IPDG Richard Couture, DTM Presents
the 2004-2005 "Of The Year"Awards
Each year one of the honors of being the District 53 Governor is to recognize individuals that epitomize an exceptional Toastmaster, a Toastmaster member we can all emulate.
In my years as a District leader, I have met and worked with many Toastmasters who have inspired me. They have shown what dedication, effort, and what seemed a never ending fountain of energy could do to help each of us, our clubs, District 53, and Toastmasters. This year was no exception.
Richard Frantz Jr, ATMS – Division Governor of the Year
Richard is one that seems to always say ‘yes’ to an opportunity. When given the opportunity to become a Division Governor, he said ‘yes’. When the chance to help other District officers came his way, he said ‘yes’. When there was an opportunity to help other Toastmasters by posting helpful information on his website, he said ‘yes’. As in the 2004-05 theme “There’s MORE!”. Richard was always doing more. When there were concerns in his Division, he got involved and worked on solutions for making his Areas and Clubs successful, many times, doing the work himself. Richard is a model for a District 53 Division Governor, and most deserving for this year’s award. { Rich Frantz Jr. is a member of Club #8762, Cheshire Toastmasters and was serving as the '04-'05 Division D Governor. Rich software engineer for Norfield Data Products/Cosmic Computers Inc in Norwalk, CT and lives in Cheshire, CT. }
Normand Thibodeau, ATMS – Area Governor of the Year
Norm not only performed all of the duties of an Area Governor, he was constantly looking for areas of improvement. He kept working with each of his clubs on a regular basis to provide new ideas and to help in making the club and its members successful. Additionally, he worked with the Division B Governor assisting with most of the events in the Division. Whenever there was an event to benefit Toastmasters, he was there and involved. But Wait! Did I mention his work in assisting the District to improve? He was the driver in the tracking of Distinguished Clubs over the years. He helped enhance the single page outline of the Club officer duties, including adding an extra page for the Immediate Past Club President. In his spare time he became a sponsor of a future new club in Hartford. There are no half-measures from Norm, not even 100% is enough. Norm has raised the bar for what an Area Governor can be. He is the obvious choice for Area Governor of the Year. { Norm Thibodeau is a member of Club #2908, Stag Toastmasters and was serving as the Area B4 Governor. Norm is a Project Management Professional and works for The Hartford (Hartford Technology Services Co). He lives in East Haddam, CT. }
Ute Brinkmann, DTM – District 53 Toastmaster of the Year
In a conversation with a past District Governor, he commented to me, “If there were 10 more like Ute District 53 would be the #1 District in the World”. I could not agree more. Not only was she fully-involved in all of her duties as a Division Governor, she was fully-committed to the needs of her Area Governors, and when there was a group of clubs with no Area Governor she dedicated herself to making that Area Distinguished. Ute was everywhere. When I visited events in Division C, she was there and helping out. The same can be said for Division D, and she was the Division B Governor! When clubs needed rescue, she was the coach for a total of three clubs. She is also a member of three clubs. Last year she obtained three CTMs, two CLs, and complete a High Performance Leadership project. She gave a presentation at the Region VII Conference. After all that, she felt that she should have accomplished MORE! If each of us had the energy and commitment of Ute, there is no limit to what we could accomplish. There is no one in our District that does more for her fellow Toastmasters than the District 53 Toastmaster Of The Year, Ute Brinkmann. { Ute Brinkman is a member of Club #3161, Eagle TM; Club #8340, Middlesex County; and is currently coaching Club #919, Greater Hartford TM. Ute is a professional luthier - one who makes or repairs stringed instruments, such as violins. She lives in Wallingford, CT. }
Richard Couture, DTM
2004-05 District 53 Governor