My Toastmasters Journey

I talk a little bit about this in "My Story," but here's the basic facts of my Toastmasters Career for you:

Joined: June 2013

Charter member and first president of the Five Shields Toastmasters Club in Quantico, Virginia
I had never even seen a Toastmasters meeting--my first one I was presiding over
We were Select Distinguished that first year

2014-2015:

Participated in my one and, to date, only, area speech contest--I was third in a field of four, but it was a great experience
Appointed an Area Governor, by the end of the program year I had one of only three President's Distinguished Areas in the district
I was also the Fall District Conference Chair and received a District Governor's Award

2015-2016:

Elected Division Director, and would be lead a President's Distinguished Division
Achieved DTM in October -- 28 months after joining Toastmasters, also received a District Director's Award

2016-2017:

Ran for District 29 Club Growth Director, and lost, but did get elected to a second term as a division director

2017-2018:

2018-2019:

2019 - 2020:

Elected District District Director
Led District 29 to Distinguished:
- One of only 20 distinguished (or better) district in the world
- One of only three distinguished US districts
- First time in four years for District 29
- Has not been accomplished by any US district since
Really appreciated the power of connection--it was essential to our success!

2020 - 2021: Ran as an ILC-nominated candidate for International Director from Region 7

2022 - 2023: Running again for International Director from Region 7

Over the course of those eight years, I have:

Sponsored two new clubs
Mentored two new clubs
Coached (successfully to distinguished) one new club
Been a charter member of four new clubs
Belonged to a total of ten different clubs (I currently belong to four in three different districts and regions)

2016