The highest award presented by Toastmasters International is the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award. Hours, weeks, and even months can be required just to complete one of the steps in this daunting process. But for those Toastmasters with the drive to accomplish it, all the work is worth it to receive the bronze medallion, the admiration of their peers, and the skills gained.
For the 2020-2021 year (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021), the following District 23 Toastmasters have earned the Distinguished Toastmaster Award:
TOMAS GONZALEZ
June 25, 2021
REBECCA CREAMER
June 25, 2021
ROBYN MCCLENDON
June 25, 2021
KAY JOSEPHSON
June 25, 2021
Marianne Bjelke
July 9. 2020
Club: Off-the-Cuff Albuquerque
City: Albuquerque, New Mexico
District Office: Division B Director (2017-18)
Club Coached: ABQ Speaks Up (2019-20)
HPL Project: Planned and implemented a Toastmasters Booth presence at Albuquerque largest B2B event, Exhib-It’s annual B2 Expo in 2018. We shared information on all District 23 clubs, meeting times and locations with booth visitors, handed out Toastmaster info packets with magazines, collected contact information and followed up with a thank you and a link to toastmasters.org. Goal was to increase local awareness of Toastmaster’s value and clubs.
Erik Schlagel
July 30, 2020
Club: Farmington Toastmasters
City: Farmington, New Mexico
District Office: Area 11 Director (2019-20)
Club Coached: DTM Think Tank (2020)
HPL Project: Helping coordinate a membership drive for DTM Think Tank.
Beverly Williams
August 7, 2020
Club: Taylor Ranch Toastmasters
City: Albuquerque, New Mexico
District Office: Area 14 Director (2019-20)
Club Coached: Cherry Hills Toastmasters Club (Sep 2019 to June 2020) – President’s Distinguished
HPL Project: I coordinated a team to hold a speech workshop as a part of a climate symposium at the Santa Fe Preparatory High School incorporating the talents of some of the fourth grade students from my after school science program called the Global Warming Express.
Brian Lynch
August 28, 2020
Club: Kirtland Club
City: Albuquerque, New Mexico
District Office: Area 33 Director (2018-19)
Club Coached: Christian Toastmasters
HPL Project: The Database administrators that Brian works with were gracious enough to allow him to use their database software upgrade project for his HPL. The upgrade process was a shift to a new paradigm.
When the project began Brian was the manager of the Database team. The team consisted of his lead technical DBA, Wayne, the software project lead, Fernando, and Fernando’s peer Erik.
The team changes that occurred during the project included Brian’s promotion to Data Center Program Manager, Wayne’s promotion to DBA manager, Erik replacing Wayne as the lead technical DBA and the addition of a new DBA team member, Ed.
The unique aspects of the upgrade process combined with the organizational changes made this project a crucible for leadership growth.
Eva Fanari
September 16, 2020
Club: Kirtland Club
City: Midday Rio Rancho Toastmasters, New Mexico
District Office: Public Relations Manager (2018-19)
Club Coached:
HPL Project:
Tracy Thomason
September 16, 2020
Club: Lubbock Club
City: Lubbock, Texas
District Office: Lt. Governor Marketing (2011-12)
Club Coached: Llano Estacado Toastmasters (2012)
Club Sponsored: DTM Think Tank (May 2016)
DTM Project: In conjunction with the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, Tracy developed a marketing plan for their housing programs and led a team to disseminate information about their programs to people through online marketing, email blasts, workshops, and direct contact marketing.
This is Tracy’s fourth Distinguished Toastmaster award and his first under Pathways.
Leanne S. Yanabu
September 23, 2020
City: Albuquerque, New Mexico
District Office: Area 31 Director (2015-16)
Club Coached: ABQ Speaks Up (2018)
HPL Project: June 6, 2020 District 23 Toastmasters Leadership Institute Chair. Past International President Ted Corcoran gave the keynote speech from Ireland and Region Advisor Violeta Rios supported us from Monterrey, Mexico. 233 people attended. It was the first all-digital TLI for the District and the first with a Code of Conduct.
Stephen Ralph
March 2, 2021
City: Albuquerque, NM
District Office: North Division Director (2019-20)
Club Coached: ABQ Speaks Up (2020)
Club Sponsored: Champions Forge Toastmasters (January 2021)
DTM Project: 4 Weeks to Level 1 for North Division. Along with my area directors we set up zoom meetings for club presidents and vice presidents of education over 4 weeks during which they would complete a Level 1 in a path of their choosing in Pathways. The goal of the project was to educate club officers about how to complete Level 1 to help them assist new members achieve Pathways levels.
This is Stephen’s second Distinguished Toastmaster award and his first under Pathways.
