Annual Awards

Recognizing exceptional Members, Club Officers, and District Leaders within District 101.

In District 101, we recognize efforts by Toastmasters who lead the way through their example. We have special annual awards to be presented to Toastmasters in various roles for their great contribution throughout the year.

Take a look at the criteria and submit your nomination (self or otherwise) to the District Director by June 15th.

Division Director of the Year

This award recognizes a Division Director whose dedication, commitment, and Division team significantly contributed towards achieving the district mission. Several activities and accomplishments are categorically listed.

Criteria

Division Director of the Year 2025-2026 – Manoj Kumar Biswal

Area Director of the Year

This award recognizes an Area Director whose dedication, commitment, and area team significantly contributed towards achieving the district mission.

Criteria

Area Director of the Year 2025-2026 – Tom Ginsburg

I’m honored to be named Area Director of the Year for Area A4. It took a persistent push from Solarzar Dellaporta to bring me back into the role—having last served in 2014–15—but I instantly remembered the magic of fueling personal and professional growth across our clubs. Division A may be on the “other side of the hill,” but our spirit and drive know no boundaries.

This honor belongs to an incredible team. Thank you to Division A Director Kari Lynn Morgan, Solarzar, and District Director Anna Garcia for always answering the call with unwavering support and insight.

Massive applause goes to our resilient club officers. Through their grit, they turned guests into members and fueled individual success. Together, we brought two clubs to Distinguished status—reviving one from the brink of suspension—and earned Smedley and Select Distinguished honors for two others, proudly elevating Area A4 to Select Distinguished status.

My absolute highlight was celebrating each club’s unique character and collaborating with members worldwide in our hybrid and online clubs—proof of how truly connected our international community is.

Thank you again for this honor. Step up, serve as an Area Director, and let it redefine your Toastmasters journey!

Club of the Year

This award recognizes a club whose dedication, commitment, and officer’s team significantly contributed towards achieving success for its club and members.

Club of the Year 2025-2026 – Los Gatos Toastmasters | Area B1 | Club 02997821

Chartered on July 8, 2013, Los Gatos Toastmasters has served the communities of Los Gatos, Campbell, Saratoga, and the greater Silicon Valley for thirteen years. We are a community club dedicated to developing confident speakers and capable leaders through consistent practice, constructive feedback, and shared leadership.

We meet every Tuesday evening in a hybrid format, welcoming both in-person and online participation. Our membership of roughly 40–45 Toastmasters reflects the professional diversity of the region—engineers, managers, educators, entrepreneurs, and retirees—united by a commitment to personal growth.

The club earned President’s Distinguished status between 2019 – 2025, and has achieved Smedley Distinguished status for 2025-2026. This sustained recognition reflects strong educational progress in Pathways, consistent officer training, and steady membership health. Members regularly step into club officer roles, represent the club at area and district contests, and contribute to the broader District 101 community.

What defines Los Gatos Toastmasters is not only the recognition, but the culture: a supportive, professional atmosphere in which members challenge one another to improve while maintaining genuine camaraderie. We take pride in being a club where new officers are mentored, experienced members stay engaged, and excellence is pursued year after year.

We are honored to stand among our fellow clubs as a Smedley Distinguished club that continues to grow speakers and leaders.

Toastmaster of the Year

Toastmaster of the Year award recognizes a Toastmaster whose dedication, commitment significantly contributed towards achieving the district mission.

Criteria

Toastmaster of the Year 2025-2026 – Declan Shalvey

When I walked into my first Toastmasters meeting in January 2014 with Saratoga Toastmasters, I knew I was in the right place. So much so, I joined Cupertino Morningmasters and San Jose Toastmasters that same month. In my first year, I made 40 speeches and entered my first contest. Contests have been an integral part of my learning and confidence growth.

In my High-Performance Leadership (HPL) project in 2018, I delivered workshops addressing 5 topics to approximately 100 people. That experience was a phenomenal learning accelerant. Over the last several years, workshop delivery has continued to be a learning mechanism and a passion for me. Since 2018, I have delivered 165 workshops covering 16 topics to approximately 3,400 people. Giving back to Toastmasters some of the value I have received and benefited from has been both rewarding and fulfilling.

Though I joined Toastmasters primarily to improve my communications skills, I have found taking on leadership roles immensely beneficial. Since my first year in Toastmasters, I have taken club leadership roles and then broadened that leadership experience into coaching and mentoring new and struggling clubs. I served as Area Director in 2019-2020 and 2025-2026. This experience gave me valuable exposure to a range of inspirational communicators and influential leaders. As I consider my leadership experience in Toastmasters, influencing skills rise to the top in terms of value, both inside and outside of Toastmasters.

I am forever appreciative to District 101 for their trust and recognition with this Toastmasters of the Year award.