PHILIPSBURG:---- Distinguished Toastmaster Valerie Brazier has been awarded with recognition for Excellence in Leadership by Toastmasters International for leading Toastmasters District 81 to President’s Distinguished District, and the number 5 position in the world out of 97 Districts. The award was received during the organization’s Hall of Fame ceremony held on August 13th at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas Nevada during the Toastmasters world convention.
Serving in the capacity of District Governor Valerie Brazier, Distinguished Toastmaster successfully guided the 154 clubs throughout 26 territories in the Caribbean. She used a strategy of sharing the bigger picture of Toastmasters and empowering District leaders to fully perform their roles, resulting in gaining the support, commitment and hard work of her fellow District leaders, Past District leaders, Club Officers and the entire membership of District 81.
In October 2012, when she served as Lieutenant Governor Marketing, under the leadership of Past District Governor Rolande Tobias, Valerie Brazier was instrumental in putting together the district’s 5 year strategic plan along with other District leaders. During the third year of the 5 year strategic plan and then in the capacity as District Governor for the 2014-2015 Toastmasters term, Valerie Brazier encouraged fellow District Leaders and the entire membership of District 81 to take what they learn in Toastmasters and impact their communities by applying the Toastmasters core values of Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence, in their daily lives.
As a result of the hard work and effort by all members of the District Executive Council, District 81 made history by posting the following achievements:
In the rankings of the three critical success factors by which each District is measured throughout the world and in the regions, District 81 has also been very impressive with its achievements:
CATEGORY World ranking Region ranking
New Clubs 4 1
Member payments 13 2
Distinguished clubs 8 1
Overall 5 1
At the end of her tenure (2014-2015, Toastmasters year) District 81 comprised 155 clubs with 39 Areas forming 6 Divisions. The District is spread throughout the Caribbean with clubs in 26 territories:
Aruba (3), Bonaire (2), Curacao (18), Jamaica (25), Cayman Islands (2), Turks and Caicos (1), Barbados (13), Dominica (2), Martinique (1), Saint Lucia (3), St Vincent & the Grenadines (8), Haiti (27), Dominican Republic (1), Anguilla (1) St Maarten (6), Antigua (1), BVI (Tortola ) (1), St Croix (1) St. Thomas (1) Puerto Rico (11), Saint Kitts (1) & Nevis (1), Sint Eustatius (1), Trinidad & Tobago (10), Grenada (6), & Guyana (8).
As a result of their performance, the District, received great recognition during the Hall of Fame ceremony at the 2015 Toastmasters International Convention at the Casers Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. The District Trio comprising of Valerie Brazier, DTM (St. Maarten), Dawnette Calliste, DTM (Grenada) and Sherry-ann Batson, DTM (Barbados) received awards of Excellence for this great achievement. During the Golden Gavel event Valerie Brazier, DTM was lauded for her outstanding leadership skills and for having guided the Team and District to such high prominence.
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization's membership exceeds 313,000 in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.
