District 50 Toastmasters

"A great time for us to bloom and to grow." - Naomi Lawler

Cultivate communication excellence and leadership skills at the District 50 Toastmasters Spring Conference: experience workshops, inspiring speakers, and networking opportunities designed to help you flourish.

🌺 District 50 Spring Conference
🗓️ Saturday, May 10, 2025
🎓 UTD Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
✅Register: https://d50tm.org/conference/

🎉🎤 Flashback Friday Toastmasters Fun! 🎤🎉
Can you believe it? It's been OVER 100 YEARS since the very first Toastmasters meeting! 🥳💯

📍 It all started with the Smedley Chapter One Club — the original Toastmasters club — founded by the legendary Ralph C. Smedley on October 22, 1924, at a YMCA in Southern California. What began as a small group with a big idea has become a worldwide legacy! 🌍

🔥 Fast forward to 2025:
✨ Toastmasters now has over 16,000 clubs in 145+ countries
✨ Millions of members have improved their public speaking and leadership skills
✨ And yes — that very first club is still active today! They meet 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
at 6:59 PM at the First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana, just in case you are ever in the area!

🎙️ Some fun facts for this Flashback Friday:
💼 Ralph C. Smedley was trying to help people communicate better in their everyday lives.
📚 The first educational materials were typed out by hand!
🌎 Toastmasters officially went international in 1935 with a club in British Columbia, Canada.
📸 Today, clubs use everything from Zoom to ring lights — we’ve come a long way!

So this Flashback Friday, let’s celebrate a century of confidence, connection, and community! Whether you’re delivering a speech or cheering from the audience, you’re part of something truly historic. 🙌💬

🌱 Ready to flourish?

Join us at the District 50 Spring Conference where opportunities to enhance your leadership and communication skills are in full bloom!

As Conference Chair Shane Gilmore puts it: "Bloom in leadership and communication... District 50 Spring Conference is a garden of growth!!!"

Register today and plant the seeds for your personal development!

🌺 District 50 Spring Conference
🗓️ Saturday, May 10, 2025
🎓 UTD Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
✅Register: https://d50tm.org/conference/

Word of the Week: "Renewal" 🌱
Definition:
Renewal (noun) – the act of making something new, fresh, or strong again; a revival or restoration.

Why this word?
This Easter, we celebrate renewal—a time of reflection, hope, and new beginnings. Whether in our personal lives or in our Toastmasters journey, renewal symbolizes fresh starts, growth, and transformation. It’s a powerful reminder that every challenge is an opportunity to begin again, stronger and more focused.

Your Challenge:
Use renewal at least three times this week—in a speech, Table Topics response, written communication, or even during casual conversation. Reflect on what renewal means to you and how it can inspire change in your leadership and communication.

Let’s embrace the spirit of renewal this Easter and carry it into our Toastmasters journey!

Happy Easter to all! May your day be filled with peace, joy, and the promise of new beginnings. 🌸

Get ready for BIG laughs and even BIGGER stories!

🪄District 50 Tall Tales Contest
📍St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, 1220 West Belt Line Road, Richardson, TX 75080
🤝Networking begins at 6:00 PM
🕖Contest starts at 7:00 PM

Come for the creativity, stay for the storytelling. You never know where these Tall Tales will take you!

Hall of Fame Keynote – Dr. Gaurav Shekhar

We are honored to welcome Dr. Gaurav Shekhar as our Lunch Keynote Speaker and
A powerhouse in business, education, and leadership, Dr. Shekhar will challenge you to elevate your thinking and ignite your purpose.

Join us for this inspiring midday moment that will stick with you long after the conference ends!

🌺 District 50 Spring Conference
🗓️ Saturday, May 10, 2025
🎓 UTD Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
✅Register: https://d50tm.org/conference/

🌼Flourishing in Personal & Professional Development Track 🌼

Step into your next level of growth with our Flourishing in Personal & Professional Development track!

Monica Dirden, one of our very own, will lead The Emotionally Intelligent Leader, helping you lead with insight and empathy.

Walter “The Encourager” Price brings the fun with a hands-on Leadership Escape Room experience—can your team crack the code?

Alana Newman rounds it out with Blooming Your Brand—a session focused on building an authentic personal and professional brand.

This track is all about helping YOU flourish—don’t miss it!

🌺 District 50 Spring Conference
🗓️ Saturday, May 10, 2025
🎓 UTD Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
✅Register: https://d50tm.org/conference/

🌻An Evening of Leadership, Legacy & Inspiration with Monnica Rose🌻

She’s a Past District Governor. A Past International Director. And an unforgettable leader. Join us for An Evening of Leadership, Legacy & Inspiration with Monnica Rose.

Her journey. Her lessons. Her legacy.

You’ll leave motivated, moved, and ready to lead with purpose.

🌺 District 50 Spring Conference
🗓️ Saturday, May 10, 2025
🎓 UTD Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
✅Register: https://d50tm.org/conference/

🌸2025 D50 Toastmasters Annual Spring Conference 🌸

🌹Cultivating Your Communication Skills Track🌹

Step into your influence with the Cultivating Your Communication Skills track!
Janet Bernstein leads “Rooted in Influence,” a powerful session on mastering the unspoken—the power of body language.

Mark Liberio will take you on a journey of storytelling in the digital world—learn how to craft and share your story in meaningful ways.

And don’t miss Elizabeth Ellis, professional storyteller and legend in her craft, as she brings stories to life like only she can.

We can’t wait for you to experience the impact of powerful communication!

📆Saturday, May 10, 2025
📍UTD Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
✅Register: https://d50tm.org/conference/

🌟 District 50 Toastmasters Word of the Week Challenge! 🌟

📣 This week’s word is: Snatchy (adjective)
📝 Definition: Done in or by snatches; broadly: marked by breaks in continuity — interrupted or spasmodic.

👀 Example:
💬 “Her schedule was so hectic that her lunch breaks were always snatchy and rushed.”

🔈 Challenge Time!
Toastmasters of District 50, your mission (should you choose to accept it 😉) is to sprinkle "snatchy" into your speeches, Table Topics, and evaluations throughout the week!

🎯 Whether you're describing a snatchy sleep schedule, a snatchy conversation, or a snatchy attempt at writing that speech… get creative and have fun with it!

📸 Bonus Points: Post a quote, a short video, or a snippet of your Toastmasters moment using the word and tag 💬📷

Let’s grow our vocabulary — one snatchy word at a time! 😄

🌸 2025 D50 Toastmasters Annual Spring Conference 🌸

🌷Nurturing Leadership Growth Track🌷

Get ready to be inspired! Coach, speaker, and author Elizabeth Mahusay kicks off our Nurturing Leadership Growth track with “Growing Your Vision” – a powerful session to prepare you for an interactive vision board experience.

We’re excited for Toastmaster Joan Bradee who will lead the Leadership Book Exchange – bring a leadership book, take a leadership book!

Then, roll up your sleeves as Elizabeth Mahusay returns to guide you in creating your personal vision board. Get ready to lead with clarity and purpose!

📆 Saturday, May 10, 2025
📍UTD Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
✅Register: https://d50tm.org/conference/

Blooming in Leadership and Communication: A Garden for Growth

Get ready to grow, connect, and celebrate at the 2025 D50 Toastmasters Annual Spring Conference! Mark your calendars for May 9-10, 2025, as we gather for a weekend filled with inspiration, education, and celebration.

Register today!
https://d50tm.org/conference/

🌟 It’s Monday... and we know the to-do list is already growing! ⏳😅

If you’re feeling the pressure to get everything done this week, you’re not alone. But don’t worry—we’ve got some game-changing advice from the April 2023 issue of Toastmaster magazine to help you start strong and stay steady. 💪

📝 In her article, Elizabeth Danziger shares how to move quickly without rushing—a skill that helps you stay productive without feeling overwhelmed.

Here are 3 simple tips to carry you through the week: ✅ Set Clear Intentions – Start each day with purpose
🧘‍♀️ Center Yourself – A few deep breaths can go a long way
⏳ Work in Intervals – Try short sprints of focused work, followed by a break

🌱 These strategies aren’t just for Monday—they’ll help you power through the whole week with less stress and more confidence.

📖 Read the full article here:
👉 https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2023/apr/getting-everything-done