Author: Janice Buffalow

Member of Somerville Toastmasters and Tower & Bridge Toastmasters. District 83 Director 2017-2018

2017-2018 Club Newsletter Contest

CLUB NEWSLETTER CONTEST 2017-2018

Does your club have a newsletter? If so, consider entering District 83’s Newsletter Contest! If not, consider creating one. While providing club information, the newsletter team may earn credit towards goals in the Competent Leader manual. We have provided the opportunity for as many clubs as possible to enter and participate.

Contest Criteria:

  • Must use current Toastmasters International logo.
  • Must include correct Toastmasters International branding standards (i.e. colors, use of logo, fonts, images, design devices, etc.).
  • May use Toastmasters International templates or your own layout.
  • Minimum of two pages; no maximum number of pages.
  • Your club must be in good standing.
  • Maximum of one entry per club.
  • Eligible issue must be dated between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.
  • Deadline for submission: July 15, 2018.
  • Submit a PDF to: District 83 Newsletter Contest

Results will be announced in the fall. There is a perpetual Club Newsletter of the Year award, a 27″ trophy with the winning club and year engraved on one of the smaller plates. The winning club will take possession of the trophy in the fall of 2018 and will return it to the District 2019 Spring Conference.

If you have any questions, please contact Janice Buffalow, DTM, District 83 Director, 2017-2018; be sure to use the subject line of: District 83 Newsletter Contest.

Brand Photo Contest

Are you and your club members up for a creative challenge? While searching through the Toastmasters Branding on the Toastmasters website, I came across a contest open to all clubs! Good luck!

Brand Photo Contest
Your efforts to incorporate Toastmasters branded-materials into your meeting and promotion materials is greatly appreciated! However, if your club doesn’t have the funds to purchase branded materials, help is on the way! Enter the Toastmasters monthly photo contest and give your club a chance to win a branded banner, lectern or marketing materials. The contest runs now through December 31, 2018.

Winning Clubs
Each month, the top 10 club photos will be entered into a drawing. One club will be selected to win branded materials (e.g., banner, lectern) valued at $100, plus shipping. The winning club will be featured on Toastmasters social media platforms and website.

How to Enter
Take a photo of your club members showing their excitement for the Toastmasters brand! (e.g. wearing Toastmasters branded items, participating in a club meeting, etc.) Please email a picture of your club’s photo to brand@toastmasters.org.

Presented by Toastmasters International

A Year of New Beginnings

The year ahead of us will be filled with new beginnings. We are off to a grand start. We are expanding our public relations efforts through the introduction of District 83’s Blog along with increasing our usage of Facebook and Twitter. We will continue to expand our promotion of Toastmasters on trains and buses throughout the year.

Training, contests, and conferences are important training opportunities for each of our members. In the area of Training, we will be offering 4 sessions around 4 Ps: Plan, Prepare, Practice and Perform. Each will touch upon important elements of becoming better communicators and leaders. We are offering training to members who want to be Chief Judges and Judges for contests. For our Club Officers, there will be two training sessions, one now and one in the winter. We offer an incentive to our clubs when 7 officers are trained in both sessions.

Continue reading “A Year of New Beginnings”

Meet the District Officers: Janice Buffalow

Name: Janice L. Buffalow, DTM     

Position: District 83 Director

Club(s): Somerville Toastmasters and Tower & Bridge Toastmasters

Other positions: I have held all Club Officer roles. I have been an Area Governor twice; Awards & Recognition Chair twice, District 83 Chief Judge, Club Growth Director, and Program Quality Director. I was named Toastmasters of the Year, 2013-2014.

How long have you been in Toastmasters? April, 2006; 11 years now.

What are your plans for the district/area/division?

The theme I have chosen for this year is “New Beginnings.” My plans for the district is to see our members stretch and continue to grow their leadership and communication skills by achieving at least one educational award this year. I plan to help our clubs maintain their membership with minimal loss, which at times is unavoidable, and bring in new members who will stay and grow to become better leaders and speakers.

Continue reading “Meet the District Officers: Janice Buffalow”