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Hello, fellow Toastmasters, and happy new Toastmasters year. I’m Mairead Dillon, your District 71 Director, and I’m really looking forward to meeting many of you as I travel across the UK and Ireland. This year’s theme is: Light the Fire. For each of us, that fire will look a little different. It might be something as simple as bringing a friend to a meeting so they can share their stories. Or it might be something big and life-changing, like landing that new job or securing the promotion you’ve been working toward for many years. Whatever your fire is, let’s pursue it with integrity, respect, service, and excellence. And when we hold each other to account, we’ll do it fairly, kindly, and compassionately. First, we need to make sure our 196 clubs continue to thrive. Strong clubs are the foundation of everything we want to achieve this year. Second, I’m asking each member to bring in at least one new member. That growth will make a real difference as we work toward our district goals. Third, across the UK and Ireland we have so many large cities, towns, and corporations. Let’s form new clubs in those places and expand our reach. To support all of this, we’ll be running many PR events this year, especially at national level, and I need your help to make them happen. If you’d like to join the team and be part of something big, please get in contact with me and I’ll find you a role. My parting message is simple: let’s aim high. Let’s really light the fire, and aim to become the number one district in the world. We can achieve it. I wish you every success this year, and I’m very much looking forward to meeting many of you throughout the Toastmasters year. Thank you very much.