District 205 Winter TLI: Stretch Beyond
Step outside your comfort zone. Expand your impact.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Attend in person or online
Elks Club | 1312 Mission Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
What could happen when you step beyond what feels familiar?
Join fellow Toastmasters at the District 205 Winter Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) for a day of learning, connection, and practical ideas to strengthen your club and expand your leadership potential.
Through storytelling, reflection, and fresh perspectives on leadership, we’ll explore how to recognize the value of our experiences, rethink the limits we place on ourselves, and embrace opportunities to grow.
Whether you join us in San Rafael or online, come ready to connect, learn, and Stretch Beyond.
Registration: $25 in person | $10 online
Pay with either credit card or District Bucks (see tab below).
Keynote: Storytelling Opens Doors
Aaron Samson, Keynote Speaker | TEDx Speaker | Storyteller
3rd Place Winner 2026 Wold Championship Public Speaking
The story you believe about yourself can shape your career and limit what you think is possible.
Aaron Samson’s journey from acting, waiting tables, and selling timeshares to marketing leadership roles at Mattel, Hasbro, Meta, CharacterAI, and TikTok required him to rethink his own story. Through humor, personal experiences, and practical storytelling tools, Aaron will show you how to uncover the value in your past, communicate your transferable skills, and stretch beyond the roles you’ve imagined for yourself.
Discover how to find and tell stories that open doors to new opportunities.
About Aaron
Aaron Samson is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and storyteller whose career spans entertainment, iconic consumer brands, and technology. A Northwestern theater graduate, he transitioned from acting to marketing leadership, most recently serving as Global Head of Trust & Safety Marketing at TikTok. Aaron is a four-time Toastmasters District Champion, three-time semifinalist, and two-time finalist who earned third place in the 2026 World Championship of Public Speaking.
Workshop: Growth Mindset & Continuous Improvement
Karen Burgess, DTM
Region Advisor | Toastmaster for 27 Years
What holds us back from saying yes to leadership, and what might change if we approached those opportunities differently?
In this session, Karen Burgess, DTM, will explore how a growth mindset can help us rethink the reasons we hesitate to step up. Through leadership insights and workshop reflection, you’ll consider how to reframe limiting beliefs, approach unfamiliar responsibilities with curiosity, and see leadership as an opportunity to learn along the way.
Explore how a willingness to stretch, practice, and improve can open new possibilities for you and your club.
About Karen
Karen Burgess joined Toastmasters 27 years ago to become a more confident speaker, never imagining that leadership would become such an important part of her journey.
Since then, she has served as Club Growth Director, Program Quality Director, District Director, and Immediate Past District Director. As a Region Advisor, she supports District leaders in strengthening clubs, growing membership, and developing leadership capacity.
Karen is passionate about helping others discover their potential. She believes leadership begins with a willingness to step outside our comfort zones, say yes to opportunities, and learn along the way.
| Time | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 am 10:15 am |
Welcome & Opening | Welcome, overview of the day, hybrid housekeeping |
| 10:15am 10:45 am |
Keynote Address | Storytelling Opens Doors — Aaron Samson, 3rd Place, World Championship of Public Speaking |
| 10:45 am 11:30 am |
Keynote Workshop | Growth Mindset & Continuous Improvement — Karen Burgess, Region Advisor |
| 11:30 am 12:15 pm |
Networking Lunch | In-person networking / online break |
| 12:15 pm 1:00 pm |
Club Officer Training – Part 1: Leading Together | Interactive overview of all seven club officer roles and how they work together. In-person and online participants together. |
| 1:00 pm 1:45 pm |
Club Officer Training – Part 2: Role in Action | Role-specific case study and discussion. In-person participants gather by officer role; online participants move into seven role-specific breakout rooms with facilitators. |
| 1:45 pm 2:15 pm |
Club Growth in Action | • 10 min: Creating Successful Open Houses • 10 min: Using Speechcraft to Grow & Strengthen Clubs • 10 min: Joint Q&A |
| 2:15 pm 2:20 pm |
Youth Leadership Spotlight | 5–7 minute motivational speech from youth speaker |
| 2:20 pm 2:55 pm |
Hall of Fame & Recognition | Celebrate club and individual achievements |
| 2:55 pm 3:05 pm |
Youth Leadership Closing | 5–7 minute closing speech from second youth leader |
| 3:05 pm 3:15 pm |
Closing & Call to Action | Key takeaways, next steps, thank-yous |
| 4:00 pm 5:30 pm |
DEC Meeting | District Executive Committee members only |
District Bucks can be used to purchase tickets for the TLI.
Here are the steps:
- Club officer checks the District Bucks Report to confirm club has funds available.
- Club officer sends request to Admin Manager at admin@d205tm.org with amount desired.
- Note that this should be for full ticket price; partial amounts are not available.
- Admin Manger will provide the officer with the Coupon Code and the requested amount is deducted from club’s balance.
- Club officer or member purchases ticket using the code in place of a credit card.
Note that Coupon Code must be acquired before making the purchase. They cannot be applied retroactively to credit card purchases.
As District 205 brings together members from the former Districts 4 and 57, we recognize that some of our traditions and practices have been different. One of those is TLI registration. District 4 historically charged a registration fee to help ensure that TLI covered its event costs, while District 57 often offered TLI at no charge.
For this TLI, registration will be $25 for in-person attendance and $10 for online attendance. These fees help cover the venue, food, technology, and other costs required to offer a high-quality hybrid experience while allowing the District to continue investing its resources in programs and support for clubs and members throughout the year.
Join us for a day of fresh ideas, meaningful connections, and opportunities to expand your impact.