by Shruti Sahu Area 33 Director
At the District 25 District Executive Council meeting on October 19th, we were welcomed back to Texas Wesleyan University with an energetic greeting from the Trio, and we proudly received our Area Director and Division Director name badges. Lola Stone kicked off the day by training us on how to successfully prepare for the upcoming contest season. I’ll be sure to follow her advice to start now and make sure I have backup helpers ready! Jamie Pickering then guided us through an engaging reflection on Leadership 101 by John C. Maxwell, leaving me with a deeper understanding of what defines a true leader– and how to avoid the critical mistakes that can lead to their downfall.
During the business meeting, we heard informative reports on the many types of growth happening across the district. Special recognition goes to Finance Manager Michelle Bayes, whose musical update not only won the contest but also proved that “finance is fun” (and left a catchy tune stuck in my head!). Denise McConnell introduced us to the brainwriting challenge, which we lead at the Area Council meeting during the Fall Summit. This exercise allowed us to focus on a challenge we face in our roles and exchange ideas with peers. Emily Murray took us through a growth exercise, where we discussed the core traits of effective leadership and how to continue cultivating those skills. We closed the meeting with another valuable session from Jamie on the features, benefits, and values of Toastmasters, offering actionable insights on setting and achieving SMART goals.
It was an insightful and interactive day, equipping all of us with new strategies, fresh perspectives, and stronger connections to carry forward into the Toastmasters year.
