Battlefords Toastmasters wrap up 2019-2020 season (supplied photo/Candace Dustan)

By Keaton Brown

Toasting the Toastmasters

Battlefords Toastmasters wrap up season, hand out year-end awards

Jul 6, 2020 | 1:00 PM

The Battlefords Toastmasters recently wrapped up their 2019-2020 season and handed out their year-end awards on June 24.

The club adopted the motto “Encourage Communicate Lead” for the season as well as the quote from Zig Zagler, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”

The club saw an influx of new members this year adding eight new people to their roster, increasing their membership numbers to 26.

Although in person meetings were derailed in March due to the pandemic, the learning, comradery, and fun was not affected as the club adapted and started online meetings at their usual time.

At the end of each season, which runs from September to June, they award their “Of the Year” awards.

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Rena Weikle completed her second Distinguished Toastmaster title, which is the highest accomplishment attainable in the Toastmasters program. Rena also served as Program Quality Director for District 99 which has 141 clubs in it. Next year she will be the District Director, the highest level of leadership in the District.

Danielle Barrett, Club President for Battlefords Toastmasters, completed her Distinguished Toastmaster award after working on it for the last six years with the club.

Candace Dustan, who will be serving as club president for the upcoming year, explained some of the things required to complete the Distinguished Toastmaster award.

“She had a lot of things she had to do. She had to coach a club, she had to do a high performance leadership project, and she had to do 22 speeches this year so it was a lot,” she said.

The Rookie of the Year award was given to Abigail Kapting’ei, who Dustan said went above and beyond for a first year toastmaster.

“She actually served on the executive this year as our secretary, so that was good of her to take on a role so early on. She did a lot of speeches, which is great, and some evaluation and that is another very important part of toastmasters. She just really embraced the toastmasters program and we are very proud of her for all she accomplished this year,” she said.

The club also hands out an award called the Robert W Johnson Spirit of the Battlefords “SOB” award. This winner is voted on by the club as a member who has exhibited the values of Toastmasters (integrity, respect, service, excellence) and contributed in fellowship and leadership throughout the year. This year’s RWJ SOB winner was Danielle Barrett and following tradition, she was roasted at the year-end awards night.

Dustan explained why this is a very special award for any toastmaster to receive.

“That award is very special because it is voted on by the club, it is not something like the ‘Of the Year’ awards that is tallied by points and what you have done throughout the year,” she said. “It is always a fun roast because we poke fun but in a light hearted and positive way,” she added.

The club said they enjoyed a great year and that they are looking forward to starting another season, hopefully in person, on Sept. 9, 2020.

Anyone who is interested in joining the club or is looking for more information can go to their website or contact Rena at 306-441-0890.

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Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow