Meet a Leader – Steve Vear

Steve Vear is our Division A Director and he was awarded Division Director of the year for 2016/17. I see Steve and the various DOTs and DECs I am always impressed with how prepared and engaged he is offering calm, collected and sensible council. I wanted to find out more about what motivates Steve.

Tell me a little about your background?
I’ve lived in Andover all my life; you may know Andover has the home of Twinings Tea, Stannah Stairlifts and The Troggs – it’s a happening place. I worked in IT distribution for 17 years but I recently became Head of Resource Management for an Examination Board. I was born with cerebral palsy, it’s part of who I am but doesn’t define who I am, and I plan to live life to the full regardless; you can hear more about this in a previous interview.

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DLT Dispatches – January 2018

Pedro Casillas – District Director (DD)

This January saw the coming together of District Trios from Region 11 and 12 (UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand and Brazil) to attend mid-year officer training in Lisbon.

Some of the highlights:

  • District Council (DC) – It was confirmed the end of November DC will  be replaced with a Virtual DC meeting (to be conducted by 30th September) and one face to face meeting (to be held by 31st May the following year). As you know, the DC is made up of DLT, DEC and ALL Club Presidents and VPE’s. The purpose of the DC is to discuss and vote on district business, which includes the voting for the D91 budget; district offerings and an opportunity to hear how the district is progressing with DSP. Virtual DC meetings will introduce a new way of conducting business which will be both a challenge and opportunity for us to learn and grow. Toastmasters International (TI) will be announcing the preferred software and training we will need later in the year.

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Pathways Update – January 2018

We now have a target launch date for Pathways in District 91 – 20th March 2018!

The reason I say “target” launch date is because we first have to provide members with pre-launch information. Your club will be getting a visit from one of our excellent Pathways Guides and Pathways Ambassadors in the coming weeks to deliver the club’s roll out kit and show members how to access Pathways. We have to complete at least 70% of those club visits to trigger the launch.

Look out for details of your club’s Pathways visit, and in the meantime have a look at the information on our D91 website and on the Toastmasters International website.

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It’s Time to Talk Up Toastmasters!

All Toastmasters clubs worldwide will be taking part in the competition to earn the coveted Talk Up Toastmasters award. Do you want to earn it for your club? Do you want your club to display a new ribbon on its banner?

Every club that add 5 new, dual or reinstated members between 1st Feb 2018 and 31st Mar 2018 will receive this coveted award. Award winners will receive a new ribbon to display on their club banner and 10% off their next order from the Toastmasters store. Additionally, each winning club will receive a certificate and a FREE pack of Pathways ribbons from the District to help them welcome the new programme on a high note!

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Meet a leader – Paul Rhys-Taylor

This month, Nigel Oseland, our D91 PT Manager, caught up with Paul Rhys-Taylor, a.k.a. PRT our Admin Manager and ICT Chair.

Tell me a little about your background

I was born and raised in London, of Jamaican parents. Educated Anglican but rejected the faith as a child. Then found it for myself as a young adult. Lived with certainty for over two decades but over the last few of years, I’ve been on a ‘truck stop of doubt’.

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