July 2023 Vol. 33

"Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow you reap. What you give you get. What you see in others exists in you." - Zig Ziglar "Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless." - Mother Theresa

REMINDER: Toastmasters International dues will be increasing this fall. You can lock in the lower rate one last time by renewing your membership by July 31st. Talk to your Club Treasurer or visit Club Central on the Toastmasters International website to renew!

Happy New Year! I am happy to announce the District 65 leadership team. District Director.....................Sam Otto Program Quality Director......Avis Brodie Club Growth Director............Ray Mulgrew Public Relations Manager.....Keith Flint Finance Manager.. ...............Lisa Garczynski Administration Manager .......Ryan Kelly We will continue having four officers involved in the day-to-day functions of the District as we learn together and discuss how to better serve our District this program year. We are committed to meeting once a week on Thursdays. I appreciate your service and want to thank all the outgoing officers who served this past year. I was encouraged by so many leaders that offered to serve or jumped right in when asked. Our vision this year is, “Encouragement Echoes Everywhere." Imagine how much we can do as a District when we encourage each other from our respective clubs to the district level. Encouragement can help with self-confidence, effort, motivation, success, self-esteem, and validation. Encourage your members to attend and serve in meetings, events, committees, and district conference as well as your club level Toastmaster gatherings. From the Zoom host to the VP Education, to your mentor who spends the time encouraging you before each meeting. What would your typical meeting be like if those members stopped encouraging you?  In closing, please share your appreciation to those that encourage you. Sam Otto, DTM District Director

Club Officers,   If your club is still holding remote or hybrid meetings via Zoom, your club is eligible to receive a Zoom discount. Please refer to the following link: Toastmasters International -Zoom Discount Sam Otto, DTM District Director

Program Quality 2023-24 Thank you for electing me to serve as your Program Quality Director. I am excited about being a part of making possibilities into positive accomplishments, and helping members achieve their goals. The Program Quality Director (PQD) is responsible for all aspects of education and training in our district, leading efforts in designing district trainings, contests, conferences, and other special events.  If you would like to work with me on supporting quality club programming, planning the district conference, or can recommend a topic or workshop for the district, please let me know.  The Toastmasters program is all about self-improvement, helping its members become better speakers and better leaders at work and in their personal lives. I’m excited about the future of our district and look forward to working with you. Avis Brodie, DTM, PDG Program Quality Director

Club Growth 2023-24 Thank you for electing me to take the helm as Club Growth Director 2023-2024. I have been a member of Toastmasters for 17 years and have served the District in many leadership roles for 10 years. I am experienced in business technology, marketing, and networking. As the Club Growth Director, I am responsible for all aspects of marketing, club-building, and member-and-club retention within the district. This includes recruiting and training a strong team to meet the district's membership and club building needs. We need you to volunteer now by contacting Ray.Mulgrew@gmail.com Email Subject Line: D65 CGD Support - (your name here) Immediate Roles Needed: High Performance Leadership Project - Seeking 2 additional volunteers Club Retention Chair - Existing Clubs Club Extension Chair - New Clubs District 65 Demo Team - Seeking 8 New Volunteers Join Us Now. Take a Leap of Faith and Volunteer! Ray Mulgrew, DTM Club Growth Director

District Executive Committee 2022-2023 District Director  ..........................Sam Otto, DTM Program Quality Director ............Avis Brodie, DTM, PDG Club Growth Director ..................Ray Mulgrew, DTM Immediate Past District Director .Kate Olsen, DTM, PDG, IPDD Public Relations ..........................Keith Flint   Division A Director  ......................Karen Stewart  Area 11 Director ..........................Catherine Banks Orr Area 12 Director ..........................Kristy Tyson Area 13 Director...........................Linda Marie Brown Division C Director .....................Martin Johnston, DTM Area 31 Director..........................Isaac Perez-Raya Area 32 Director .........................Richard Poydock  Area 33 Director..........................Tina Dorofy Area 34 Director..........................Scott Schaefer Area 35 Director..........................Matt Benedict, DTM Division D Director .....................Shannon Brooks Area 41 Director..........................Denise Ward Area 42 Director..........................ShuHua (Grace) Lu, DTM Area 43 Director .........................Sterling Dimmick, DTM Division E Director  ....................Brianna Wichowsky  Area 51 Director .........................Jessica James Area 52 Director..........................Ashica Ambu Area 53 Director..........................Paul Erickson Area 54 Director..........................Matthew Flanigan Finance Manager ......................Lisa Garczynski Administration Manager ............Ryan Kelly  Parliamentarian..........................Bill Kirby, DTM Zoom Team Leader....................Jean Hunter Webmaster.................................Keith Flint Newsletter Editor........................Linda Lathrop, DTM, PDG, PDD Credential Chair.........................Brion Keller, DTM, PDD DLC Chair..................................Kate Olsen, DTM, PDG, IPDD Audit Chair.................................Nathan Rathbun Pathways Chair..........................Gloria Gibbon, DTM Conference Chair.......................Peter Ralyea

Outgoing Message from the Immediate Past District Director Fellow District 65 Toastmasters,   Thank you all for the hard work and dedication to excellence you displayed during the 2022-2023 Toastmasters program year. It has been an honor and pleasure to have served as your District Director this past year.   I am excited to welcome our newly elected District Leaders as they assume their new roles. I look forward to their leading District 65 to greater heights of achievement. At this time, please join me in congratulating the Incoming 2023-2024 District 65 Trio and District 65 Leadership Team as they begin their new roles. Please email your nominations for Toastmaster of the Year, Area Director of the year, and Division Director of the Year, to klolsen@rochester.rr.com. State the name of the member who you are nominating, which award, and a description of why you believe they should be considered for this award. Please include details which will be read when the award is given October 14, 2023. Please submit your nomination before or on July 8. 2023.   Yours In Toastmasters, Kate Olsen, DTM,PDG District 65 Immediate Past District Director 2022-2023   APPRECIATE!

Save the Dates

District Council Meeting Saturday September 23, 2023 9:00am - 12:00pm Zoom link will be sent to District Council Members (Club Presidents and Vice Presidents Education + District Executive Committee)

Leadership & Awards Celebration Saturday October 14, 2023 9:00am - 12:00pm Nominations for Toastmaster of the Year, Area Director of the Year, and Division Director of the Year   Please email your nominations to klolsen@rochester.rr.com for one of the above. State the name of the member who you are nominating, which award, and a description of why you believe they should be considered for this award. Please include details which will be read when the award is given October 14, 2023. Please submit your nomination before or on July 8. 2023.

QuidelOrtho receives Toastmasters Corporate Recognition Award

The Toastmasters Corporate Recognition Award was presented to QuidelOrtho by Toastmasters International Director Jeff Sobel and accepted by Kim Tucci, People and Culture Manager, on May 31, in recognition of QuidelOrtho’s Raritan, NJ, and Rochester Toastmasters groups. The Corporate Recognition Award is designated for the most distinguished corporate sponsors making an investment in the future of their employees and their organizations. Toastmasters’ Board of Directors and District leadership come together once a year to honor and recognize a select number of Toastmasters Corporate Sponsors for their commitment to the Toastmasters program. About 30 people attended the award presentation including Toastmasters District 65 leaders and QuidelOrtho Toastmasters members. The presentation included a demonstration meeting with a speaker, an evaluator and a table topics portion featuring “toastimonials” in which members described how they have benefitted from participating in Toastmasters. Thank you to David Porter and Richard Poydock from Ortho Toastmasters for organizing this event. Are you a member of a Corporate Club? Is your organization deserving of this award? Contact Sam Otto at TheRealSamOtto@gmail.com to nominate your organization. Click here to learn more about the Toastmasters Corporate Award.

Meet Your 2023-24 Division Directors .

Division A - Karen Stewart Karen Stewart didn't attend any Toastmasters events until she had been personally invited more than 4 times. After experiencing her first Open House in January 2019, she immediately knew that Toastmasters would be a great fit. Karen joined Rhetorical Roar in December 2019 and continues to find her club a constructive space to grow her leadership skills and explore all aspects of public speaking. One of the most significant lessons she's learned from her club is that listening skills are integral to success as a communicator. The 2023-2024 Toastmasters year marks Karen's first time in a leadership role outside her own club. She looks forward to serving as the Division A Director, and already has full confidence in her team of Area Directors. 

Division C - Marty Johnston Hello fellow Toastmasters!  I am looking forward to serving as your Division C Director for the Toastmasters year.  I hope to visit each of your clubs either on Zoom or in person during the coming year. I enjoy working with my work associates and Toastmaster members to achieve goals.  I am employed by Tops Markets in Lockport, NY, where I was also born and raised. At work I am the manager on duty where I try to satisfy our customers and perfect my Toastmasters skills. To my credit I have earned an Associates Degree in Computer Programming and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration specializing in Marketing Management. In 2017 I earned my " Legacy educational program" DTM. Since then, I have embraced Pathways and have completed two paths. My path in Toastmasters continues by being your Division C Director. I look forward to meeting you and serving you to the best of my ability! 

Division D - Shannon Brooks I have been a member of Toastmasters International since November of 2016 and a member of the Barrier Breakers Club since April of 2022. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and learned a lot about effective communication and leadership training since joining. Toastmasters has enriched my career at Chesapeake Energy, where I have worked for almost 14 years as a Landman. I initially joined for work reasons, but I stay for the fun! I live in Horseheads, NY, with my husband, AJ, and two children, Gavin & Elise. .

Division E - Brianna Wichowsky My name is Brianna Wichowsky and I currently work at Utica National Insurance Company as the Special Investigations Unit Analyst. I have the Senior Claims Law Associate (SCLA) Gold designation and I am currently working towards a few other designations in Property-Casualty Insurance, Data Analytics, and Risk Management. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity from Utica College in 2016. I also received my Masters of Science from Utica College in 2018 in Financial Crime Compliance and Management. Prior to working for Utica National, I was an Anti-Money Laundering Analyst for Santander Bank. I joined Utica National’s Toastmasters Club in March 2020. Since then I have completed two Paths and a Speechcraft program. I have also held several officer positions including Club President and Area 54 Director; and currently am fulfilling the roles of Club Treasurer and Division E Director for the 2023-2024 Toastmasters year. On my free time, I play in a few volleyball leagues throughout the year and spend time with my four-year old son, Kalen.

July Club Anniversaries 670636.........Toasted Sage..............7/20/2004 3220612.......Speak Up - CNY..........7/9/2013

Take part in a Bahamian adventure that is both a meeting of the minds and a sanctuary for the soul! Go Bahamas with Toastmasters for the 2023 International Convention, to be held in Nassau, Bahamas. Explore a sea of learning and connecting possibilities in person and/or online. Dates: August 16–19, 2023 Click here to register

There is a new section on our District 65 website: Our History Learn who has served as a past District Director/Governor, who has been awarded District 65 Toastmaster of the Year, and who has received the prestigious Toastmasters International Presidental Citation. Click here to visit our website

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