It is hard to believe we are almost six months into the Toastmasters year. I wish to thank every one of you for your time, energy and commitment to Toastmasters. Every speech you do, every meeting you facilitate, every Club, Area or Division you support helps the District grow in some way. We have had the pleasure of welcoming three new clubs into the District. The latest being Wells Fargo who joined at very short notice in December.
Congratulations and welcome Nicola O’Brian, Miran Fernando and the rest of the Wells Fargo team. With a big thanks to Ramesh Halai, the District Demo Lead, for helping to bring this over the line
January, February and March are going to be BIG club growth opportunities not only are we running more ‘Grow your Club’ Drop-in sessions, we have not one, not two but FOUR campaigns to help clubs grow, Bus, Tube, Digital and Global LinkedIn. See below for more information.
These campaigns will lead to many prospects searching for ‘Find a Club’ so please make sure your clubs details are up to date so you don’t miss the opportunity to welcome guests. See below for how.
PLUS, yes there is more, we will be holding a Corporate Summit on 20th January in person, in London to introduce Toastmasters to large organisations who do not yet have a Toastmasters Program. We will share with them the benefits of being able to build communication and leadership skills consistently, at scale, and at low cost, while also strengthening culture and collaboration. Many of our members work in large organisations. If yours does not yet have a TM program please pass on the contact details of the Learning and Development manager or a relevant person to Arnaud Sartre, the District Corporate Lead, who will send them an invite. arnaud.toastmaster@gmail.com
Growth is always top of mind and we have continued the ‘Grow your Club’ Drop-in Sessions. The latest was with Kevin Harrington, Area Director for A17, sharing proven strategies for membership growth. If you missed it you can catch up here.
Don’t miss January’s ‘Grow your Club’ Drop-in Sessions. You can register via the link below.
https://d91toastmasters.org.uk/members/resources/trainer-bureau/
7th January – Grow your Club – Marketing – with Maria Pardo
18th January – Grow your Club – How to run an Open House – with Florian Bay
15th February – Grow your Club – From Prospect to Guest to Member – Nadya Hamedi
Clubs can expand their membership by running an Open House. Do join the Drop-in session in January. In the meantime see below for the benefits of an Open House and hear reasons why your club should run one from both Tunbridge Wells Speakers Club and City of London Toastmasters. Let’s have every club running an Open House, however big or small. Let’s make a difference in people’s lives. For an Open House pack please email Lynnecantorgayer@gmail.com with your name, role and home address four weeks in advance of the event.
As well as an Open House, how about a themed evening. It was a delight to join London Public Speakers on their Alison in Wonderland theme. The Toastmaster was the White Rabbit and the Table Topics Master was the Mad Hatter. (See picture above) Having a themed evening brings fun, energy and provides for an engaging, memorable atmosphere for all, members and guests.
I was joined by Lilian Shaftacola the Districts Regional Advisor who took time out of her busy schedule to visit D91.
She is responsible for Region 10 which covers eight Districts that stretch from Ireland to Russia. See below for her top meeting tips.
There has been lots of activity to help our clubs grow which included incentives for ‘Early Renewals’ and ‘Smedley Award’. Not all the incentives have been claimed, your club has until 31st December to do so, so don’t miss out, claim now.
Once again thank you for everything you do for club growth, every prospect is an opportunity, every guest is an opportunity and every new member has loads of opportunities ahead of them to learn, develop and grow. As we head into 2026, lets make this an incredible Toastmaster year, lets grow our membership, lets grow new clubs and most of all let’s have FUN.
Whatever you celebrate at this time of year, I wish you seasons greetings and a very happy and enjoyable 2026.
Lynne
Campaigns
We are very excited to announce four campaigns to help get the word out about Toastmasters in D91; Tube, Buses, Digital and Global LinkedIn. The perfect time for clubs to spread their reach through; Open Houses, inviting friends, colleagues, posting ‘My Why’ and on social media in general.
For the Tube and Bus campaigns, Allen Paul, our District PR Manager will soon be announcing the contests on our socials so keep a look out and be ready to take a picture.
Tube – Starting on Monday 12th January for two weeks at London stations as listed below.
| CAMDEN TOWN | CORRIDOR FROM PLATFORM 1 NORTHBOUND TO ESCALATORS | |
| CHISWICK PARK | DISTRICT LINE PLATFORM 2 EASTBOUND | |
| CLAPHAM COMMON | CORRIDORS BETWEEN FOOT OF ESCALATORS AND PLATFORMS | |
| EASTCOTE | METROPOLITAN LINE PLATFORM 1 WESTBOUND | |
| ELEPHANT & CASTLE | BAKERLOO LINE PLATFORM 3 [TERMINUS] | |
| EUSTON | VICTORIA LINE PLATFORM 4 NORTHBOUND | |
| EUSTON | CORRIDOR BETWEEN VICTORIA/NTHN CITY NB PLAT AND SB PLAT | |
| GREEN PARK | MID LEVEL INTERCHANGE VICTORIA LINE > < JUBILEE LINE | |
| HAMPSTEAD | WAY OUT FROM PLATFORMS TO LIFTS | |
| HOLLOWAY ROAD | PICCADILLY LINE PLATFORM 2 NORTHBOUND | |
| HOXTON (Overground) | CONCOURSE | |
| KILBURN | JUBILEE LINE PLATFORM 2 SOUTHBOUND | |
| KINGS CROSS ST PANCRAS | NORTHERN LINE PLATFORM 8 SOUTHBOUND | |
| LANGDON PARK | PLATFORM 2 SOUTHBOUND | |
| LOUGHTON | CENTRAL LINE PLATFORM 4 EASTBOUND | |
| MANSION HOUSE | CORRIDOR FROM TICKET HALL TO PLATFORMS | |
| OLD STREET | NORTHERN LINE PLATFORM 2 SOUTHBOUND | |
| QUEENS PARK | BAKERLOO LINE PLATFORM 2 SOUTHBOUND | |
| SOUTHGATE | CONCOURSE AT FOOT OF ESCALATORS | |
| ST PAULS | CORRIDOR AT FOOT OF UPPER ESCALATOR TO/FROM WB PLATFORM | |
| STOCKWELL | CROSSPASSAGE (NORTH) BTWN VICTORIA P1 N/B & NORTH P2 N/B | |
| SUDBURY HILL | CROSSBRIDGE FROM TICKET HALL TO WESTBOUND PLATFORM | |
| TOTTENHAM HALE | VICTORIA LINE PLATFORM 1 NORTHBOUND | |
| WARREN STREET | MID LEVEL CONCOURSE AT TOP OF NORTHERN LINE ESCALATORS | |
| WESTBOURNE PARK | HAMMERSMITH & CITY LINE PLATFORM 2 EASTBOUND | |
| WHITE CITY | CENTRAL LINE PLATFORM 4 EASTBOUND |
Next Drop in Session for ‘Grow your Club’ – Wednesday 7th January 7-8pm – MARKETING
Open House – the benefits
Message from Monika Dragnescu, Tunbridge wells Speakers Club
Benefits for the Club
- Attract New Members – An open house is one of the most effective ways to introduce Toastmasters to non-members. Guests can experience a real meeting, making them far more likely to join than from a flyer or online description.
- Increase Club Visibility – Hosting an open house raises awareness of your club within the workplace or community and positions it as a welcoming, professional, and active organisation.
- Strengthen Club Culture – Planning and hosting the event brings members together around a shared goal, reinforcing teamwork and pride in the club. A reminder here that an Open House is best managed as a Team and not just by one person.
- Improve Member Retention – A vibrant club with fresh faces feels more energetic. Existing members often feel re-motivated when they help others begin their Toastmasters journey.
- Showcase Club Quality- An open house allows the club to highlight strong speakers, effective evaluations, and a supportive environment, demonstrating the value of membership in real time.
Benefits for Club Members
- Build Leadership Skills – Members gain hands-on experience which directly support Toastmasters leadership pathways. Event planning / Public relations and promotion / Hosting and facilitation / Mentoring guests
- Practice Speaking with Purpose – Speakers learn to tailor speeches to a new audience, a valuable real-world communication skill.
- Boost Confidence – Successfully hosting guests helps members realise how far they’ve come, reinforcing confidence in their communication abilities.
Benefits for Guests
- Low-Pressure Introduction – Guests can observe and participate without commitment, reducing anxiety and making Toastmasters feel approachable.
- Clear Understanding of Value – Rather than hearing about Toastmasters, guests see the benefits in action;- structured meetings, supportive feedback, and practical skill development. Long-T
Long Term Impact
- Sustainable Club Growth – Regular open houses help maintain healthy membership levels and ensure long-term club stability.
- Stronger Community Impact – Clubs become known as a trusted place for developing communication and leadership skills.
Message from Olga Galaiko, London City Speakers
Top Tips from Lilian Shaftacola our Region 10 Advisor
Whether a Community, Corporate or Specialist club, Lilian recommends:-
- Always have someone on the door to meet and greet. Lilian loved all the warm welcomes from all the clubs she visited. She did mention though that not all clubs across the Region do this hence her tip.
- If running a hybrid meeting, stand when presenting whether in the room or online as it enhances presence and credibility
- Have and show your club banner (these are now roller banners and the digital copy can come from TMI and then be printed locally https://www.toastmasters.org/search?t=contentTab#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=club%20banner
- Promote the club through telling your stories as to all the benefits you have gained
- The best way to bring in members is through word of mouth, so tell all your friends, family, colleagues
Last Updated on 21st December 2025 by Allen Paul