Distinguished Toastmaster Elka Price was elected district director for the
Caribbean Toastmasters District 81 at its recently concluded annual
conference.
Price – the first national of Antigua and Barbuda to hold this position – will
lead the operations of 199 Toastmasters Clubs in 29 territories and oversee
the development of over 3,000 members, from Haiti in the north to Suriname
in the south.
Interestingly, Price became a Toastmaster with the single intention of
improving her speaking skills – just enough to get through an interview for a
job promotion. However, over the past 11 years she has achieved the highest
Toastmasters education award: Distinguished Toastmaster.
One of the Toastmasters’ core values is service. This, coupled with the value of
giving back – which was instilled by her parents – has influenced her to serve
in various leadership positions, from the club to the district level.
Accordingly, she has conducted and assisted in several Toastmasters Youth
Leadership Programs and Speechcraft (public speaking workshops), and also
mentored new members and new clubs.
Distinguished Toastmaster Price is now a member of two of the four
Toastmasters clubs in Antigua and Barbuda. She is a charter member of the
first club, the Antigua Toastmasters Club, and also the AUA Toastmasters Club.
Meanwhile, Toastmaster Treasa James – a member of the Walaldli
Toastmasters Club – will serve alongside her colleague as the District 81
Financial Manager. She also enjoys the distinction of being the first Antiguan
appointed to this position.
In addition to these accomplishments, local Toastmasters are celebrating
Distinguished Toastmaster Dwayne Simon’s second-place win in the District
81 Speech Evaluation Contest, held during the conference. He, too, is a
member of the Waladli Toastmasters Club.
Toastmasters International is a worldwide non-profit educational
organization that develops communication and leadership skills.
