Presidential Citation for Ute Brinkmann

From: Roger H Brown

Subject: Presidential Citation
for Ute Brinkmann

On behalf of the members of District 53, we extend Congratulations and Thanks to Ute Brinkmann, DTM for the dedication to excellence and the contributions made to District 53, its Clubs and its members.

Ute was presented with a Presidential Citation from TI President Chris Ford at the Hall of Fame ceremonies at the annual TI Convention held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Ute's award reads:

The Presidential Citation
is presented to

Ute Brinkmann, DTM

for outstanding contributions to Toastmasters International
and its program of Communication and Leadership

Chris K. Ford, DTM, President
International Convention
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
August 2008

Div.A Toastmasters in-the-News !

Hats off to Carmine Coco De Young!

Carmine, the VP-PR for WestConn Toastmasters, recently got the article pictured to the right placed in a local paper.


The article was primarily about Dave Wheeler's recent DTM award but it also included a number of quotes as well as a view into many aspects of Toastmasters that should be of interest to prospective new members.



Carmine included a photograph (which improved the chances that the story would be run) and made personal contact with the people at the paper so that she had a good idea what they were looking for in an article!

For a copy of the article from the Wed. Jan16th, New Fairfield Citizen newspaper (in PDF format), click here.

For more information about WestConn Toastmasters, check out their website at http://www.westconntoastmasters.org/.

Congratulations to David J. Gavin, DTM

District 53 is proud to announce that David J. Gavin has joined the elite group of Distinguished Toastmasters or DTM's.

David recently completed all requirements for his Advanced Leader (ALS) award and received his DTM recognition on June 30, 2007. David Gavin served District 53 and Division A as Area A5 Governor this past year ('06-'07) and he was a Club Mentor for The Bureaucrats Club of Poughkeepsie, NY that chartered on 5/11/2005.

He is an active member of Arlington Rotary Toast Club #5614, an open community Club that meets in Area A5 at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

The Distinguished Toastmasters award or DTM is the highest level in the Toastmasters educational program and David's progress in the Communications and Leadership areas of the program has been exemplary.

Congratulations to David for a great accomplishment and I look forward to hearing about his progress toward his next CC or CL !

The oldest Toastmaster(?) 101 on 7/19!

Charlie Keane, DTM & PDG, of District 31 turns 101 on Thursday, July 19th! His District has a page on their website saluting this milestone and wishing him a very Happy Birthday!

We add our congratulations to Charlie and wonder if he is, in fact, the oldest active Toastmaster? Does anyone know of someone older in Toastmasters?

It is nice to know that Toastmasters is a life-long activity (that keeps you young at heart?) and there is always room to grow through Toastmasters .... no matter how old you are !