NEW ORLEANS — Dr. Ryan Estaris was named “Toastmasters District 68 Area Director of the Year” for the 2019-2020 term. The award was presented by Immediate Past District Director and Distinguished Toastmaster Joel Dawson. This award recognizes an area director whose dedication, commitment and area team significantly contributed toward achieving the district mission.
As an area director, Estaris, endearingly referred to as Dr. E., served as the direct liaison between the district and the clubs. Area directors conduct club visits twice a year within their respective areas to understand and support club needs. In turn, these visits help district leaders understand how to support and meet the needs of each club. It is important that area directors have the support they need to serve clubs.
Estaris, a medical doctor, healthcare executive and adjunct associate professor joined Toastmasters in 2018 to improve his presentation skills and to get over some nervousness in public speaking. In this short time, he earned his Distinguished Toastmaster award. The DTM award represents the highest level of educational achievement in Toastmasters.
“Working to be ‘comfortable with being uncomfortable’ has been a theme throughout my Toastmasters journey,” said Estaris. He added “Entering the doors to my very first Toastmasters meeting in a room with complete strangers was extremely uncomfortable. Over time I became comfortable with the anxiety of it all … meetings, speeches and strangers. Attending meetings became a routine event, speeches turned out to be enjoyable experiences, and the strangers eventually became my friends and then, in a way, a family. Toastmasters has helped me improve my own personal and professional growth, and I wanted to give back and help others with their personal-professional goals. While being involved in leadership roles, I had the privilege to see the incremental, yet inspiring growth of other individuals and clubs week after week. I genuinely enjoy seeing others grow and improve over time and then become comfortable with the uncomfortable.”
