Welcome to Empire Statesmen!
Empire Statesmen is a
Toastmasters International club founded in 1954. Toastmasters is a nonprofit, international organization that helps its members improve their public speaking and leadership skills. We offer a program of communication and leadership projects designed to help men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking. Our club is part of
District 65 Toastmasters.
Our meetings are professionally organized, well-conducted, well-attended and we are a friendly, warm, welcoming club.
We meet every Thursday from 6:30pm-9pm at Ruby Tuesday on Erie Blvd. East in DeWitt. Guests are always welcome to
visit our meetings, where, quite often, many a speech is skillfully delivered with ease, comfort, and humor, in a supportive social environment.
For directions and more information on our meeting dates and events, see our Club Calendar and other links under the Main Menu in the left column of this web page.
Fall 2011 Speech Contest Winners
Congratulations to Empire Statesmen Mel Chesbro and Sam Mehta, who participated in the District 65 Speech Contests. Mel Chesbro won first place in the Humorous Speech contest. Sam Mehta took third place in the Speech Evaluation contest. Mike Okneski also participated in the Humorous Speech contest. All contestants did an excellent job, and thank you to all the Empire Statesmen and their family members who attended the conference to support Mel, Sam and Mike!
Mel Chesbro: Winner, Fall 2011 District 65 Humorous Speech Contest
Sam Mehta: 3rd Place, Fall 2011 District 65 Sppech Evaluation Contest
Sam Mehta: Winner, Fall 2011 Eastern Division Speech Evaluation Contest
- Mike Okneski: Winner, Fall 2011 Eastern Division Humorous Speech Contest
Mel Chesbro: Runner Up, Fall 2011 Eastern Division Humorous Speech Contest
Sam Mehta: Winner, Fall 2011 Area 7 Speech Evaluation Contest
Mel Chesbro: Winner, Fall 2011 Area 7 Humorous Speech Contest
Jim McEntire: 3rd Place, Spring 2011 Eastern Division Tall Tales Contest
Jim McEntire: Winner, Spring 2011 Area 7 Tall Tales Contest
Mike Okneski: Runner Up, Spring 2011 Area 7 International Speech Contest
Bernie Smith: Third Place, Spring 2011 Area 7 Tall Tales Contest
Jeff Beyer: Winner, Spring 2011 Club International Speech Contest
Our members often step up
to the challenges of high office leadership positions in Toastmasters
International ranks. We have recently had the following members in a
role above club level:
- Kelvin Ringold, Sr.: 2010-2011 Area 7 Governor
- Sean Becker: 2009-2010 Area 7 Governor
- Sam Mehta: 2007-2008 District 65 District Governor
- Ed Parmenter: 2007-2008 District 65 Sergeant at Arms
- Ruth Parmenter: 2007-2008 Area 12 Governor
Communicator & Leadership Award Recipients
Congratulations to Pam Gnagy, Tim Horan, Jeff Beyer, Sharron Pearson, Juan Penaloza, Sam Mehta and Bernie Smith who earned their Competent Communicator award by completing their first 10 speeches!
Congratulations to Jessica Hoyt and Pam Gnagy who earned their Competent Leadership award and to Judi Dixon who earned her Advanced Leadership Bronze award!
Welcome New Empire Statesmen Toastmasters!
We are proud to have amongst our members many excellent seasoned public speakers with years of experience, each with an amazing array of skills. We also have many recent members with varying levels of skill (that are fast improving). Our newest members are:
January: Robin Pulverenti
November: Yaschia Kinsey, David Grice
September: Wendi Ackerman
July: Erol Esen
and You?
Our Newsletters
For some old but interesting news from Empire Statesmen, see our
Newsletters.
President's Distinguished Club Status
The Distinguished Club Program (DCP) was established by Toastmasters
International as a general measure of club success. Each year, the
Distinguished Club Program recognizes club achievements in education,
membership growth, club leadership and club communication. The Distinguished Club Program, therefore, has the dual
benefit of helping both the club and its members.
In the Distinguished Club Program, there are ten goals that serve as targets to help a club become a stronger organization.
By achieving a certain number of the targets in this program, a club can earn one of three levels of recognition:
| Achieve five of ten goals | • | Distinguished Club |
| Achieve seven of ten goals | • | Select Distinguished Club |
| Achieve nine of ten goals | • | President's Distinguished Club |
Empire Statesmen Toastmasters achieved all ten goals for 2010-11! Goals include: at least four members completing 10 Competent Communicator speeches; members achieving Advanced Communicator and Competent Leadership goals; Executive Committee members attending officer training; and club membership growth requirements.
To date, we have achieved five goals, which makes Empire Statesmen a Distinguished Club. We are positively on track to being a President's Distinguished Club in 2012! Thanks to all Empire Statesmen club members for their hard work. It is a team effort and we are achieving this honor together.
Sam Mehta Receives Pat Panfile-Ben Luce Award
Congratulations to Sam Mehta, 2009 recipient of the Ben Luce-Pat Panfile Award, considered by many to be the most prestigious award given to a Toastmaster in District 65.
The award is generally given to a Toastmaster who has shown exemplary leadership in organizing, communicating, executing, and spreading the benefits of the Toastmasters program, both within as well as outside the Toastmasters organization. In addition, the award recipient must demonstrate excellent communication skills in all aspects of the Toastmasters program.
The Ben Luce award was first given posthumously to the widow of Mr. Ben Luce, DTM, PDG in 1975. A year later in 1976, the Ben Luce award was given to Mr. Pat Panfile, DTM, PDG, PID, PIP. In 2005, it was renamed the Pat Panfile-Ben Luce award. To date, 34 Toastmasters have earned this prestigious award, of which 23 are men and 11 women. A great majority of the recipients are either DTMs or Past District Governors, or both. Some have even achieved Distinguished District Governor status. The year 1998 was the only year that this award was not given. Besides Sam Mehta, six other members of Empire Statesmen have earned this award.
We observe every day how public communication and leadership go hand-in-hand. The oratorical skills of inspirational leaders move us, together, towards common goals and dreams.
Toastmasters International
Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped millions of men and women become more confident in front of an audience. Our network of clubs and their learn-by-doing program are sure to help you become a better speaker and leader. Why pay thousands of dollars for a seminar when you can join a Toastmasters club for a fraction of the cost and have fun in the process?
Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retiree, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills. By learning to effectively formulate and express your ideas, you open an entirely new world of possibilities. You’ll be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations, and you’ll improve your one-on-one dealings with others.
Don’t worry! Everyone in a Toastmasters club was once at the level you are now. The environment is friendly and supportive, and the self-paced program allows you to build confidence with each speaking assignment. And you’ll love the applause! Constructive evaluation is the heart of the Toastmasters program. Each time you give a prepared speech, an evaluator will point out strengths and suggest improvements. At first you’ll be applauded for your effort; later you’ll be applauded for your skill.
You won’t regret it. Toastmasters currently has more than 200,000 members in 80 countries. Our club is just one of the more than 10,000 clubs located around the world. For our meeting information, please see our directions page.
More About Toastmasters...
