HIGHLIGHTS
(0:00, 18:53) Denise encourages members to treat D50 like a
college campus, taking full advantage of all educational opportunities
(1:31) Role of Program Quality Director explained— like a VPE
but for the entire district
(2:37) Toastmasters Thrive program (formerly Leadership
Learning) detailed
(4:57) Discussion of district's goal to become distinguished
for first time in several years
(10:12) Toastmaster Leadership Institute (TLI) explained as
the "academy for officers"
(11:04) Important change announced: TLI is now free for all
members
(19:21) Call to action: Make the most of your tuition by
participating in district programs
SUMMARY
In this engaging episode of D50 After Dark, host Mickey
Bennett sits down with Program Quality Director Denise Castille to discuss the educational opportunities available in District 50. Denise brings energy and enthusiasm as she explains her role, which she compares to being the Vice
President of Education for the entire district.
The conversation reveals several exciting programs, including
Toastmasters Thrive (formerly Leadership Learning), which offers online presentations by subject matter experts every third Monday. Denise also introduces PQ Hour (Program Quality Hour), a monthly online session helping clubs achieve distinguished status through topics like mastering the club
success plan and maximizing Pathways.
A significant announcement comes regarding TLI (Toastmaster
Leadership Institute): it's now completely free ("Free 99" as quoted from past district director Monica Dirden). Winter TLI kicks off with an online jumpstart on December 10th, followed by an in-person kickoff at UTD on January 18th. While online sessions offer convenience, Denise and Mickey emphasize the
value of attending in-person for networking opportunities— or, as Denise calls it, "the secret sauce."
The district's broader goal emerges throughout the
conversation: achieving distinguished status, something that hasn't happened in several years. To support this, Denise has assembled strong teams, including deputy PQD DaWane Wanek and TLI organizers Brad Johnson and Amy Bemis.
Denise closes with a compelling metaphor, encouraging members to treat their Toastmasters membership like college tuition— getting full value by participating in all available programs like Pathways Education, PQ Hour, Toastmasters Thrive, and new member orientation. All these opportunities can be found at D50tm.org.
