District 23’s annual conference wrapped up on Sunday, May 19th, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two contest winners, several awards, a new set of district officers, a slew of Distinguished Toastmaster medallions, and a new district alignment.

Speech Contests

The district-level Table Topics and International Speech contests wrapped up with members from Amarillo and El Paso taking home the first place trophies.

Chavelle Kent of Amarillo Coffee Weekenders in Amarillo, Texas, took home the first place Table Topics trophy. She has been a member since the fall of 2018 and had the audience laughing throughout her entire response.

Chavelle Kent receives her trophy from Donna Labatt.

Rati Baijal of EPCC Toastmasters in El Paso, Texas, won first place in the International Speech contest for the second year in a row. Rati speech on learning on love and accept yourself brought the audience to tears.

Rati Baijal receives her trophy from Donna Labatt.

Annual Awards

The annual “of the Year” awards used to be given out during the fall conference. Since we no longer hold fall conferences, the awards for service during 2017-18 were given out at the conference in May.

Gerrie Spurgeon received the Area Director of the Year award for her work in Area 63. (Photo not currently available.)

Kim Davis received the Division Director of the Year award from District 23 Director Jenny Zappone for her work in Division F.

Laurel Fischer received the Toastmaster of the Year award. (Photo not currently available.)

Tracy Thomason received the Robert E. Barnhill III Compañero award from District 23 Director Jenny Zappone.

District Officers

With the new district alignment (see below,) District 23 elected six officers:

  • District Director – Kenny Granville
  • Program Quality Director – MyChelle Andrews
  • Club Growth Director – Carlos Lobato
  • Division North Director – Stephen Douglas
  • Division South Director – Salvador Valles
  • Division East Director – Cheryl Gentry
Newly Elected District Officers: Division South Director Salvador Valles, Program Quality Director MyChelle Andrews, Clifford Colvin, District Director Kenny Granville, and Club Growth Director Carlos Lobato

Distinguished Toastmasters

Celebrating the highest award Toastmasters presents, District 23 honored thirteen Toastmasters with their Distinguished Toastmaster award.

Front Row: Blake Burns, Gerrie Spurgeon, Saroj Baxter, Sarah Addison, Rose Johnson-Tsosie, and Janet Yaker Murray
Back Row: Patti Douglass, Lisa Thomason, David Mink, Kenny Granville, David Gardner, James Gutierrez, and Jonathan Barr

District Realignment

The district voted to accept the proposed alignment delivered by the realignment committee with only a couple of modifications. A couple of clubs in Division North were moved to different areas. However, in general, the new alignment with three divisions was passed by the district council.