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.
Why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined to support and help Dave Chapman (life-partner) become a better speaker. I was hooked that first night when I was handed a poem to read during the Invocation portion of the meeting and I didn’t pass out or push the lectern off the table.
What advice do you have for new members?
If you want to become a better leader, communicator or speaker, stick with Toastmasters and do the work and be sure to have at least one or two mentors. Take a role as soon as you can as a timer or ah counter; what better way to get up in front of people! Before you know it, you are giving your first speech.
Toastmasters is the best program for the money as you receive instant feedback not only from one person, but you can ask the entire club to provide feedback! I find Toastmasters the safest place to try something new without judgement or negativity; you receive effective evaluations that provide you with what you are doing right along with areas of improvement.
When you give any speech, be sure to add your timing and ah counter reports to your evaluation page. This will provide you more depth to the evaluation especially if you were over time and had 6 ahs, 3 likes and 7 ands; you can review all your speeches and look at your improvements. Most of all, I want everyone to have fun and enjoy.
This is a beautiful profile. It is wonderful to get to know Janice a bit better.
Excited for the new beginnings 2017-2018 will hold for all of us in District 83.
Janice, wondeful story & a great plan. Thank you for being there in my Toastmasters journey. You and Dave, both are my toastmasters support system. Best wishes to your journey as D83 District Director. We all look forward to your and District 83’s success.
“New Beginnings” The Star of Great Things. This year is full of opportunities for our District to grow. And Janice has the right vision to support our path to a Successful Year!
Janice is an amazing Toastmaster and I am excited to see her lead us through a year of “New Beginnings!”