Candidate Corner
Candidate Corner:
- Bill Vardas: “Candidate for Division B Director”
- Paola Perina: Candidate as PRM
- Natalia Liaropoulou: Candidate for Two Positions: Division E Director and PRM
Bill Vardas: “Candidate for Division B Director”
BILL VARDAS
NOMINATED CANDIDATE, DIVISION B DIRECTOR
FLOOR CANDIDATE, DIVISION G DIRECTOR
Dear Members of the District Council,
My name is BILL VARDAS, and I live in Athens, Greece.
The DLC has nominated me for the position of DIVISION B DIRECTOR for the upcoming program year 2021-2022.
I have been a Toastmaster and a member of the Kifissia Toastmasters Club for over five years now, and I have enjoyed every single moment of it! I have participated in many events, made many friends and acquaintances, met some fascinating people, had lots of fun, and learned a lot in public speaking and leadership!
My leadership roles, so far, have been:
- Club Elections Chair 2018
- Club President 2019-2020
- Area B1 Director 2020-2021 (current position)
- Division B Speech Contests Chair 2021
The position of Division Director is the natural next role for me.
I was born and lived most of my life in Canada. There, I held several leadership positions in non-profit and community organizations. The most notable is the Secretary-General of the Canadian Hellenic Congress, representing over 300,000 Canadians of Greek descent. I moved to Greece 11 years ago. I own a successful property management business. In my spare time, aside from Toastmasters, I listen to music, watch movies, do some yoga and meditation, and socialize both in-person and online.
Division B Director
As Division Director, my objectives for the upcoming program year 2021-2022 are:
- Guide and support the Area Directors so they can keep the Clubs in the best possible way
- As we return to in-person meetings, ensure that all clubs in my Division have reestablished their geographical footings by securing their physical spaces and attracting back members.
- Spearhead a technology project to assist clubs with hybrid meetings
- Support club growth by helping prospect clubs to become chartered and seeking new opportunities for prospect clubs
I have a rich and diverse experience, both socially and in leadership.
I ask for your vote.
Thank you in advance for your support.
BILL VARDAS
+30 69 3030 4484
bv_xyz@yahoo.com
P.S. Since my Division will be split due to Alignment, I am also a Floor Candidate for Division G Director.
Paola Perina: Candidate as PRM
What can a Public Relations Manager do for you? Yes, for you as a Toastmaster, or for you as an Officer? I started asking myself that question about a year ago when I accepted the role of P.R. for Division A. I began my office by pondering how I could best serve the Clubs, the Area Directors, the Division as a whole, and ultimately, how I could best serve Toastmasters’ mission.
My strategy was clear from the beginning: I would ask, listen and deliver. I would support, educate, and create a plan including members, Clubs, and Officers.
Together with VPPRS (there are 30 in Div. A), we had a brainstorming where I could listen to their needs and co-create a plan of action that would be inclusive;
I reorganized our social media channels to increase outreach with the general public and foster a sense of community amongst members. Our following on social platforms increased by 823 people from July 2020 to April 2021. No money was spent to achieve that result;
Next, I set up a “Testimonial Campaign” by designing the campaign structure and got 3 VPPRs on board to work on the project. Together, we published 43 high-impact testimonials in written interviews and videos.
With the team, we developed a “Toastmasters Where?” The campaign showcased every club in our Division and published dedicated posts on our Official Facebook and LinkedIn pages. I got many inquiries from the public who saw the testimonials and the featured Clubs in various cities and regions.
Candidate as PRM
With a P.R. Colleague, I began a talk-show-style series of interviews called “TalkMasters.” We interviewed members from various Clubs about diverse subjects. We also organized a “Townhall” with our Division’s director, dedicating one episode to the Toastmasters/Rotary alliance and one episode to get the members to know district officers through Q&A.
In 2020 and 2021, I held several webinars about Social media management, creative content development, and automated marketing across multiple Toastmasters Districts. (D59 – D95 – D71)
From March to June 2020, I was part of the Moonlit Project international team: through this project, we created a series of ready-to-use marketing materials. We made them available to all Clubs across Europe. I was in charge of analyzing and producing a report on Toastmasters’ competition and coordinated the development of ready-to-use media.
Since January 2021, I have been D109 Conference PR Chair. To promote the Conference, I have created a comprehensive plan (using a mind map format) that works on different levels and uses state-of-the-art strategies specifically developed to encourage virtual conferences. I coordinate a team of 6 people and keep an ongoing collaboration with all Conference Chairs.
Toastmasters is my passion, Public Relations and Marketing are my passion, and building relationships is my passion. Vote for me as D109 PRM for 2021/22, and let my passions work for you, your Club, Area, or Division.
Together, we are stronger!
Natalia Liaropoulou: Candidate for Two Positions: Division E Director and PRM
Division E Director
My fellow Toastmasters,
I have the honor to run from the floor for the position of Division E Director (2021-2022) in the online elections of District 109 in Continental Europe.
I must allow Division E to succeed for the benefit of its members. In doing so, I will consider the members’ interests, the long-term consequences of our efforts, and the Division’s reputation for high standards in a country (Switzerland) where Toastmaster’s life is an essential aspect of social, professional, and personal life.
For further information, especially why a Division Director from another Division is the BEST choice for Division E, click on this link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEdKZW48AM/3KWdEDRfu9RM9EcrZs5kMQ/watch?utm_content=DAEdKZW48AM&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink
PRM
My fellow Toastmasters,
I have the honor to run from the floor for the position of Public Relations Manager (2021-2022) in the online elections of District 109 in Continental Europe.
By voting for me, you vote for:
- Diversity in our District 109 Core Team: I come from Greece.
- Experience: I have been a Toastmaster for six years
- Toastmasters Educational Program for volunteers: I am not a professional Public Relations expert, but YOU will allow me to learn.
For further information, especially my strategic plan for District 109 Public Relations, click on this link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEQ_Swib5o/FJWvu5aY01Sd9iFL2dJCLg/watch?utm_content=DAEQ_Swib5o&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink.