 to $2.00. In 1974, dues went up, and another increase was expected a few years later. By 1981, members were paying $12 every six months. Jump ahead to recent years, and semi-annual dues were $45 from 2018 to 2023. Today, since October 2023, it’s $60 every six months, or $120 a year, plus a new one-time member fee of $25.
Education — Expanding to the Digital Age
Education has always been at the center of Toastmasters International. When Ralph C. Smedley started the organization over 100 years ago, the goal was simple: to help people get better at speaking and leading. It began in 1928 with a small manual, and over the years the program kept growing and changing to fit what members needed. Today, it’s a digital system called Pathways, but the idea hasn’t really changed; it’s still about giving people a place to practice, improve, and build confidence.
That larger mission has played out week after week right here in Wausau.
Today, the club is known as the sixth oldest Toastmasters club in Wisconsin, with more than seven decades of continuous service to the community. That distinction reflects longevity, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to personal and professional growth.
Over the decades, countless members have stepped to the lectern for the first time, hands trembling, voices uncertain, only to discover confidence they didn’t know they possessed. Before sunrise, speeches were practiced, evaluations delivered, and friendships formed in a spirit of encouragement and improvement.
Notable Members & Milestones
During the first 35 years, Wausau Morning Toastmasters established its culture of excellence, leadership, and community service. While records of meeting locations from 1953 to 1987 are limited, the club’s early decades were filled with meaningful achievements and memorable speeches.
One highlight came on Tuesday, February 21, 1973, when Bob Henning was judged best speaker at a Wausau 1 Toastmasters meeting held at the Elks Club. Henning delivered a talk on the extent and advantages of Boy Scout membership, demonstrating the club’s tradition of thoughtful and educational speeches. Other speakers that evening included Gene Lamphier, Dale Pupp, and Chuck Kickbusch, with Lamphier recognized as the best Table Topics speaker and Rod Charnholm serving as Toastmaster of the evening. Bob Henning, who later served as Club President for many years, was the club’s longest-tenured member, exemplifying decades of dedication to growth and leadership.
These milestones illustrate how Wausau Morning Toastmasters has long celebrated personal growth, public speaking excellence, and member accomplishments.
The Places That Shaped Us
As the club grew, its meeting locations became central to the member experience — gathering places that reflected the energy, camaraderie, and commitment of the club.
Starting in 1988, the club met at Howard Johnson’s on the site where the Hilton Garden Inn Wausau now stands. With a comfortable meeting room and strong membership, the club was thriving. It was a season of stability and growth.
A move across the interstate brought the club to the Midway Motor Lodge. Members remember the long private meeting room and a dedicated waitress who seemed to know everyone’s order by heart. It wasn’t just a venue; it was a gathering place.
Downtown Wausau welcomed the club next at the Jefferson Street Inn. The room and service were excellent, though storing club equipment proved challenging. As always, the club adapted and moved forward.
At 2510 Restaurant, members fondly recall spectacular and affordable breakfasts, including the legendary $6 special complete with orange juice. A wonderful regular waitress added to the welcoming atmosphere. But when opening hours shifted from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., a few mornings spent waiting outside signaled that change was necessary. During this time, the club faced membership challenges, and perseverance carried it through.
Renewal came at Vino Latte. While breakfast preferences varied and background music occasionally tested members’ projection skills, this chapter marked a resurgence in both numbers and enthusiasm. It became a period of rebuilding and renewed energy.
Now, with a move to The Pinery Coffee Co. in downtown Wausau, another chapter begins. Each new location brings fresh opportunity, new members, new stories, and new growth, all built on the strong foundation laid in 1953.
Leadership for the Next Chapter
Strong clubs are built on strong leadership, and Wausau Morning Toastmasters continues to thrive under dedicated guidance.
Current Club President Bryson Bernarde has led the club with steady dedication and will soon transition into the role of Immediate Past President. His service continues a long line of leaders who have carried the club forward with integrity and encouragement.
Stepping into the presidency is current Vice President of Education Teah Koval. In her educational leadership role, she has supported members in achieving speech goals, strengthening meeting quality, and growing in confidence. Her transition into Club President reflects the very heart of Toastmasters International: leadership developed from within.
Wausau Morning Toastmasters is already looking ahead to celebrating its 75th year in 2028, embracing not only a historic milestone but also a meaningful transition in leadership and location. As the club prepares for this celebration, it does so with confidence, honoring its past, strengthening its present, and stepping boldly into the future. With new leadership, renewed energy, and a continued commitment to growth, the next chapter promises to build on more than seven decades of service to the community and dedication to the mission of Toastmasters International.
Together, this passing of the gavel symbolizes continuity, renewal, and confidence in the future. It is a reminder that while individual leaders change, the mission remains steady.
A Legacy That Endures
Seventy-three years represents thousands of speeches delivered, countless evaluations offered, and generations of leaders developed. It reflects early mornings chosen over extra sleep. It reflects strengthened courage through practice. It reflects a commitment not just to speaking, but to listening, mentoring, and encouraging others.
Being known as the sixth oldest club in Wisconsin is not simply about age. It is about endurance. It is about remaining steady through cultural shifts, economic changes, and evolving meeting formats. It is about staying true to the mission while embracing each new chapter.
Wausau Morning Toastmasters has never been defined solely by where it meets, but by why it meets: to empower individuals to find their voices and use them with confidence.
The addresses may change. The breakfast specials may vary. Even the orange juice may come and go.
But the mission endures.
Toastmasters Inspired
For me, Toastmasters has transformed everyday challenges into meaningful achievements, especially when it comes to communication, confidence, and adaptability.
One of the most notable impacts has been the ability to think and act quickly. For example, I successfully created and delivered within just a few hours on the same day, a presentation about myself. What once might have felt overwhelming became a chance to step up with confidence, organize my thoughts, and deliver a clear message. Toastmasters sharpened more than just speaking skills. It built the confidence to organize thoughts quickly, craft a clear message, and deliver it with purpose, no matter what the timeframe.
This growth has extended into larger settings as well. I’ve become more comfortable introducing myself to both small and large groups, sharing my background and experience in a professional and engaging way. A standout moment was delivering under several challenges a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation to my teammates. Those challenges included a new location, unfamiliar computer setup, unexpectedly presenting first instead of second, and even a last-minute slide change. Despite these variables, and with the help of some members of the audience who had deep knowledge of the topic, the presentation went smoothly. In the past, any one of these could spark anxiety. Combined, they could feel overwhelming. But thanks to Toastmasters, the result was a confident, composed presentation that captivated the audience.
The thoughtful questions during and after showed strong engagement and genuine interest in learning more.
Beyond individual growth, the club itself continues to create impactful experiences. On April 13, 2026, the Credit Union Toastmasters Club hosted its first Open House. Club members promoted the event through the company intranet and set up a table in a high-traffic cafeteria area, handing out flyers to build awareness of the Open House meeting.
The Open House welcomed four in-person visitors and one virtual attendee from California, marking the club’s first hybrid meeting after COVID. The momentum continued, as additional employees attended the next meeting after seeing the intranet promotion; several expressed strong interest in joining after experiencing the value firsthand.
Toastmasters is more than a club, it’s a launchpad. It turns hesitation into confidence, preparation into performance, and everyday professionals into compelling communicators.
From last-minute presentations to leading conversations in any room, the growth is real. Whether presenting on short notice or engaging in a room full of peers, the skills gained continue to make a lasting impact.
OK, so during your Area Director’s visit to your club, he/she mentioned that your club has met a certain number of goals. What does that mean exactly? Why is it so important to earn that Distinguished designation?
To each club, it may mean something different. Ultimately though, becoming a Distinguished Club is an exciting accomplishment as your members are pulling together for common goal. Per Toastmasters International, the Distinguished Club Program recognizes achievements in education, membership growth, club leadership, and club communication each year. It is a general measure of club success, and some can say health.
This program encourages the club to not only help its members accomplish its goals but also adhere to the club mission statement and measure members’ progress with the targets set in the Club Success Plan periodically.
My club, Guardian Toastmasters, was no different. During the Club Success Plan phase this year, our Secretary Carol challenged us all, asking: “Why can’t we become Distinguished this year?” To preface this question, our club had never done a Club Success Plan, and we were barely at eight renewing members. That question turned out to be a game changer.
September came around, and we submitted our Club Success Plan. Our members began committing to completing their projects. One Level 5…Check! Two Level 2s…Check!
Expanding on that, we submitted our dues renewals, and our officers attended the TLI training sessions, including a few who attended multiple sessions.
Next came membership. We thought we could commit to welcoming two new members for the year in our Club Success Plan. Then, we looked at our goals. We needed at least four new members. Our steadfast Secretary declared, “Why not set the bar higher? Onboarding four members versus two is not that different.”
We addressed this goal head on from multiple fronts. Open invitations to our monthly coffee chats. Publicizing on our internal social media. ‘Bring a friend campaigns. Lastly, we made a big to-do about our Open Houses. All told, we have onboarded five new members, and we are still actively recruiting!
OK, five goals down. We just need to net one more member. Whether we make it to Distinguished or not is not the end all. Looking back at what we did this year with pride is the true measure of success.
Here’s hoping your club can ask the same question: “Why can’t we be Distinguished?”
A recent article stimulated these shared thoughts, which will be the topic of a prepared speech at my club, Stevens Point Toastmasters, sometime soon. While now retired from a professional career that had me writing news releases, magazine articles, photo cutlines, and member relations letters, I was often sensitive to the correct spelling of names and necessary details. But never did I consider that the business of writing might be AUDIO FIRST!
Are you an avid book reader? How about listening to podcasts and audiobooks? Do you listen to speeches? (Obvious question for a Toastmasters audience!) Do you think the speech draft was written, practiced, and then delivered with the two organs on either side of your head, as top of mind?
Sadly, my own answer would be “NO!” The ideas shared here may create a new consciousness as you prepare your next speech. Consider shaving off a word here and there to help pick up the pace, to make listening easier and smoother. That sort of change shouldn’t hold you back behind the delay tactic we sometimes hear, “It’s not quite ready yet.”
As Toastmasters, we encourage each other to drop filler words and use the power of the pause to let our key points sink in. Listeners are more imaginatively engaged when we don’t over-explain or describe.
Storytelling is often already “ear friendly.” This comes from the ancient art of performance; spoken word effects are embedded in most writers’ voices intuitively. But how might we prioritize a rhythmic flow of words to make them flow musically? How ‘performable’ is your speech copy?
The difference in hearing speeches is that you only get to listen once; what’s said flashes by and is gone. In reading a book and even listening to audiobooks, you can go back and re-read the paragraph or passage, or rewind and hear it again. But a conscious effort to make your speech flow, all the while embodying vocal variety, pace, volume, and tone, may contribute mightily to being remembered… or not!
It likely will come down to PERFORMANCE. Read your draft aloud. You may be surprised by how, after hearing it, you readily flush things sounding strained, overwritten, or what makes you stumble as you find yourself out of breath, unable to complete the thought.
I hope I’ve raised your consciousness and attention to your word choices in your next speech draft. Happy writing for the ear!
Motivating Future Success Ideas
Being one of more than 70 Toastmasters clubs in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, Sheboygan Toastmasters Club 2121 is already part of one of the most successful networks in the country. Soon, our District will grow, and we’ll be part of an even larger network.
But recently, our club took a step designed to expand our network locally.
One of our new members was employed as the Membership Director for the local Chamber of Commerce. After hearing her deliver a speech about the benefits of becoming a Chamber member, the club’s executive committee discussed the issue at an officer’s meeting.
Should our club become a Chamber of Commerce member? Could we even afford to do it?
One benefit was quite clear. By joining, we would be one of over 800 members of the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce. For over 100 years, the Chamber has remained committed to opening channels of communication and creating a dynamic business network. That sounds like something a Toastmasters club already does.
Beyond that, the Chamber provides programs and resources to educate and support members, with the long-term goal of strengthening their businesses for robust economic development. That also sounds like a job where Toastmasters could lend a hand.
The challenge was that an annual membership would cost more than the club currently had in its bank account. To make it work, club members would have to step up and donate additional funds to the cause.
Could we get a return on that investment? To find out, we had to set some concrete goals for our first year in the Chamber and share them with the club’s members. We set a goal for the number of new members we would attract from the Chamber, and to get at least one company involved in the Speechcraft program.
To make it happen, we have designated members who will begin spending time at Chamber events, and we are talking to the Chamber’s events coordinator about hosting an open house in the Chamber offices, hoping to attract Chamber members.
Attracting new members is an important part of every club’s mission. Expanding your network is one good way to get our message of personal development to more people who are interested in what we can help them achieve.
Dont Let Those Di$trict Dollar$ Di$appear
It’s official: Because we are becoming a new District, we cannot do the usual accounting gymnastics to move District Dollars from one Toastmasters year to another.
PLEASE use your District Dollars by July 1, 2026. Remember, no gift cards and no liquor, but if your club needs something for the year end picnic, or you’ve been putting off buying Toastmasters swag, get it now. Submit the receipt to Concur.
Check your District Dollars balance at: https://district35.org/resources/incentives/
A Heartfelt Thank You
Thank You To All D35 Edge Article Contributors
by Susan Brushafer, D35 Edge Newsletter Article Collector
You know who you are, and it would be difficult for me to thank each of you individually. Over the years that I have been the ‘article collector’ for the D35 Edge Newsletter, you have responded with timeliness. You’ve shared your personal and club achievements. You’ve shared ideas for creative Table Topics, outstanding Open Houses, and fun after-meeting and in-addition-to-meeting events. Your articles included pictures that put smiles on our faces! Many articles motivated us by the ways in which Toastmasters has enhanced your communication skills and boosted your self-confidence. You’ve shared with us your personal journeys, businesses you’ve started or grew in, and even the books you’ve written. Just as we are grateful to District 35 for the way it has cared for its members over these years, I’m grateful to each of you who shared your and your clubs’ successes and challenges.
PS The above article came in at 137 words. 😇
2025-2026 Fourth Quarter Triple Crown Awards
2025-2026 Fourth Quarter Triple Crown Awards
| Anna Poplawska | Reedsburg Area Club |
| Jason Feucht | NM Speaks |
| Jim Kohli | Love of Laughter |
| Lakesha Davis | COMPASS Toast Team |
| Matt Wuteska | ROK the Talk |
| Michael Zelm | Capital City Club |
| Sarah Knappman | GE Speaks Toastmasters Club |
| Timothy Bailey | Ozaukee Toastmasters |
