Over the past 10 years, Valerie Brazier has demonstrated what personal development is all about within Toastmasters. Her passion, perseverance and commitment has brought her to the pinnacle of the organization as on Thursday she was awarded with the highest level a Toastmasters can achieve. She is now to be referred to as Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Valerie Brazier. She was presented with the Distinguished Toastmasters plaque along with an official letter from Toastmasters International. The presentation was done by District 81 Lieutenant Governor Education and Training Rolando Tobias during the Philipsburg Toastmasters Club meeting at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library last Thursday.
During the Presentation, Tobias who is also a Distinguished Toastmaster read the message from World Headquarters which commended DTM Brazier on her accomplishment in fulfilling all the communication and leadership requirements set forth by Toastmasters International. "The award indicates that you have developed significantly in your communication and leadership skills, but more so it demonstrates that you have also played a significant role in developing other Toastmasters, your community and Toastmasters International"; the letter stated.
DTM Valerie Brazier is the one of the most qualified Toastmasters on St. Maarten as she has held practically every top position in the 4 levels of the organization. She has functioned as Officer and Club President of the Philipsburg Toastmasters Club, as Area Governor for the 4 clubs on St Maarten. She then moved to a higher level as Division Governor with responsibility for the 29 Clubs in Division A, which comprises Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St Maarten & Puerto Rico. Currently, DTM Brazier sits on the District Executive level as District Secretary, overseeing the administration of the 104 clubs in 17 territories throughout the Caribbean known as District 81.
In accepting her Distinguished Toastmaster award, DTM Brazier explained how upon her return to her place of birth St Maarten back in 2001, she could hardly manage a full sentence in the English language as she had lived in the Netherlands and Curacao for most of her life and spoke mainly Dutch and Papiamentu. In addition to that she was extremely shy and could not imagine herself in front of an audience. However, over the last ten years Toastmasters has enabled her to develop tremendously to the point where she now delivers keynote addresses, trainings and functions in several communication and leadership roles on St Maarten and throughout the Caribbean. In thanking everyone, she encouraged all Club members by saying: "If I can do this and attain the highest level of Distinguished Toastmaster, then all of you as Toastmasters can do it".
