Welcome to the 2024-2025 Toastmaster Year!

I am honored to be the District Director for this year.  For those of you who do not know me, I live in Chesapeake, VA, and joined Toastmasters District 66 in December 2018. I have served District 66 as Vice President Education and President for Five Rings Financial and Friends Toastmasters in Virginia Beach (Ten Point President Distinguished Club for 2020-2021), Area 55 Director (2020-2021), Division E Director (Division Director of the Year for 2021-2022), Club Growth Director (2022-2023), and Program Quality Director (2023-2024).

I originally joined Toastmasters to become a better public speaker but stayed because I enjoy helping you, my fellow Toastmasters, achieve your goals. I believe that when I help others achieve what they want, I will automatically achieve what I want. 

For the 2024-2025 Toastmaster Year, I have four goals for District 66:  

1. Serve and support our members,
2. Ensure a quality personal and professional development experience, 
3. Have fun while enjoying the Toastmaster experience, and
4. Achieve the goal of becoming a Smedley Distinguished District. 

One thing that I have learned in Toastmasters is that no one can accomplish much alone. That is why I am proposing this year’s theme is “Together, WE are Unstoppable!” I have two asks for every member of District 66: 

1. What is one thing that they can do to improve yourself? and
2. What is one thing that you can do to help your fellow Toastmasters?

I would like you to write down these two goals and then share them with your club VPE so that we may incorporate them into our Club, Area, Division, and District success plans. That way, we know how to serve you better! The Member Development Plan on the District 66 website is a great way to start. At the end of the 2024-2025 Toastmaster year, I want you to revisit and reflect on your goals and ask yourself two questions:

1. Did I truly make myself happy, and
2. Did I make a fellow Toastmaster better?

Here’s to a successful Toastmaster year! 

With Warm Regards, 

Jim Kennedy 
2024-2025 District Director
District 66
Toastmasters International, Inc.