Toast Talk – May 2026 (D7 via email)

May 2026

CONGRATULATIONS! D207 INCOMING ELECTED LEADERS



Congratulations to the 2026–2027 District 207 leadership team, who will officially begin their terms on July 1, 2026:

• District Director: Courtney Carlovsky, DTM
• Program Quality Director: Michael Hachigian, DTM
• Club Growth Director: Maureen Farrell, CC
• Division A Director: Mark Thomas, IP4
• Division B Director: David Johnson, DTM
• Division C Director: Omar Sheikh, PM5
• Division D Director: Wyatt DeRemer, PM5
• Division E Director: Greg Hawkins, SR5
• Division F Director: Robert Johnson, EC4

These leaders were elected on April 28, 2026, at the inaugural District 207 Council Meeting, which brought together Districts 7 and 15.

Lead Beyond Your Club: Become an Area Director

Step into a leadership role that truly makes a difference—become a Toastmasters Area Director and put yourself at the heart of your district’s growth. You’ll support multiple clubs, help members thrive, and strengthen the Toastmasters experience across your area, all while building powerful leadership, coaching, and communication skills that will serve you for a lifetime.

Basic criteria:

• Paid Toastmasters member in good standing in a club that is also in good standing
• Prior club officer experience preferred, especially Club President or Vice President of Education
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Ready to step up, stand out, and lead with purpose? Click the button below to let Gwendolyn Avington, DTM – District Leadership Chair – know of your interest.

Call for Club Officer Trainers For TLI

Energize the clubs in the new District 207 by volunteering as a trainer for upcoming Club Officer Training sessions! Your expertise can empower new officers with practical tools to boost club success, membership growth, and Pathways engagement. All sessions will be virtual, 50 -60 minutes.

Why Train?

• Sharpen your leadership and presentation skills
• Directly impact struggling clubs (perfect tie-in to TLI themes like motivating clubs)
• Earn credit toward awards and gain visibility among directors

Trainer Needs

• Sessions: 45-60 minutes, virtual
• Topics: All club officer roles
• Optional Topics: Pathways re-engagement, New member orientation, Moments of Truth
• Dates: Friday evening, June 12th, and Saturday morning, June 13th

Take this opportunity to share your expertise and make an impact! Click here to sign up to present—submit your interest by May 9th to reserve your spot. Let’s work together to build stronger clubs!

Pathways INCREASE Beginning

July 1, 2026!

Beginning July 1, 2026, the price of the following paths will increase to $35 USD: Dynamic Leadership, Engaging Humor, Motivational Strategies, Persuasive Influence, Presentation Mastery, and Visionary Communication.

Vintage paths, Basic Training for Toastmasters and The Communication Series: Entertaining Speaker + Storytelling, will remain at $60 USD.

As always, every member will continue to receive their first path free, ensuring everyone can get started in Pathways right away.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR NEXT PATH(S) BEFORE THE INCREASE

STEP UP! IT'S YOUR TIME TO LEAD!

It's May 1st, and time to begin planning for next year’s leadership team. Officer elections start at your first meeting of the month, and all members are encouraged to participate. If you’ve been considering a role, now is a great time to step forward. Newly elected officers begin their roles on July 1, 2026.

Practical Tips for Success

B-D-A Evaluations:

The Secret Sauce for Success

Instead of organizing by strengths/weaknesses or “What–Why–How,” you structure your comments around when and how the speaker’s impact changes across the speech. It’s especially useful for advanced speakers and project work such as . . . click here to read the entire article.

YOUR DISTRICT, YOUR STORIES

Mike Long – Public Relations Manager

Kilts, Clubs, and Conference Countdown

Only a few days to go! “What is?” you ask—my trip to Scotland with my 19-year-old granddaughter, Alex. We’ll be staying with my daughter Emily and her husband Mike, just north of Glasgow, in the picture‑postcard village of Aberfoyle. How lucky am I? And while I am gone, Leela Seeber, last year’s Public Relations Manager and this year’s social media team member, has agreed to cover for me while I am gone. You can reach her for anything you want posted by clicking here. To read the rest of the article, click here.

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

Congratulations to WE Toasted Toastmasters who won $100 in purchases from the Toastmasters International store. The following clubs submitted at least 5 goals by April 30, 2026 to be entered into the random drawing:

Congratulations to Level Uppers!

A big shout-out and a virtual fist bump to the 30 members who submitted completed Pathways levels in April! Their dedication highlights their commitment to personal growth in Toastmasters and act as models of excellence for the rest of us. To see the list of these standout members, click here.