"Thoughts and Words into Action"

Fellow Toastmasters of District 65

As your District 65 Governor, I bring warm greetings to all members of Toastmasters International living and working in the large geographical area of District 65.

We have put together a team of experienced and motivated Toastmasters to serve the 90+ Clubs and 1600+ members in District 65. Our team of 19 dedicated Area Governors and 4 Division Governors are ready to assist your clubs in membership growth, educational development, officers' training and in becoming distinguished Clubs. Our four-division based 'Club Extension Specialists' (Lorraine Mott, ATM-B, CL in Syracuse, Gordon Penniston, DTM, IPDG in Rochester, Harry Carlson, DTM, PDG in Buffalo, and Elisa Serfass, CTM, CL in Binghamton) are available to help members who may want to start new Clubs at their workplace and in the communities in which they live. Our Lt. Governor of Education and Training Bob Logan, ATM-G, CL and our Lt. Governor of Marketing Taz Cannon, ATM-G, CL, are ready to assist all Clubs in their educational and membership retention /growth programs respectively.

As District Governor, my mission and purpose is to enhance the performance of each and every Club and to extend the network of Clubs in the District. In addition, I want to ensure that all Clubs fulfill their responsibilities to their members; adhere and achieve the goals as laid out in the Distinguished Club Plan (DCP); and provide leadership training to all Club and District Officers so that they excel in performing their roles and responsibilities. The general purpose of Toastmasters is to ensure that more and more people receive the life-changing benefits of the Toastmasters program. I want Club Officers to be as determined and energized as I am to serve our members and succeed in the Toastmasters DCP by practicing and sharing the core values of excellence and exuberance.

The Clubs are our temples of learning. The non-threatening environment of Club meetings provide real opportunities for our original thoughts to develop into the powerful words that become our speeches. When these words reach out to other Toastmasters in the audience they begin to motivate them into taking action for self-fulfillment and towards excellence. These actions may include entering a club/area/division speech contest or becoming a club officer or a taking a leadership role in the district.

So what are your thoughts this year, my fellow members? Will you enter a speech contest at your Club level? Will you complete an educational Award? What are the words of encouragement that you will say to fellow club members after their speeches? What are your words of excitement that may prompt a colleague at work to try out the Toastmasters program? What words and phrases will you construct to win a table-topic contest or an evaluation contest? Will you take action to mentor or become a Club Coach? Can you take the necessary action of forming a new Club to spread the benefit of the Toastmasters program? Will you take the ultimate action to ensure that your Club will be a distinguished Club?

Yes, it is our inspired thoughts together with our compelling words that lead us to our greatest actions. Demonstrating our best communication and finest leadership everyday is our ultimate goal. The district 65 theme of Thoughts and Words into Action is an embodiment of everything we do as successful Toastmasters.

I conclude by quoting the presidential theme of the Toastmasters International President Johnny Uy, DTM, "Toastmasters: Simply Amazing."

My best wishes for a distinguished year for all Clubs in District 65.

Sincerely,

Sam Mehta, DTM
District Governor
"Thoughts and Words into Action"