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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Hello Toastmasters,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">By now, you may have seen the year-end report for the<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Distinguished District program posted to the Toastmasters<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">International website (toastmasters.org/dpr). Unfortunately,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">District 28 did not earn Distinguished status for the fourth year<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">in a row. We were just five member payments short of our goal.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">However, all is not lost. I am extremely proud of the District<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Executive Committee and the Leadership Team. If you looked at the<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">numbers back in February, it would have seemed like it would have<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">been impossible to get even this close to goal. We made up<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">substantial ground in member payments during the final two months<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">of the year. At the end of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PersonName>April</st1:PersonName>, we were 474 member payments<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">short of goal. At the end of May, we were behind 277 member<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">payments. At the end of June, we ended only 5 member payments<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">short of goal. We added 469 member payments in two months! THAT’S<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">INCREDIBLE! Everyone one who helped in this effort should take<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">pride. Thank you to all of the clubs that added members during<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">these last two months of the year.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Among some of the other highlights of this year:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Added 7 new clubs to the district, rising to the 100<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">active clubs mark for the first time in history and surpassing<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">our goal by 3 clubs.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>181 members earned a Competent Communicator Award,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">surpassing our goal by 46.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>74 members earned an Advanced Communicator Award,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">exceeding goal by 36.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>99 members acheived either a Leadership award or DTM,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">thereby earning the District the maximum number of points in this<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">category, exceeding last year's numbers.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>18 out of 23 Areas achieve Distinguished or better status<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">(78%) compared to 16 Distinguished Areas a year ago.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>5 out of 7 Divisions achieve Select Distinguished or<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">better status (71%)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>47 clubs achieved Distinguished status or better (50%),<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">compared to 46 a year ago.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Improved speech contest quality by creating the position<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">of District Chief Judge and held judges training at all major<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">District events.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Held a joint event with National Speakers Association of<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:State><st1:place>Michigan</st1:place></st1:State>.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Created the position of Corporate Club Hunter, designed<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">to improve our marketing efforts to companies within our<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">District.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Overwhelming response to the District Open House Contest.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">There is absolutely nothing of which to be ashamed. We had an<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">outstanding year and I am proud of everyone who assisted in this<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">effort. We did it ethically, honestly, and with integrity. The<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">groundwork we laid this year will bear additional fruit next year<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">and for years to come.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">For Speaking and Leadership Excellence,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Todd</P>
<DIV class=signature id=signature>--<BR>Todd Brockdorf, DTM <BR>District Governor 2006-2007<BR>District 28 - Yes It's Possible! <BR>Toastmasters International <BR>C - 734.678.6068 <BR>tmb@comcast.net</DIV></body></html>