06/09/2026
🏆 Congratulations to our executive team member Ren LaPorte on receiving the President's Award for 2025-2026. Over the past four years she has been instrumental in promoting our community led organisation across social media, web, newsletters, printed media and events.
Ren has over 20 years experience in marketing and design. Initially she grew start-ups through a business that focused on branding and signage. Her career has since specialised in public relations and market research. Ren joined Toastmasters to develop her skills. As a marketing all-rounder, she is incredibly passionate about communities thriving.
Ren LaPorte, pictured below, is also holding the Minadarpwap Award. In Aboriginal tradition, the history of each tribe was contained in the song and the dance. Each Corroboree is accompanied by song and beat. In each tribe, one family has custody of the songs. The duty of the song man is to tell the stories of the tribe in song form and the men dance to this. The song man passes the songs on to his son. If for some reason he does not do this, the history of the tribe can be lost. The totem sign of one song man is the Minadarpwap.
This trophy was originally presented by Col Sutcliffe, a charter-member of Tropic City Club. Like the song man, this trophy is passed on by the person who last received it and it is intended that this tradition remain. Improvement and contribution are essential elements in the Toastmaster journey, and so the person who improves and contributes most in each year wins the Minadarpwap Award. In the 2025-2026, this was awarded to Ren.
Being a part of a community organisation can be very rewarding. If you would like to join our team and develop your skills, please reach out. There are many positions on the executive team and Toastmasters is a great place to begin leadership and transferable skills.
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2022/jan/the-leader-ladder
