Minutes of the DEC Regular Meeting 3-12-2024

The DEC meeting convened at 6:02 PM on March 12, 2024, with the District Director presiding.

Present:  Sarra Idehen, Kandi Kutkas, Sameer Deshmukh, Deborah Whitman, Meg White, Madeline Armendariz-Odeh, Steven Schofield, Christine Groberg, David Garbrecht, Al Kunz, Richard Carr, Peggy Carr, Tammy McMorrow, Janine Donald, Greg Alvord, Debbie Crutchfield and Vy Nguyen.

Absent:  Annette Krause, Trevor Nelson, Lionel Furness, Jaysee Jimenez, Maria Cervantes, Pamela Lattin, and Bryan Dowdy.

There was open discussion about successes, challenges, speech contests, lessons learned regarding speech contests, area visits, leader succession, district realignment, member survey poll, change from hybrid to in-person speech contests for 2025.

  1. Club Successes:
  • Sameer spoke of Dynamic Clubs success in getting new members.
  • Janine mentioned having successful club visits and supporting clubs with information from District.
  1. Club Challenges:
  • Recruiting members
  • Conducting healthy meetings
  • Communication
  1. Speech Contests – going well; Division C – March 30; Areas D2 & D3 – March 30; Division D – April 20
  2. Lessons Learned from Speech Contest – Check eligibility of speakers and clubs at every contest level.
  3. Area Visits – Most Area Directors have not begun the 2nd round of area visits.
  4. Leader Succession – Deborah Whitman, Janine Donald, Christine Groberg, Steven Schofield, Bryan Dowdy, Madeline Armendariz Odeh, and David Garbrecht will not continue in District leadership next year. Possibly Richard and Peggy Carr may not continue in District leadership.
  5. Suggested Leaders for next year – Debbie Crutchfield – Div A, Greg Alvord, Div B, Jaysee Jimenez, C2, Sean Patton, Div A Area Director.
  6. Deborah Whitman agreed to serve as District Realignment Chair
  7. District to conduct a poll to determine if members would like to receive certain district announcements or short updates via text on their phones.
  8. Kandi announced email from Toastmasters International regarding return to in-person speech contest and discontinuation of hybrid contests beginning 2025. After discussion, Greg Alvord and several members requested the district to push back stating effect on clubs.  Sarra stated the Trio would discuss and decide whether to submit comments to TI.

Announcements:   Clubs achieving “5 DCP by December 30, 2023” and “7 of 7 “club officers trained:

  1. Clubs achieving 5 DCPs by 12/30

a. Eagle Club
b. Jack C High club
c. Strong Women’s Legacy
d. Sunrise Club
e. More Tasting More Doing
f. Metro Toastmasters
g. Image Masters Toastmasters
h. Lone Peak Toastmasters
i Olympic Orators
j. Pioneer Club

DEC Meeting Minutes March 12, 2024

  1. Clubs having 7 officers trained

a. HP Speakeasies
b. Pioneer Club
c. Sunrise Club
d. Twilight Toastmasters
e. TNT Club
f. Lone Peak Toastmasters

3. Next 60 Days –

    • Area and Division Speech Contests – March & April
    • Second round Area Visits
    • Talk Up Toastmasters Membership Campaign, February 1 – March 31
    • Annual Business Meeting April 18, 2024
    • District Spring Conference May 17 & 18, 2024, Twin Falls, ID

With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.

DEC meeting minutes found here: https://www.district15speaks.org/division-and-area-director-resources/

Please view the PDF of DEC Meeting 03-12-2024 Minutes here

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