Another busy month has passed. The Global Toastmasters campaign and our second digital campaign both came to a close. Our Tube campaign was featured in the Region 10 newsletter. Renewals closed at the ed of March, though late payers are still coming in. The talk up Toastmasters incentive closed at the end of March and we excitedly await confirmation from Toastmasters
International for confirmation of the winning clubs.
On top of all that we are in the middle of contest season with Areas and Divisions running some fabulous sessions. I was delighted to attend both Division H (Feature pic) and J this time around. The joyful J’s made sure we didn’t go hungry with a wonderful array of cakes which were delicious, thankyou.
Root to Rise
I’m very much looking forward to seeing all the Division contest winners at our ‘Root to Rise’ Conference on 2-3 rd May at the De Vere Latimer Hotel. I have my ticket, do you have yours? There is still time to buy one, either for a day or the whole weekend. It will be a wonderful celebration as we welcome in the new District Leaders (see article below), congratulate our speaking finalists and enjoy keynotes from talented professionals.
Club Anniversaries
I love a celebration and I hope these clubs are celebrating their club anniversaries.
Whether 1 or 20 years it is great achievement.
Congratulations go to:
| Club | Month | Years |
| Canary Wharf Communicators Club | April 2006 | 20 |
| Angel Speakers | April 2011 | 15 |
| Woodford Green Speakers | April 2011 | 15 |
| Ascot and Bracknell | April 2016 | 10 |
| Columbia Threadneedle Investments | April 2025 | 1 |
| HSBC 8CS London Toastmasters | April 2025 | 1 |
April data – Based on the Official Charter Date
Beat the Clock
Celebrating your success is a fabulous way of bringing people together so why not join in the May incentive, Beat the Clock. Starting on the 1 st May and running until 30 th June. Clubs will be recognised by both TMI and District 91 where we offer £25 to 25 clubs who bring in five new, dual or reinstated members. And it is rare we get 25 clubs! Many clubs are planning Open Houses to help increase membership, so go on, invite your friends, family and colleagues, let them see the wonders of Toastmasters and what it can do for them.
Remember you can bring guests to both in person, hybrid and online clubs. Sustainable Speakers is an online specialist club with speeches all about sustainability. Running at over 30 members they
keep their membership high through inviting guests. See their article below.
Club Mentoring
We always look to increase membership to share what we know with others. We also look to increase clubs and very soon we will be adding a few more clubs to our Toastmasters family so watch this space.
When new clubs come on board we want to, not just welcome them but support them so they get the best possible experience. We do that by assigning Mentors to each club. We usually add two for
a period of six months, which is just six meetings each. Could you help a new club and be a mentor?
You can become a Club Mentor if…….
- You’ve been a Toastmaster for a while and have completed two pathways levels.
- You’ve been a club Officer
- You are looking for a short-term project
- You’d like to attain your Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award
- You’d just recognise the value of new clubs bringing more opportunities to people to grow within this amazing organisation you’ve found your own voice in
Once you are mentoring, Simon McKee and / or Casper Willcock our Club Coach and Club Mentor Leads will be there to support you in your journey too. Interested then email Simon McKee at
Mckeesimon@gmail.com and the team will find the right new club for you to work with.
What is a Trio Member?
Mentoring is one way of stepping up to leadership and there are many others. The other day someone asked me ‘When you joined Toastmasters, did you always want to be a Trio member?’ That made me laugh, as back then I had no idea what a Trio member was and I guess many of you don’t either.
The Trio: Lynne Gayer-Club Growth Director, Seema Menon-Programme Quality Director, Debbie Williams-District Director,
When Members join Toastmasters they join a Club. A Club belongs to an Area that belongs to a Division that belongs to a District that belongs to a Region that belongs to Toastmasters International. Clubs have anything from 8 members upwards it could be as many as 80 or more. An Area has four to six clubs, a Division has four to six Areas and a District can have up to nine Divisions. We are District 91, UK South and we are part of Region 10, along with seven other Districts, including District 71 which covers the other part of the UK, Scotland and Ireland.
Clubs have Club Officers who run the meetings and support their members. Areas have Area Directors who provide support to their clubs, organise Club Officer Training and the Area Contests. The Division Director supports the Area Directors, ensures everything goes to plan, the Division goals are met and organises the Division Contests. The District and achievement of its goals are the responsibility of the District Leadership team. Like every other leader they are both members and volunteers. The three main roles at District level, the Trio, are the District Director, Programme Quality Director and the Club Growth Director. The Trio are supported by the Public Relations Manager, the Finance Manager, the Administration Manager and the Immediate Past District Director. Many of these having additional teams to cover everything that needs to be done, so there are plenty of opportunities to step up to help.
No one can join Toastmasters and suddenly become a Trio member. Like several other positions they have had to have done various roles first so they have an understanding of Toastmasters. The roles,
just like a club Officers, last for a year. Whereas the Area Director positions are elected at Area Council meetings in April. The Trio roles and Division Directors are positions that are elected at the
May conference by members of the District Council. The District Council includes current District Leaders, Division Directors, Area Directors, Club President and Club Vice Presidents Education.
L to R Back row – Steve Vear-Immediate Past District Director, Deborah Stevens-Administration Manager, Guler Gortis-Finance Manager, Allen Paul-Public Relations Manager
Front row- The Trio: Seema Menon-Programme Quality Director, Debbie Williams-District Director, Lynne Gayer-Club Growth Director.
Sustainable Speakers
Add article and pic here when I send it – due 15 th or 16 th
Top Tip from Kevin Harrington Area Director
Are you on the Toastmasters education programme, Pathways?
- If not, don’t be robbed, that is what you pay for. With the education programme you will
see progress in your communication, presentation and leadership skills. - You will want to keep renewing to gain more and more and you will. That is the reason so
many of us stay and renew, year after year. Pick a path and give it a go.- To log into your Toastmasters Pathways education program, visit toastmasters.org,
log in with your email and password, then click "Go to Base Camp" under the
Pathways banner. Select "Log in as a Member" to access your curriculum, education transcript, and digital projects
- To log into your Toastmasters Pathways education program, visit toastmasters.org,
Last Updated on 29th April 2026 by Allen Paul