13 in 15 members I meet chose to share with me how Toastmasters has changed their life and the people around them or ask me questions about certain policies and procedures that they need clarification on. You could have been one of them. Some I manage to resolve but, some remain as unfinished business.

I have many fond memories of conferences I have attended during my time as a member. If there is something I could highlight to all delegates it would be how conference is an opulent opportunity to thrash unfinished business. I am excited and looking forward to meeting you next week at OURCon.

If you can not attend, I look forward to at-least hearing your voice as we shape the future of our district through your President and Vice President of Education or a proxy of your club. Through informal conversation with the talented Toastmasters at this gathering to formal motions and voting at the District Council Meeting, it is my hope that you will have a say in the binding decisions of our future. Some ways you can help shape the future of District 74 are:

1. Attend the District Council Meeting on Saturday 18 May 2019 at 9am. This meeting will be open to all and FREE of charge to all attendees. If you are a President or Vice President of Education and can not attend, please assign your proxy to a member in good standing of your club so that your voice is heard.
2. Read the reports presented to you by our Executive team and Coordinators particularly the Finance Manager’s report, the District Director’s report and Alignment report which you will be required to vote on.
   Feel free to engage with me or any other officer to seek clarity on these reports. We want you to be in the best position to cast an informed vote.
3. If you have any issue you feel very strongly about that is not well catered in our local policies, I would like to invite you to submit a written motion to our Administration Manager Njabulo Thela on email admin@toastmasters74.org.
   If you have any ideas or feedback that you would like to share with me informally at the conference, please feel free to set-up an appointment with me through my email districtdirector@toastmasters74.org.

It is my hope that you will be able to capitalise on next weekend’s conference to thrash any unfinished business that will enable us to execute our mission and promise more efficiently and effectively. Our future is laden with opportunity and I have no doubt that with your participation, we will shape a wonderful future for our district.

PS: If you haven’t secured your ticket to OURCon, please do so NOW at www.maycon.co.za. #PeopleMakingHistory from across 9 countries in Southern Africa will be celebrating a lot of historic milestones you have achieved this year.

Frank Tsuro DTM

District Director