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 2024-2025 – Sachidanand Deo

My journey with Toastmasters began in 2018, fueled by a passion for public speaking and competition. However, it was Didi Gu-Chiang, then Area Director, who truly ignited a new spark. Her extraordinary dedication inspired me to transform our club into a distinguished one, and her influence propelled me to step into the role of Area Director myself.

The call from Abhijeet Joshi, offering me the Area Director position for G4, marked the beginning of an incredible chapter. Under the unwavering guidance of Hrishikesh Gokhale and Abhijeet, we dared to dream bigger. We made Area G4, Division G, and the entire District achieve President’s Distinguished status.

Succeeding Hrishikesh as Division G Director was a challenge I embraced, determined to build upon his legacy. I was incredibly fortunate to lead a truly “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) team of Area Directors: Manoj, Chandana, Sanja, Mark, and Preetha. We shared a singular vision, broke down our ambitious goals into manageable steps and celebrated every victory along the way.

We hosted regular division council meetings, categorizing clubs and implementing targeted actions. Our detailed plan, combined with the flawless execution by our Area Directors and club officers, led to a historic achievement: Division G became President’s Distinguished!
This success was no accident. It was the culmination of meticulous planning, laser-focused execution, and, most importantly, the immense support of many. Raji, Anna, and Wendy were constant beacons of guidance and active support throughout the entire year. I extend my deepest gratitude to them, as well as to the entire District Executive Committee (DEC) for their insightful discussions and thought-provoking brainstorming sessions.

Let us continue to embody the powerful Toastmasters mantra: “If you get everything out of Toastmasters, you will never get out of Toastmasters!” May we “speak boldly, lead fearlessly” and continue to inspire, achieve, and elevate together.

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 2024-2025 – Mark Lin

Instead of me, this Area Director of the Year award should go to three people: Sach Deo, Raji Bandanapudi, and Wendy Fan. But I’ll gladly accept the award for them!

Truly, the reason we achieved President Distinguished was because Raji and Wendy allowed me to get involved in charting a new club: Bloom Energy. Without adding a new club, we couldn’t be President Distinguished.

Next comes Sach. When we started, he set the bar high by saying Area G4 was President Distinguished last year. He told us to divide our clubs into 3 buckets: green, yellow, and red. My green clubs were I’m Feeling Chatty and Toastmasters in Motion. I thank Chatty and TMIM for running on your own. My red club was Now You’re Talk[In], a LinkedIn club. I felt connected to them because they reminded me of my own company club. In short, they turned around and got distinguished.

Another thing that Sach saw and I didn’t was Toastmasters in Motion could be distinguished. They needed 2 DCP points but only had two level 1 completions. He told me to do a Speakathon and he was right! So this one was all him. All in all, it has been a great year. Under their leadership that’s how we got to where we are today.

Area Director of the Year 2024-2025 – Sharon Yu

Being recognized as the Area Director of the Year is an incredible and humbling honor. When I first joined Toastmasters, I was focused on my own journey of growth. I never imagined it would lead to such a fulfilling leadership opportunity, and for that, I am immensely grateful.

My journey as an Area Director began with a simple, yet profound moment. I remember it vividly when our District Director, Raji, officially inducted me into the role. In that moment, I not only felt a great sense of responsibility, but also an incredible wave of excitement for the year ahead.

Our success is a reflection of the team that surrounds us. I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of the Division D leadership team. Thank you Chirag, Latha, Shiv and Susan! Your camaraderie and unwavering support created an environment where we could all thrive. Thank you for the shared laughter and the collective determination to serve our members.

Of course, the true heroes of this story are the incredible clubs in my Area. I learned what it means for a club to achieved Distinguished status. To the officers and members of TGIF Management, Study Group Toastmasters, Galaxy Speakers, and Astera Labs Toastmasters, thank you. You embraced the challenge and put in the hard work, making our area D4 Select Distinguished. This award belongs to every one of you who contributed to our shared success.

On a personal note, there are three individuals I must thank for being my guiding stars on this journey. Anna, your mentorship has been invaluable. Raji, your leadership and encouragement have been a constant source of strength. And Wendy, your friendship and support have meant the world to me.

Thank you once again for the opportunity and this incredible honor.

Club Officer of the Year

This award recognizes a Club Officer whose dedication, commitment, and area team significantly contributed towards achieving success for the Club and its members.

Criteria

Club Officer of the Year 2024-2025 – Janet Tsai

My Toastmasters journey started after I started working and a colleague invited me to join our corporate Toastmasters Club. Without knowing exactly what it was, I said sure, I’ll join. In the back of my mind, I was thinking since I am a new employee, I might as well join the club and meet some new colleagues. Besides, how bad could it be?

Little did I know what I was getting myself into. After finding out what Toastmasters was about, I became terrified! What?! You need to write speeches and speak in front of people? Someone is counting my ums, ahs, and you knows? I have to speak impromptu during the Table Topics sessions? What is this? I don’t need this stress, I want to get out of here. But oh wait, I’ve already paid my membership fees for six months, I don’t want to waste my money! So I told myself I’ll stick around for six months and then quietly leave.

I still recall my first ice breaker speech–hands shaking, can’t keep my eyes off my notes, will not dare to look up and make eye contact. But I survived. After being in the club for six months, I noticed myself speaking with fewer filler words. The more I practiced speaking, the more confident I became speaking in front of my fellow Toastmasters. The six months flew by so fast and it was the best return on investment of my life. I told myself I must continue to practice speaking because it is so important to know how to speak, communicate, listen, and hone your leadership skills in all that you do. Every profession touches on communication and leadership skills. You have to speak well in any profession that you are in. Leaders make great speeches. Toastmasters International is a place where leaders are made.

I am proud to be the current President of the Top Gun Toastmasters Club, sharing with our members the benefits of what I learned and trained for the past 25 years. I want to thank Henry Miller, Wendy Fan, and Anna Garcia for all of their encouragement in building Top Gun Toastmasters Club, as well as my club’s VP of Education, Bert McMahon and all of our club officers. I am deeply honored to receive this award.

If you haven’t joined a club yet, I dare you to join a club and serve as an officer for at least six months and let me know how it has changed your life. You won’t regret it! Invest in yourself!

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 2024-2025 – Françoise Muller

When I joined Laser Sharp Speakers back in 2008, my main goals were to get better at presenting and feel less anxious when talking to senior leaders. My leadership development journey was gradual, involving various meeting roles, club officer positions, and leadership responsibilities within the District. Continuous learning has been instrumental in my professional growth. I express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to my development.

Despite some challenges, as expected when learning, my growth has been significant. This has enabled me to handle tense situations professionally and positively contribute to the community.

Right now, I am part of Maps Toastmasters, where I share my knowledge with fellow members. When I point out how much better my club mates have become with their presentations and how much more comfortable they are, they are just as grateful as I am for the opportunity the program has provided us. Witnessing others’ growth is a fulfilling experience.

Toastmasters offers a comprehensive learning experience with multiple dimensions. If you find your experience monotonous, consider joining the District leadership team. You can take on roles such as Area Director or participate in committees. These activities expand your social network, enhance leadership skills, and develop essential soft skills. I attribute a significant portion of my professional development to Toastmasters.

Receiving the 2025 Toastmaster of the Year award aligns with my unexpected leadership development trajectory. I cannot thank enough the District Leadership team for this recognition.