Luisa Montalvo – Keynote Speech
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93023072903?pwd=SzEyRFg1akR5SW5vbVhDaU1NaE1MQT09
Before her appearance in the International Speech Contest Semi Finals in 2019, Luisa Montalvo shared her motivation for competing: “I want to make my mom proud of her daughter.” She achieved that and more.
Luisa competed at the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking against 33,000 other contestants from 143 countries. In her hopes of breaking cultural barriers with humor, Luisa Montalvo won 2nd Place in the contest. Luisa returned home and showed the second-place trophy to her 87-year-old mother who danced with the trophy, and playfully insisted it was hers to keep.
Luisa Montalvo was born and raised in South Texas. She later moved to Austin, Texas where she worked at Abbott Laboratories for 25 years before retiring at the age of 53. For the last 3 years, Luisa has been busy rescuing homeless dogs and cats. She has fostered and cared for over 850 homeless dogs.
Luisa first joined Toastmasters in 1989 for 3 years when she worked at Abbott Laboratories. She then rejoined again in 2013 and has been a member ever since. She takes on countless speaking engagements where she sheds light on public speaking techniques by sharing anecdotes from her life, continues to break cultural barriers with humor, and talks about honoring the sacrifices made by the women who came before her. “I feel it is my duty, in fact our duty, to all the women of the past, all of our ancestors, anybody who had to go forge a new path—they deserve our respect, and they deserve our commitment in trying to make this a much more level playing field for women and men, for everyone.”
Luisa’s advice for anyone who wants to be a professional public speaker: “I feel that if the person can speak about something that is completely relatable to the entire audience, that’s a start. Adding tasteful humor and a personal story are also good steps to take in becoming a successful speaker. I believe the most important rule to follow for success is to leave your audience with a powerful message, one that has the audience thinking but also motivates them to take action”
2019 World Champion of Public Speaking
Lunch Events
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98763053396?pwd=UCtXTnZoT2ZUelBwSWd1Tk1WZHpwZz09
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C&L/Juris Kursulis Spirit Award (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)
C&L Winner: Debbie Nez-Manuel
– AZ Democratic National Committee Woman at Arizona Democratic Party
– Board Member at First Things First
– Board Member at Arizona Humanities
”By honoring the strength of our ancestors, their sacrifices, the responsibility to improve the world for generations all begins with me.”
A Tsenjikini clan member and member of the Navajo Nation, Debbie Nez-Manuel is founder of Morning Star Leaders, an Arizona nonprofit that teaches native youth the core values of indigenous life through cultural programs and leadership opportunities. A recipient of the 2016 Arizona Governor’s Volunteer of the Year Award, Debbie is recognized for committing her life to serving urban and rural youth throughout Arizona.
Debbie was born in Gallup, New Mexico and has lived in the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community for 16 years with her husband and daughters. Her early years in the small community among hardworking ranchers, weavers, mill workers, teachers, attorneys, silversmiths, and veterans instilled not only a strong work ethic and identity but also the responsibility to be a leader wherever she is. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University in 2001 and a master’s degree from Arizona State University in 2003. She worked for the tribal government as a social worker for 12 years. She is a popular speaker for the AZ Speaks program of the Arizona Humanities Council.
In 2013, Debbie and several colleagues realized that many young tribal people living in urban areas had become disconnected from their home cultures and languages. Many struggled with getting jobs, more education, and finding their own pathways to adulthood. She helped start Morning Star Leaders to address those issues. Today, Morning Star is well established and a premier source of initiatives for Native youth development and support in education, employment, and other areas. The Arizona Humanities Council honored Morning Star with its Community Partner Award in 2019.
Second, during the 2019 legislative session, Debbie helped lead a grassroots effort to enact House Bill 2570. Her own story about losing her mother at the age of three encouraged others to tell their stories from around Arizona of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The bill, which passed the House unanimously and signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey, set up a legislative study committee to look closely at the prevalence and cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG). Data have pointed to significant problems throughout Arizona for some time but a comprehensive study with recommendations has not been done. Debbie now sits on the task force with other tribal leaders, law enforcement professionals, state legislators, and others.
Most recently, Debbie became the first indigenous woman elected as a national committee person for the Democratic Party.
Debbie enjoys connecting with her colleagues as a fellow through EmergeAZ, Flinn Brown Leadership Academy, and ASU’s Generation Next Nonprofit Leadership Academy.
Presentation Time
This award will be presented by District 3 at the Hall of Fame Luncheon at the upcoming District Conference.
Criteria
The recipient must:
- Not be a Toastmaster
- Reside within District 3 boundaries
- Agree, in advance, to attend the luncheon to receive the award and to speak at the awards presentation
- Have made a significant contribution to the communities within District 3, through his/her communication and leadership skills
- Not have previously received this award
- In addition, the Selection Committee should select a recipient whose stature and contributions facilitate the efforts of District 3 to generate publicity in the community for Toastmasters and promote Toastmasters attendance at the Spring Conference
| Year | Awardee |
| Spring 2018 | Jody McPhearson Three C’s Youth Project |
| Spring 2015 | Courtney Klein, Co-Founder & CEO of SEED SPOT |
| Fall 2014 | Kristi Tedesco, KVOA News Anchor/Reporter |
| Spring 2014 | Sharon Bates, Anthony Bates Foundation |
| Fall 2013 | Dr. Ron Barnes |
| Spring 2013 | Dr. David Beyda, Medical Director, Medical Mercy |
| Fall 2012 | Dr. Lynn Olslen, Educator and Community Organizer and Facilitator |
| Spring 2012 | Scott Jacobson, Leadership & Community Developer |
| Fall 2011 | Helen Handler, Nazi concentration camp survivor |
| Spring 2011 | Rosie Romero, Radio Personality |
| Fall 2010 | Jason Schechterle, Phoenix Firefighter and community activist |
| Spring 2010 | PJ Dixon, Motivational and Inspirational speaker |
| Fall 2009 | Lew Reese, Radio Personality & community servant |
| Spring 2009 | Brenda Combs, Educator and community activist |
| Fall 2008 | Pat McMahon, Television & Radio personality |
| Spring 2008 | Bill Pepicello, PhD, President, University of Phoenix |
| Spring 2007 | Betty Fairfax, Educator and Philanthropist |
| Spring 2006 | Linda Cobb, “Queen of Clean” |
| Fall 2005 | Bob Walkup, Mayor of Tucson and his wife Beth Walkup |
| Spring 2005 | Dan Davis – KTVK Channel 3 |
| Spring 2004 | Jane Robertson – 2004 Arizona Teacher of the Year |
| Spring 2003 | Laura Lawless – Miss Arizona 2002 |
| Fall 2001 | Robert A. Khan – Firefighter & Spokesman |
| Spring 2001 | Marshall Trimble – Arizona Historian and Storyteller |
| Spring 2000 | Kathleen Mitchell – Community Leader |
| Spring 1999 | Jana Bommersbach – News Commentator |
| Spring 1998 | Jerry Traylor – Motivator |
| Spring 1997 | Dr. Jack Copeland – Heart Transplant Surgeon |
| Spring 1996 | Sheriff Joe Arpaio – Maricopa County Sheriff |
| Spring 1993 | Kent Dana – News Anchorman |
| Fall 1992 | Linda Turley – News Anchor |
| Spring 1991 | James H. Click – Chairman of Board, Interwest Bank |
| Fall 1990 | Michael Dixon – Radio Talk Show Host |
| Fall 1989 | Idelia B. Riggs – Educator |
| Fall 1988 | Jerry Foster – Helicopter News Reporter |
| Fall 1987 | Sister Mary Kathleen Clark – Community Leader |
| Fall 1986 | Joy E. Marx |
| Fall 1985 | Sandra L. Tarlen – Ashes to Life – Burn Support Group |
| Fall 1984 | Larry Nielsen |
| Fall 1983 | Joseph Black – Corporate Leader |
| Fall 1982 | Ken Coy – News reporter and volunteer |
| Fall 1981 | Joel M. Weldon – Professional Speaker |
| Fall 1980 | Mary Jo West – Television Reporter |
| Fall 1979 | Jesse Owens – 1936 Gold Medal Olympian & Humanitarian |
| Fall 1978 | Lori Cox – High School Student Activist |
Juris Kursulis Spirit Award
The Juris Kursulis Spirit Award is bestowed at each District 3 conference upon the person who demonstrates unusual enthusiasm, dedication, and caring for District 3 and its members. The award is in the name of Past District Governor Juris Kursulis, DTM.
Juris and his wife Betty were regular attendees of District 3 conferences for over 30 years. Juris always sported his vest from the 1981 International Convention hosted in Phoenix, and continued to festoon the vest with memorabilia, ribbons, pins, and awards. In 2004, when Juris knew that he had not much longer to contribute to the District, he asked International Director Nancy Starr-Cassidy to take possession of his beloved vest with the promise that it would be used to do something “good for the District.” What better way to honor Juris than to honor those who continue the tradition of caring and giving?
The award is presented at the Hall of Fame Luncheon at each District conference. The winner must be present to receive the award and to earn the right to wear the Vest!
About Juris Kursulis
Juris came to America as a teenaged immigrant, escaping war in his homeland of Latvia. He became a U.S. citizen and joined the Air Force, where he met his bride, Betty, and her two amazing daughters in New Mexico. The family moved to Arizona where Juris went to work for Motorola. He became a member of Voice of Motorola Toastmasters (now Voice of Many), where he remained a member the rest of his life. In 1995, Juris helped form the Leaders Plus club, where he also remained an active member until his passing in 2005.
Juris was a man “bigger than life”–passionate about family, service to the nation, and Toastmasters. He was an outspoken, active member of the Past District Directors Committee and was always willing to challenge leaders to ensure they were doing the right things for the right reasons. In later years, as he needed a cane to assist with his walking, he was known to wave the cane to add emphasis to an important point.
Unknown to many, this bear of a man was truly a gentle giant, always ready to share a quiet word of encouragement to leaders as they made difficult decisions or took other actions that showed their growth as Juris’s Vesta leader, and was a friend to many. He held us to a higher standard, and for that we were grateful.
About the Vest
In 1981, Phoenix served as the host District for the International Convention at the Phoenix Convention Center. The host committee volunteers received vests made of blue denim and embroidered with the conference theme and date. Juris served on the host conference committee and wore his Vest at every conference thereafter.
| Year | Awardee |
| Spring 2019 | Don Griffith |
| Spring 2018 | Sandee Brogan |
| Fall 2017 | Laurie & Lou Rangel |
| Spring 2017 | Michelle Zalak |
| Fall 2016 | Jim Davis |
| Spring 2016 | Connie Weiss |
| Fall 2015 | Eddie Davis |
| Spring 2015 | Jennifer Sarracino |
| Fall 2014 | Ryck Klecak |
| Spring 2014 | Glenn Barber |
| Fall 2013 | Debby Waugh |
| Spring 2013 | Lynne Brasher |
| Fall 2012 | Scott Holly |
| Spring 2012 | Nancy Goins |
| Fall 2011 | Maggie Sherwood |
| Spring 2011 | Diane Travers Shipman |
| Fall 2010 | Kristin Gramando |
| Spring 2010 | Jeannie Enders |
| Fall 2009 | Marc Dratch |
| Spring 2009 | Mike Kaml |
| Fall 2008 | Emi Bauer |
| Spring 2008 | Susan Ball |
| Fall 2007 | Judy Norris |
| Spring 2007 | Steve Broe |
Hall Of Fame Lunch (12:45 PM – 2:00 PM)
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Educational Awards
The Pathways Education Program offers eleven specialized Learning Paths, each consisting of fourteen projects across five levels of progressive complexity. Every Path has both required and elective projects to allow members to customize their learning experience. Members are recognized with educational awards based upon completion of each Level (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 awards). The levels progress from mastering fundamentals to increasing knowledge and skills to demonstrating expertise in their selected skill path. The member is then awarded a certification of proficiency in the skill when all five Levels of the Path are completed. For example, a member who completes Level 3 of the Engaging Humor Path would be awarded the EH3 award.
Paths
The eleven specialized Learning Paths are:
• Dynamic Leadership (DL)
• Effective Coaching (EC)
• Engaging Humor (EH)
• Innovative Planning (IP)
• Leadership Development (LD)
• Motivational Strategies (MS)
• Persuasive Influence (PI)
• Presentation Mastery (PM)
• Strategic Relationships (SR)
• Team Collaboration (TC)
• Visionary Communication (VC)
Pathways Mentoring
In the Pathways Mentor Program, you evaluate your goals as a mentor and the strengths you bring to a mentoring relationship. You then complete a short-term mentorship to apply your skills and then commit to a longer, six-month mentorship to demonstrate your success as a mentor. After you complete all projects in the Pathways Mentor Program as well as an entire path, you become a Pathways Mentor. Your Toastmasters and Base Camp profile will show that you are a designated Pathways Mentor.
The Toastnapper is a member in ONE club and has served as Club President SIX times
District Council Meeting (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/95509799260?pwd=NFNnSUNvb1I1dS9sT1RCRjhNdDJMZz09
More information on the District Council meeting: https://aztoastmasters.org/district-info/district-information/#district-council
International Speech Contest (8:00 pm – 10:00 pm)
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93384907443?pwd=R0VIWjY0Q0t4ZEd2MDZSVVdITTF3QT09
Contestants:
Helen Chapman (alt. Cole McClarren)
Kristen Williams (alt. Jaclyn Clark)
Martha LaMar (alt. Brett Enneking)
Marcy Ortiz (alt. Jeff Isenman)
Michael Desiderio (alt. Antonio Valles)
Serban Morea (alt. Therosia Reynolds)
Silvia Davis (alt. Randi Friedman)
Su Fong (alt. Joyce Buekers)