6D66 Toastmasters Times | Issue 6 | May 2025
Editors Note
Greetings Fellow Toastmasters,
Welcome to the last issue of the D66 Toastmasters Times for this Toastmasters Year. As the current year ends, we are already planning to transition to the next Toastmasters Year. This issue is full of useful information!
Our trio shares messages for all members.
Our District Conference was held April 25-26 in Hampton, read on for highlights, the contest winners and a few photos to see what you might have missed. A hearty thank you to the planning team and especially Sonya Z. Phillips for volunteering to be the event photographer!
WHO Won the “Just One” Contest? WHAT do Clubs need to do before the end of June?HOW do you step up to the next level of leadership and help the District? Read on to the Club Corner find out!
Try a new word, get some tips for improving your speeches, meet a member, and celebrate our clubs and members.
We are looking forward to a successful 2025-2026 Toastmasters Year!
If you have any topics you’d like included in the July D66 Toastmasters Times, please let me know.
Until next time,
Kristine Vey, DTM editor
pr@tmdistrict66.org
2024-2025 District Leadership
A Word from Jim – A Time of Transition
For those who missed it, the 2025 District 66 Conference was a success. We installed a slate of district officers for the 2025-2026 Toastmasters Year! Congratulations to District Director Elect Doretha Pair, Program Quality Director Elect Marilynn Vaughan, Club Growth Director Elect Jacqueline Harrison, Division A Director Elect Tanya White-Deyo, Division B Director Elect Carla Davis, and Division D Director Elect Michelle Willke. I wish you all the best of luck as we transition to the new Toastmaster year. We were also honored with the presence of Region 6 International Director Jenilee Taylor who delivered the Saturday morning keynote as well as participated in a leadership fireside chat.
Wade Randolph delivered our Friday night Keynote, and we had breakout sessions about the path to becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and navigating pathways during the day on Saturday. We had fun with the gift basket and 50/50 raffles, the silent auction, and we celebrated the accomplishments of many of our clubs with the Hall of Fame Red Carpet celebration. Lastly, we welcomed 7 members as new DTMs. We were also honored that so many Corporate sponsored showed up to support our conference. We raised almost $8,000 in Corporate Donations for this year’s conference. That, combined with the $3,500 that we received in Corporate Donations for our Fall Awards and Centennial Celebration, meant that we raised almost $12,000 in Corporate Donations to support our activities during the 2024-2025 Toastmasters Year! This is unprecedented. I want to thank everyone who made this year’s District Conference a success.
In the coming weeks, I will be working with Doretha Pair and the new District leadership team to ensure a smooth transition and allow her to hit the ground running. The current leadership team will also work with their newly elected and appointed counterparts to assist them in doing the same. Some may ask how you can help. The answer is simple: Schedule your club elections during May or early June and help the new club leadership team by having a smooth transition period. Be sure to submit your club officer lists on time and start working on your club success plans so that your club can be positioned for success.
As we look forward to the new year, I am reminded of something that Co-Region 6 Advisor Narayanan Doraswamy said during our latest Region 6 quarterly leadership call: He quoted Past Region 2 International Director (and Portsmouth, Va native) Jesse Oakley and said “It Ain’t June 30th yet.” We still have lots to do. We must finish our own education awards and help our fellow Toastmasters achieve their Toastmasters goals for this year. Let’s finish strong. Remember, together, we are unstoppable!
Sincerely,
Jim Kennedy
2024-2025 District Director, District 66
Toastmasters International, Inc.
Program Quality Director, Doretha Pair, DTM
Hello District 66,
Thank you to all who attended the 2025 District 66 Spring Conference in Hampton. What a time. I hope that the conference will be memorable for years to come. A special thanks to my conference chair, Kelly Evans, and all those who helped with the Conference. I appreciate all the clubs and individuals who helped with the event. Congratulations to Kristin Paulding, the International Speech contest winner. She will represent District 66 in the Region Quarterfinals. We have seven new DTM’s for this program year.
Our next step is distinguished clubs. We need a minimum of 32 clubs to be distinguished. Some of you are so close. Congratulations to the 15 clubs that are already distinguished. Let’s finish the year strong. We can do it. I continue to challenge all members to strive for the triple crown. 24 members achieved this so far. We will have two trainings in May, Quality Meetings on May 13th and Journey to Pathways on May 20th.
Doretha Pair, DTM
2024-2025 Program Quality Director, District 66
Club Growth Director, Marilynn Vaughan
Leading District 66 with 20/20 Vision
At the Annual Conference on Saturday April 26th, I opened with a truth we can no longer afford to ignore: We are living through a global crisis in leadership. One of the root causes, especially in the U.S., is that we spend more time looking in the rearview mirror than through the windshield. The metaphor resonated because it’s simple — and it’s true.
Think about it. A driver glancing too long in the rearview mirror risks missing what’s ahead. Accidents happen not because of what’s behind us, but because we aren’t focused on what’s coming. That metaphor, like all good metaphors, simplifies complexity and unlocks conversation — a technique we often use in Lego Serious Play. In that method, we use bricks and stories to externalize ideas that are hard to say out loud. Metaphors allow teams to reflect, connect, and solve problems together in creative, low-risk ways.
So, what does that mean for District 66? It means now is the time to combine hindsight and foresight. To have not just “20/20 hindsight,” but what I call double vision — the ability to look backward at the 2024–2025 program year with clarity, and forward to the 2025–2026 year with strategic intent.
Rearview Insight: Lessons Learned
Let’s be clear — we need the rearview mirror. It’s how we course-correct. But its purpose is reference, not direction. This is why capturing lessons learned is so vital. What initiatives moved the needle? What communication breakdowns slowed us down? Which clubs grew? Which ones didn’t, and why? What leadership skills helped, and which ones do we still need to develop?
Doing this reflection openly and collaboratively ensures we don’t repeat missteps — and that we replicate what works.
Windshield Vision: Strategic Foresight for 2026
The future won’t look like the past. It will demand more flexibility, more digital fluency, and more human connection than ever before. Toastmasters must be a leadership lab, not a lecture hall. We must experiment, iterate, and share what we learn.
As District leaders, club officers, and members, we need to ask:
• Where do we want to be in June 2026?
• What cultural or technological shifts are coming that we need to prepare for?
• How do we grow not just numbers, but capacity — the kind of capacity that inspires others to lead?
It starts now.
Strategic Balance: The Art of the Glance
Effective leaders know how to glance — not gaze — in the mirror. They use it to check alignment, not set direction. That’s what our District needs from all of us: leaders with forward drive, not reverse nostalgia.
Let’s spend more time looking ahead, together.
Let’s take what we’ve learned, pass the baton with intention, and make 2026 not just another program year, but a transformational one — a year that redefines what it means to grow, to lead, and to serve.
Marilynn Vaughan, DSL, MBA, DL5
2024-2025 Club Growth Director, District 66
“The past prepares us to meet the challenges of the future.”
— Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, Founder of Toastmasters (1878-1965)
District Conference Highlights – Intergenerational Leadership
“What tools do YOU need to grow?”
More than 100 Toastmasters convened in late April for the Annual District 66 Conference. Keynote Speakers, Breakout Sessions, Meals, Networking and Awards were enjoyed centered on the theme. The planning team led by Kelly Evans was masterful. Here are some highlights:
Keynote Speaker Wade Randolph, DTM – “Are you Using Your Toastmasters Tools?”
- TTP and TTMP -Talk to people and talk to more people.
- Overcome possibility blindness
- Open to be of service
- ABL – Always be willing to learn.
Keynote Speaker Jenilee Taylor, DTM – International Director
- Come with Courage
- Participate with Purpose
- Grow with generosity
- Be prepared to communicate the value to leadership in corporate clubs
- Remind members they can use Toastmasters in their personal development plans
Maneuvering the new Pathways: Facilitated by Lynne Claiborne and Jessica Cotman
- Monthly Journey to Pathways sessions are available. The next one is May 20. Monitor the CALENDAR for next year’s schedule.
- Managing evaluations and level completion reporting is streamlined
- There is an opportunity for others to provide feedback to a speaker.
- Members can see upcoming speech projects if they have a need before they finish the earlier ones.
- New Paths can be opened before a current path is complete. This allows members to continue to give speeches while they work on longer term projects.
- Members can earn badges and share them on social media platforms
- Videos about Base Camp are available from Toastmasters International here
DTM Panel Discussion: Facilitated by Drusilla Pair, DTM panelists Jim Kennedy, Fredericka Ricks, Kristine Vey
- Join the DTM 2B cohort. The CALENDAR will include the upcoming dates
- Feel free to get creative with projects
- Plan ahead – some of the requirements can take time
- District Leadership can help!
After lunch, we watched the very entertaining Tall Tales Contest.
After dinner, we welcomed the newest Distinguished Toastmasters and applauded the members and clubs who had earned recognition so far this year.
At the end of the evening, we watched the powerful and moving International Speech Contest.
CLUB Corner – Reminders for Clubs as we approach the end of the Toastmasters Year (June 30)
Submit Officer list in June. This is half of a DCP goal and is not retroactive. It can be changed after submission. A minimum of President, one VP and Secretary is required
To Qualify for the DCP next year, clubs must submit a Club Success Plan. Please plan to submit it online by 7/30/25. This informs the Area, Division and District Success Plans.
Download the current Club Success Plan, they are deleted July 1.
Start planning the transition to new club officers. Club Officer Training will be offered at the Summer Leadership Institute in Richmond July 12. This website page has helpful information for clubs.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
NEXT YEAR’S Distinguished Club Program
May 6, 2025
Dear Club Officer,
The Distinguished Club Program is evolving to better recognize and celebrate club achievements! We’re pleased to share that the Board of Directors recently made exciting enhancements to both the Distinguished Club and District Recognition programs for the upcoming 2025-2026 program year.
These improvements create a more accessible path to recognition while offering new challenges for high-performing clubs. They also better align our recognition programs with Toastmasters International’s strategic plan.
Changes to the Distinguished Club Program are:
• A new qualifying requirement: Complete and submit your Club Success Plan by September 30
• Introduction of the prestigious Smedley level achievement for clubs that maintain at least 25 members and accomplish all 10 Distinguished Club Program goals
We are sprinting to the end of the 2024-2025 Toastmasters year. The District is travelling on the road to Distinguished.
Congratulations to the 17 Clubs who have achieved Distinguished or better in the Distinguished Club Program (as of May 11).
President’s Distinguished (9-10 Goals)
Blue Ridge
Harrisonburg Toastmasters Club
Hoos Speaking
St. Michael Toastmasters
Western Branch Toastmasters Club
Speak Easy Club (10 goals!)
Select Distinguished (7-8 Goals)
Expressions
Generally Speaking Toastmasters
Innsbrook Toastmasters
Richmond FedMasters Club
VCU Toastmasters
Distinguished (5-6 Goals)
Richmond Club
Toast & Jam!
Peninsula Powerhouse
SpeakDOT Toastmasters Club
Virginia Beach Club
V.O.I.C.E.S. of Williamsburg Club
Let’s FINISH STRONG and have more clubs earn the Distinguished Club Recognition – some of you are SO CLOSE! If you need help, please contact Doretha Pair.
Step Into Impact: Join the 2025–2026 District 66 Program Quality Team!
To learn more and sign up, click on this link:
District 66 Volunteer – Program Quality Team.
PLEASE SIGN UP EARLY.
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
— Mark Twain, humorist, journalist, lecturer, and novelist (1835-1910)
Word of the Day: Transformative
transformative (adjective)
trans·for·ma·tive tran(t)s-ˈfȯr-mə-tiv
1. Causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something
2. A transformative experience
And she’ll tell anyone who asks about her transformative experience as a Toastmaster.
Speakers Corner – Smoothing Your Transitions
We have all heard speeches that have a simple organization to them. “Today I am going to discuss three things you can do, #1, #2, #3.” These speeches do establish control and organize listener’s thoughts for them. There is an advantage with this method as it helps organize a speech and it keeps the audience feeling like they have grasped all you want to convey. These are good things. Improving this approach will only take small adjustments to details.
When outlining your speech into sub-topics you might consider changing the blatant statements like, “I have three things to discuss: #1…#2…#3…” This method can seem choppy. Why not try looking at the theme that ties the three together and talk about them each with a transitory sentence like, “From here we look at the next idea which builds on the first.” Then when the second has been discussed, “Now we are moving to our last step to complete the project.” You continue to orient your listeners on the three steps without calling them out as #1,2, and 3. These subtle changes could give your audience a comfort level higher than #1,2,3. Somehow 1,2,3 seems elementary which could dilute the value of your content by making it seem like your information is for school kids rather than experienced individuals. Even saying, “First, next, and finally” are better words than #1,2, and 3. Don’t you feel somewhat silly standing at the front of the room with your fingers making a #1, or a two, or holding up three fingers? Your audience feels awkward too.
These suggested changes to a winning speech formula could be just the right touch. There are infinite ways to transition between your sub-topics. Depending on your speech content you can tailor it with clever transitions matching the content and increasing interest in what comes next. You might use words like, “From here we begin to…, Now we are ready to…, At last we will hit pay dirt with…”
Sometimes our speaking skills only need small details changed to become a polished jewel. Dazzle your audience by making one detail better. You’ll hear reactions like, “That was your best speech. I can’t pinpoint why, but it was your best.”
Mike Etchemendy, DTM
Meet a Member
Meet a Member – where we introduce you to other Toastmasters throughout the District.
They were all asked: How would you describe the culture of your club? What do you do outside of Toastmasters? How has being a TM affected your personal or professional life? What advice would you give to a new member as they begin their membership?
Division A
Leslie Williams, Talk-of-the-Town Toastmasters
Member for 4 years
Our club’s culture is warm welcoming and diverse. We are half corporate club and half community with a great mix of new and longtime Toastmasters eager to share their wealth of experience.
I’ve spent the majority of my career in packaging. I’m currently working as a supply partner and consultant, helping clients source printed packaging solutions. My hobbies include running, cooking, and spending time with my amazing family. I’m just getting into ultra-trail running, even dragging my husband into my insanity.
I joined Toastmasters during COVID when my remote position became agonizing and isolating and I needed to keep my public speaking skills sharp. I had explored Toastmasters before but never committed. This was the perfect time to join, and it worked so well that I now seek out speaking opportunities versus dreading them.
If you’re a new member, jump right in! Take on the ice breaker and consider leadership roles as your membership progresses. Trust the path! The speeches build on each other to keep you engaged, organized, and practicing your new skills.
Division B
Pallab Chatterjee, West End Toastmasters
Member for 9 years.
Our Club, West End Toastmasters, hosts hybrid meetings on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday of each month, blending the best of in-person and virtual experiences. We foster a supportive, encouraging, and growth-oriented environment where members uplift each other while refining their communication and leadership skills. What sets us apart is our dynamic meeting structure, engaging themes, and an energizing community that celebrates progress. With seasoned mentors, interactive sessions, and a culture of continuous learning, every meeting feels like a step toward personal and professional transformation!
By profession, I am an AI/ML engineer, but by passion, I am a creative explorer.
I find joy in painting, wildlife photography, song writing, and music creation. Beyond that, I am driven by an insatiable curiosity, always seeking new opportunities for learning and personal growth.
Toastmasters has boosted my confidence, enhanced my public speaking skills, and sharpened my leadership abilities, making me a more effective communicator both personally and professionally.
If you’re a new member, embrace every opportunity to speak, seek feedback actively, and stay consistent—growth comes with practice and persistence! Toastmasters is the only place where mistakes aren’t punished but celebrated as stepping stones to success.
Division D
Monica Custis, DTM, Com-Unity Speakers Toastmasters Club
Member for 14 years
Perhaps you have read about her in the local newspaper, heard her on the radio or perhaps you have seen her in her travels around Eastern North Carolina and the Hampton Roads area. Distinguished Toastmaster, Monica Custis is a performance coach, mentor and award-winning speaker. She has been a member of Toastmasters International and the Com-Unity Speakers Toastmasters Club (D66) since March 2012.
By embracing the power of heart-felt leadership, sharing stories filled with humor and victories over everyday life, she teaches, inspires and encourages others to become better communicators and effective leaders so that they can change their worlds.
Monica is a graduate of Strayer University and holds degrees in Business Administration and Accounting.
Monica is a respected speaker, writer and small business owner. She currently lives in Elizabeth City, NC with her husband, Lee.
The opportunities and support I have been given as a member of my club have been amazing. The positive “yes you can” environment has truly led to personal growth in every facet of my life. I have made friends, trained club leaders, won a few speech contests and grown in ways I never could have imagined. I would say to new members two things: get engaged in Pathways and come to meetings ready to practice, practice, practice!
SAVE the DATES
Watch the D66 website calendar for details.
May 13 – Education Team presents Quality Meeting Workshop – 7:00 p.m. Register here
May 20 – Journey into Pathways – 7:00 p.m. – Register here
May 31 – Area Director Visit Reports Due
May 1 – June 30 – Beat the Clock Membership Building Contest
June 30 – END of Toastmasters Year – Next Year’s Officers list due
July 12 – Summer Leadership Institute Open to ALL – Dominion in Richmond
July 30 – Online Club Success Plans due
Aug 20 – 23 International Convention in Philadelphia
Sept 30 – LAST Day to submit Online Club Success Plan to be eligible for the Distinguished Club Program
Other District Leaders
District Executive Committee
Administration Manager – Ina Brown
Financial Manager – Joyce Laswell
Public Relations Manager – Kristine Vey, DTM
Logistics Manager – Vicky Lyle
Parliamentarian – Melissa Parks
Additional Supportive Roles:
Education Chairs (PQD)
Education Co-Chair – Linda Kennedy
Education Co-Chair – Drusilla Pair
DTM Chair – Lynne Claiborne (PQD)
Pathways Chair – Jessica Cotman (PQD)
Marketing Committee (CGD)
Club Extension Chair – Mike Etchemendy, DTM
Club Quality Chair – Robin Jenkins, DTM
Club Retention Chair – Kitty Boitnott, DTM
Club New Resource Research Chair – Tishaun Ugworji, DTM
Subject Matter Experts – Charles Gates, DTM, Frank Gulla, DTM, and Linda Kennedy, DTM
Webmaster (PRM) – Cassandra Sabo
Celebration Committee (PRM)
Chair – Tishaun Ugworji
Members: Angela Dickerson, Vanessa Clack, Chastity Bailey, Joyce Laswell, and Jim Kennedy
Program Management Administrator (Dist Director) – Edmund Joe
Division A Director – Melvin Carter, DTM
Area 11 Director – Venus Wilmer, DTM
Area 12 Director – Nick Mastrovito
Area 14 Director – TBA
Area 18 Director – TBA
Division B Director – Carla Davis
Area 21 Director – Gayle Turner
Area 22 Director – Ibironke Lawal
Area 23 Director – Michelle Evans
Area 24 Director – Chaitali Roy
Area 25 Director – Chastity Bailey
Area 26 Director – Wes Bonafe
Area 27 Director – Martha Stevens
Division D Director – Lawrence Nichols
Area 41 Director – Jacquie Harrison, DTM
Area 42 Director – Bob Rice
Area 43 Director – TBA
Area 44 Director – Amanda Albright
Area 45 Director – Drusilla Pair
Area 46 Director – Michelle Willke
Curious about the Clubs in each Division and Area? Click here.
A LOT is going on in District 66! Stay “in the know.”
D66 website: https://tmdistrict66.org/
D66 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tmdistrict66
Region 6 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/973067051493465