District 49 Speakers Bureau

District 49 Toastmasters Can Help You

Are you an organization, business, community agency or group looking for:

  • A dynamic speaker?
  • Presentations at meetings or breakout sessions facilitators?
  • A special occasion speaker or master of ceremonies?
  • Speeches on specialty topics?

The District 49 Speakers Bureau can connect you with dynamic Toastmaster Speakers to enliven your meetings and brighten every occasion!

What is the District 49 Speakers Bureau?

The Speakers Bureau provides speaking services to Toastmasters Clubs, organizations and other groups, such as local schools, and civic and community groups. Our speakers volunteer their time and talent to reach broader audiences and deliver thought-provoking and inspiring content that brings value. They are from diverse walks of life – doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, educators, entertainers, ministries, and community organizers.

What topics can the affiliated speakers talk about?

The bureau features speakers who are knowledgeable in a wide range of topics: Effective Communication, Leadership, Building Successful Teams, Creativity, Innovation, Motivation, Management Skills, Time Management, Special Occasions, Humor, Conflict Management, Information Technologies, Social Media, Entrepreneurship, Criminology, Urban Planning, Engineering, Humor, and many more.

How are the speakers selected?

Our Speakers have completed one of the Toastmasters educational programs (traditional program or Pathways), competed in various speech contests and have advanced Toastmasters designations. All selected members undergo rigorous selection and training process by the District Speakers Bureau Committee.

Is there a charge for a speaker?

By Toastmasters International Rules, our speakers do not charge for speeches arranged through the District 49 Speakers Bureau. However, they can accept an honorarium or gift, meals or being compensated for reasonable travel expenses. Should an organization give, which often they do; monetary honorarium, the funds will be deposited 50% to the District 49 and 50% to speaker’s club to be used for educational purposes such as educational materials.

How can we invite a speaker?

For more information and making speaking engagements, please contact the Speakers Bureau Coordinator at [email protected].

Available Speakers

Rose Kirland - Keynote Speaker, Hawaii

Rose Kirland, DTM, PDD

Marketing, Sales, Public Relations, Banking, Motivation

Recent Speaking Engagements
TEDx Hickam, 2020 Vision

Distinguished Toastmaster Rose Kirland has been a Toastmaster since December 2010. Throughout the years Rose has served in many leadership positions, including was a Past District Director 2017-2018 and District 49 Public Relations Manager 2019-2020 term. In this capacity Rose took her 41 years' experiences in public relations and marketing, media, publicity and applied those skills and talents as Public Relations Manager to help further District 49 fulfill its District mission.

Kirland career is Mortgage Banking since 1979, professional Speaker, Public Relations and marketing specialist , and a life skills coach. She is currently authoring two books inspired by her mother's wisdom. Family is everything to Rose, one of 15 siblings and a mother of 3 wonderful sons. Rose says 'added to the bunch are a whole lot of feathered friends and a bunny!'

Rose speaking career includes Keynote address to non-profit organizations and was a TEDx Hickam speaker in February 2020 at Hickam AFB Hawaii.

A few testimonies when Rose Kirland speaks are " notably the most dynamic speaker I've heard" , "wow! Inspired that Impossible simply means I (a)m possible ", "making moments that matter" and so forth!

Rose is a dynamic, high energy, motivational and inspiring speaker! Her forte includes Keynote addresses of topics relating to sales, marketing, public relations, game achievers, conflict, finding your voice, dealing with change, body language, budget, real estate, simple steps to being a great public speaker, and the competitive edge. Afraid of heights? With over 40 years Mortgage Banking experience from a clerk to Vice President of PNC Financial Rose will share how to overcome the fears of business heights and win!

Sherry Imamura-Ryan

Sherry M. Imamura-Ryan, DTM

Parenting as a Grandparent, Discrimination, Supervision, Empowering for Success

Recent Speaking Engagements
Central Pacific Bank Loyalty Masters Club

Sherry Imamura-Ryan joined Toastmasters in 2000 and earned her Distinguished Toastmasters, the highest educational award in Toastmasters. Sherry is a member of Pineapple Country Toastmasters, Mililani Toastmasters, Kamehameha Toastmasters and an advanced club, Catalyst Club. Sherry’s passion is mentoring other Toastmasters and participating in the Youth Leadership Program, teaching middle and high school students to speak more confidently. She has served in many club officer positions and has served as Area Director for two terms and one term as a Division Director supervising and monitoring 4 Area Directors and 16 Toastmasters clubs. In 2018, Sherry was named District 49 Toastmaster of the Year.

She worked for the Federal government for 37 years, specializing in equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, special emphasis programs and discrimination complaints investigations. After retirement, Toastmasters is her full-time passion!

Sherry’s two children and ten grandchildrens’ “ life adventures” have been the humorous and inspirational highlights in her speeches. Her presentation topics range from parenting as a grandparent, discrimination, supervision, and empowering oneself for success.

Willie Jones

Willie Jones, ATM, WCPS

Communication and Leadership

Recent Speaking Engagements
TEDx Hickam, 2020 Vision

Willie Jones, is Toastmasters International World Champion of Public Speaking, 1997.

While not traveling the world, Willie conducts speaking, training, seminars/workshops, consultations expounding on communication and the leadership spectrum as well as giving motivational keynote addresses to audiences.

Among his many notable Toastmasters accomplishments is his 2018 District 49 Program Quality team leader of the ‘speakers / training network’.

Gloria Shishido

Gloria Shishido, DTM, PID, PDG

Leading in Volunteer Organizations

Recent Speaking Engagements
TEDx Hickam, 2020 Vision

Gloria Shishido is a Distinguished Toastmaster, Past International Director, Past District Governor and District 49 Pathways Guide. She retired from The Queen’s Medical Center after 38 years in clinical laboratory and human resource management. Gloria also retired from the Hawaii State Center for Nursing as a project coordinator. She holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

A Toastmaster for over twenty years, Gloria is a member of several clubs including Liliuokalani Toastmasters Club and an advance club, Na Hoku Kai Toastmasters. As a former Toastmasters International Board of Directors member, Gloria was a “working ambassador” for the organization to develop and support policies and procedures to guide Toastmasters International. Gloria has a passion for life long learning and making a difference in the lives of the people she comes into contact.

Gloria has developed presentations: “Leading Volunteers”, “Leading Without a Title” and currently working on another. Leading volunteers in a collaborative, consensus-building team without any monetary incentives or the ability to discipline, Gloria has learned to be courageous in dealing with difficult situations.

Bobby Cravalho

Robert Cravalho, MPA, DTM, AS, PDG

Executive Leadership, Administrative Communication, Conflict Management

Recent Speaking Engagements
TEDx Hickam, 2020 Vision

Robert Cravalho is a retired Honolulu police officer with over 30 years of service. His expertise is in executive leadership, administrative communication, and conflict management.

Robert joined Toastmasters International in 2005 and is a past District 49 Governor. He Is one of 82 accredited speakers in the world and the first from District 49. Robert has demonstrated his ability to combine his expertise with the mastery of the spoken word. His client list includes government agencies, corporate organizations, and charity groups.

Robert is passionate about helping others to be successful and is grateful to be a part of the District 49 Speaker’s Bureau.

Aiko Hemingway Toastmasters

Aiko Hemingway

Benefits of Toastmasters

Recent Speaking Engagements
TEDx Hickam, 2020 Vision

Aiko Hemingway, a native from Hokkaido Japan, has been a Toastmaster for 2 and a half years. Aiko currently is the Club President at her home club Windward Winners Toastmasters and also a district leader in District 49 as a District Director.

Aiko started her Toastmasters journey when she made the decision to change her life. She was tired of being shy and scared of speaking in front of people. Through Toastmasters program, she learned how to step out of her comfort zone and has built her online coaching business to teach English pronunciation and business. Aiko coaches Japanese clients in the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan and her clients include corporate executives, business owners, and entertainers. Her expertise is in language learning, mindsets, social media marketing and solo entrepreneurship.

Aiko's passion is to let many people know about what Toastmasters can give them. You will be amazed how fast you can change and grow through the program!

Terry Chodosh Toastmasters

Terry Chodosh

Fraud Investigations, Senior Fitness

Recent Speaking Engagements
TEDx Hickam, 2020 Vision

Terry Chodosh has been a toastmaster since 1980 in San Francisco, Hawaii Kai and in San Pedro Ca. & now back again in Hawaii Kai. I have achieved the Certified Toastmaster designation & have won the area Tall Tales contest in Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to win the Hawaii state district 49 Table Topics championship for 2019.

Professionally I have had a 28 year career in the US Secret Service in New York, Palm Springs Ca with former president Ford, San Francisco , Honolulu , retiring out of Los Angeles.
I also have spent years in corporate security in 2 Fortune 100 companies as well as in the insurance and real estate industries.
I completed the Ironman Triathlon in Oct 1982 and have done two solo channel swims of the Auau channel ( Lanai to Maui) in 1987 & the Kalohi channel ( Molokai to Lanai) in 1989. I am currently semi retired & spend my time Outrigger canoe paddling with Huli Nalu canoe club and ocean swimming.

Terry can speak on a variety of topics including fraud investigations and senior fitness issues.

Diane Piela

Diane Piela

Motivation, Empowerement

Recent Speaking Engagements
Kona Rotary Club, Hawaii; Heartlink Network, California

Doctor Diane Piela is a published best selling author and an Inspirational Speaker.
She successfully trained as a Family Medicine Physician and practiced in Rochester, New York, where she grew up, for 20 years. She is a big dream achiever and goal achieving expert, not only achieving her professional dream of becoming a physician but also her personal dream of moving to Hawaii. She is an exceptional story teller and has a passion for sharing her journey through an empowering message of perseverance, hope, encouragement and positivity. She has a captivating personality and story to inspire audiences to overcome obstacles and live their dream. Her passion is inspiring audiences to never give up, not be limited by challenges and making challenges or disabilities grow into opportunities. Her book is titled, The Journey of a Lifetime, Moving To Hawaii.”
She also speaks to audiences about moving to Hawaii and the best ways to do that.

Become a Member of the Speakers Bureau

Are you interested to participate as a speaker in the District 49 Speakers Bureau? The more you speak outside the club, the better presenter you will become and the more your club will be known in the community. As a member of the Speakers Bureau you will:

  • Give back to the community.
  • Build name recognition for Toastmasters International.
  • Expand the community’s awareness of your Toastmasters club.
  • Get an education credit if your presentation meets project requirements and a toastmaster evaluator is present.
  • Develop many networking opportunities.

What are the requirements of participating in the District 49 Speakers Bureau?

  1. Must be a member with a club in good standing of Toastmasters International.
  2. Have completed Level 2 of Pathways.
  3. Be willing to enthusiastically promote Toastmasters and its core values at your speaking engagements.

To participate in the District 49 Speakers Bureau, please fill out this application and email it to the Speakers Bureau Coordinator at [email protected].

Last modified: January 26, 2023
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We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.
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