New Beginnings – 2025 Annual Conference
Join us on May 17, 2025 at the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo or in the comfort of your own home. With contests, educational sessions, recognition and more, you don’t want to miss this. Witness the talent and passion of our top speakers as they compete for the spotlight. A spectacular Parade of Banners will kick off the conference, showcasing the vibrant spirit of Toastmasters.
We will also honor outstanding achievers during the Awards Ceremony, including the remarkable DTM, Elite Triple Crown and OTMA recipients. This is the perfect opportunity to share ideas, network, and build lasting connections in a welcoming and engaging atmosphere.
Don’t miss out on the most exciting hybrid conference District 57 has ever hosted! If you are considering volunteering at the conference, please fill out our Volunteer form and be part of something truly special.
Keynote speaker: Diane Pleuss, DTM
Say Yes, Scare Yourself, and Succeed Anyway!
What if saying “yes” to something that scares you is exactly what you need to grow? Fifteen years ago, Diane Pleuss never planned to join Toastmasters. Public speaking? No, thank you. But after one disastrous presentation and an honest nudge from a friend, she took a leap—and that one decision changed everything.
Since then, Diane has:
- Served as District 57 Director, leading the district to Distinguished status
- Held multiple leadership roles including Division B Director, Area Director, District Contest Chair, and Club President
- Built a successful business as a franchise consultant, helping others navigate major career transitions
- Earned a District 57 Leadership Award and led initiatives to strengthen clubs, develop leaders, and embrace technology
But none of it would have happened if she had waited until she felt “ready.” In this keynote, Diane shares how embracing discomfort, taking chances, and asking for help led her to success—not just in speaking, but in business and leadership. You’ll hear:
- The real story behind her disastrous first presentation (and how it led her to Toastmasters)
- How she found herself leading an entire Toastmasters district—before she thought she was qualified
- Why fear is often the best sign you’re on the right track
Whether you’re looking to grow your confidence, step into leadership, or just stop holding yourself back, this speech will leave you inspired to say yes, scare yourself, and succeed anyway!
Join us and get ready to take your next bold step!
A word from Our Supporters
Reach a dynamic audience of communicators, leaders, and professionals! Purchase one of our ads packages to promote your Toastmasters club, showcase your business or organization, recognize outstanding members, share a message of encouragement. Ads will be printed in full color. You can email your JPG, TIF, PDF or Photoshop files to tiffydawnjones [at] gmail . com or review our instructions for more information. We recommend using an image quality of 72-150 dpi. Ads might not promote contestants or candidates for District office. Please reserve your ad by May 10, 2025. Questions? Call Tiffany at 510-513-2510.
News and Updates
Unlock New Insights at the District 57 Conference Education Sessions!
Posted on May 11, 2025
At this year’s District 57 Annual Conference, our Education Sessions promise to be one of the most valuable aspects of your experience. Whether you’re a club officer, aspiring leader, or…
The Honorable Superior Court Judge Joselyn Jones to Receive Toastmasters District 57 Communication & Leadership Award
Posted on April 28, 2025
We are so excited to be able to honor Judge Jones in this way. Thank-you to our own Past International President Michael Notaro, DTM for making this outstanding nomination. Judge…
Promote Your Business While Supporting the Toastmasters District 2025 Annual Conference
Posted on April 28, 2025
To both offset conference expenses and highlight the remarkable businesses within our community, we are offering an exclusive opportunity to advertise in our printed Annual Conference program. This program is…
Agenda
- Setup
- Attendee arrival begins
- Continental Breakfast
- Evaluation Contest
- Conference Opening
- Welcome
- Parade of Banners
- Remembrance
- Keynote
- Introduction of Keynote Speaker
- Keynote Speaker; Distinguished Past District Director, Diane Pleuss
- Morning Sessions
- DTM Announcement with line-up
- Breakout Ed Sessions
- Lunch Break
- Afternoon Sessions
- Breakout Ed Sessions
- Year-end Awards known: Elite Triple Crown and OTMA
- Break with snacks
- Contest
- International Speech Contest
- Announcement of Winners – Evaluation and International Speech Contests
- Conference Closing
- Clean-up
- Post Toasties Location: TBA
Lunchtime at the Conference
Enjoy a delicious selection of lunch options that will keep you energized and ready for the afternoon sessions! Whether you’re in the mood for a light bite, a hearty meal, or have dietary preferences, we’ve got something for everyone. Each lunch is served with an apple, chips, chocolate chip cookie, and bottled water. Relax, network, and recharge — lunch is served!
Classic Turkey Club
Smoked turkey with Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on sourdough bread.
Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
Grilled chicken with romaine, parmesan, Caesar dressing and croutons in a hearty grain tortilla
Smoked Ham, Brie and Apple on Sourdough
Smoked ham with brie cheese, Granny Smith apple, baby arugula and Dijonnaise on sourdough
Hummus Wrap with Zucchini and Dukkah
Tortilla with grilled zucchini, hummus, red pepper, baby spinach, red onion and dukkah seasoning – Vegetarian & Dairy Free
Lodging
Housing is available on campus. Each room is $30 for the one night. There are two bunks per room. If people want to share a room, one will reserve a room for $30. Yes, $30 is such a deal! Why? Because you have to bring your own sheets (or sleeping bag) and towels. When we run out of rooms, overflow can make reservations at the Double Tree Hotel. It does not look like we will run out of rooms. Room reservations close Friday, May 9 at noon.