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Speech by Danny Banks

New Year Message from District 71 District Director Danny Banks
Transcript
Highlights
Welcome, fellow Toastmasters. My name is Danny Banks, and I'm proud to say that I will be your District Director for the coming year, twenty twenty-four, twenty twenty-five, and what an amazing year it's going to be. In October, we'll celebrate a hundred years of Toastmasters, a hundred years since the founder, Ralph Smedley, set up the first club in California. And we are going to be members of Toastmasters at the beginning of the second century of Toastmasters. Now, that's something quite exciting to think about, and not only that, but we are building on a very strong foundation. Last year, we achieved Select Distinguished Status for the district, which means that we've got more members, more clubs, and more distinguished clubs. And you might say: Well, what, what does that mean? But it means that we've got more people in clubs, where they are gaining skills and confidence to speak in public, to speak up in their workplace, in their community, in their family groups. We are reaching out to more people, and I want us to carry on that and to give that gift to more people. So that's why I'm excited this year. Not only is it-- are we moving into the second century of Toastmasters, but we are growing, and we are helping more people, and more people are benefiting from what we have to offer. Now, my theme this year is Enjoy, Grow, and Celebrate. I want us to enjoy our meetings. We go to our meetings, and we meet friends, and we laugh, and we enjoy it because Ralph Smedley, very wisely, a hundred years ago, said,"We learn best in moments of enjoyment." I want us to have clubs where people feel sad if they have to me-- m- miss that meeting, their meeting, and that's a mark of enjoyment for me, so friendship and fun. Secondly, grow. We're in Toastmasters because we want to grow, we want to develop, we want to become better speakers. We want to become better leaders. I want to challenge you, all of us, to set some ambitious goals for this year, to set that goal of the next level or the next path or to do a great job in leading your area or your division, because growth is for all of us. We all come to develop professionally and personally. And thirdly, to celebrate. We have so much to celebrate. We've got so many good clubs. We have people who come to our clubs, almost too nervous to enter the door, and months later, they are speaking in public. Now, I think that's worth celebrating. I think it's worth celebrating when somebody does an icebreaker, when they do level one, when they've got a path, when they become an accomplished area director. So let's celebrate. Let's make sure that everything we do, we celebrate. So, Toastmasters, I challenge you to the next year, the next century in Toastmasters. What goals are you going to set yourself? How are you going to make sure that we enjoy, we grow, and we celebrate?
Speech Summary

This New Year message feels like a true district leader setting a positive direction for the year. The centennial framing plus your simple theme “Enjoy, Grow, and Celebrate” gives the audience both pride and a clear roadmap.

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Using Rule of Three

Point (theme) → First (enjoy) → Second (grow) → Third (celebrate) → Conclusion (call to action)

Welcome, fellow Toastmasters. My name is Danny Banks, and I’m proud to serve as your District Director for 2024–2025. This is going to be an incredible year. In October, we’ll celebrate 100 years of Toastmasters, 100 years since our founder, Ralph Smedley, started the first club in California. That means we’re entering the second century of Toastmasters, and we get to be there at the very beginning. And we’re stepping into that century on a strong foundation. Last year, our district achieved Select Distinguished Status, which means more members, more clubs, and more distinguished clubs. In other words, more people are gaining the skills and confidence to speak in public, to speak up at work, in their communities, and in their families. This year, I want us to keep that momentum going and give that gift to even more people. So my theme this year is simple: Enjoy, Grow, and Celebrate. First, enjoy. I want us to enjoy our meetings. We come together, we make friends, we laugh, and we have fun. Ralph Smedley said it wisely 100 years ago: “We learn best in moments of enjoyment.” Let’s build clubs where people feel disappointed when they have to miss a meeting, because it matters to them. Friendship and fun are not extra. They are part of how we learn. Second, grow. We’re in Toastmasters because we want to develop. We want to become better speakers, and we want to become better leaders. This year, I’m challenging all of us to set ambitious goals. Aim for the next level. Take the next step on your path. Step up and lead in your club, your area, or your division. Growth is for every one of us, and we all come here to develop professionally and personally. Third, celebrate. We have so much to celebrate. We have strong clubs, and we see real transformation. People walk into our meetings almost too nervous to enter the door, and just months later, they’re speaking in public. That is worth celebrating. Let’s celebrate the icebreaker. Let’s celebrate Level One. Let’s celebrate progress on a path. Let’s celebrate when someone becomes an Accomplished Area Director. Let’s make sure that in everything we do, we celebrate. So, Toastmasters, as we step into the next year and the next century of Toastmasters, here’s my challenge to you. What goals are you going to set for yourself? And how are you going to make sure that we enjoy, we grow, and we celebrate?

Point (theme)

Welcome, fellow Toastmasters. My name is Danny Banks, and I’m proud to serve as your District Director for 2024–2025. This is going to be an incredible year. In October, we’ll celebrate 100 years of Toastmasters, 100 years since our founder, Ralph Smedley, started the first club in California. That means we’re entering the second century of Toastmasters, and we get to be there at the very beginning. And we’re stepping into that century on a strong foundation. Last year, our district achieved Select Distinguished Status, which means more members, more clubs, and more distinguished clubs. In other words, more people are gaining the skills and confidence to speak in public, to speak up at work, in their communities, and in their families. This year, I want us to keep that momentum going and give that gift to even more people. So my theme this year is simple: Enjoy, Grow, and Celebrate.

First (enjoy)

First, enjoy. I want us to enjoy our meetings. We come together, we make friends, we laugh, and we have fun. Ralph Smedley said it wisely 100 years ago: “We learn best in moments of enjoyment.” Let’s build clubs where people feel disappointed when they have to miss a meeting, because it matters to them. Friendship and fun are not extra. They are part of how we learn.

Second (grow)

Second, grow. We’re in Toastmasters because we want to develop. We want to become better speakers, and we want to become better leaders. This year, I’m challenging all of us to set ambitious goals. Aim for the next level. Take the next step on your path. Step up and lead in your club, your area, or your division. Growth is for every one of us, and we all come here to develop professionally and personally.

Third (celebrate)

Third, celebrate. We have so much to celebrate. We have strong clubs, and we see real transformation. People walk into our meetings almost too nervous to enter the door, and just months later, they’re speaking in public. That is worth celebrating. Let’s celebrate the icebreaker. Let’s celebrate Level One. Let’s celebrate progress on a path. Let’s celebrate when someone becomes an Accomplished Area Director. Let’s make sure that in everything we do, we celebrate.

Conclusion (call to action)

So, Toastmasters, as we step into the next year and the next century of Toastmasters, here’s my challenge to you. What goals are you going to set for yourself? And how are you going to make sure that we enjoy, we grow, and we celebrate?

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Danny Banks "New Year Message from District 71 District Director Danny Banks" Speech Analysis | speaking.app