DISTRICT 45 | DIVISION B | AREA 14 | CLUB #1468
Kennebec Valley
Toastmasters
Augusta's home for communication and leadership development - proudly serving our community since 1977.
49
YEARS STRONG
3
WAYS TO MEET
1977
CHARTERED
50
Celebrating 50 years in 2026-2027!
Half a century of voices, leaders, and community in Augusta, Maine
A TOASTMASTERS' TOASTMASTER
Grace walks in- and never looks back
GD
Grace Durgin, DTM
Member since 1996 | KVTM's first Distinguished Toastmaster
DTM
Area Governor x3
24 Years
The year was 1996. Grace Durgin walked into Kennebec Valley Toastmasters - and from the start, she became a team player. She didn't simply attend meetings, she shaped the club, mentored its members, and left her mark on everyone who had the pleasure of sharing a room with her.
Grace held every club officer role at least once, served as Area 5 Governor three ties, and competed in the District 45 Humorous Speech contest twice. Those who heard her famous "Pantyhose" speech know exactly how funny she was. She also earned her Distinguished Toastmaster designation - becoming Kennebec Valley Toastmasters first DTM.
DTM
KVTM's first
Distinguished
Toastmaster
x3
Area 5 Governor,
three times over
x2
D45 Humorous
Speech contestant
24
Years of service to
KVTM
THE FAREWELL
A meeting she'll never forget
After 24 years, Grace made the decision to retire from Toastmasters. KVTM gave her a rousing fond farewell; Grace had no idea the meeting was in her honor!
Grace's farewell speech
A DTM to the end, Grace compared Toastmasters "back in the day" to Toastmasters now - giving the club a mini-history lesson on how KVTM meetings had changed over the decades. Her speech was well thought out, inspiring, and entertaining.
All of that in 6 minutes and 55 seconds!
Table Topics that evening had a theme: A Toast to Grace. Members raised a toast with words that said it all:
"...thank you for making me a better speaker, and a better person.
"...thank you for your kind words and entertaining speeches.
"...leadership, beauty and style...
"...it's all in the name - Grace.
There were cheers. There were tears. There was laughter. It was a quintessentially Toastmasters farewell.
"Walking into Kennebec Valley Toastmasters 24 years ago was one of the best decisions of my life."
- Grace Durgin, DTM
THE AWARD
PERPETUAL AWARD
The Grace Durgin Teamwork Award
In Grace's honor, Kennebec Toastmasters created a perpetual award that will be given each year to the member who best embodies the spirit of teamwork - just as Grace did for 24 years.
Awarded annually to the member who best demonstrates teamwork, collaboration, and the sgenerous spirit that defined Grace's membership.
Grace's legacy doesn't end with her retirement - it lives on every year in the members who lift each other up, just as she did.
PHOTOS
Memories from the evening.
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