| District 53 News - July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007 |
 WELCOME • New 2006-2007 Toastmaster Clubs
- Club #1051538, Snoopy Storytellers, Hartford, CT
The Club meets at 1:00 pm every Wednesday at MetLife, One City Place-2CP, Hartford, CT. Membership is Restricted to employees of MetLife of Connecticut.
The club was chartered on June 18, 2007 and will be assigned to Area B4. The Club Sponsors are John Lynch, DTM and Richard C. Woodward, CC. The Club Mentor is Sidney M. Yudowitch, CC
- Club #1029995, ProSpeakers, Springfield, MA
The Club meets at 6:30 pm on the third Thursday at Springfield Chamber of Commerce, 1441 Main St, Springfield, MA. Membership is Open to all interested parties. The club was chartered on June xx, 2007 and will be assigned to Area E2. The Club Sponsors are James M. McNerney, ATMB and Douglas C. Comstock, CTM.
The Club Mentors Will Ryan, DTM.
- Club #1022909, GE Albany Toastmasters, Albany, NY
The Club meets at noon every 1st and 3rd Thursday at GE FANUC Automation, 1 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY. Membership is Restricted to employees of GE Fanuc Automation, a leader in industrial automation solutions that businesses more productive, more agile and more profitable. The club was chartered on May 14, 2007 and will be assigned to Area F6. The Club Sponsors are Gurinder Garcha, DTM and Ahmir Hussain.
- Club #993371, Toast RX , Norwalk, CT
The Club meets at noon every Wednesday at Reed Exhibitions in Norwalk, CT. Membership is Open to all interested parties. Reed Exhibitions excels in creating high profile, highly targeted business and consumer exhibitions and events to establish and maintain business relations, and generate new business. The club was chartered on May 14, 2007 and will be assigned to Area D3. The Club Sponsors are Marvin Cross, ACB,CL and Edward George Borsuk. The Club Mentors are Diana J. Drennan, ACB,CL and Deidre D Boone, CC.
- Club #1029884, GE Stamford Connecticut Toastmasters, Stamford, CT
The Club meets at noon every Wednesday at GE Asset Management, 3001 Summer St, Stamford, CT. Membership is Restricted to employees of GE Asset Management, one of the largest managers of institutional assets in the United States. The club was chartered on April 23, 2007 and will be assigned to Area D3.
- Club #949212, Prudent Speakers Toastmasters Club, Hartford, CT
The Club meets at noon every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at Prudential Financial, 280 Trumbull St, Hartford, CT. Membership is restricted to employees of Prudential Finacial Incl, providers of insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services. The club was chartered on April 9, 2007 and assigned to Area B3. The Club Sponsors are Marsha P. Kiley, CL, and Tao Jin, ATMB. The Club Mentors are Kevin M. Mooney and Timothy C. Piano, CL.
- Club #981596, Toast of Hartford Toastmasters Club, Hartford, CT
The Club meets at noon every 2nd & 4th Wednesday at Hartford City Hall, 550 Main St, Hartford, CT. Membership is Open to all interested parties. The club was chartered on December 7, 2006 and assigned to Area B5. The Club Sponsor is Judith M. Chambers, CL. The Club Mentors are Raul Rodriguez, ATMG and Normand C. Thibodeau, DTM.
- Club #947586, Anthem Connecticut Toastmasters Club, North Haven, CT
The Club meets at noon every Thursday at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, 370 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT. Membership is restricted to employees of Anthem. The club was chartered on September 27, 2006 and assigned to Area C5. The Club Sponsors are Karin E. Von Kaenel, CL and Jennifer Finnegan. The Club Mentors are Kim E. Price, ATMS and Joseph F. Hotter.
- Club #942287, GE Niskayuna Toastmasters Club, Niskayuna, NY
The Club meets at (time) every (day) at GE Global Research Center, One Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY. GE Global Research is one of the world's most diversified industrial research labs, providing innovative technology for all of GE's businesses. Membership is restricted to employees of GE Global Research. The club was Chartered on September 1, 2006 and assigned to Area F5. The Club Sponsors are Gurinder Garcha, DTM and James Zhang, CTM. The Club Mentors are Norman L. Miller, ATMG and Joseph A. Purcell, DTM.
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1st Place
Vikas Jhingran
District 31 |
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2nd Place
Nana Danso
District 53 |
Kwabena (Nana) Danso Takes Second Place in
Region VII International Speech Competition.
The eight Districts of Region VII (Districts 18, 27, 31, 36, 38, 45, 46, and 53) put forth their best speakers to compete in the International Speech contest on Saturday night, June 23rd during the Region VII Conference held at the Holiday Inn in the historic district of Philadelphia, PA.
 In the end, Nana Danso of the BI Toastmasters Club #7386 (Boehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, CT) received and holds the first runner-up trophy in the International Speech Contest.
With that impressive recognition, Nana has the responsibility of standing ready to compete at the World Championship of Public Speaking should the 1st place Region VII winner Vikas Jhingran of D31 (Eastern MA and RI) be unable to compete.
The second runner-up finisher was Dave Romanchik from D46 (Long Island, NYC and Northern NJ).
The ultimate International contest will take place in August on August 18, 2007 at the Annual Toastmasters International Convention; held for all Toastmasters from around the world. The contest culminates with the selection of the World Champion of Public Speaking. Contest winners from 8 Regions and 2 "overseas" speech contest winners will compete "on-stage" before an audience of over 2000 Toastmasters and guests for Toastmaster's highest honor - the "World Champion of Public Speaking."
The best speaker of Region VII and winner of the Region-level International Speech Contest will step up to the ultimate speaking platform with nine other contestants at the Toastmasters International Convention, to be held at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona. |
News Reports from the Spring 2007 Conference and Leadership Summit
The View from the Summit Was Outstanding! A Huge Success! Over 200 Toastmasters and their guests attendedthe Spring Conference and Leadership Summit.
- Read what Toastmasters are saying about the D53 Spring Conference and Leadership Summit in East Hartford, CT.
- The Top Speakers in District 53
- Re-live the memories of a great conference weekend with Photos of the D53 Spring Conference and Leadership Summit.
- The District 53 C&L Award was presented to Bruce DePrest.
 Bruce DePrest was selected as one of approximately eighty outstanding leaders throughout the world to receive the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award for 2007. Bruce DePrest, chief meteorologist, provides Connecticut's most-accurate live weather updates and forecasts from the Doppler 3000 Weather Center every weeknight on Hartford's Channel 3 WFSB-TV. The C&L Award is presented to a non-Toastmaster who has outstanding communication and leadership skills in the District 53 community as defined by over 125 Toastmaster Clubs in Western Massachusetts, Connecticut and Eastern New York.
- District 53 Council Business
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Promoting Toastmasters at the Connecticut XPO 2007 for Business
District 53 Toastmasters was invited (through Event Management) to be part of the not-for-profit section at the Connecticut XPO 2007 for Business. Toastmasters from Stag, One State Street, Cedar Hill, Greater Hartford, SoFar, CIGNA, Toast of Hartford, Prudential, and Southern Berkshire staffed the double sized booth from 8 am to 5 pm. Read more (with photos) ... |
| District 53 Clubs that have earned the Talk Up Toastmasters Award for adding 5 or more new members to their club from February 1 – March 31, 2007 |
Area |
Club # |
Club Name |
New Members |
D2 |
720 |
Yale Toastmasters |
+ 6 |
A1 |
4396 |
Poughkeepsie Area Chamber |
+ 5 |
A1 |
9977 |
IBM East Fishkill Speakers |
+ 5 |
D3 |
865 |
Greater Stamford Toastmasters |
+ 5 |
D5 |
1065 |
Park City Toastmasters |
+ 5 |
E2 |
5340 |
Speakeasy Toastmasters |
+ 5 |
E2 |
836174 |
Galaxy Gabbers |
+ 5 |
| F5 |
7877 |
Clifton Park Speakers |
+ 5 |
Congratulations to the eight Toastmasters Clubs listed above that expanded their membership roster by five or more members in just two months. We extend thanks to all the members for the work they have done (and continue to do) to bring Toastmasters to an ever greater number of people! Let's continue to "Lead With Vision." -- Karin von Kaenel, Lt. Governor Marketing
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District Fall 2006 Conference News and Photos
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 D53 Leadership Team News and Letters
NEW DTM Badges in District 53
Toastmasters International is proud to announce that Jean F. Shanahan, DTM, Gurinder Garcha, DTM, Linda M. Chicone, DTM, Marilyn Jess, DTM and most recently Dorothea D. Cardamone, have joined the elite group of Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM).
Thea Cardamone, DTM |
Thea Cardamone, DTM recently completed all requirements for her Advanced Leader (ALS) award, Advaanced Communicator Gold (10/17) and DTM recognitions on October 18, 2006. Thea served District 53 as Area C4 Governor in 1995-96. She is an active member of the Vernon Toastmasters Club #4425 of Vernon, Connecticut. |
Marilyn Jess, DTM |
Marilyn Jess, DTM recently completed all requirements for her Advanced Leader (ALS) award and filed for her ALS and DTM recognitions in September 2006. Marilyn served District 53 last year ('05-'06) as Club Rescue Chair and this year, she is the Youth Leadership Program Chair for D53. She is an active member of the Last Word Toastmasters Club #3853 of Pittsfield, MA.
Marilyn is a mentor of the Voices of The Mountains, Club #660335; a new Club that was chartered in February 2006. |
Linda Chicoine, DTM |
Linda Chicoine recently completed all requirements for her Advanced Leader (ALS) award and filed for her ALS and DTM recognitions in September 2006. Linda is the Immediate Past "Distinguished" Area C6 Governor and an active member of the Valley-Shore Club #3940 in Madison, CT, where she now serves theClub as VP Public Relations and Club Webmaster.
As the appointed Club Coach for Niantic Club #9213, Linda helped lead the Niantic Toastmasters to Distinguished Club status ... doubling their membership and meeting 5 out of 10 Distinguished Club Plan Goals. |
Jean Shanahan, DTM |
Jean completed all requirements for her Advanced Leader (ALS) award and filed for her ALS and DTM recognitions in July 2006. In the year 2005-06 Jean was recognized as a Triple Crown winner with 3 educational awards, ATMS on 8/1/05, ATMG on 11/1/05, and CTM on 4/14/06.
Jean Shanahan is the 2005-06, "Distinguished Area" A5 Governor. Jean is a charter member, mentor and sponsor of The Bureaucrats Toastmasters, Club #790849, which meets at the NY State Dept. of Transportation in Poughkeepsie, NY. |
Gurinder Garcha, DTM |
Gurinder recently completed all requirements for his Advanced Leader (ALS) award and filed for his ALS and DTM recognitions in July 2006.
Gurinder Garcha is the 2005-06 "President's Distinguished Area" F2 Governor. Gurinder is a charter member and Sponsor of the new GE Schenectady Speakers Club, Club #877627 of GE Energy in Schenectady, NY. |
Re-newed DTM Badges in District 53
District 53 is proud to announce that Don Logie, DTM and Christina Van Hoesen, DTM have recently earned their second DTM recognition. |
Don Logie, DTM |
Don completed all requirements for his Advanced Leader Silver in July 2006 and filed for his DTM recognition award in August.
Don Logie, DTM is currently serving the District as District Photographer and mentor for the newly chartered Rock Climbers Toastmasters Club #867930. Don is an active member of the 280 Trumbull St Toastmasters Club. |
Christina VanHoesen, DTM |
Christina Van Hoesen, DTM recently completed the requirements for a second Advanced Communicator Gold and Advanced Leader Silver. She filed for her second DTM in August.
Christina is the Immediate Past Area F1 Governor and in June 2006 she sponsored the HANYS Toastmasters Club #899819 at Healthcare Association of NYS in Rensselaer, NY. Christina is an active member of the Bethlehem Toastmasters Club #542 in Delmar, NY. |
Toastmasters International Elects Directors and Officers |
At the Toastmasters International Convention held August 23-26 in Washington, DC, delegates attending the annual business meeting elected International Directors and Officers. District 53 is proud to announce and congratulate Val Albert, DTM as the elected International Director from Region VII. Val will serve on the Board of Directors for a two year term, August 2006 to August 2008. As a member of the TI Board of Directors, Val looks forward to sharing her leadership ideals, vision, and experience with the Region VII Governors and work for the betterment of the Toastmaster International programs. Val was the 2002-03 Distinguished District 53 Governor and lives in Saratoga Springs, NY. She is an active member of the North Atlantic Toastmasters Club #6983. Read more about International Director Val: See TI Candidates Corner and Val's Web Page. |
Val Albert, DTM
Region VII International Director |
Toastmasters International Convention - August 23-26, 2006
District 53 will receive many "on-stage" recognitions at the Hall of Fame Ceremony during the International Convention at the Hilton Washington in Washington D.C. The "Hall of Fame" event will be Friday, Aug. 25, at 1:30 p.m.
 District 53 Recognized As Select Distinguished District !
It is official! Toastmasters International President Dilip Abayasekara has phoned our Immediate Past District Governor Paul Young and congratulated us all on finishing Select Distinguished District at Number 9 in the World for the 2005-2006 year!! Ribbons and plaques will be presented to our top 3 leaders (DG, LGET, LGM) at the Hall of Fame Ceremony at the Convention in Washington, DC.
Final District 53 reports and results have been posted, e.g. Distinguished Club Program by Division/Area, Distinguished Division/Area, Detail District Performance Report, and Educational Award Achievements. Read an open letter from Paul Young, DTM to all District 53 Toastmasters.
Toastmasters International Recognizes the Yankee Activator
 Our District 53 newsletter, the Yankee Activator, has been selected as one of Toastmasters International’s Top 5 Newsletters for 2005-2006. Toastmasters Executive Director Donna Groh and International President Dilip Abesekera announced on July 12, 2006 in a letter to District 53 Editor, John Osborn:
“Your newsletter was chosen from among many entries for its professional image, visual appeal and educational content. We recognize the time and effort involved in producing such a quality publication and commend you for your outstanding achievement. You have made a significant contribution to the excellence of our organization. Newsletters like yours promote effective communication among districts, help members and the organization achieve goals, and foster pride and fellowship among members.”
Our Yankee Activator Editor John Osborn, CTM, will receive "on-stage" recognition at the Hall of Fame Ceremony at the Convention in Washington, DC.
D53 Leadership Team News and Letters
New Toastmasters Recognition System Debuts July 1
New District 53 Alignment of Clubs to Areas and Divisions Debuts July 1
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