On Tuesday, September 29, District 216 held its very first District Council meeting as one district, and our clubs showed up in force. Three legacies came together on one Zoom call and conducted the business that sets the foundation for our entire year. Thank you.
A strong quorum
For a brand-new district, that turnout is remarkable.
What the Council decided
Preliminary results as announced at the meeting.
- Appointed district officers: Confirmed (143 yes, 0 no, 2 abstain). Congratulations to Finance Manager Sonya Fairley, Administration Manager James Lemke, Public Relations Manager Merek Roman, Logistics Manager Jonathan Ettie, and our 20 Area Directors.
- 2026–2027 district budget: Adopted (140 yes, 2 no, 2 abstain). A balanced budget of $100,302: $70,302 in membership dues allocation plus a break-even Spring 2027 conference. It puts resources behind healthy clubs, membership growth, leadership training, recognition, and stronger communication across the district. As of August 31, the district held $65,876 in available funds.
- District 216 Speakers Bureau: Established (129 yes, 9 no, 3 abstain; two-thirds required). The Speakers Bureau is now a standing committee of District 216. It will report to the DEC quarterly and to the Council at each business meeting.
Thank you to the people who made it work
- Ashlyn Victoria, Area 11 Director, for an inspiring opening on her four “chapters” in Toastmasters
- Sonya Fairley, for a clear and thorough budget presentation
- Jonathan Ettie and the Credentials Committee, for making sure every vote was a verified vote
- Dan Leung, Division D Director, for running Zoom like a pro
- Bruce Frandsen, our Parliamentarian, for keeping us in order
- Chris Harwood, for keeping us on time
- Jerome Maben, Immediate Past District Director, for his guidance on the Speakers Bureau
- And every club president and VPE who gave up an evening to represent their members
Your feedback in the chat and on the floor matters. Here’s what we’re taking forward to the spring meeting: a practice ballot at the start of the meeting so everyone is comfortable with Red Vote; clearer, earlier instructions for the credentials check-in; and making sure meeting notices reach every Council member from a sender you’ll recognize.
A message from your Club Growth Director
Dear District 216 Council Members,
Thank you for joining our Fall Business Council meeting. Because we ran out of time before I could present the Club Growth Director’s report, I wanted to share a brief update and the September Club Growth Director Update for your review. As your Club Growth Director, my focus remains on both sides of club growth: building new clubs and strengthening the clubs we already have.
For October renewals, 70 clubs were Verified Complete, while several others were still working toward meeting Toastmasters International’s minimum renewal requirements.
We also currently have seven prospective new-club leads across Michigan and Ohio, representing community, corporate, and specialty club opportunities. If you have connections in any of the communities or organizations identified in the presentation, or would like to help develop one of these opportunities, please contact me.
One of our greatest opportunities, however, is supporting our existing clubs. Currently, 54 of our 142 clubs qualify for a Club Coach. To qualify, the club must have 12 or fewer members. However, only six have coaches assigned to them. In addition, nine clubs have seven or fewer members. We have clubs that need support, and throughout District 216 we have experienced Toastmasters with the leadership skills to help them rebuild and thrive.
If you are a member in good standing, have at least one year of club officer experience, have completed Level 2 in Pathways, and are not currently coaching another club, I encourage you to consider becoming a Club Coach. It’s an opportunity to develop your leadership skills while making a meaningful difference in a club’s future.
The presentation also outlines Toastmasters International’s club suspension and reinstatement process. As we move through the renewal period, early intervention is critical. Rather than waiting until a struggling club reaches suspension, we can help clubs develop membership-building strategies, invite former members back, conduct open houses, connect with District resources, and, where appropriate, appoint a Club Coach.
Finally, the presentation includes information about some of our 2026–2027 District incentives, including the BE A LEADer: CGD Growth Champion, BE A LEADer: PQD Leadership Champion, Super Club, and Your Path Starts Here! programs. Please review these opportunities and share them with your clubs and fellow members.
Most importantly, I ask each of you to consider one question: How can you help District 216 build, strengthen, or sustain at least one club this year?
Whether you identify a new-club lead, help with a demonstration meeting, become a Club Coach, support a membership-building event, or connect us with a community or organization, every contribution moves District 216 forward. Thank you for your continued leadership and service to our members and clubs. I look forward to working with you as we continue to become Stronger Together and Distinguished Bound across District 216.
Nyrhe U. Royal (she/her/hers)
Club Growth Director
cgd@216toastmasters.org
A message from your Program Quality Director
Dear District 216 Council Members,
Thank you for joining our Fall Business Council meeting. Because we ran out of time before I could present the Program Quality Director’s report, I’m sharing a brief update along with my full Training and Education Update for your review.
As of October 9, 104 of our 135 base clubs have paid their October renewals, so 31 clubs still need to renew. Together we have 1,564 paid members, welcomed 176 new members, and earned 167 DCP goals. No club is Distinguished yet, which is normal for October, but the foundation is strong.
Round 1 Club Officer Training was a real success: 547 officers trained across five sessions, and 65% of our clubs met DCP Goal 9. Please remind your clubs that officers trained by another district can still count. They must email both the host district’s PQD and pqd@216toastmasters.org. Credit for Round 1 must be recorded by October 31, so this cannot wait.
Round 2 begins with our Winter TLI series, six sessions running from November 14 (in person at Portage United Church of Christ) through February 25. One registration covers the whole series. I am looking for Session Chairs and Breakout Presenters for every date. If you have served as a club officer, you have something valuable to teach, and one date is a real contribution.
Only 10 of 140 clubs have a first-round visit report, and the deadline is November 30. Five Area Director seats, Areas 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are still vacant, and clubs there have no one scheduled to visit them. Filling those seats is the single biggest thing we can do for our clubs this fall.
I ask each of you to consider one question: Which one of these can you take on? Lead a TLI session, present a breakout, or step up as an Area Director. Email me at pqd@216toastmasters.org with your interest and the dates you are available. Thank you for everything you do for our members.
Stronger Together, Distinguished Bound, D216
Vicki Harwood, DTM
Program Quality Director
District 216 | Toastmasters International
pqd@216toastmasters.org
Officer reports
The two officer reports we didn’t have time to present at the meeting are available here:
- Club Growth Director Update, September 2026: new-club leads, Club Coach needs, suspension and reinstatement, and district incentives
- Training and Education Update: PQD Report, October 2026: membership and DCP status, Round 1 training results, the winter TLI schedule, calls for session chairs and presenters, and Area and Division Director deadlines
Need the agenda, the adopted budget, the Speakers Bureau resolution, or other meeting documents? Contact our Administration Manager, James Lemke, at admin@216toastmasters.org.
How you can help next
- Lead an area. Area Director seats are still open in Areas 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9. If you or someone in your club is ready, email pqd@216toastmasters.org.
- Plan your club contest. Speech contest season is coming. Club contests should wrap up by the end of January.
- Share your wins. Send your club’s news and events to the district anytime.
As our District Director said that night: do not try this alone. Thank you for proving that none of us have to.
Three legacies, one district — and we’re aiming for Distinguished.
With gratitude,
Stronger Together, Distinguished Bound, D216
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