Athy Toastmasters Receives Top Award - President's Distinguished Club!

Athy Toastmasters Receives Top Award - President's Distinguished Club!

This is the highest level of recognition available for a club.

We met the prerequisites required and achieved at least nine of the 10 goals. This is a top award from Toastmasters International which shows we have continued high standards and that we are a very successful club.

Another year has ended for Athy Toastmasters but this year, 2019 is outstanding!

This couldn’t be possible without its members, however. In Athy Toastmasters we support and encourage each other along our Toastmaster journey and there is a tremendous ethos of this in our club.

Toastmasters is a fun and enjoyable way to improve your communication and leadership skills in a positive, supportive environment A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere.

4 members started the new Pathways educational program this year and have already completed Level 1- Johann Callaghan, Pascal Byrne, John Cagney and Karen Davis. Other achievements this year are Sean O Mahoney and Marie Conlon who both inspired us by achieving their Competent Communicator Award and David Newmark in true leadership style completed his Advanced Leadership Bronze Award. Maggie Owens, Past President, also completed her Advanced Communicator Bronze Award just recently. Deirdre Walsh and David Clinton both successfully completed 3 awards within the last year and received a Triple Crown Award. David Clinton also successfully made it through to the semi-finals speech competition representing our club.

This year Athy Toastmasters decided to have a new award 'Toastmaster of the year'. Loretto Kenny, our area director, received this first memorial award on behalf of our dear friend Adrian Melia who has a very strong connection to many members in our Toastmasters club in Athy and left us with a great legacy to enjoy life.

Deirdre Walsh, as President of Athy Toastmasters says “I'm delighted and proud of our Club. It continues to go from strength to strength. I watched each member grow and gain the confidence and belief to entertain, inspire and develop the essential speaking skills that can help them in front of any audience.”

Deirdre Walsh however, has her heart and soul in our club. She is so passionate and a great stand for everyone in the club. She wants everyone to succeed in whatever their goal is in the club.

Deirdre Walsh has achieved many awards in Athy Toastmasters Club including Competent Communicator, Competent Leadership, Bronze, Silver and Gold Advanced Communicator Awards, A Triple Crown Award, and the ultimate cherry on top, the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Award. This recognition is the highest achievement you can get in Toastmasters and Deirdre is the first Athy person to achieve this highest honour.

Deirdre is full of energy, passion and determination not only has she achieved this highest honour she has also completed an IRONMAN three times. This a 3km Swim, 180km Bike and 42.2km Run. 

Athy Toastmasters celebrated their success and Deirdre Walsh’s top award, DTM recently at the Clanard Court Hotel. Among those who celebrated with us where Cllrs Aoife Breslin, Brain Dooley and Veralouise Behan. We had our own mock ‘Made of Athy’ plaque made for Deirdre which was unveiled by Colm Walsh and her dad, Nick Walsh. Deirdre was presented with a ‘book of your life’ beautifully made by Maggie Owens and Bridie Corrigan. It contained memorable wishes from all the Athy Toastmasters members with photographs and beautiful inspirational quotes. Brendan O Rourke presented Deirdre with an incredible caricature drawing and to top the evening off, Maggie Owens arranged a surprise video from Deirdre Walsh’s top idol, Katie Taylor, who congratulated her on her major achievements and who wished her the best of luck with Ironman in Cork this June 23rd.

Our new incoming President is an amazing and inspirational leader, David Newmark and we all at Athy Toastmasters wish him a great year ahead!

Why not come along and see how Athy Toastmasters might help you? Whether it is to be able to make that father of the bride speech or speak up at a board meeting in work or simply to find your voice in everyday life. Communication is key to relationships, finding your purpose and happiness and you can find all that at Athy Toastmasters.

We meet 1st and 3rd Tuesday every month at 7:45pm in Athy Community & Family Resource Centre, Woodstock Street. We normally take a break during the summer but due to demand we have put on two extra dates, 16th July and 13th August. Venue TBC. Check out our Athy Toastmasters facebook page or our website https://athytoastmasters.com

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