Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

05/26/2026

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 46
by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

WHAT TO DO WHEN SUBTEXT IS NOT SUBTLE: A Lesson in Leadership Presence

In Toastmasters, the real message is not always said in words. Sometimes it is in the awkward pause, the confused guest, the nervous speaker, the unanswered volunteer request, or the member who says, “I’m just busy,” but slowly disappears.

That is subtext.

Strong leadership presence means noticing what the room is telling you before the room has to shout.

If guests look lost, explain the agenda in plain language. If a speaker seems nervous, offer encouragement before advice. If members are quiet, ask clearer questions instead of assuming they are not interested. If no one volunteers, check the workload, the expectations, and the energy behind the ask.

Correction starts with curiosity. Pause. Observe. Ask, “What might be happening underneath this moment?”

Toastmasters is not just where people learn to speak…it is where leadership skills are developed in everyday situations.

Learn to notice what is unsaid and do not ignore the signals. Pause, read the room, respond with intention, and course-correct before small moments become missed opportunities.

Create a room where people feel seen, heard, supported, and ready to take on new challenges.

CTA: At your next meeting, notice any subtext in members or guests, course-correct in the moment, and lead with intention and presence.

Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

Happy 23rd Birthday to Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters! 🎉

For 23 years, our club has been a place where voices grow stronger, confidence takes root, leaders emerge, and friendships flourish. We are proud of the speakers, mentors, guests, and members who have made this community so special.

A very special thank you to our Founder, Jean Tracy, DTM, whose vision created the foundation for 23 years of growth, connection, and powerful speaking.

Here’s to continuing to learn, laugh, lead, and speak with powerful presence for many years to come! 💙❤️💛

05/19/2026

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 45
by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

Your Future Member Called. Did Anyone Answer?

If your membership is struggling, please stop chasing the big quick fix. start here: respond promptly and look alive.

I have written about this more than once now, and I sincerely wish I did not need to keep saying it. But it keeps happening.

We hear it again and again from guests:
“I contacted a few other clubs, but no one responded.”

That is not a small, missed detail. That is a missed member.

If your club is worried about growth, stop searching first for the flashy campaign, the perfect open house, or the one big membership miracle. Membership growth begins with the basics—and one of the most important basics is answering people who have already raised their hand.

At Public Speaking Northwest, we treat every inquiry like a warm invitation. We respond the same day whenever possible, and always within 24 hours at the latest. That simple habit matters. Interest cools quickly. A prompt, friendly reply says:
You matter here. We are glad you reached out.

Make sure more than your VPM receives website contact-form messages. Vacations, busy weeks, and overloaded inboxes should never become lost opportunities.

Your website matters too. When a potential guest lands there, does it feel active, welcoming, and worth visiting? Does it show real people, current events, club personality, and a clear next step?

Quick Club Checkup
Does your contact form reach 2–3 club officers?

Regarding ‘contact forms,’ do a check regularly. Sometimes there are glitches.

Does your VPM or backup officer reply within 24 hours?

Does your website feel current, warm, and lively?

Are your meeting details easy to find?

Do guests receive a clear invitation to visit?

CTA: Audit your club’s guest experience this week.
Where can your club improve its first impression?

Your next great member may already be waiting to feel seen. Presence begins the moment someone reaches out—and someone answers.

Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35

05/13/2026

I am proud to support Victoria Mathew as she runs for our next District 2 Growth Director.

Victoria is the kind of leader who shows up with clarity, consistency, and action. She was a trusted partner to me during last year’s Pathways to Brilliance Conference, where I served as Marketing Chair, and she also assisted me during a live workshop for DECA Washington.

She is brilliant, dependable, action-oriented, and always focused on moving the mission forward. Victoria embodies leadership presence—not just in what she says, but in how she serves, collaborates, and sets the example for others.

District 2 would be fortunate to have her leadership in this role.

Kelly Fallucca
VPPR Public Speaking Northwest
Area Director, C35

District 2 Toastmasters
District 2 Toastmasters

05/12/2026

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 44
by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

Put Some Sparkle on That Standard

Doing the bare minimum may check the box, but adding sparkle creates the experience people remember.

In Toastmasters, business, and life, standards matter. Show up. Be prepared. Follow the agenda. Use the materials. Do what you promised. But do not stop there. Look for one simple way to elevate the experience for your audience.

For example, the next time you present Toastmasters material, do not rely only on the provided text-heavy slides. Use them as your foundation, the standard, then bring the message to life with strong images, real-time examples, and stories with which your audience can instantly connect. A powerful photo is still worth a thousand words, especially when it helps people understand the point faster. A slide packed with text, however, can make even great information feel flat.

The goal is not to show off.

The goal is to show…not tell, so your audience stays engaged, understands the message, and remembers what matters.

Other places you can add sparkle:
Create a stronger opening for your meeting.

Add a unique hook or opener to your next speech.

Welcome the guest before they feel lost. Replace a boring slide with a bold visual.

Connect with a person who looks like they need a boost after the meeting.

Bring energy, warmth, polish, and personality to everything you do as an officer or club member.

Sparkle is not about being flashy.
It is about being intentional and creating memorable experiences.

Call to Action:
This week, pick one standard task and add one extra touch of sparkle. Then watch how people respond.

Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35

05/09/2026

What a pleasure it was to see one of our fellow Toastmasters shine in a whole new element.

Maria Shneerson was graceful, confident, and completely captivating. It was a beautiful reminder that presence is not limited to the stage or the podium. Sometimes it shows up in the way someone moves, connects, and shares a different side of who they are.

Brava! It is always inspiring to witness someone step into another spotlight and do it with such elegance.

05/05/2026

I received my mentor certificate by email today, and it reminded me of something important: leadership in action deserves to be celebrated!

I have the pleasure of serving the AGL Toastmasters – Amazon club alongside two incredible people who consistently go beyond what is required.

Our appointment is not finished yet, but why wait to acknowledge people who are making a difference?

Thank you, Joanna Tavera, District 2 Club Growth Director, and Katie Munoz, my fellow club mentor, for your dedication, encouragement, and heart for helping others grow.

True leadership is not about a title. It is about showing up, serving well, lifting others, and helping people find their voice.

I am grateful to be part of this dynamic trio. Pun intended. 😊

Kelly

05/05/2026

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 43
by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

Presentation Presence Peeves: 10 Toastmaster Presenting Peeves That Sabotage Your Presence

Following are ten tiny habits that quietly sabotage your presence—fix even one and watch your presence soar!

1. Peeve: Holding your lapel mic like a handheld.
Solution: Clip it at chest level, stop touching it, and speak naturally.

2. Peeve: Starting while you are still walking to the front of the room.
Solution: Walk, plant your feet, make eye contact, take one breath, then begin.

3. Peeve: Apologizing for being nervous, unprepared, or “not good at this.”
Solution: Delete the apology and replace it with a confident opener or a clear first line.

4. Peeve: Reading your opening from notes.
Solution: Memorize the first 2–3 sentences and use your notes only after you are connected with the audience.

5. Peeve: Standing behind the podium while telling a story.
Solution: Step out from behind the podium for stories and return only when you need to reference notes.

6. Peeve: Turning your back to the audience to point at something.
Solution: Point with an open hand while facing the audience, or glance back briefly then turn forward to speak.

7. Peeve: Toastmasters jargon overload when guests are present.
Solution: Use plain language first, then explain any Toastmasters term in one simple sentence.

8. Peeve: Ignoring the timing lights… then going over fifteen minutes.
Solution: Rehearse with a timer and cut or adjust sections so you land under time confidently. Or extend your time on the agenda.

9. Peeve: Ending and instantly fleeing the stage.
Solution: Hold a two-second final pause, smile, then exit calmly and shake the Toastmasters hand.

10. Peeve: Asking for feedback in your closing (“Tell me how I did!”).
Solution: Close with a clear takeaway, a strong final line, and let the evaluation do its job.

CTA: Bring this list to your next meeting and use it as a mini-workshop to work on eliminating bad presenting habits to keep your presence polished and intact.

Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35

04/28/2026

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 42
by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

My Ego Objects: How to Receive Feedback Without the Freakout
Last week I posted an unedited video I delivered to my club, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters, on how to give the perfect evaluation, “Toast Don’t Roast.”

This week is the counter video on how to receive feedback, “My Ego Objects: How to Receive Feedback Without the Freakout.”
Receiving an evaluation can feel personal.

After all, you worked on the speech, practiced the words, and took the virtual or in person stage. Then someone offers suggestions, and suddenly your inner judge grabs the gavel and shouts, “Objection!”

It is important to remember that even though our ego might be feeling attacked, evaluations are not attacks. They are gifts of perspective. Feedback helps speakers grow, strengthen self-awareness, and improve their impact.

Check out the video on the Public Speaking Northwest YouTube channel for tips on receiving feedback without the freakout:
https://youtu.be/zGzLK4YLz_w?si=BgAUw2mM6h1qwnKk

This Week’s Challenge:
If your club does not record your speeches. Record yourself. Do not watch your speech on the same day. Watch it the next day when you can be more objective. Be sure to try out the filter I shared in the video. It is in the doing of our craft that our actions reward us with mastery.

Sparkle & Shine, Friends!
Kelly Fallucca
VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters
D2 Area Director, C35