Thomason Elected International Director

Toasters very own Tracy Thomason was elected International Director during the Toastmasters International Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia, two weeks ago.

Tracy has been a member of Toasters Club since 2006 when he joined while he was Area Governor. Since then he's served our club as our President and Vice President Education. He has also served our fellow members in District 23 as a Division Governor, Lieutenant Governor Marketing, and District Director.

"There's something very special going on in Toasters," said Tracy. "We've been Distinguished the last 6 years. During that time, our members have filled 11 district offices. There's a great energy in this club."

Toasters Club is President's Distinguished

For the sixth year in a row, Toasters Club in Lubbock, Texas, has achieved a status of Distinguished (or better.) For the last three years, we achieved President's Distinguished status and were the only President's Distinguished Toastmasters club in Lubbock for the 2016-2017 year.

In addition, Kim Davis, a member of Toasters, was the Area 62 Director this year and helped her Area (comprised of six clubs in Lubbock) achieved Distinguished Area status.

We meet every Thursday at 7:00 am in the Lubbock Eye Clinic (3702 34th Street, Lubbock, TX.)

Come out and visit us sometime and find out why you'll be popping up early to join us every Thursday morning!

Congratulations Amanda, Doneen, and Toasters!

Amanda and Doneen receive
their membership pins from
Gary Johnson, our Toastmaster
of the meeting.

Today was a big day at Toasters club with lots of reasons to celebrate. Two of our newest members delivered their Ice Breaker speeches and the club learned that it is the first club in District 23 to complete the requirements for a President's Distinguished club for 2015-2016.

Doneen Fitzsimmons introduced us to the many names she's been known by during her life. From Neener to Mom to Mrs. Fitz and many others in between.

Amanda Norfleet told us that she is sometimes called the Coupon Queen but prefers the term Money Saving Princess and let us in on some of her secrets.

Congratulations Doneen and Amanda and welcome to Toasters!

Along with all the Ice Breaker excitement, Toasters learned that it is the first club in District 23 to achieve all of the goals necessary to become a President's Distinguished club during the 2015-2016 year. The official announcement of President's Distinguished status won't happen until April, but Toasters has already achieved 9 of the 10 goals (the 10th should be completed soon, too) and renewed all of our members prior to the April 1st deadline.

The club celebrated this news with cookies that were sent by the District Director.

Cookies!

Congratulations on your CC, Dustin!

Toasters member Dustin McEwen is the newest Competent Communicator in Lubbock, Texas.

By completing all ten speech projects in Toastmasters International's Competent Communication manual, Dustin earned his Competent Communication award and received his name badge from club President Kyle Word.

Congratulations Dustin! We're looking forward to your next award!

10 of 10!

Lubbock Toasters Toastmasters club is not only President's Distinguished for 2014-15, we hit all ten of the goals!

Pins and Badges and Ramps, Oh My

Lubbock Toasters had a big meeting today with an Ice Breaker speech, a practice speech that will be delivered to a government agency, a Competent Communication badge awarded, and a full house including two visitors.

Dustin & Gary
(click image for full size)

Dustin McEwen, one of our newest members, kicked off the morning by delivering his Ice Breaker presentation, "Establishing Roots," where he discussed his early life that included a lot of moving. After the speech, Dustin's Toastmaster mentor and our club president, Gary Johnson, gave Dustin his membership pin.

Gary then rehearsed a speech that he will be delivering to a local government agency on behalf of his volunteer work through TexasRamps.org and AMBUCS.

Lisa & Cindy
(click image for full size)

At the end of the meeting, Lisa Thomason was awarded her Competent Communication badge by her Toastmaster mentor, Cindy Ford. Lisa completed her 10th speech in the Competent Communication and the club purchased her first name badge for her.

Welcome to the club, Dustin!

Congratulations, Lisa!

Toasters Is Distinguished

Club President Gary Johnson shows
off Toasters Club's new
Distinguished Club ribbon.

Toasters Club received the Distinguished Club Award from Toastmasters International for the 2013-2014 year. Club President Gary Johnson presented the award to the club for the previous years' accomplishment.

One of only three Toastmasters clubs here in Lubbock, Texas, to receive Distinguished recognition, Toasters has been Distinguished or better for three years in a row.

Cindy, Kim, and Ryan Receive CC Badges

Completing the ten speeches in the Competent Communication manual from Toastmasters International earns you the Competent Communicator award. In Toasters Club, when it's your first time to finish the manual, that means also get a Competent Communicator name badge.

Cindy Ford completed her manual on February 4, 2014. Ryan Van Dusen completed his on March 3, 2014. And Kim Davis completed hers on May 22, 2014.

Congratulations Cindy, Kim, and Ryan!

Cindy Ford receives her Competent
Communication name badge from club
president Gary Johnson.

Ryan Van Dusen (right) receives his
Competent Communication name badge from
club president Gary Johnson.

Kim Davis receives her Competent
Communication name badge from club
president Gary Johnson.

Amy Zientek Receives Rising Star Award

Amy Zientek

Toasters member Amy Zientek received the Texas Travel Industry Association's Rising Star Award on September 23, 2013, for her leadership and commitment to the Texas Travel industry.

The full story can be found here: http://www.kcbd.com/story/23506503/visit-lubbocks-amy-zientek-receives-acclaimed-award

Amy is the director of sales for Visit Lubbock and has been a member of Toastmasters for 5 years.

Congratulations Amy!

Eddie Retires

A Toastmaster for over 20 years and a member of Toasters Toastmasters club here in Lubbock for over half of that, Eddie Payne recently announced that he'd be retiring from his job at X-Fab.  To fulfill his and his wife's plans for the future, Eddie is also retiring from Toasters club.

Toasters threw a party for Eddie today and honored him with an engraved clock.

We'll miss you, Eddie, and we hope you wake up early once in a while and come and visit us!

Jan gives Eddie his gift

It's a clock!

Toasters Toastmasters Club

Tornado Sirens and Raising Twins

Not these twins, though.

While these topics don't necessarily go together (unless you've raised twins and then you might think the siren would come in handy), they were the topic of two informative and entertaining speeches at Toasters Toastmasters Club in Lubbock, TX, today.

Member Gary Johnson received his name badge today for completing his Competent Communicator manual.  We're looking forward to your Advanced Manual speeches, Gary!

Toasters also enjoyed a visit from our incoming Area Governor, Uwe Beltz. While not his official visit, Uwe stopped by to say hello and remind the club about the upcoming Toastmasters Leadership Institute happening on June 21st.  There's more information about that on the Toastmasters In Lubbock website.

Coming soon?

Gary receives his CC badge from Jan

Toaster is Gonna Party Like A 25 Year Old!

There was a Toastmasters Club born in Lubbock, Texas. The members named themselves Toasters Toastmasters, Club 896. The Club grew from an infant, into a teenager, and finally into an adult.

Those who were in the Club when it reached the mature age of 25 decided they better get busy and celebrate before they reached old age and weren't able to!

Help us celebrate this auspicious occasion:

What:             Dinner
When:            Saturday, May 4, 2013
What Time:     6:30 PM
Where:            Lubbock Women's Club, 2020 Broadway
Cost:              $15 per person

RSVP:            By Wednesday, May 1
                       to: Vickie Sigler acactuswren@yahoo.com

Toasters Turns 25

In May, Toasters Club will celebrate its 25th anniversary as a Toastmasters club. Come out and join us as we keep popping up early every Thursday morning!