A Letter from your District Director
Dear Toastmasters of District 90,
Thank you for renewing your membership with your club! I’m so proud that you continue to invest in improving yourself and your communication and leadership skills. I’m sure many Treasurers are breathing a sigh of relief now that September is over and the semi-annual payments have been completed.
A huge thank you and shout-out to all our Club Treasurers for ensuring payments were made on time to Toastmasters International — your diligence keeps our clubs strong and thriving!
It’s hard to believe three months have already passed since I last wrote to you. August was an exciting month as the Trio — Nellie (PQD), Elizabeth (CGD), and I — travelled to Pennsylvania for District Leader Training and the Toastmasters International Convention. One of my proudest moments was receiving the Award for Excellence for achieving Distinguished Clubs across our District as PQD last year!
When non-Toastmasters ask what a Distinguished District means, I tell them it’s like having a District where most clubs are rated five stars or more!
Each Distinguished Club point is like earning a star — and together, these stars reflect the strength and success of our clubs. Every time you complete and submit a Pathways level through Toastmasters International, you’re helping your club shine a little brighter and bringing your club and our District closer to being Distinguished.
September was another milestone month, with our first District Executive Council (DEC) and District Council (DC) meetings of the year.
To clarify the difference:
The DEC Meeting is attended by District leaders and focuses on planning and managing District operations.
The DC Meeting includes club representatives who vote on important District decisions, budgets, and officer elections.
My heartfelt thanks to all DEC and DC members who attended the meeting.
Your participation was vital — without you, and without the majority of club representatives present, we could not have passed the budget or discussed and approved key decisions affecting our members. Two of the key decisions passed were:
Starting from the 2026–2027 Toastmasters year, one of the four speech contests will be conducted online.
All contests will be held during our Annual Conference in May.
You can request a copy of the District Council minutes by contacting our Administration Manager, Margaret Payne, DTM, at am@d90tm.au.
September also brought several club milestones and celebrations!
I had the privilege of attending three very special events — Parramatta Toastmasters’ 59th anniversary, Springwood Toastmasters’ 1000th meeting, and Up Up Toastmasters’ 200th meeting. Each occasion was grand and heartwarming, filled with inspiring speeches, thought-provoking Table Topics, and that unmistakable Toastmasters camaraderie. And yes — there was cake! Beautifully decorated, wonderfully shared, and absolutely delicious. The photos below capture members of Springwood Toastmasters and Up Up Toastmasters cutting their respective celebratory cake.
I truly love attending club meetings — connecting with members, hearing your stories, and witnessing the spirit of growth and support that defines Toastmasters. My goal is for every member to be happy, feel valued, and get the very best out of their Toastmasters journey. If you see me at a meeting or event, please do come and say hello!
You may have also heard about the enhancements to Pathways, our Toastmasters learning program. The Pathways Enhancement Series brings back the best elements of our beloved manuals, updated with flexible, modern projects for today’s communicators and leaders. It’s smoother, simpler, and more inspiring than ever — keeping the heart of Toastmasters while adding a contemporary touch. We want every member to enjoy this journey and gain the most from it, and to help, we’ll be running fun, hands-on training sessions soon — stay tuned!
Finally, I was pleased to be invited to join discussions with the Region 12 Alignment Chair on the upcoming realignment. This collaboration gives us the chance to share insights, ensure our members remain well-supported, and focus on what matters most — maintaining the strength of our existing clubs while creating opportunities for new club growth across District 90.
Let’s keep our clubs strong — and make sure each one reaches charter strength of 20 members. Together, we can continue building a vibrant, supportive, and distinguished District where every member thrives and enjoys the very best of Toastmasters!
Warm regards,
Ramani 😊
Ramani Warusevitane, DTM
District Director 2024–2025
District 90 Toastmasters
