Category: Meet the Area Officers

Toastmaster Hemant Vora is a member of Rockland Toastmasters in Blauvelt, New York. He has been a member since 2016 and proudly represents Area 73 as their Area Director for the 2018-2019 Toastmasters year. Hemant has earned his Competent Communicator and Competent Leader awards.

Su Brooks, D83 Social Media Strategist and Training Coordinator, conducted an interview with Hemant. Hemant offers valuable advice for new members and how we can all become more effective speakers.

What is your vision for your Area?

Members of all clubs feel welcome and comfortable. They get inspired by speeches and leadership of other members. They are guided, supported and mentored on the path to expert communication and leadership by experienced and expert members of the club.

Who is your inspiration when it comes to leadership and why?

Mahatma Gandhi is my inspiration. He was very humble yet commanded strong and deep loyalty of the whole nation. He showed how to lead people towards their own success.

What is your advice for new members?

You have come to the right place to increase your communication as well as leadership skills. Use the support and guidance you get at the Toastmasters clubs and you will succeed in becoming a great communicator as well as a leader.

Give a tip to be an effective speaker.

Visualize, visualize, visualize. We always behave or perform as we think in our mind. Visualization is a very powerful tool. Always visualize yourself giving speeches very comfortably.

About Toastmasters District 83:

District 83 includes 155 clubs, with close to 4,000 members, in Metropolitan New Jersey, Staten Island, and Rockland County, New York. For more information, please visit the District 83 website, http://www.tm83.org.

About Toastmasters International:

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 300,000 members in 16,500 clubs in 141 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit http://www.toastmasters.org.

For more information about Rockland Toastmasters, visit: https://rocklandtm.toastmastersclubs.org/.

Toastmaster Dave Ostlund is a member of Germinators Toastmasters Club, a corporate club in Montvale, New Jersey. He has been a member since June 2006 and proudly represents Area 93 as their Area Director for the 2018-2019 Toastmasters year. Dave has earned his Advanced Communicator Bronze and Advanced Leader Bronze awards.

Su Brooks, D83 Social Media Strategist and Training Coordinator, conducted an interview with Dave about his vision for Area 93 and speaking tips he offered for effective speaking!

What is your vision for your Area?

Empower clubs to building relationships with members outside of their own club. The Toastmasters community can provide valuable support!

Who is your inspiration when it comes to leadership and why?

My 11-year-old niece and 8-year-old nephew. They have so much positive energy that it reminds me to enjoy life and spread that joy to those around me.

What is your advice for new members?

Stick with it and go at your own pace. It took me 2 years for my CC, another 4 years for my ACB, and likely another 6 years for my ACS.

Give a tip to be an effective speaker.

Avoid apologizing and pointing out your own mistakes during a presentation. The audience may not notice. Allow your words to speak for themselves and leave the evaluation to the evaluators. You can always remember to make an improvement for the next time!

About Toastmasters District 83:

District 83 includes 155 clubs, with close to 4,000 members, in Metropolitan New Jersey, Staten Island, and Rockland County, New York. For more information, please visit the District 83 website, http://www.tm83.org.

About Toastmasters International:

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 300,000 members in 16,500 clubs in 141 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit http://www.toastmasters.org.

For more information about Germinators Toastmasters Club, visit: https://4786181.toastmastersclubs.org/.

Toastmaster Terrance Erwin is a member of Citco Speaks, a corporate club in Jersey City, New Jersey. She has been a member since 2015 and proudly represents Area 71 as their Area Director for the 2018-2019 Toastmasters year. Terrance has earned her Advanced Communicator Bronze and Advanced Leader Bronze awards.

Su Brooks, D83 Social Media Strategist and Training Coordinator, conducted an interview with Terrance about life in Area leadership and her leadership philosophies.  

What is your vision for your Area?

I would like all my clubs to be Distinguished clubs.

Who is your inspiration when it comes to leadership and why?

I have so many individuals that inspire me regarding leadership, but I appreciate them all for being willing to share their experiences in order to enhance my life to make a better leader of me!

What is your advice for new members?

Get involved immediately by taking on meeting roles.

Give a tip to be an effective speaker.

Speak about something you are passionate about!

About Toastmasters District 83:

District 83 includes 155 clubs, with close to 4,000 members, in Metropolitan New Jersey, Staten Island, and Rockland County, New York. For more information, please visit the District 83 website, http://www.tm83.org.

About Toastmasters International:

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 300,000 members in 16,500 clubs in 141 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit http://www.toastmasters.org.

For more information about Citco Speaks, visit: https://4786181.toastmastersclubs.org/.