by Lola Stone DTM D25 Contest Coordinator December officially marks the beginning of Contest Season in District 25! While many are wrapping up the year, clubs across the District are gearing up for one of the most exciting parts of the Toastmasters experience – Speech Contests. Contests begin at the Club level, progress to Area,…
by Clark Pfarner Anyone who has ever run a Toastmasters speech contest knows the truth: the work will get done – but how much of it you personally carry is entirely up to you. After serving as both an Area Director and Division Director, I learned this lesson the hard way…and then the right way.…
by Denise McConnell DTM District Director A Toast to a Champion: Celebrating Elaine Royal District 25 is incredibly proud to celebrate the remarkable journey of Elaine Royal, our Outstanding member of the month, who represented our district as a finalist in the 2025 World Championship of Public Speaking. Her incredible achievement is not just a…
by Elaine Royal World Champion of Public Speaking Finalist I can still smell the muggy scent of the rain on the streets of Philadelphia. The night before my flight was delayed, my Uber driver dropped me off at the wrong hotel, and I missed my opportunity to have a hot cup of black coffee during complimentary breakfast…
by Jesse Ford DTM IPDD Have you ever had that feeling when you meet somebody that you just instantly thought to yourself… “Oh man this is going to be good.” I don’t want to seem cliché, but in Toastmasters it seems to happen a lot. If you look around at any district event you will…
by Elaine Royal D25’s 2025 International Speech Contest Winner I cheated! That’s right, I cheated! After barely winning at the club level and competing with two seasoned Toastmasters, I started cheating in this contest. Cheat means to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination. The Friday before…
by Kelly Pelky DTM Conference Chair Vision. Inspiration. Passion. That’s what the 2025 D25 Conference was all about! From start to finish, this event was packed with unforgettable moments, incredible leadership, and a community that truly embodies the Toastmasters spirit. VIP Leadership in Action We celebrated our Distinguished Toastmasters—the leaders who inspire by example—and welcomed…
by Andres Aguilar Conference Education Chair As your Conference Education Chair, I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing firsthand the incredible energy and growth that permeated our recent D25 Toastmasters Conference. This weekend was transformed into a hub of learning, inspiration, and connection. The conference theme, “VIP: Vision, Inspiration, Passion” truly came to life through…
by Lola Stone DTM Contest Coordinator Wrapping Up the 2024–2025 Contest Season with Vision, Inspiration, and Passion What an exciting finale to this year’s contest season! District 25 celebrated the culmination of the 2024–2025 Toastmasters Speech Contests at our Annual Conference, embracing the powerful theme: VIP – Vision, Inspiration, Passion. Brian Adams brought energy and…
