The Sunshiner, December 2022

Inside this issue Kinsey Installed District 47’s own Matt Kinsey, DTM, is the new international president of Toastmasters International. Page 2

“District 47 wishes you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season! We look forward to continuing our successes in the new year. Let us finish 2022 strongly, and ring in a new year of growth, learning, and fun with our Toastmasters in 2023!”

— Austen Canonica, DTM District Director, 2022-2023

Scenes from Nashville Highlights from the International Conference. Page 3

From the PQD Program Quality Director Lois Margolin, DTM, shares news.

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Club Growth Club Growth Director Verna Bonaby, DTM, Page 8.

New DTMs Meet the newest Diamonds of District 47. Page 12

FIRST FAMILY: Brandon, left, Jeanine and Matt Kinsey celebrate after the installation of officers at the conference in Nashville, Tennessee, along with District 47 PQD Lois Margolin, all Distinguished Toastmasters. More on the convention on Pages 2 and 3.

Kinsey installed International President at conference

MEET #TMD47 THE SUNSHINER Published by Toastmasters International District 47: Southeast Florida and The Islands of The Bahamas.

Submit articles, questions and comments to sunshiner@toastmastersd47.org.

District Director Austen Canonica, DTM Program Quality Director Lois Margolin, DTM Club Growth Director Verna Bonaby, DTM Public Relations Manager L. Robert Knowles Administration Manager Ernesto Williams, DTM Finance Manager Anthony Elie, DTM Logistics Manager Andrew Albury, DTM

Immediate Past District Director Shakira Taylor, DTM

DIVISION DIRECTORS Div. A: Sew “Vejay” Balgobin, DTM Div. B: Frenchie Roy, DTM Div. C: David Borenstein, DTM Div. D: Jecholiah Barnett,DTM Div. E: Blaze Goldsmith, DTM Div. F: Ruschellea Bain Div. I: Ancin Munnings, DTM Sunshiner Editor Andrea Robinson, DTM

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -Matt Kinsey, of Coral Springs, Florida, is the new International President of Toastmasters International, the world's leading organization devoted to communication and leadership skills development. Kinsey assumed the one-year term at the organization's 2022 International Convention, held in Nashville, Aug. 1720.

Kinsey is the managing director and Chief Information Security Officer of IT Fusion, LLC in Coral Springs, Florida, which was formed in 2021 as a result of a merger between MK Tech Group and three other local IT firms. Kinsey oversees operations and security for this IT consulting firm that services small and medium-sized businesses in the South Florida area.

Kinsey holds a master's degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix, Arizona. He has a certificate in strategic management and was recognized with the Silver Beaver and Vigil Honor awards for his work with the Boy Scouts of America. As a Boy Scout volunteer for more than 25 years, he has held numerous positions within the organization, including Scoutmaster, district chairman, event chairman, and the council's camping chairman.

A Toastmaster since 2003, Kinsey is a charter member of his home club, Outspoken Toastmasters, in Coral Springs. He has held a number of high-profile leadership positions within Toastmasters and has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation—the highest level of educational achievement in the organization.

"I have learned that to be most successful, you need to lead with your heart and not your head," he says. "There is no finer program than Toastmasters for helping people build their self-confidence, communication and leadership skills."

As International President, Kinsey is the highest ranked officer on the Toastmasters Board of Directors. He joins the following newly elected officers on the Toastmasters International 2022–2023 Executive Committee:

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Morag Mathieson of Moehrendorf, Germany — International President-Elect • Radhi Spear of Piscataway, N.J. — First Vice President • Aletta Rochat of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa — Second Vice President For more information about Toastmasters, visit www.toastmasters.org.

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Happy Holidays from the Program Quality Team. It has been our pleasure this year to put on multiple events and tippy toe our way back into in-person events. Yes, we had a LIVE in-person only Toastmaster Leadership Institute put on by Division B and C. We are super excited about our hybrid conference on April 21-23, 2023. This is our first in person conference in 3 years!

You do not want to miss this.

We have accomplished so much in such a short period of time.

Let me brag a bit about what we as a district have accomplished We are continuing with Protégé Shooting star and our new award, the Distinguished Toastmaster Super Nova award Our clubs met 447 goals with members achieving the following: 171 members completed level 1 136 members completed level 2 128 members completed level 3 214 members completed level 4 or 5 That is a total of 649 levels 853 officers or 74% of our officers trained in the summer/fall and 86% of our clubs had 4 or more officers trained in the summer/fall 173 officers have already been trained in November 63 triple crown recipients We have 15 Garnet recipients, these are clubs that completed their Club Success Plan and Moment of Truth by September 30, 2022.

We have 29 Sapphire recipients; these are clubs that completed 5 goals by 12/31/22 60 clubs have 7 officers trained in the summer/fall and are on track for the Pearls for the Magnificent 7, this incentive is where clubs have 7 officers trained in the summer/fall and winter/ spring.

1 Club has qualified for the Pathways Adoption. What? Your club has at least 95% of your members on Pathways. You will need to submit your paperwork documenting that 95% of your membership is enrolled in Pathways as we currently do not have a Pathways Adoption report. We are relying on you. Please note this must be submitted to conference@toastmastersd47.org by December 31, 2022.

Your PQD team has put on 3 pathways sessions 2 speech contest programs 1 Leadership program with our international president Matt Kinsey Train the Trainer with past International Director Roy Ganga Still to come…

Speed mentoring on 1/7/23 Judge and Zoom training 1/11/23 4

The Secrets to Membership by Past International President Pat Johnson 1/25/23 Area Speech contests begin 1/15/23, your division and area directors have copies of their flyers with the dates Division Contests are in March Town Hall meeting is scheduled for 3/12/23 Oceans 47 – The Great Jewel Heist conference is April 21-23 As you can see, we are busy and there are so many exciting things coming our way. Are you wondering what you can do?

Complete your goals to get the most of your journey Attend our workshops Support the area and division contests So much work is going into our first conference in 3 years, we would love for you to attend the conference – register for the early bird rate at toastmastersd47.org.

Help your club leaders to finish strong. · I know the next few days will be busy. I encourage you to slow down, take some time to appreciate those around you, share in your holiday traditions and remember the holidays are about family and a time to reflect as we move into the new year. · I look forward to the joyful noise associated with having my family gathered around our scrumptious meals. The Program Quality Team wishes that the holiday season fills your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter. ·

Yours in Service

· Lois Margolin, DTM Program Quality Director 2022-2023

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Greetings Toastmasters of District 47!

I bring you greetings and salutations on behalf of the Public Relations team of District 47. I am L. Robert Knowles, your District 47 Public Relations Manager for the year 2022-2023.

I am humbled and privileged to serve alongside some remarkable leaders for this current Toastmasters term. It is an amazing opportunity as we continue to grow in this wonderful organization.

As I began my term, I received a charge from the Region Advisor to promote and publicize our district and clubs. I thank you for allowing me to be your face and to serve you in this capacity. My team and I are working together tirelessly to showcase you as the wonderful leaders and effective communicators you are. Please, help us to continue our quest.

As Public Relations Manager, it is my job to keep you informed. District 47 calendar of events, published on the website, helped in this regard. My team and I did our best to keep you aware of the events through emails, social media posts, and updating the website. We thank all of you who took the time to open up an email, liked a post, forwarded a flyer, and in anyway, big or small, boosted some of the publications of our District.

My team and I directly supported the area and division directors in creating brand-appropriated materials for contests and events as well as providing brand training and guidelines. We are excited to learn that you enjoyed some of these items during the first half.

Although I am half-way through my term, there is still more to be done. We encourage you to continue to promote your clubs and members. When we share with others, we inform, inspire and motivate. There are many great leaders and communicators who have yet to unleash their full potential simply because they need Toastmasters.

I ask that you continue to support our team as we support you. Currently, the district has a Facebook page, a Facebook group, each Divisions' Facebook group, a LinkedIn page, a You Tube page and an Instagram page. If you have not already done so, we would appreciate your liking the page, subscribing to our YouTube page and becoming a member of the group, and most importantly, liking and sharing the content as it comes out.

As my team and I prepare for the new calendar year and the next half of our term, our mission to build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence is not yet done. The best way to continue our mandate is to be of service to you, our members. We must also work together to promote each other and our clubs. Because when we do that, we make our district even stronger.

I appreciate you all and God bless!

Yours faithfully, L Robert Knowles Public Relations Manager, 2022-2023

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Editor’s note: The Distinguished Toastmaster designation is the highest honor in the Toastmasters International educational program. In most cases it takes members years of training, giving presentations and honing their skills in order to meet the requirements necessary for achieving this honor. For the 2022-2023 year, the Program Quality team will recognize the men and women who reach this mark. They are Diamonds of District 47, named thusly because diamonds are forged under pressure; once finished, they shine brightly and are highly coveted. Presenting the men and women who reached this milestone since the District 47 annual conference in May.

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Full Conference: Early Bird Registration 11/01/22 – 01/20/23 - $220.00 Regular Registration 01/21/23 – 03/17/23 - $245.00

Late Registration 03/17/23 – 04/15/23 $285.00 Saturday Only Conference: Early Bird Registration 11/01/22 – 01/20/23 - $170.00 Regular Registration 01/21/23 – 03/17/23 - $195.00 Late Registration 03/17/23 – 04/15/23 - $235.00 Online Registration 11/01/22 – 04/15/23 - $50.00

Have news from your club or members? We want to know. Please share via email at sunshiner@toastmastersd47.org or arobinson@toastmastersd47.org. In the subject line, include your club name and the word “news.”

We want our members to know the great things happening in Southeast Florida and the Bahamas.

Spread the word.

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