Allen Paul

From a challenging area to full engagement, Malcolm shares what made the difference

This month, we recognise Malcolm (H55) as our Area Director of the Month for March.

With all clubs renewed and in good standing, strong engagement across the Area, and consistent performance across training and reporting, Malcolm’s leadership has helped turn H55 into a highly active and connected Area.

We spoke to Malcolm to learn more about his journey and approach.

For members who may not know you yet, could you tell us a little about your Toastmasters journey?

I joined my corporate club, db Toastmasters, back in 2019. I loved it immediately and wondered why it had taken me so long to join. After a short time, I joined the committee and immersed myself in many club roles. Eventually became President.

As an IT Programme Manager, I felt Toastmasters would help strengthen my networking and leadership skills, while also I could help younger staff develop confidence in public speaking.

In 2022, I moved to Hove and joined Brighton & Hove Speakers. I also served on the committee there, which I hope to revisit when I complete my Area Director tenure in June.

H55 was previously a challenging area, but is now fully engaged and in good standing. What do you think made the biggest difference?

Thank you for acknowledging that. It is still work in progress, but I believe the biggest factors have been communication, accountability, my persistence, and a sprinkling of luck and hope along the way.

Visiting clubs regularly and fully immersing yourself in their culture makes a real difference. Increasing membership, maintaining retention, and ensuring people are enjoying themselves are all key ingredients to success.

How did you keep clubs motivated and engaged throughout the year?

Every club has its own dynamic, personality, and local makeup. Motivation comes from member involvement, achievement, and creating an enjoyable learning environment.

Contests and club goals also help give members something to work towards. I try to encourage cross-club participation, which has been especially valuable in building engagement and connection across the Area.

You’ve achieved strong results across renewals, training, and reporting. Did you follow a specific approach or system to stay on track?

Membership renewals have been a challenge for many clubs this year, as every club has its own strengths and areas for improvement. Guests only really become members by interaction and seeing!

I always try to make guests feel welcomed and giving them a personal touch is vital. Club Officer Training is also extremely important, along with planning ahead, keeping the year in focus, and seeking support and collaboration from fellow Area Directors.

What challenges did you face along the way, and how did you overcome them?

Being a Toastmasters leader is not about perfection. It’s about trying to share your experience, guidance, and support in a positive way. Not everyone will always appreciate it, and there are often challenges around time, effort, and availability as we are all volunteers!

However, we are always stronger when working together towards a common goal. As they say: no pain, no gain. It’s also about ownership and responsibility.

One of my proudest moments was seeing the President of one of our most improved clubs step forward to take on the Area Director role next year. I’m very happy to support and encourage him on that journey.

What advice would you give to other Area Directors who want to improve engagement in their areas?

There is no “cookie-cutter” approach because every club has its own unique makeup and dynamic. However, ensuring that every member feels engaged, valued, and able to see progress in their journey is essential.

Club accountability is also very important. When everyone fulfils their role and works together as a team, the positive energy and results naturally shine through.

Finally, what has been the most rewarding part of serving as an Area Director this year?

I’m very much a people person, so engaging with all the clubs has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve enjoyed helping to run Area and Division contests, meeting fellow District Officers, and successfully mentoring the newly chartered BBC club in London.

And of course, continuing my own journey towards achieving my DTM has been another important and rewarding part of the experience. Plus of course getting AD of the month was a nice accolade and a nice surprise dinner treat locally!!

 

If you’ve attended a Drop-In session, watched a webinar recording, or benefited from Club Officer Training this year, chances are you’ve experienced the impact of Janet’s work, even if you didn’t realize it.

They say a Toastmaster wears many hats, and that is certainly true in Janet’s case.

From joining Farnham Speakers in 2012, Janet quickly stepped into leadership, taking on the role of Vice President Education and continuing to serve in at least one leadership role every year since.

Over the years, her journey has included:

• Two terms as Area Director

• Two terms as Division Director

• Club Mentor for Godalming Speakers

• Achieving Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) in 2020

After completing two years as District Administration Manager in 2025, Janet planned to take things a little easier.

That plan didn’t last long.

Following her appointment, Program Quality Director Seema invited Janet to take on the role of District 91 Training Lead, a role that has continued to evolve over time.

Working alongside a highly driven Program Quality team, Janet has been at the centre of several key initiatives aimed at improving education and training across the district.

 

One of the most visible and impactful initiatives this year has been the introduction of regular Drop-In sessions and webinars.

These sessions have given members:

• An informal space to ask questions

• Access to experienced Toastmasters

• Practical, topic-focused learning

The results speak for themselves:

• 35 sessions delivered

• Most sessions recorded and shared

• Over 2,200 views on YouTube

For many members, these sessions have become a valuable and accessible way to learn and grow.

Janet has also played a key role in establishing the Trainers Bureau, a resource that connects clubs with experienced trainers for educational sessions and Club Officer Training.

District 91 also took part in beta testing new Club Officer Training material from Toastmasters International.

As Training Lead, Janet coordinated trainers across districts, including collaboration with District 74 (South Africa), helping to deliver sessions and gather feedback.

The result is improved training content that will benefit members across the district.

Another project close to Janet’s heart was improving the Club Officer Training reporting process.

Drawing on her experience as a Division Director, she understood how time-consuming the process could be.

Working with Rory Graves (ToastHost), Janet helped develop a COT management system designed to simplify reporting and reduce manual effort.

While there have been initial challenges, as with any new system, the long-term goal is clear: to make life easier for future leaders.

Beyond the visible initiatives, Janet has also supported the district in quieter but equally important ways.

From contributing to communications and supporting website updates to helping proofread district newsletters before publication, her attention to detail has consistently helped raise the quality of what members experience.

She also quickly developed her Canva skills and took ownership of designing the posters and visuals that accompanied many of the training sessions throughout the year, ensuring that each initiative was not only well delivered, but also clearly communicated and professionally presented.

For Janet, this year has been about more than just delivering projects.

It has been about:

• Learning new skills

• Working with dedicated team members

• Supporting the growth of others

Above all, it has been about contributing to a district that continues to evolve and improve.

Janet’s contribution is a reminder that behind every initiative, every session, and every improvement, there are people working quietly to make it happen.

And in this case, it’s someone wearing many hats and making a real difference.

 

From having no public speaking experience to becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster and club president in just over six years, Alistair Driscoll’s journey is a powerful example of growth in action.

My Toastmasters journey began in October 2018 when I joined Voice of Wales in Usk as a brand-new member. I had no public speaking experience to speak of, but I knew that if I wanted to grow as a professional and as a leader, I needed to get comfortable being uncomfortable. What I did not expect was just how much Toastmasters would shape the direction of my life.

The Early Days at Voice of Wales
Voice of Wales gave me my foundation. I threw myself into every meeting role I could, learning the mechanics of structured speaking, impromptu Table Topics, and the art of giving and receiving evaluations. Within a year I had taken on the role of Vice President Education (July 2019 to June 2020), responsible for scheduling meetings and supporting fellow members through their Pathways projects. It was my first real taste of servant leadership, and I was hooked.

Stepping Up to Club President
In July 2020, I became President of Voice of Wales. This was right in the middle of the pandemic, so my entire presidential year was virtual. Rather than seeing that as a limitation, we embraced it. We focused on member engagement, educational quality, and building a supportive environment, even through a screen. By the end of the term, we had earned the President’s Distinguished Award, the highest club recognition Toastmasters International bestows. That achievement belongs to every member who showed up, contributed, and kept the club thriving during an incredibly challenging period.

Founding Toast Titans
The pandemic proved that online Toastmasters could work brilliantly. In 2024, I took that conviction a step further and co-founded Toast Titans, a corporate online Toastmasters club. I served as Corporate Club Sponsor from June to November 2024, handling the initial setup: recruiting our charter members, organising the first meetings, and guiding the club through the chartering process. From there, I moved into the role of Corporate Club Mentor (from January 2024), supporting club officers, maintaining meeting quality, and helping the club become self-sufficient. In July 2025, I became President of Toast Titans, a role I hold today. It has been enormously rewarding to build a club from scratch and watch members grow in confidence week after week.

Mentoring Beyond My Own Clubs
Alongside my work with Toast Titans, I have also served as Corporate Club Mentor for Tribal Masters Galway since January 2024. Mentoring another club in a different country has given me a broader perspective on what makes clubs succeed. The fundamentals are always the same: ongoing support, quality meetings, strong officer training, and a culture where people genuinely want to help each other improve.

Achieving the Distinguished Toastmaster Award
In December 2024, I was awarded the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation, the highest honour in Toastmasters International. Earning it requires completing advanced educational projects, serving in multiple leadership roles, and mentoring others. It took me just over six years from joining as a complete beginner, and it represents everything I value about this organisation: continuous learning, leadership through service, and the commitment to help others find their voice.

Three Things I Have Learned Along the Way
1. Start before you are ready. I joined Toastmasters with zero public speaking experience. Every role I took on felt like a stretch at the time. The growth happens in the stretch. If you are waiting until you feel ready, you will be waiting forever.
2. Leadership is service. The best club officers I have worked with are the ones who show up to make the meeting better for everyone else. Whether you are scheduling speakers, mentoring a new member, or simply giving a thoughtful evaluation, you are leading.
3. Build community deliberately. A club is only as strong as the connections between its members. Social moments, genuine encouragement, and celebrating each other’s progress are not extras. They are the foundation.

Looking Ahead
Toastmasters has given me skills I use every single day in my professional life as Global Sales Enablement Manager at HID Global, where I regularly present to stakeholders, coach sales teams, and design learning programmes. It has also given me friendships, a sense of purpose outside of work, and the confidence to put myself forward for things I once would have avoided.
If you are reading this and thinking about joining a club, getting more involved, or taking on a leadership role, my advice is simple: say yes now and figure out the rest as you go. That is exactly what I did in 2018, and it has been one of the best decisions of my life.

Alistair Driscoll, DTM
President, Toast Titans | Member, Voice of Wales