Stake Your Claim

Special Edition Double Dozen Newsletter

Spring Convention Information

Communication and Leadership Award Winner Announced

District Governor Chris Czerwinski announced the C and L Award winner, Laureen Riedesel.

Laureen Riedesel is the Library Director for the Beatrice Public Library. She has served on a variety of boards and devotes much of her time to preservation efforts. She is the President of the Friends of Homestead, has been a leader in preserving local Native American History with the preservation of the Barneston Indian School. She also is very active with the Gage County Preservation group.

Laureen will be presented the award during lunch at the Spring District 24 Convention to be held at the Holliday Inn Express in Beatrice on May 3, 2008.

Silent Auction and Quilt Raffle

Please consider donating a basket or gentlely used item for the silent auction to be held at the spring convention. Anita Lewandowski, our educational fund chairman, is coordinating this effort. Funds help underwrite the cost of membership for those who can not afford it.

Additionally, a patriotic quilt will be raffled during the convention. You do not need to be present to win the quilt. Six members of District 24, Pat Hannan, Ellen Hankes, Sheila Hoffert, Deb McDermott, Nancy Rime and Floy Westermeier, created and donated blocks for the quilt. If you have not purchased a raffle ticket it is not too late. Contact Anita, Lewandowski.Anita@principal.com, for details.

District Elections

District Election Information is posted on the District 24 website. The following individuals have been nominated and are running for office. Nominations for District Offices The following members have been nominated and are running for district leadership positions as noted:

District Governor

  • Pat Hannan
  • Connie Klabunde

Lt Gov Education and Training

  • Elden Plettner

Lt Gov Marketing

  • George Volz

Division A Governor

  • Robert Puhalla

Division C Governor

  • Marilyn Champoux

Division D Governor

  • Luann Anglo

Divison E Governor

  • Louis Lester

Any further nominations must be made during the business meeting on May 3, 2008.

Contests

Two great contests will be conducted during the convention, Table Topics and International. Remember the winner of the International Speech Contest will move on to the Region IV Convention in South Dakota in June. Come listen to some great contestants.

Stake Your Claim at the District 24 Spring Convention

Beatrice, Nebraska

Join us for another terrific Toastmasters Event.

  • Where: Holiday Inn Express, Beatrice Nebraska
  • When: Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 2008
  • Please note: Overnight rooms available at Holiday Inn Express - 4005 N 6th Street, Beatrice, NE 68310; 1-888-HOLIDAY (888 465 4329) or 1-402-228-7000. Ask for the Special Toastmasters Conference Rate. The rooms are only being held until April 21, 2008. If you plan to stay at the Holiday Inn Express, reserve your room now. Homestead is having a special event this weekend and rooms may become booked early.

*The conference fee includes: Friday night activity, contests, educational sessions, business meeting, Saturday lunch and banquet. Courtesy breakfast is available if you have a room at the motel.

It is not too late to register online.

Agenda

Friday May 2, 2008

Take advantage of a great event amd visit the 10th Annual Heartland Storytelling Festival on Friday evening at Homestead National Monument of America. Experience the fun and joy of hearing a live storyteller. Listen to storytellers for a public performance on Friday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. outside at the monument's Education Center.

This year's featured performers are Matthew Jones, Pippa White and Regina Leininger. Matt "Sitting Bear" Jones is a Otoe-Missouria storyteller capable of turning himself into a possum, coyote or Indian drummer to the delight of children and adults. Pippa White's unforgettable characters are based on historical journal entries. Puppeteer, Regina Leininger uses chants, movements and other props to entice the audience to become part of the story.

This event promises to be a wonderful evening at Homestead National Monument of America.

Saturday May 3, 2008

  • Registration open 7 a.m.
  • Credentials desk open 7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
  • Bookstore open during breaks
  • Hospitality Room open during breaks
  • 7:50 a.m. Banner round-up
  • 8:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
    • Presentation of Colors and Parade of Banners
  • 8:15 a.m. 2 Educational Sessions
    • Organization Station - Diane Sullivan - Profession Home and Office organization
    • "Developing Your Leadership Skills" - Louis Lester
  • 9:15 a.m. Table Topics Contest Briefing
  • 9:30 a.m. Table Topics contest
  • 10:45 a.m. 2 Educational Sessions
    • New Leadership Changes - Chris Czerwinski
    • Generalizing the Generations - Ron Safarik How the generations look at life and the impact on Toastmaster Clubs
  • 12:00 pm Lunch and Program
  • 1:30 p.m. Credentials table will close. All proxies must be turned in for ballots by 1:30. Floy Westermeier is the credentials chair.
  • 2:00 p.m. Business Meeting
  • 3:15 p.m. International Contest Briefing
  • 3:30 p.m. International Contest
  • 6:00 p.m. Saturday Evening Banquet
    • Quilt Raffle and Silent Auction Winners Announced
    • Awarding of Contest Winners