DST Output is into cloning with a unique twist. DST Output is a customer communications company, providing integrated print-and-electronic billing, customer care, and customer communications solutions to many of the country's largest financial services, communications, insurance, healthcare, and utilities companies. As a company, DST Output makes literally billions of statements annually. Its associates make statements in Toastmasters just as dramatically.

Little known outside of Toastmasters, the Statement Makers Toastmasters Club 769 has existed at DST Output in El Dorado Hills, CA in District 39 since March 26, 2001. On March 17, 2006 in South Windsor, CT, Toastmasters in District 53 celebrated with the chartering of Statement Makers Toastmasters Club 887048. The twist is that Statement Makers Toastmasters is not a clone of, nor the parent of, Statement Makers Toastmasters. Both clubs, like each of the uniquely individual statements DST Output produces, is unique. The statements their members’ make in speeches, table topics and evaluations are also unique.

Thus, it was not mere duplication when Will Ryan, District 53’s Lt. Governor Marketing, and Norm Thibodeau, Division B Governor assembled a demo team in answer to Ray Luzi’s call for help in building a Toastmasters Club in South Windsor. Ray had been commissioned by a fellow DST Output associate, who had witnessed what Statement Makers was doing in California, and who had a vision to bring the Statement Makers experience to Connecticut. The ground work was set for a noon demo meeting on November 3, 2005. The demo team consisted of Will, Norm, Don Logie, Paul Young and Arnie Grot. The team had a sympathizer inside the company, past Travelers Noontime Club President, Harvey Schroeder, had recently become a DST Output associate. He was a plant for the first table topic.

Those attending the demo were inspired by what they witnessed to believe that they, too, could gain confidence in speaking; enough so that in less than three months they had elected officers, set their meetings for noon on each second and fourth Tuesday, collected the money and were ready to file. Unfortunately, the bank they approached to opening a checking account could not do so until they were a club, due to new federal regulations. This is when I, as Treasurer of Greater Hartford Toastmasters, wrote the check to be sent with the club’s charter paperwork to Toastmasters International. It was the least that a sponsor could do for a club beyond providing the usual guidance up to that point. Of course, each member paid for his or her membership, which funds they turned over to Greater Hartford on the day the check was written.

Harvey Schroeder and April Hutchins, Area C4 Governor, are serving as mentors of Statement Makers Club 887048. Ray Luzi was elected Club President. The other club officers are Rob Taylor (VP of Education), Allison Forsyth (VP of Membership), Rick Stacy (VP of Public Relations), Nicki Krajewski (Secretary), Maria Alemany (Treasurer) and Jen Buonanducci (Sergeant at Arms). Paul Young will present the Club’s Charter.

April Hutchins (Mentor), Ray Luzi (President) and Arnie Grot (Sponsor) for Statement Makers Toastmasters Club 887048. (Photo taken by Nicki Krajewski)