Firstly, well done. As at 17th March 80 clubs have renewed at least the minimum number of members to remain in good standing.  Thank you to all those members.  Everyone else, keep those renewals coming, make your treasurers job an easy one.  Some of you may still be undecided, so remember why you joined, was it because of a promotion, to build confidence or to have the courage to speak up.  You gain all this and so much more by being a Toastmaster. I know that by continuing to be a member you will develop and grow and achieve more than you ever thought possible.  I know because it’s happened to me and I know it will happen to you too. 

Congratulations to the following clubs for achieving the early renewal incentive award. 

We continue to raise awareness for the Toastmasters brand within District 91, to connect with individuals who are not yet members and introduce them to Toastmasters. From 10th March to 6thApril we are doing another digital campaign, you may see our bright yellow poster pop up on online channels such as Zoopla.  The International LinkedIn Campaign is now two months in and the District is performing better than projected. We have had almost 500 prospective members through find a club so far with one more month to go.  So please do ensure your clubs ‘find a club’ details are up to date.  (see below for details on how to do this).  

 We have renewals, we have enquiries, we have new members and there is still time for more.  The ‘Talk up Toastmasters’ incentive of adding five new, dual or re-instated members, doesn’t end until 31st March.  Share your stories and inspire your friends, family and colleagues to come along to your next meeting and help your club grow.  

We are still looking to add new clubs to our Toastmasters family so read the article below from Lydia McDowell whose role is to research for new club leads.  Please do see if you work in any of the organisations mentioned, we would love to hear from you.  

Clubs already in our Toastmasters family celebrate their anniversaries.   

Whether 1 or 25 years it is great achievement.  Celebrate your success.  It’s a fabulous way of bringing people together.    

Congratulations go to: March – Based on the Official Charter Date 

February to March has been a month of International support for District Club Growth as we enter the last few months of the Toastmaster year. Inspiring messages from International President, Aletta Rochat and motivational support from our International Director, Francesco Fadele and Regional Advisor, Lilian Shaftacola.  See their thoughts and tips below.  

Drop-ins 

In case you missed it:- 

Renewals with Kevin Harringtom  

 Your One Introduction Could Launch District 91’s Next Corporate Club 

By Lydia McDowall, Club New Source Research Chair 

At the start of this Toastmasters year, Lynne Gayer, our Club Growth Director, asked if I would support her by taking on the role of Club New Source Research Chair. It felt like something I could genuinely contribute to, so I was glad to say yes. 

The purpose of this role is to work closely with the Club Growth Director to support the District’s marketing plan for establishing new clubs, with a particular focus this year on identifying opportunities for corporate clubs. These are Toastmasters clubs based inside organisations that bring communication and leadership development directly into the workplace and benefit both employees and employers. 

Think regular lunchtime or after work meetings where colleagues build confidence, practice presenting and develop leadership skills within their own organization. 

What we discovered 

My initial approach was to generate lists of the top 100 companies in the UK and try to identify appropriate contacts within those organisations. However, finding the right internal contact without an existing connection quickly proved more challenging than expected. 

 So I shifted approach. Using global Toastmasters data covering more than 44,000 clubs, past and present, I identified companies that host Toastmasters clubs elsewhere in the world but do not yet have one in the UK. I then cross referenced their UK office locations to confirm they fall within District 91. 

The result? A carefully researched shortlist of 63 companies that could be strong candidates for a future corporate club. 

This is where we need your help. 

If you work at one of the companies listed below, or know someone who does, a simple introduction could open the door to a conversation about bringing Toastmasters into that organization. You don’t need to sell anything. Simply pointing us towards the right person to speak with, for example someone in Learning and Development, HR employee networks or even your boss, would be incredibly helpful. Even if you’re not sure who the right person is, just let us know you have a connection there and we can explore it together. 

 If you work somewhere that isn’t on the list but feel your organization could benefit from a Toastmasters club, or know someone at a company that might, we would love to hear from you too. 

 Toastmasters grows through the connections we already have, and our District community can play a direct role in launching the next corporate club. Even a small nudge in the right direction could make a real difference.  

If you think you may be able to help, please email  club.growth.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk with the company name and, if possible, the name or department of your internal contact. These introductions directly support our District goal of establishing new clubs this year. 

 We’ll give a shout-out in the next District newsletter to every member who assists with this initiative, because introductions like yours are often how new clubs begin. 

 One introduction could be the start of something big. 

Take a moment to scan the list below. You might be surprised how many familiar organisations appear. 

How to update club details (for those prospects looking to ‘Find a Club‘) 

The club officers, specifically the Club President, Vice President Membership, and Secretary, are the individuals who can access and update the club’s contact email address listed in Club Central on the Toastmasters International website. When a prospective member uses the “Find a Club” page to message a club, an automated email is sent to these three officers.  

The club itself decides which email address to use for general inquiries, and officers can set this  information in Club Central. 

To update Club’s contact information: 

• Log In: Go to toastmasters.org, log in as an officer. 
• Access Club Central: Navigate to Leadership Central and click on “Club Central”. 
• Edit Info: Select “Club Contact and Meeting Information” to find the contact email field. 
• Update & Save: Enter the new email and click “Save” at the bottom. 

Note: Please allow up to 24 hours for the update to appear on the website.  

Thoughts and Tops Tips from our International Leaders 

The value of Talk up Toastmasters by Aletta Rochat (International President) 

1. Imagine how more vibrant your club meetings would be with five or more new members.  
2. Invite, invite, invite, anyone and everyone to come to your next meeting 
3. Ask them to join  

Five steps to grow by Francesco Fadele (International Director) 

1. Make it easy for prospects to find your club e.g. have a website 
2. Always greet your guests as the first five minutes decides everything 
3. Help guests understand what is going on 
4. Invite guests to join 
5. Follow up with guests within 24 hours 

A new club provides benefits to everyone by Lilian Shaftacola (Region 10 Advisor) 

1. More people have the opportunity to start their Toastmasters journey and develop themselves. 
2. The benefits to existing Toastmasters is that when we grow and bring more people into the organization that opens the door for more quality events such as training and contests.  
3. We support Toastmasters itself as we help to strengthen the brand 

If you’ve ever wondered how Toastmasters clubs are organised across the district, who decides which club sits where, and how everything fits together, there’s a good chance Barbara Saph has had something to do with it.

But behind the role of District Alignment Chair is a story that many members will relate to.

Barbara’s Toastmasters journey didn’t start with confidence, quite the opposite.

Introduced to Toastmasters in 2011 (with a little encouragement from friends), she admits:

“For those who are really nervous about public speaking, take heart, things can sometimes get worse before they get better.”

In fact, the nerves were strong enough that she stepped away for a while… only to return in 2014 with a new mindset – Jump in and participate fully.

Since then, she has taken on multiple club officer roles, district roles, mentoring, and leadership positions across several clubs including Hallmark Speakers and Salisbury Online Speakers.

What Keeps Her Going?

For Barbara, it comes down to one thing:

Curiosity

“I enjoy watching the evolution and personal development of members as they discover new opportunities in their lives.”

That curiosity combined with a love for organization, naturally led her into leadership roles.

(And perhaps, she admits, sometimes more leadership than intended 😄)

Life Outside Toastmasters

When she’s not aligning clubs and supporting the district, Barbara enjoys:

• Art and craft exhibitions
• Reading science fiction, fantasy, and mystery
• Jigsaw puzzles (self-confessed addict!)
• Gardening and the occasional painting session

And while she no longer has pets, she still enjoys borrowing her daughter’s black Labrador and has a lifelong interest in horses.

So… What Does a District Alignment Chair Do?

In simple terms, Barbara helps ensure that:

• Clubs are placed in Areas and Divisions where they can thrive
• Area Directors can effectively support their clubs
• The district structure aligns with Toastmasters International policies

Each year, this means reviewing:

• Club locations and proximity
• Membership levels
• New clubs forming
• Clubs closing or struggling

And yes sometimes making difficult and emotional decisions when clubs need to be moved.

The Balancing Act Behind the Scenes

One of the biggest challenges?

Making everything fit.

• Each Area must have 4–6 clubs
• Clubs need collaboration opportunities
• Geography, online clubs, and corporate clubs all play a role

And as Barbara puts it:

“We can’t always make everyone happy.”

So what is alignment really like?

Barbara’s answer:

✔ A puzzle
✔ A game of chess
✔ A bit like organising a very large family dinner

…and sometimes:

“Trying to fix something with one piece that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere.”

Thinking About District Leadership?

Barbara’s advice is simple and honest:

• Start with club officer roles (VPE, VPM, President)
• Attend training, contests, and conferences
• Talk to people already in the roles
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help

And most importantly:

“Everyone starts somewhere, no one knows everything.”

Barbara’s journey is a reminder that even the most experienced leaders once started with nerves, uncertainty, and a first step.

And sometimes, all it takes is returning… and deciding to fully take part.