What A Celebration!

The recent Awards Banquet celebrating achievements of members and clubs in the 2014-2015 Toastmasters year was a huge success!

The District 25 Hall of Fame is now updated with names of members and clubs achieving successes celebrated at the Awards Banquet. You can easily access details on the District 25 website Hall of Fame page.

Over 200 people gathered at the Ridglea Country Club for dinner, networking and celebration of accomplishments.

TEAM WORK by the Awards Committee headed by Mary Walker provided ease of registration, claiming awards envelopes, and the smooth movement of the evening. A special thanks to all the committee members and to volunteers that helped facilitate the event.

Moving around the room and experiencing the friendships and kindred spirits at the various tables was heart warming.  It was an opportunity for members of different clubs to sit together to refresh old friendships or ignite new ones. Several clubs had enough attendees to fill a complete table.

Along with recognition of the many member achievements, Past District 25 Governors present were called to the stage to thank them for their continued service to their clubs and the district. With the new district leader title (District Director), the Past District Governors are now a finite group.

Recognitions unique to this year’s banquet included Past District Governor, Maurice Taitt, receiving the District 25 Distinguished Service Award, and recognition of Larry Vance for achieving the most educational/leadership awards for Toastmasters International in the 2014-2015 Toastmasters year, In addition, an announcement was made that Past International Director, David McCallister, was awarded a Presidential Citation from Toastmasters International at the International Convention in Las Vegas.

Fun is always part of our celebrations, and this year’s roast of the outgoing District Governor (me) was lead by a three member “cheer team”.  They delivered the oration and had pictures projected on the big screen to support their statements.

The evening concluded with the annual district awards.  So many qualified members and only a limited number of awards.  The people winning this year’s awards were:
District Governor’s Service Award:   Larry Harmon
It Takes A Team Award:   Patty Jones and Chris Nichols
Area Governor of the Year:  Celeste Castro
Division Governor of the Year:  Rucha Jani
Toastmaster of the Year:   Karen Hagar.

To see more pictures of the evening, please see the D25 facebook page.  There are several albums so be sure to check them all out!
https://www.facebook.com/d25toastmasters/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums

It was a great year and a wonderful evening of celebration.  If you missed the event this year, be sure to attend next year’s awards banquet!

Yours in Toastmasters service,

Marylee Mims Immediate Past District Governor