Eastside Toastmasters

05/04/2026

02/23/2026

Celebrating our two members who competed at our Area Speech Contest this weekend. Both placed third for their respective contests!👏

Curious what contest-level speaking looks like? Come visit a meeting and see what our members are building towards. Guests are always welcome.

02/15/2026

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 31
by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

Top 10 Tips for Anti-Boring Contests & Events: Glow-Up Challenge

1. Pick one theme and weave it into the emcee script, slides, social media, and program.
2. Use AI to curate visuals (speaker spotlights, backdrops, promos) for a cohesive look.
3. Market consistently with the same colors, tagline, and call-to-action.
4. Tighten the run-of-show: smooth transitions, no dead air, start and end on time.
5. Build a program that tells a visual story, not just an agenda.
6. Open with “wow”: music, a high-energy welcome, and clear audience instructions.
7. Treat sound as sacred: test mics, assign a sound lead, reduce room noise.
8. Care for contestants: calm briefing, water, warm-up space, clear stage path.
9. Feed the room: enough snacks and water to keep guests through to the end.
10. Capture the magic: assign a photo/video volunteer and post highlights after the event.

CTA: Glow-Up Challenge
Choose 3 or more tips to implement at your next speech contest or event to produce an event people cannot stop talking about.

What have you done to enhance an event or contest?
Head over to the D2 page and share with the group.
https://www.facebook.com/D2TM.ORG/

Sparkle & Shine, Friends!

02/15/2026

02/03/2026

Coming up on Saturday, May 16, don't miss our annual conference, "Stronger Together, Powered by the Future!"

This hybrid event, taking place at the Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma (5123 Grand Loop, Ruston WA), is centered on Voices, Vision, and What Comes Next in the realms of leadership and public speaking.

Learn more and buy your tickets here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/7etqp37

01/17/2026

Join us in an evening of inspiration and growth!

We are excited to invite you to a hybrid District 2 Leadership Summit!

Friday, January 23, 2026
5:30 pm AK / 6:30 pm PT

In person location - Bellevue City Hall 450 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Online - Zoom

Agenda - https://www.d2tm.org/event-details/district-2-leadership-summit

A dynamic Leadership Summit featuring three inspiring keynote speakers:

- Toastmasters Region 1 Advisor Karen Burgess

- Nikki Malcolm, CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance

- Benny Mobley, District 2 International Speech Contest Winner

They will share insights on managing fear, leadership at scale and regional impact, and inspire through the power of communication, presence, and purposeful leadership.

To further enhance your summit experience, a facilitated conversation with panelists who will address the application of leadership at all levels of our District:

Kyle Hall, District Leader,
Lisa Chen, Division D Director,
Laura Higdon, Area 54 Director

As we enter this season of identifying 2026-2027 District Leaders, this event will have so much more applicability. Knowing what you can offer and how it may marry with the need is a meaningful consideration whether it is in Toastmasters or elsewhere. Please join us!

Register Below:

Online Event - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/j50A-_1XQA2_FYo0j2wuRQ #/registration

In Person Event - https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/bz7n6c4

01/06/2026

There are twelve Toastmasters clubs in Russia today. All of them descendent from a single club chartered in 1990. The very club that was the product of a chartering trip spearheaded by Ralph Pehrson, DTM, a District 2 Toastmaster since November 1st, 1965.

Sadly, Ralph passed away last month, at the age of ninety, leaving an unparalleled void in our District and two of our Toastmasters Clubs.

In his sixty years as a Toastmaster, Ralph served the organization and our community in myriad ways. As a Past District Governor (the precursor term for the District Director role), and a Presidential Citation Award recipient, he consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Toastmasters. He was active in strengthening our clubs and started Toastmasters Extraordinaires to provide advanced opportunities in our District. He was a long-term member of Seattle International 10 Toastmasters Club.

Ralph was a proponent of 'mission driven speaking.' He was often heard asking speakers to consider "why this speaker, to this audience, on this subject, at this time?" He could always be counted upon to extemporaneously, or with preparation, expound on various leadership topics as well as his decades of Toastmasters experiences.

Ralph's impact on the people, clubs, and community of District 2 Toastmasters is incalculable. He leaves behind a legacy of just what Toastmasters can bring about in a person who strives to be a better communicator and leader.

On behalf of District 2, we honor Ralph with this memorial.

District 2 Leadership Team, 2025-2026

12/31/2025

Club Officer Training (COT) opportunities in January 2026

Go to the District 2 Events Calendar: https://d2tm.org/calendar/month/2026-01/ to register

🎉 Club Officer Training – January 🎉

Attention District 2 Toastmasters! 📣

Get set for success in your club leadership role by attending Round 2 of Club Officer Training this January. Learn best practices, connect with fellow leaders, and start 2026 strong.

Club Officer Training (COT): Improve Your Club Officer Competencies

January 17, 2026

9:00 – 11:00 AM Alaska / 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Pacific

Areas 92 and 93 are combining their Club Officer Training (COT) sessions into a single online event!

Register Here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QZOfPP3oTcutxOZHi3DRBA #/registration



Online Club Officer Training (COT)

January 21, 2026

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Alaska / 12:00 – 1:00 PM Pacific

Divisions A and B are teaming up to host this Club Officer Training!

Register here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ax4WW8D9TuiqbbOzDw0T5g #/registration



Online Club Officer Training (COT)

January 28, 2026

5:00 – 6:15 PM Alaska / 6:00 – 7:15 PM Pacific

Divisions A and B are teaming up to host this Club Officer Training!

Register here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/NqLYljKETt6Xi_hFyubxYg #/registration

12/13/2025

🎄✨ Celebrate the Holidays with Eastside Toastmasters! ✨🎄

The holidays are better when shared—and we’d love to celebrate with YOU! Join us for our Eastside Toastmasters Holiday Party filled with festive cheer, great food, and inspiring conversations.

📅 Thursday, December 18 | 6:30–8:00 PM
📍 2315 173rd Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & friends welcome!

🎉 What’s happening?
🎁 White Elephant Gift Exchange (bring a wrapped gift, $20 or less)
🍽️ Holiday Potluck – bring your favorite dish or treat
🎤 Prepared speeches & evaluations
💬 Table Topics (fun, impromptu speaking!)
🤝 Connect with a warm, welcoming community

🥘 Potluck sign-up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14bX9ZU-EgDNYO6_CR6Je3DOP-FBfXbR-_0zkyhuHyTY/edit?usp=drivesdk

Please arrive a little before 6:30 PM for setup. Bring serving utensils if needed—power outlets are available.

💻 Can’t attend in person?
Join us online!
📧 Email [email protected]
for the Zoom link.

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker, brand new to Toastmasters, or just curious, this is a perfect chance to celebrate, connect, and enjoy the season together. 🎄✨
Guests are always welcome—no pressure to speak!