A Season of Success at Western Maryland Toastmasters!

Toastmasters Club wraps up successful year, prepares for new season

Thursday night was the final Western Maryland Toastmasters meeting of the year, and I was in attendance (online). 

The club wrapped up its second full year better than it did its first. 2024-25 saw the club achieve Presidents’ Distinguished status. Not bad for a first year club. This past year brought even more success to the young Toastmasters club. Western Maryland Toastmasters chartered on May 31, 2024. 

On a side note, two area directors in Division C had their home clubs achieve Distinguished status or higher. 

Unlike most traditional meetings, Western Maryland did an awards ceremony for its members. Speech contestants were honored, both from the Fall and the Spring contests. Other awards included Toastmaster of the Year, Outstanding Toastmaster, and Most Improved Toastmaster. 

A couple of the club’s members are also involved with a new club that needs just a few more members to charter. That is the prospective Mineral County Toastmasters club in Keyser, WV, not too far away. 

Three of the club’s members will be serving in the District in the 2026-2027 Toastmasters year. One of them is part of the District trio, the first trio to represent the new District 219. 

Western Maryland finished Smedley Distinguished, having achieved all ten goals on the Distinguished Club Program. To finish Smedley Distinguished, a club must also have 25 members. Western Maryland has 26. Club President Autumn Jose shared that victory with all of the club members. 

After the awards ceremony, past President and current Program Quality Director Sharon Imes installed the new club officers. She began with the Technology Officer (that needs to be an officer role) position and worked through the officers. As new Vice President Public Relations, current President and Area 23 Director Autumn installed her. Sharon is also the incoming District 219 Director and the founder of the Western Maryland Toastmasters club. Following the installation of the new officer slate, incoming President Tammy Fraley spoke and shared her vision for the 2026-2027 Toastmasters year. She encouraged the club members (and guests) to do three things:

The meeting ended early as the club had food to celebrate the end of this successful Toastmasters year. The next three meetings for the club are July 9, 23, and August 13.

BE SEEN…Every member matters.

BE HEARD…Every voice matters.

BE YOU…Every journey matters.

First Half blog post coming early next week

The first half of 2026 is almost complete, and some of the headlines really stand out. In my next blog, I’m going to highlight those events as well as look ahead to July. My birthday ends the 2025-26 Toastmasters year and brings with it a major heatwave that will last into the Fourth of July weekend. 

Three of the events from the first half of 2026 that made news for me include:

• The January 25 snowstorm that was followed by the extreme cold. We spent 18 days below freezing. 
• My friend (fashionable sister) Sara’s baby shower at the Greensburg Country Club during Easter weekend. She gave birth to her daughter, Chloe Grace, on May 20. 
• The End of an Era in Toastmasters as District 10 and District 13 merge to form the new District 219.

Discussing my Cutie’s visit and looking forward to July visits upstairs

Thursday afternoon after waking up, I made a trip down to Cutie’s. The renovations are almost complete. On social media this afternoon, I got to see some of the pictures of the renovations and it looks great. Pretty soon, I’ll be enjoying some of their refreshers. I can’t wait to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte upstairs when the Fall menu rolls out at the end of August. Cutie’s has come a long way in the three years it’s been open. 

Where do my coffee travels take me in July? Well there will be the usual Cutie’s an Caleese stops. I’d like to go to both locations this month. The Fourth of July holiday might be when I make a visit to Export. Caleese on the Trail just opened up a few weeks ago. I’ll also make a visit to Steep Mountain. Possibly on the agenda is a trip to Abigail’s coffeehouse in Ligonier. 

As summer rolls on, I’m interested in taking a road trip to either Grant Coffee in Vandergrift or 1833 in Freeport. They’re a bit of a ride but it would be worth the drive.