Ready for Holiday Talk? — It's the end of the year; do you know where your communication party skills have been hiding? Toastmasters' Let's Talk Holiday Talk webinar—which took place on November 15 to help attendees hone party talk, toasts, and more—was a huge success, with over 5,000 registrants and over 4,000 recording sign-ups. You can still watch it and share it On Demand by visiting www.toastmasters.org/Webinars.

Prepare for Mid-year Training — District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors: You should have completed your Mid-year Training registration. Additional communications about Mid-year Training, including Pre-work assignments, will be emailed to you in the coming weeks. Be sure to schedule ample time to complete the Pre-work. The more prepared you are, the more you'll benefit from the experience.

Area Directors: Prepare for Second Round Club Visits — Each District must establish and maintain positive, supportive relationships with its clubs. Area Directors play a critical role in creating this relationship through club visits, which are required twice a year. However, because clubs may benefit from additional visits and support, we recommend visiting your clubs at least four times per year. The second round of club visits begin December 1 and can be submitted beginning December 15. To continue to participate in the Distinguished Area Program, the Area Director must submit at least 75 percent of the Area Director Club Visit Report compared to the club base. Please reference the District Recognition Program guide, page nine (9), for more information.

Inspiring Speakers: We Want You! — Do you have an amazing talent for capturing a crowd? Apply to be a presenter at an upcoming Toastmasters event! We welcome dynamic moderators, panelists, education speakers, keynotes, comedians, and more, who have experience addressing large international audiences, be it in person or online. Use this form to submit a video and be considered today.

Plan for Year-End Supply Orders — With the holidays fast approaching, it's important to place your supply orders by Tuesday, December 13. All product orders placed by 11:59:59 p.m. Mountain Time on December 13 will be shipped no later than Thursday, December 22. Due to the holiday schedule and year-end inventory, all orders received after that date will begin shipping on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. This includes any orders marked for express delivery. If you have any questions or concerns, please call +1 720-439-5050, ext. 1406 from 8 a.m.—5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, or email supplyorders@toastmasters.org.

Accredited Speaker Program Update — Is there someone in your club or District who should pursue this prestigious designation? Please note some exciting updates to the program, including a brand-new Judge's Guide and Ballot, specifically for Level 1, and a slightly revised application. Download these materials, thoroughly review the Accredited Speaker Program Handbook, and ensure that all application materials are submitted to accreditedspeaker@toastmasters.org between January 1 and January 31, 2023.

District Elections Deadlines — Do you know someone that would like to take on a leadership opportunity within the District? If so, encourage them to submit their District Leader Nominating Form to the District Leadership Committee Chair. Check with your District Director or District Leadership Committee Chair to confirm the deadline to submit the form. Reference Protocol 9.0 District Campaigns and Elections for additional details about the process.

New! District Leadership Committee Handbook — Do you have questions about the District Leadership Committee (DLC)? The District Leadership Committee Handbook has been developed to provide a better understanding of the DLC process to the District leadership team, DLC Chair, DLC members and candidates. The handbook shares ways to identify candidates and to build a leadership legacy in the District. Please take an opportunity to review this important resource today.

The Age of Opportunity — Having a wide range of ages in a Toastmasters club brings fresh scenarios to work and learn from one another in a safe environment. So, rather than fear generational diversity, embrace it. Whether you are in your 20s, 40s, or 80s, there are learning opportunities for everyone.

7 Tips to Brush Up Your Small Talk — Are you dreading the small talk that goes along with those holiday work parties and/or family gatherings? Learn how to have casual conversations with these seven tips.

My Home is Your Home — Last month, Toastmasters unveiled My Home, a more personalized home page experience for members, along with some menu updates, for faster and easier website navigation. Try it out as a leader, then encourage members to try it, simply by logging in. This is also a good time to remind members that the Toastmasters website is full of valuable resources, now made more accessible.

Mid-year Training — Throughout the month of January, Toastmasters International will conduct in person Mid-year Training for 2022—2023 District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors. These District leaders will continue to develop core leadership skills, share best practices, and network with others from around the globe. More information about specific dates, locations, region groupings, and travel will be sent directly to District leaders via email.

Pathways Adoption Reports — Pathways adoption is consistently high, having been above 80% for over two years. As member onboarding has been successful, the Pathways Adoption Report will soon no longer be available in District Central. Instead, District leaders will begin receiving District Performance Data reports biannually. These reports will include seven key metrics of District performance, including annual retention rates, new clubs by country, and paid club growth.