d47 sunshiner - march 2015
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F ear is a crippling phenomenon! Most of us have encountered fear at some
point in our lives. Some of us are constantly haunted by a disabling phobia of
one kind or another. Amazingly, most of our trepidations are all in the mind and can
be rather daunting if we allow them to flourish.
Let me share with you my recent encounter with
fear. At 9:00 AM on March 23 I showed up at a local hospital to register for what is considered a
routine examination but one that most people
(especially men) fear – the dreaded colonoscopy.
My personal physician advised me to have one
done at age 50 and for nearly four years I’ve been
“dodging the bullet” - claiming to be too busy.
Due to a history of cancer in my family I decided
it’s time to “man up” – or so I thought!
During the preceding 48 hours known as the prep
period, my mind began to play its usual tricks on
me. That whispering voice in my head proceeded
to tell me every reason why I should not go on
with the procedure. It told me everything that
could go wrong and practically every good reason why this was a bad idea. Upon
arrival at the hospital, I was so happy that the parking lot was full to capacity. Ah,
good reason to go back home! This thought was quickly interrupted by a tap on my
car window. The security guard directed me to the overflow parking area. As I
walked toward the building my fear mounted with each step as the whispering in my
head became more intense. When I arrived on the inside I was enthusiastically
greeted by a waiting medical team. As if by magic, my anxiety level immediately began
to lower. Before they attempted to start any procedures they sat with me and
walked me through every step of the process. They knew that if they were to stand a
chance of making my fears dissipate they must first show me support and
encouragement. Within minutes they had me feeling comfortable. The reassurance
that I had the best doctors along with a competent and caring support team at my
service reinstated my confidence. They rolled me into the “OR” and the last thing I
remembered was the countdown as the anesthesiologist made me repeat after her, 10
– 9 – 8 – 7 – 6…! It’s now 12 hours post procedure and here I am writing this article.
Obviously there was nothing to fear; it was just a state of mind!
What fears are crippling you from progressing in Toastmasters, in your civic involvements, your relationships, your businesses and in your careers? It took me
three years to complete the Competent Toastmaster (CTM) manual, now Competent
Communicator (CC) - because of fear! Almost every time the VPE scheduled me to
Facing fear; It’s all in the mind!
Organization Name
Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1
Newsletter Title
DISTRICT 47
THE SUNSHINER News from Southeast Florida and The Bahamas
2014-2015
District 47
March 2015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Club Anniversaries
Toastmasters across District 47
District Highlights
Moments of Truth Lt. Gov. Education & Training Jeanine Kinsey updates our progress. Pages 4-6
Slate of officers
The report of the nominating committee, Page 7.
Spring Training
Lt. Gov. Marketing Lou Brown charts club growth. Pages 8-10
PRO HEADLINE
Public Relations Officer Marlene Bryan offers a plethora of tips. Page 12
Division Contests
Photos from some Areas on the road to the Spring Conference Contests. Pages 14-18
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speak I caught an imaginary flu. You see, the real virus was –
FEAR! What was it that helped me through those early
challenges in Toastmasters? It was the same mechanisms that
helped to suppress my fears in the “OR.” The support, the
encouragement, the coaching and mentoring – that’s what made
the difference. It’s usually all we need to boost our confidence
and propel us over the speed bumps in the road to success.
Fellow Toastmasters, don’t wait until fear tries to cripple you.
Be proactive and reach out for help now - Seek a mentor! They
will support you and help you to reaffirm your self-confidence.
Your Club Officers and District Leaders are here to serve you
and to help you grow in the program and in your personal life. They will help you to disable your fears and enable your talents
and abilities. Meanwhile, if you have already mastered how to
conquer your fears then you have an obligation to pass it on by
extending a hand to someone else. Help a Toastmaster, family
member, business associate or friend to fight off the grip that fear
has on their life! In the words of Zig Zigler, “The best way to get
what you want out of life - is to help enough other people get
what they want out of life!” That’s the way it is in Toastmasters
- Where Leaders Are Made.
Toastfully,
Anthony (Tony) Longley, DTM
District 47 Governor, 2014-2015
MEET #TMD47
THE SUNSHINER
Published by Toastmasters International District 47: Southeast Florida and The Islands of The Bahamas.
Submit articles, questions and comments to [email protected]. DISTRICT 47 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
District Governor
Anthony "Tony" Longley, DTM
Lt. Governor Education and Training
Jeanine Kinsey, DTM
Lt. Governor Marketing
Louis “Lou” Brown, DTM
District Public Relations Officer
Marlene M. Bryan, DTM
District Secretary
Ruth Field Beck, ACB/CL
District Treasurer
Laura Thezine, ACS/ALB
District Sergeant At Arms
Thomas Plant, ACB/ALB
Immediate Past District Governor
Francis Molina, DTM
Division Governors
Div. A: Heather Mahoney, ACS/ALB
Div. B: Karen Lake, ACB/ALB
Div. C: Michael Thorn, DTM
Div. D: Valerie Johnson, ACB/ALB
Div. E: Jason Stewart, ACS/CL
Div. F: Deborah Young, DTM
Div. I: Delmaro Duncombe, DTM
OTHER DISTRICT OFFICERS
TLI Training Coordinator: Antoinette Fox, DTM
Contest Coordinator: Indira Sands
Fall Conference Chair: Diana Loy, DTM
Spring Conference Chair: Lydia Harris, DTM
Club Coach & Advocate Chair: Beverly Cordner, DTM
Webmaster: Stanley Lloyd, CC
Parliamentarian: Matt Kinsey, DTM
Audit Chair: Glenn Parks, ACS/CL
Social Media Chair: Maria Alexandra Sanchez, DTM
Sunshiner Editor: Andrea Robinson, ACB/ALB
Copy Editor/Proofreader: Hieu Huynh, DTM
It’s all in the mind!
IN SEARCH OF ROAD WARRIORS
We’re looking for Toastmasters who travel 25 miles
or more to attend chapter meetings and functions.
These are members who absolutely love our
organization, and don’t mind driving, flying or sailing
to reach their destination. This may be a member, or
Area Governor or Division Governor.
Please submit their names for an upcoming feature in
The Sunshiner to [email protected].
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Club Name City Club # Area Division Charter Date Years
Daybreak North Miami 5754 14 A 3/1/1985 30
Weston Area Weston 5758 10 A 3/1/1985 30
Universal Toastmasters Miami Gardens 7653 13 A 3/1/1990 25
Freddy's Forum West Palm Beach 5173 44 D 3/1/1996 19
First Edition Fort Lauderdale 639107 22 B 3/2/2004 11
Florida Keys Marathon 704393 55 E 3/17/2005 10
RBC Legends Nassau 1305066 92 I 3/24/2009 6
West Broward Coral Springs 1575030 24 B 3/14/2011 4
The Trailblazers Nassau 1577647 62 F 3/24/2011 4
Bacardi's Coral Gables 3034531 54 E 3/4/2013 2
Latamasters Fort Lauderdale 3043022 20 B 3/1/2013 2
CLUB CHARTER
ANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary greetings
are extended to the following clubs. Thank you
for your contribution to the growth and success
of District 47. On behalf of District Governor
Tony Longley, the District Executive Committee,
and all members across South Florida and Islands
of The Bahamas, we wish you a successful,
President’s Distinguished Year!
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H appy Spring! Spring is a great time of year for growth and
rebirth. For Toastmasters, it is a time to plant new leaders, help new
and current members grow and gear up to PARTY!
Club Elections
Club elections for all clubs should be held the first meeting in May. This means
that now is the time to have your nominating committee working to recruit
and select the officers who will take your club into the next year.
Here are a few suggestions that can help make your leadership team strong:
· Look for your newer members who are enthusiastic and have fresh ideas
to be part of your leadership team.
· Look to strong members to anchor the team as Vice President Education
and President
· Don’t burn out your members by using them over and over again.
· Be sure that you have a new president. Remember that the President is the one position that is not supposed to serve
more than 12 months at a time.
· Plan the transition after the election. How are you going to transition the club to the new team instead of just handing
them the reins on July 1st and wishing them luck?
· Remind officers that they are expected to attend training in the Summer AND Winter to support the success of the
club. The first Trainings will be in June and information will be out next month.
Mentoring
Mentoring is a critical part of any club Education Program. It is the responsibility of the Vice President Education to ensure
that the mentoring program is happening. They can, and I would even suggest should, have other club members who help to
make sure this is happening. The VPE has a big job, and it is easy to say “we’ll all just help the new members” and not assign
individual mentors. But new members aren’t the only ones that need mentoring!
Here are some tips for helping all members grow:
· Existing Members
o Members are renewing right now for the next 6 months. Find out what they want to accomplish in the
next 6 months and pair them up with someone who is strong in the areas they are seeking help in.
o Call the members who are not renewing and find out why? This is the Vice President Membership’s role,
but what is being done with the information? If you assigned them a mentor, would they stay on?
· New Members
Developing strong leadership requires thought, fresh ideas
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· New Members
o Understand that when “everyone” helps, often “no one” actually does. Assign one person to be the official
mentor, and then everyone can help mentor.
o New members need the individual attention. Telling them to call anyone often means they don’t call
anyone at all.
o In my experience, the members who join and leave shortly thereafter did so because they did not get the
mentoring they needed and felt lost.
Remember that you want your members working on their Competent
Leader Manuals as well as their speaking manuals, and one of the
requirements is to mentor a new or existing member. Everyone in the club
can help someone and help themselves at the same time.
Did I say PARTY?
You bet I did! April 24-26 is our Spring Conference and you don’t want to
miss out! This is our Diamond Jubilee year, and we are putting together a
Dazzling program for you!
· President Elect Jim Kokocki will be visiting the Bahamas for 4 days
before returning to Florida as our Guest of Honor at the conference. He
will be our Key Note speaker on Friday night, and will do two educational
sessions during the weekend.
· Friday night is the Opening Ceremony and Table Topics Contest
Dinner Event
· Saturday morning we will be offering twelve workshops on a range of subjects from speech writing and leadership to
running and judging contests. There is also a special event for all First Timers at 8 AM, so don’t miss that if this is your first
conference.
· Saturday lunch is a Birthday Party! We have several Past District 47 Governors who will be in attendance and we will be
celebrating 60 years of success as a District.
· Saturday afternoon is the Annual Business Meeting. This is your opportunity to elect the officers who will run the
District for 2015-2016. Proxy information will be coming out soon so that you can ensure that your club has a vote!
· Saturday night is the Governor’s Gala! This will be our International Speech Contest and DTM Walk. Dress it up and
come out for an amazing night.
· OK, so where’s the PARTY? Both nights, after dinner, we will have an After Party! Dancing, Story Telling and a cash bar
are just some of the highlights. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer.
Developing strong leadership requires thought, fresh ideas
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· Sunday morning will be the final event with DTM Jim
Kokocki doing a workshop for all who wish to attend.
Now for the important details. If you want to come, you
have to register online at
www.toastmastersd47.org. There is NO On-site
registration, and we expect to sell out, so be sure to
register before midnight on April 14th!
Incentives
Your clubs have all been working hard this year to meet
your goals, and we want to reward you. Every club
President has received an email with their club incentive
points and a form to send in. Please be sure that you get
that form turned in NO LATER THAN April 10th so that
you can receive the prizes that benefit your club
most. Any club earning points that does not submit a form
by that date will receive the default prizes noted on the form.
Keep pursuing excellence, and let’s end the year where we know we belong, ON TOP!
Thank You,
Jeanine Kinsey
Lieutenant Governor Education & Training
District 47 Toastmasters
954-778-0599 (cell)
www.toastmastersd47.org
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Listed below are candidates for District 47’s 2015-2016 year as
selected by the nominating Committee. Elections will take place at
the upcoming conference in Fort Lauderdale.
Leadership Role Candidate's Name
District Director (DD) Jeanine Kinsey
Program Quality Director (PQD). Louis Brown
Club Growth Director (CGD) Chim Francisco
Division Director D-A. Jose Alvarado
Division Director D-B Mark Ayers
Division Director D-C Paulo Schneider
Division Director D-D E. Anita Newman
Division Director D-E Phyllis May
Division Director D-F Elvis Collie
Division Director D-I Leonardo Burrows
SLATE OF OFFICERS March 28, 2015
Report of the Nominating Committee, Kristina Kihlberg, DTM, chairman
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“In this game, if you’re not getting better every day, then you’re falling behind.”
Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants
It’s a time for veterans to assess their past performance and realign their
goals in the face of actual results. It’s a time for new members to
showcase their value and talents as they vie for spots on the team or
positions of greater importance. It’s a time for all to continue to hone
their strengths and address their areas of improvement based on
feedback.
Sounds like Spring Training, right? Well, it is. Spring Training for
Toastmasters! This is a great time for your club to take stock of your
achievements to date, to realign your goals, if necessary, based on
performance to date, and to continue, or begin, succession planning. As we head into the last quarter of the Toastmaster’s cycle, the focus is on
educational and membership growth goals.
To date, over 65 clubs have paid (at least) the minimum number of
membership dues to maintain good standing. Congratulations! If you have
not yet paid your membership dues, please do so soon to avoid jeopardizing your club’s good standing. Don’t wait
until the March 31 deadline!
The Membership Building campaigns are in full swing:
Talk Up Toastmasters has brought in almost 150 new members in February! Thank you for spreading the
word and continue to do so until the end of the campaign on March 31.
The Annual Membership Program, which runs for the full year, from July 1 to June 30, has brought in
hundreds of new members thus far. Way to go District 47!
Many clubs have conducted Open Houses over the past few months. The District 47 Open House incentive of
$25 is still available to help you offset costs. Get new members for your club and a check in the mail! Just
follow these simple steps:
Provide me ([email protected]) with information about your Open House at least two weeks
prior to the event (the earlier the better), including a copy of your event flyer and your plans for
spending the money.
Within two weeks after the event, send me a copy of your guest sign-in sheet.
Complete a district expense reimbursement form (supplied upon request), attach receipts totaling up to
$25, and submit these items to the district.
The $25 incentive will be available for Open Houses conducted until May 31.
Toastmasters, it’s our time for Spring Training
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Toastmasters, it’s our time for Spring Training
Many clubs have already taken advantage of these programs. Don’t be left out! One last campaign will be taking
place soon. Don’t miss all the details in the next Sunshiner.
New clubs means that additional people in our geographic region can share in the amazing benefits of the
Toastmasters program. Please welcome Wynwood Inspire.Us Toastmasters to our growing District 47
family. Wynwood chartered on February 9 in Division E, Area 50.
New members are an important part of a club’s success. New members bring fresh ideas for helping our clubs
succeed. Congratulations to the following growing clubs who gained new members in the month of February:
1 New Member:
Boca Raton Noon Toastmasters
Club
Broward College Toastmasters
Chapter
Cable Revolutionaries
Toastmasters
Club Paradise
Club V.O.I.C.E.
Crossroads Club
Cutler Bay Toastmasters
Davie Toastmasters
Daybreak Toastmasters Club
Destino Toastmasters
Florida Keys Toastmasters Club
The Fountain of New Life
Toastmasters Club
Friendly Club of Fort Lauderdale
Givers Gain Toastmasters
Hollywood Toastmasters
Homestead Toastmasters
Miami Beach Toastmasters
Miami Lakes Club
Miracle Mile Toastmasters Club
NCCI Toastmasters
The Palm Beach Toastmasters
Club
Pembroke Isles Toastmasters
Pembroke Pines Club
Pompano Beach Toastmasters
Port St. Lucie Speakers
Power-Full Voices
Proud Speakers Club
Sensor Toast Club
Talk of the Town Club
Talking Heads of Stuart
Toast of the Gold Coast Club
Treasure Coast Toastmasters
Club
WCR Palm Beaches Noon
Toastmasters
West Broward Toastmasters
Weston Area Toastmasters Club
2 New Members:
Bill Gove Golden Gavel
Boca Raton Toastmasters
Brickell Toastmasters Club
Broward Bilingual Toastmasters
Club
Delray Newsmakers Club
DeVry University
Doral Toastmasters
Electrifying Voices
FAU – Toastmasters Club
Grove-Gables Toastmasters
The Luminaries At The Boca
Chamber Toastmasters Club
Miramar Bilingual Speakers
Toastmasters
Palm Beach Noon Toastmasters
Club
Plantation Club
Sawgrass Toastmasters Club
Scientifically Speaking
South Dade Toastmasters Club
Wellington Toastmasters Club
3 New Members:
Abaco Lighthouse Beamers
Chickcharney Toastmasters Club
City of Delray Beach
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Club Awesome Toastmasters
Coral Gables Club
Miami Dade Toastmasters Club
4 New Members:
1st US Portuguese Toastmasters
NSU Toastmasters
5 New Members:
Motorola Communicators Club
North Miami Beach Toastmasters
Club
6 New Members:
Toast of Las Olas
16 New Members:
Toastmasters at FIU Business
Do you work for a company with 100 or more employees at a single location? Does your company have a
Toastmasters club? If not, think about starting one. Whatever product or service your company delivers, effective
communication and leadership skills are necessary for professional growth. Many members of District 47 are dual
members of community and corporate clubs which provides them with additional opportunities to develop their
skills. Starting a new club is not as hard as it sounds. Contact me directly ([email protected]) for details
or check out the self-service materials at Toastmasters International:
https://www.toastmasters.org/Membership/How-to-Start-a-New-Club
Best wishes as you continue with your Spring Training!
Yours “In Pursuit of Excellence!”
Louis Brown, DTM
District 47 Lt. Governor Marketing
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TOASTMASTERS ACROSS DISTRICT 47
OUR MEMBERS ARE OUT AND ABOUT
Club 1600
Toastmasters greet
each other during
the annual Ladies
night held at Super
Clubs Breezes,
west Bay Street.
With members
saying this was one
of the greatest ever
and ladies saying they were totally blown away, it appears the
Club has set new standards and raised the bar for Club 1600 ladies night. One lady said this was one of the best nights of her
life!
Submitted by Toastmaster J.C. Sweeting
CLUB 1600 TOASTMASTERS Publication Date
It may be an understatement to say
that Paul Finkelstein has caught the
Toastmasters bug. Perhaps the bug
caught him.
Whatever the case, Toastmaster
Finkelstein has been busy within his
club, division and district. At the fall
conference he served as an official
photographer. He also has lent his
considerable photography skills to other contests, and on the division
and district Facebook pages.
Recently, he scored an achievement of which he is most proud.
After a whopping six months, he earned the competent
communicator designation. As of March 16, he has completed two
advanced speeches. Congratulations, Paul!
On Monday, Feb. 23, Delray Newsmakers
celebrated the club's 20th anniversary!
Dignitaries and past club members stopped by
to say hello and to celebrate with us.
Dignitaries included Mike Thorn, DTM &
Division C Governor; Lou Brown,,DTM & Lt
Gov Marketing, District 47; Hieu Huynh, DTM;
and Chim Francisco DTM & past Division C
Governor. Club alumni members in
attendance were Jerry Fernandez ,DTM, and
Terri Karst. We were quite honored to have
FIVE DTM’s with us for the evening.
During brief, Table Topics-style presentations,
the dignitaries each congratulated us, shared
memories, and encouraged us to look towards
the future (and of course, to continue
learning). Martha Drescher, Area Governor,
led the entre meeting in a wonderful one word
Table Topics session. Thanks to the planning
team led by Caroni O’Kelly, for organizing this
event.
During the regular meeting, we were both
entertained and educated on topics ranging
from Black History Month, to Immigration to
Negotiations and a very challenging one word
Table Topics session.
Our experienced club members performed
very well – even with all of the very
accomplished guests in the audience.
Overall, it was a memorable, fun and inspiring
meeting. The club truly is blessed and
appreciates all the support that we receive
from the Division and District. The club
members are energized by this milestone
achievement and are working hard towards
their next individual achievement. The club will
achieve President’s Distinguished again this
year – 8th year in a row and is looking forward
to another 20 years of Toastmasters fun and
learning!
Submitted by Toastmaster Barry Doctor
DELRAY NEWSMAKERS
WEST BOCA TOASTMASTERS
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TOASTMASTERS ACROSS DISTRICT 47
OUR MEMBERS ARE OUT AND ABOUT
COMMONWEALTH BANK BLUE DIAMONDS TOASTMASTERS
Commonwealth Bank Blue Diamonds Toastmasters Club #4209559 was officially welcomed into the District 47
family on February 17 during a Charter Ceremony conducted by District 47 Governor Anthony (Tony) Longley,
DTM. The Installation of officers was performed by Division I Governor Delmaro Duncombe, DTM, and assisted
by Area 90 Governor TM Franklyn Winder. Below are photos from this special event.
At left, Tony Longley conducts charter ceremony. Right, Ozvon Pratt is installed as president of the new club. Below are the charter members, along with Longley, Duncombe and Winder, who joined in the celebration.
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T he Marketing Department of Toastmasters District 47 is responsible for all aspects of marketing, club-
building, and member- and club-retention efforts within the district. This includes defining an overall
marketing strategy for the district, developing outreach and retention efforts with existing community and corporate
clubs, and penetrating new markets. Additionally, the marketing area supports challenged clubs and helps them to
become Distinguished.
The marketing strategy guides the district in meeting membership and club-growth objectives. The team is led by
the Lt. Governor Marketing who, with the approval of the District
Governor, appoints members to chair marketing committees. The Committee Chairs help the Lt. Governor Marketing design,
develop, and implement district marketing projects. Together, the
marketing team creates a strong club-building program by
appointing club sponsors and mentors for new clubs and club
coaches and advocates for existing clubs that are struggling. Our
mission is to build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving
excellence in the Distinguished Club Program.
Introducing Your Marketing Team:
Louis Brown, DTM – Lt. Governor Marketing
Beverly Cordner, DTM – Club Rescue Chair (Coaches and
Advocates)
Alejandro Crespo – Division A Coaching Chair
Matt Eggersston – Division B Coaching Chair
Rhonda Garcia – Division C Coaching Chair
Barbara Strasdas, DTM – Division D Coaching Chair
LaKeesha Morris – Division E Coaching Chair
Elvis Collie – Division F Coaching Chair
Leonardo Burrows, DTM – Division I Coaching Chair
Michael Schoen – Club Extension Co-Chair (Sponsors and Mentors – South Florida)
Vanessa Scott, DTM – Club Extension Co-Chair (Sponsors and Mentors – Bahamas)
Rich Otten, DTM – Gavel Club Chair
Helping Others Helps Ourselves
The marketing team needs you! Several clubs in District 47 are struggling with low membership and need the help of
experienced, knowledgeable Toastmasters to survive. Several prospective clubs are in the midst of being formed and
need the help of enthusiastic, well-informed Toastmasters to succeed. If you are not yet a DTM, you will need to
serve as a club sponsor, mentor or coach in order to satisfy the DTM requirements. If you are a DTM, you will
receive enormous satisfaction helping fledgling or struggling clubs succeed in their quest to become Distinguished.
Training is required to serve in these roles and will be offered at all upcoming Toastmasters Leadership Institute
(TLI) events. Please see the district website – d47.toastmastersdistricts.org – for more information on TLIs, including
dates and schedules. Please contact the Lt. Governor Marketing at [email protected] if you have any
other questions or need more information.
Consider being a club sponsor, mentor, coach or advocate – you won’t regret it. Your help today will positively
impact generations of Toastmasters to come!
Marketing team needs you!
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THE ROAD TO DIVISION TITLES
SCENES FROM DIVISION CONTESTS
Photos
By John
Schneyer
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THE ROAD TO DIVISION TITLES
SCENES FROM DIVISION CONTESTS
Photos by John
Schneyer
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THE ROAD TO DIVISION TITLES
SCENES FROM DIVISION CONTESTS
Photos by
Marlene
Bryan
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THE ROAD TO DIVISION TITLES
SCENES FROM DIVISION CONTESTS
Photos by
Marlene Bryan
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THE ROAD TO DIVISION TITLES
SCENES FROM DIVISION CONTESTS
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THE ROAD TO DIVISION TITLES
SCENES FROM AREA CONTESTS
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THE ROAD TO DIVISION TITLES
SCENES FROM AREA CONTESTS
Photos by
Fabio
Costa
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Got News? Please share with The Sunshiner!
We want to hear from you!
Consider The Sunshiner your source for news and information about the happenings in your club,
area, division and across the district. For this to be a successful endeavor, we need your input.
We’re interested in the events, successes, triumphs and fun in the clubs and in personal feats. This is
the place to celebrate club achievements, milestones, and individual accomplishments.
Please email your information or ideas to [email protected].